History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 90

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934

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Ohio, then settled in Washington County, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1853. Setting out for California, he arrived in the Golden State on September 15 of that year and for a time settled at Santa Clara, later taking up a Government elaim in the vieinity of Bainter's Gulch, near Los Gatos, where he erected the family home, which is still standing. Pleasant Shields Langford was the father of eleven children, only one of whom is now living, H. Clarence Langford of San Jose. Of the other sons, Robert Jackson Langford, the father of our subject, was born in Iowa in 1852, so was but one year old when his parents came to California, and the remainder of his life was spent in Santa Clara County. He was prominent in the business life of the community and for twenty-two years a dealer in wholesale and retail meat. In 1898 he was elected sheriff of Santa Clara County, taking office in Janu- ary. 1899, and had served two years of his second term when he passed away on February 20, 1905. honored as an efficient public service. Mrs. Robert Langford was born in Illinois and came across the plains in an ox-team train in 1865, the family settling in San Jose. She is the mother of three children : Arthur Burr Langford of this sketch; Claude Pleas- ant Langford, who died in childhood, and Leo Morse Langford, an employe of the Standard Oil Company at San Jose, where Mrs. Langford still resides.

After finishing the grammar school, Arthur B. Langford pursued the usual courses of study in the high school, graduating with the class of '97; and when he ventured into the world for himself, he tried the butcher trade, mining in British Columbia, and ranching, riding the range for Miller & Lux. In 1901 he was deputy sheriff under his father and in 1906 he was elected sheriff, following the demise of Robert J. Langford. He was elected twice there- after and in all served as sheriff for twelve consecu- tive years, the longest period this office has ever been held, a tribute to the efficiency and capability with which he discharged the duties of this responsible post.

On March 30, 1904, Mr. Langford was married at Santa Clara to Miss Alice Lovell, the accomplished representative of an old pioneer family. Her parents were John A. and Eda (Jackson) Lovell, and her paternal grandfather came to California as early as 1849, returning East and bringing his family here in 1853. Grandfather Jackson was also numbered among California's early settlers and was provost- marshal of San Francisco during the Civil War. Mr. Langford is a Mason. a member and past master of Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M .; life mem- ber of Howard Chapter No. 14. R. A. M .; San Jose Council No. 20, R. & S. M .: San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T .: a life member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco, and past patron, Frat- ernity Chapter No. 288. O. E. S. He also is a member of Garden City Lodge No. 142, I. O. O. F .: San Jose Lodge No. 522. B. P. O. Elks: Observatory Parlor No. 177, N. S. G. W., serving as president for two terms; Society of California Pioneers of Santa Clara County: San Jose Lodge No. 47. K. of P .; Alamo Camp No. 80. W. O. W .; the National Union, and San Jose Tent No. 27. K. O. T. M .. of which he is past commander. Mr. Langford is a Republican, but his sympathies and interests extend far beyond the confines of his party, so that he n'ay always be found supporting every progressive measure for the community's welfare.

560

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

LENORA CANTUA .- A representative of an old and esteemed family of Santa Clara County is Miss Lenora Cantua, the only surviving child of her fa- ther, Joseph Manuel Cantua, who was born in Santa Clara in 1828. She was born near the new Almaden Mines, Santa Clara County, Cal., May 20, 1872, and was the youngest of the family. Her father removed to the Almaden district when he was thirty years of age and engaged in raising cattle and sheep and became the owner of considerable land well stocked with cattle and sheep. He married Ramona Beulna, a native of California, born in Monterey in 1837, and they were the parents of the following children: Haviel, who died when forty years old; Manuela, passed away aged sixty-five, the mother of sixteen children; Joseph is survived by two children, who live in San Jose; Isabel died an infant; the next girl was also named Isabel, who lived to the age of sixty- five; Charles; Amelia; Theodora; Tiothilo; Antonio E .; Lenora, our subject: then the next son was named Antonio. All are deceased except Lenora Cantua. Her father passed away on May 4, 1890, at the age of sixty-two years and her mother died on May 6, 1900, aged sixty-three.

During the year of 1876 the family removed to the ranch home in the Uvas district, which is now the property of our subject, and consists of 317 acres of fine land beautifully located, rolling and wooded. Miss Cantna has adopted a bright boy by the name of Adolph Bosques, who was born in San Jose Feb- ruary 18, 1906, a son of Charles Bosques, and who was taken into her home when only three years of age. He takes an active interest in helping with the work on the ranch and is being trained for the man- agement, which he will assume within a few years. The Cantua rancho is devoted to the raising of grapes and fruit, and also supports several head of cattle, much of the ranch being fine grazing land. Miss Cantua by hard work and good management has ample means and is held in high esteem by all who know her.

RICHARD FELIX ROBERTSON .- Occupying a position of distinguished preferment as a represent- ative of the bar of San Jose and a prominent figure in the public life of the state, Richard Felix Robert- son has attempted important things and accomplished what he has attempted. He is a man of unusual men- tal versatility and in every sphere of life in which he has acted he has left an indelible impress through his ability and tireless energy, which never falls short of the successful accomplishment of its purpose. He is of Scotch descent, the ancestry in the paternal line being traced back to the Robertson family of Perth, Scotland, who emigrated to Virginia and were contemporaries of Daniel Boone in the settlement of Kentucky. In the maternal line he is a direct de- scendant of Dr. Manuel Hedeza, who was a surgeon in the army of Spain and went to Mexico while that country was still under Spanish rule.

Richard F. Robertson was born in Mazatlan, Mex- ico, October 12, 1863, a son of Richard Lew Robert- son, who served as United States consul at that city from October, 1861, until March, 1864. He married Canuta Hedeza, who was born in Culiacan, Mexico. In the public schools of San Francisco, Cal., their son, Richard F. Robertson, pursued his education and he was later graduated from the Kent College of Law of that city. He started out in life as a

messenger boy, working for the American District Telegraph Company from 1879 until 1881, when he resigned his position to accept employment in the ticket office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. Following the amalgamation of this road with the three others running parallel to it, and the consequent reduction in the number of employes, he entered the service of the Southern Pa- cific, acting as interpreter and translator of Spanish, and also working in the construction department. On November 1, 1883, he went to visit his people, who were then residing in Los Gatos, Cal., and being favorably impressed with the place, lie decided to make it his home, accepting a position with the Southern Pacific Railroad, with which he remained until April, 1884. He was the first to suggest to that company the advisability of the Mayfield cut-off, thereby decreasing the railroad distance of twelve miles to Los Gatos and to Santa Cruz, and this also gave railroad service to a section which had been built up, but with no adequate railroad facilities.

In April, 1884, Mr. Robertson engaged in the hotel business in partnership with his stepfather, A. Berry- man, and in April, 1887, they sold out to the late Charles W. Holden. Later they secured from Har- vey Wilcox the lease of the corner upon which now stands the First National Bank in Los Gatos and ac- quired the insurance agency of the old and well- known firm of Proctor & Trailer, which Mr. Wilcox was at that time conducting. They operated the business under the firm name of Berryman & Rob- ertson until 1903, when they disposed of the enter- prise to Milligan Brothers & Company. In 1885 Mr. Robertson's initiative spirit led him to become one of the founders and constructors of the Los Gatos Gas Works, and in 1889 he became one of the organ- izers of the Commercial Bank of Los Gatos, and also of the Los Gatos Building & Loan Association. In the same year he planned the Los Gatos Ceme- tery and for twelve years was its secretary and superintendent.

In 1895 Mr. Robertson took up the study of law and was admitted to practice in 1898. He became one of the organizers of the League of California Muni- cipalities and for seven years was a member of the committee on judiciary. He aided in drafting and proposing laws to the legislature concerning the gov- ernment of cities and acted in an advisory capacity to the committee on law of the Assembly and com- mittee of jurisprudence of the Senate. He likewise drafted the articles for the incorporation of the city of Mayfield. In 1903 he opened an office in the Auzerais Building, where he remained until the erection of the First National Bank Building, when he established his office there. In 1915, following the death of Mrs. Robertson, he became a resident of San Jose, where he has since followed his pro- fession, and the list of his clients is now an extensive one. His legal learning, his analytical mind, the read- iness with which he grasps the points in argument, all combine to make him one of the most capable lawyers who has ever practiced in Santa Clara County and the public and the profession acknowl- edge him the peer of the ablest representatives of the bar of this city. From 1898 until 1905 he served as city attorney of Los Gatos, making a most creditable record in that office.

José M. Cantina

563

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

At Los Gatos, on January 5, 1887, Mr. Robertson was united in marriage to Miss Cassie Shannon, a daughter of Thomas and Amanda (Blackford) Shan- non. Her father was one of the original party of Jayhawkers, coming to California through Death Valley in 1849. Four children were born of this union, two of whom survive: Wilfred F. Robertson married Edith M. Shephard, of San Jose, and they reside at Sacramento, Cal. During the World War he enlisted in the U. S. Navy and rose to the rank of yeoman. Ynez Amanda married Justus Verne Cook, of Oakland. Mr. Cook also served in the Navy as chief yeoman.

Mr. Robertson is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church of San Jose, and fraternally he is identified with the Elks, belonging to San Jose Lodge, No. 522. He is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a past noble grand of Ridgely Lodge, No. 294, of Los Gatos, and he has also held office in the Knights of Pythias, being a past chancellor of Los Gatos Lodge, No. 175, now consolidated with San Jose Lodge, No. 47, in which he still maintains his membership. He is likewise a prominent Mason, belonging to Los Gatos Lodge, No. 292, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; Howard Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M .; San Jose Coun- cil, No. 20, R. & S. M .; and San Jose Commandery, No. 10, K. T. He is a stanch Republican in his po- litical views and a leader in the ranks of the party. He has several times served as a delegate to the county Republican conventions, of which he once acted as secretary, and in 1896 was secretary of the Mckinley League of Los Gatos.

Mr. Robertson is also a veteran of the World War and his military record is one of which he may well feel proud. On August 5, 1917, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Field Artillery, which became known as the "Grizzlies," and in No- vember, 1917, was transferred to the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Infantry. In January, 1918, he re- ceived orders from Washington, D. C., to assist in forming the First Army Headquarters Regiment, a requirement of the Government being that its mem- bers should be able to converse in French and other Continental languages, as from its ranks men were to be selected to act as military police, in charge of areas in France under American jurisdiction. Mr. Robertson was one of the first four men selected to open up the secret service office in Paris under com- mand of the provost-marshal. He was also at head- quarters in Tours for nine months, and during his service abroad was sent as confidential representa- tive of the Government to various places in France and Spain. He served under General Connor and Brigadier-General Bandholtz. On November 30, 1919, the Paris office was closed and on December 21 he returned to the United States, receiving his discharge at New York City, February 28, 1920. His life has been one of intense activity, intelligently directed into those channels through which flows the greatest good to the greatest number, and his efforts have brought him a measure of success that is most desirable and have also proven of benefit to his fellowmen in many fields. The nature and mag- nitude of his work in public and private connections have constituted a factor in California's promotion, power and prominence and he stands as a high type of American manhood and citizenship.

JOHN HUGHES .- A retired railroad man with a most enviable record of nearly two score years of faithful, fruitful service in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, John Hughes, of Agnew, Santa Clara County, is a representative Irish-American citizen such as any community would be proud to number among its progressive citizens. As a matter of fact, he owns perhaps one-fourth of the town of Agnew, and so may easily be regarded as one of the leading residents in that flourishing part of the state.

He was born at Claremorris, County Mayo, Ire- land, on June 24, 1856, the son of James Hughes, a well-known farmer and contractor, who built and kept in repair many of the important post-roads in that country. He had married Miss Margaret Gay- nord, of County Mayo, and they became the parents of eight children, four boys and four girls. One of the sons, James Hughes, a brother of our subject, is maintenance of way foreman of the Northwestern Pacific Railway, and resides at San Rafael.

Educated in Ireland, John Hughes came to Amer- ica in 1880; and after a residence of two years in New York State, he came west to California. Oak- land seemed to appeal to him most; and there, engag- ing with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in its construction work, he quickly showed such pro- ficiency that he was made foreman. He continued with that company for thirty-seven years, or until he retired, and came to have as many as 150 men under him; and few if any construction bosses en- joyed a record for greater ability or dependability. During the building of the Pacific Coast Railway, he was construction foreman under L. Fillmore, the di- vision superintendent at Santa Barbara.

Mr. Hughes came to Santa Clara when he was twenty-one years of age, and he remained there for thirteen years; and after that he removed to Agnew, where he became a foreman of a special gang, and then foreman of larger gangs. Only in 1917 was he persuaded to retire and enjoy the fruits of his hard work at Agnew. As such an honored employe of the company he has a life pass over the entire rail- way system, and is thus encouraged to see something of the outside world.

By a first marriage, Mr. Hughes had one child, now Miss Mary Hughes, a trained nurse of San Jose; and at his second marriage, in Santa Clara, he was united with Miss Alice Costello, a native of Ireland who grew up in California. They have had ten chil- dren: James is employed by the Southern Pacific Railway and resides at Agnew; Thomas, an exem- plary young man, of wonderful physique, attained a height of six feet four inches, and was a Southern Pacific brakeman, and was killed in a railway acci- dent when he was only twenty-one years of age; Jeannette is the wife of Anthony La Mar, and re- sides at Agnew; Margaret is at home; John, em- ployed by the Southern Pacific, married Miss Ger- trude McNamara, and resides at Porta Costa; Wil- liam died when he was three and a half years old; Catherine graduated from Santa Clara high school and is now attending the State Teachers' College at San Jose, and her sister, Anna, is a student in the San Jose high school, while Michael Francis is at the high school at Santa Clara, and Peter still en- joys the shelter of the paternal roof. The family at- tend the Roman Catholic Church at Santa Clara.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

IRWIN EDGAR POMEROY .- A man of much native ability and business acumen, who is a practical orchardist, having contributed much toward the pres- ent high and flourishing development of horticulture in Santa Clara County, is Irwin E. Pomeroy, one of the original organizers of the California Prune and Apricot Association, a trustee from the beginning, and now chairman of the board of trustees. He is a native son-a fact which makes his subsequent rela- tion to California all the more interesting; and he was born in this county on the fifteenth of December, 1870. His father was Marshall Pomeroy, whose life story is found on another page of this volume.

Irwin E. passed through the various grades of the public schools, and then in order the better to equip himself for the necessary tussle with the world, he took a business course for which the College of the Pacific was famous. After graduating from the com- mercial department in 1889, he assumed charge of the Pomeroy orchard, and he is still the efficient man- ager. In 1899 the members of the Pomeroy family incorporated the 'Pomeroy Orchard Company, of which the pioneer, Marshall Pomeroy. was the foun- der and is still president, while Irwin E. has been its manager and treasurer. The company has 120 acres of various sorts of fruit trees, and so well has he developed this extensive area that it is today one of the choicest ranch properties of its kind in the county. Believing cooperation is the only successful means of making a success of marketing the fruit raised by the farmers, Mr. Pomeroy has been active in the various cooperative organizations in the county and was one of the organizers of the present Cali- fornia Prune and Apricot Association, in which he has taken an active part in assisting in guiding its destinies to the present successful issue. A member of the board of trustees from the beginning, his serv- ices have been recognized by his being elected chair- man of the board of trustees and a member of the executive committee. He was a director and vice- president of the old Santa Clara Valley Bank until it was purchased by the Bank of Italy, and is now vice- chairman of its local board of directors. He is treas- urer of the Knowles Pottery Company, a new indus- try just built in Santa Clara for the manufacture of fine china and porcelain ware ..

When Mr. Pomeroy married at Santa Clara, on May 8. 1900, he took for his wife Miss Florence Mabel Dawson, a native of San Jose and a member of a pioneer family, among the very first canners of fruit in Santa Clara County. She is a graduate of the San Jose State Normal School. Four children have blessed the happy union: Marshall B., Irwin Edgar, Jr., Clara Belle, and Thomas Dawson. The family attends the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Pom- eroy belongs to the Lions Club, the Automobile Club, the Chamber of Commerce, and is a charter member of the Commercial Club; he is also a hearty supporter of the Republican party, although he does not allow his partisanship to interfere with his endorsement and aid of the best obtainable, under whatever ban- ner, for the community in which he lives and thrives.

FRANK C. WILCOX .- An experienced rancher who is exceptionally efficient in executive capacity is Frank C. Wilcox, the popular ranch foreman for Richmond-Chase. He was born in Rhode Island on April 21, 1861, the son of Orin P. Wilcox, a watch- maker by trade, a native Rhode Islander, who had married Miss Sarah E. Peckham, also of that state. and they had seven children. Horace C. is now at

Watsonville; Emma is deceased; Jessie has become Mrs. Howard, of Marshfield, Ore .; Frank C. is the fourth of the family; Percy G. is deceased; Hattie is Mrs. G. A. Tuttle of Watsonville: Orina is also de- ceased. Orin Wilcox came out to California in Oc- tober, 1861, and settled at Watsonville, where he engaged in the jewelry business until his death in that place in 1902. Mrs. Wilcox is still living at Watsonville, at the age of eighty-seven years.

Frank Wilcox went to school for awhile at Ir- vington, in Alameda County, and then at a very early age he pushed out into the world for himself. He took up whatever proved most remunerative, did clerical work, and also went from "broncho-busting" to teaming. When able to do so, he attended the Commercial College at Irvington, and then he took a position with White & De Harts of Watsonville, as a clerk in their sawmill, and since 1881 he has heen residing in both San Jose and Watsonville. For a number of years Mr. Wilcox was foreman for Mr. Walter Curtner, and he had charge of his sheep- herding camps throughout California; then, for three years, he engaged in horse-training in San Jose, Warmsprings or Sunol; and then he returned to Watsonville and again became a clerk in the saw- mill of White & De Harts.

Mr. Wilcox was also foreman for D. I. A. Frazer of San Jose, for fourteen years, and he spent one year with the Flickingers of Berryessa in their pack- ing plant. He was also foreman for the George Her- bert Orchard of San Jose. In 1918 he became fore- man of the Dutard Ranch of San Francisco, some 110 acres lying along the Piedmont Road, south of the Sierra Road. Since that time, the Richmond- Chase Company .of San Jose has purchased the ranch, but Mr. Wilcox has remained there as ranch foreman. This ranch is devoted largely to the grow- ing of apricots. Mr. Wilcox is a Republican, and an enthusiastic booster for local progress.

At Santa Cruz on April 24, 1892, Mr. Wilcox was married to Miss Mary White, a native of the Cala- veras Valley east of the town of Milpitas. Her par- ents were Edward and Mary White, and the former came to California about 1866, from Galway, Ireland. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox: Edna is Mrs. F. 1. Moore of Hollywood; Percie is Mrs. F. A. Rose of San Jose: Mabel married Wil- liam Giacomazzi and lives at Milpitas; Ethel is at home. Mr. Wilcox is a member of the Alum Rock Camp of the W. O. W., and for a long time has served the lodge as clerk.

EDWARD AND AUGUSTA SCHLAUDT .- Among the many capable and thriving horticultural- ists of Santa Clara County. Edward Schlaudt, of San Jose, holds a noteworthy position. A man of versa- tile talents, energetic and progressive, he has met with good success in his business operations, and is everywhere respected as a citizen of worth and in- tegrity. To his wife, who is an equal partner in the successful florist business located at 119 South Second Street. Mr. Schlaudt accords the honor of being the founder and manager of this flourishing business.

Edward Schlaudt was born March 13, 1860, at Lawrenceburg, Ind., the son of George Phillip and Christine Schlaudt, both natives of Germany, where they were reared and married; the father, who was employed in a furniture factory at Lawrenceburg. lived to be seventy-eight, and the mother seventy-

Irwin E. Pomeroy

567

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

five. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Edward was the fourth; two brothers had re- moved to Kansas, one of the brothers, Henry. had established a shoe store, and while on a visit to his home in Lawrenceburg, had told such glowing sto- ries of the advantages of Kansas, that when he was ready to return, his brother, Edward, went with him and became interested with his brother in the shoe business in Topeka, and was thus engaged for seven years. Previous to his removal to Kansas, he had worked in the factory which employed his father.

The marriage of Mr. Schlandt in 1880 united him with Miss Augusta Hoeffmer, and they are the par- ents of three children: Mrs. Mabel Kendall of San Jose; Chester E., who attends to the nursery and greenhouses, married Miss Minta Helms; Merl is the wife of Jerry Hiam, and they are residents of San Francisco. In 1881 Mr. and Mrs. Schlaudt came to San Jose, and in 1882 Mrs. Schlaudt conceived the idea of raising flowers for market, while Mr. Schlaudt was engaged in the trade of carpentry. Dur- ing his spare moments, a small greenhouse was con- structed. Mrs. Schlaudt worked with intelligence. energy and a determination that meant success, and soon Mr. Schlaudt was called upon to build the second greenhouse, and as the business prospered, more were built, until at the present time there are seven greenhouses on lands contiguous to their nur- sery and adjacent to their residence at 625 North Second Street, San Jose. Seven years ago they started a retail store across from their present loca- tion, but very soon they found it too small, so in about a year they leased the building at 119 South Second Street and their business has grown to fine proportions. They carry a fine stock of cut flowers, frames, ornaments. flower seeds, vegetable plants, potted and flowering plants, and are prepared to make floral designs for weddings, funerals and other occasions, and enjoy a large pa- tronage. They own considerable valuable property, which is increasing in value steadily, and are as- sociated as stockholders in the Nucleus Building and Loan Association: also in the Farmers' Union Bank of San Jose. Mr. Schlaudt is a stanch Republican, serving on the election board of the nineteenth pre- cinct of San Jose for twenty years, consecutively. Fraternally he is a member of the Elks, Eagles. Fra- ternal Brotherhood, Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. His son, Chester E., is a member of the Masons, and Mrs. Schlandt is a member of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs; also of the Woman's Relief Corps. The family are consistent and hon- ored members of the Grace Lutheran Church of San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Schlaudt are broad-minded, public-spirited, honored by all who know them, and popular because of their many amiable traits.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 90

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1934

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934