USA > California > Santa Cruz County > History of Santa Cruz County, California with Biographical Sketches > Part 18
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Mr. Aston's marriage, December 18, 1882, united him with Miss Mary Ellen Welch, a native of Watsonville, and the daughter of Richard R. Welch, an old-time resident and pioneer of Santa Cruz county. Fraternally Mr. Aston is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Knights of Columbus, Eagles, and Foresters of America, and though interested in political affairs, has no ambition to fill public office, preferring to conserve his energies for his busi- ness efforts.
WILLIAM F. HORSTMAN.
So pronounced has been the success attendant upon the persistent, arduous and long-continued labors of Mr. Horst- man in the occupation of a vineyardist and fruit-rancher, that his name has become well known far beyond the confines of his home county of Santa Cruz and the reputation of his product extends into other states of the Union. The Table Mountain ranch on Two-Bar creek (formerly known as the John L. Rose tract) has been developed from a raw area of wild, moun- tainous country, into a rich, productive and attractive fruit
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farm, whose rich soil, with the aid of the warm sun and the genial breezes, responds to cultivation with an ardor and promptness amazing to men familiar with locations less for- tunately situated. The contrast between the original appear- ance of the tract and its present cultivated condition proves the persistence with which the owner has labored through all the years of his residence here, and the productiveness of the land may be attributed to his wise judgment in selecting for cultivation only such fruits and such varieties of grapes as are especially adapted to the soil and climate.
William F. Horstman was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 30, 1863, and at an early age accompanied other members of the family to Kansas, settling in Manhattan, whose excellent schools furnished him with desirable educational advantages. Upon coming to California he settled in Santa Cruz county, where ever since he has made his home. In those days moun- tain land was deemed undesirable and could be obtained at low prices, large tracts being still subject to the homestead laws. Going to the mountains near Boulder Creek, he took up two hundred and eighty acres of wild land and started to transform the property into a productive acreage. As a re- sult of his unceasing labors he now has a vineyard of forty acres, which yields annually twenty thousand gallons of fine wine, representing an output of eighty tons of grapes. The vines originally were imported by Mr. Horstman, who will plant none but the very choicest qualities. While he has a va- riety of mixed fruits on the ranch, he makes a specialty of grapes and expects soon to increase the acreage in the vine- yard, having found by experience that this part of the country is particularly fitted to raise wine grapes of choice quality, due to the sun exposure on the hillside and also to the fine soil. The California Wine Association of San Francisco pur- chases the entire output of the vineyard.
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A man of prominence in Santa Cruz county, Mr. Horstman possesses a large circle of friends, whose confidence he has won through recognized business qualifications and through sturdy, virile qualities of mind and heart. As secretary and treasurer he is identified with the Santa Cruz Grape Grow- ers' Association, in which from the time of organization he has been a leading member. He is identified with the Saw Mill and Wood Workers' Lumbermen's Union as vice-presi- dent and an influential worker. Upon the erection of the Union high school at Boulder Creek he was chosen a trustee and for three years gave faithful, energetic service in that position, in addition to which he filled a similar position with the Bear Creek school for a period of eleven years. Politically he has been a local leader of the Republican party and as its candidate made a strong race for county sheriff against How- ard V. Trafton in the election of 1906. His marriage in 1883 united him with Miss Kate Frost, a native of San Francisco and a daughter of a gallant captain, who served with distinc- tion as an officer in the Civil war. There are four children in the family of Mr. Horstman, namely: Lorene, Stanley, Willis and Hazel. A number of fraternal organizations in the county have the benefit of his membership, among these being the Druids and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but perhaps he has been most active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for in addition to the lodge work he has been influential also in Canton No. 33, Military Camp of Santa Cruz. It is to such men as he, energetic in action, determined in purpose, patient in the discharge of daily duties and un- daunted by hardships, that the county owes its high stand- ing and its assured prestige throughout the state.
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H. C. WEISENBURGER.
Throughout the country about Watsonville the name of Weisenburger is by no means unfamiliar and carries with it the true western perseverance and determination. In the store on Main street The Weisenburger Company carry a complete and up-to-date line of house-furnishing goods, in- cluding furniture, glassware, stoves, notions, tinware and crockery, besides which they are equipped to do upholstering and repairing of furniture, cleaning and laying carpets, as well as picture framing. From this it will be seen that there is little in the way of household demands which they are un- able to supply, this one fact alone being sufficient to make their place popular, but when to this is added the pleasing personality of the manager the reason for their success is understood.
A native son of the state, Mr. Weisenburger was born in Downieville, Sierra county, February 2, 1864, the son of Conrad and Catherine (Heitz) Weisenburger, both of the latter natives of Bavaria, Germany, but early immigrants to the United States. Their first location here, in the early '40s, was in Peru, LaSalle county, Ill., whence the father came to California by wagon train in 1852 and became in- terested in mining in the vicinity of Downieville and Nevada City. Five years later, in 1857, he returned to his family in Illinois, and the following year went back to Downieville and again took up his mining interests. The accumulations of five years enabled him to send for his wife and children, and thereafter he continued mining for a number of years, al- though during the latter years of his life he followed farm- ing. He passed away in Nevada City in 1902, at the age of eighty-two years, leaving behind him a record of a life well and worthily spent, in a moral as well as a material sense.
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The mother also died in the same city at the age of seventy- two years. Eight children blessed the marriage of this. worthy couple, four of whom were born before the family settled in the west. The children are as follows: C. C., a. resident of Nevada City; J. J., deceased; Louisa, the wife of L. W. Nicholson, of Nevada City; one daughter who died in infancy in Illinois ; H. C., the subject of this article; E. A., a resident of San Francisco; Mary E., the wife of D. D. Calkins, of Watsonville; and one child who died in infancy .. The three children first mentioned came to California with their mother from Illinois in 1863 via Panama.
H. C. Weisenburger received his education in the public schools of Nevada City, and subsequently prepared himself for a business career by learning the carpenter's trade, and later he and his elder brother followed contracting in Nevada. City for a number of years. In the meantime, when he was about twenty years of age, he went to Bellingham, Wash., where for one year he was interested in the butchering busi- ness. Returning to Nevada City at the end of the time he and his brother again became associated in business, this time making a specialty of handling mining machinery and equipment. In the year 1890 they embarked in the grocery and feed business and were on the high road to success when their entire establishment was destroyed by fire and there- after for a time they again took up contracting. H. C. Weisenburger later bought out a planing mill which he con- ducted for three years, but sold it out in 1898 and the same year came to Watsonville, which has since been the scene of his activities. For a time after locating here he carried on contracting and building, the last house which he built be- ing the residence of Dr. Watters. Later he accepted a posi- tion with the Charles Ford Company, in the furniture de- partment, and at the end of one year, in 1901, bought the
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nucleus of his present flourishing business which he con- ducted individually for six months when it was incorporated as the Weisenburger Company, of which he has been secre- tary and manager ever since. A small beginning was added to from time to time, until they now have one of the lead- ing furniture and house-furnishing enterprises in Santa Cruz county. The company has built up a large and extensive trade and occupies the entire first floor of the Weeks block on Main street, besides which they have a well-equipped shop and warehouse in the rear. Mr. Weisenburger, as secretary and manager, is conceded to be one of the most successful merchants in Watsonville, an honor which he worthily merits, for he has worked indefatigably to build up the patronage which the company enjoys today.
Mr. Weisenburger's marriage, April 6, 1889, united him with Miss Mary R. Shurtleff, at the time of her marriage a resident of Nevada City, although she is a native of Ken- tucky, her birth having occurred near Paris. The greater part of her life has been passed in the west, however, her parents having located in California during the early days. One child, Alice M., has been born of this marriage. No citizen of Watsonville has her welfare more keenly at heart than has Mr. Weisenburger, who for four years was a mem- ber of the city council, and previous to locating here he served as assessor of Nevada City for one term. Politically he be- lieves in prohibition and with his voice and vote does his part to overcome the traffic in liquor. In his religious affiliations he is a member of the Christian church, and fraternally he is identified with the Masons, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and Native Sons.
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FRED P. KROUGH.
The well-conducted drug store in Watsonville owned and managed by Mr. Krough is one of the popular as well as one of the substantial places in town, the two causes contributing to this success being the complete line of needed commodities and the personality of the proprietor, who dispenses his wares with so much geniality and good-will.
Mr. Krough is a native son of the state and of the town as well, his birth having occurred in Watsonville November 10, 1872. His parents, Peter and Botella (Sandberg) Krough, were both natives of the province of Sleswick, at the time when it was under the Danish flag. By trade the father was a sea-captain and in this capacity had sailed from Denmark to many of the world's largest ports. On a number of occa- sions he was sent out on expeditions by the Danish govern- ment. He had visited the port of San Francisco in the capac- ity of sea captain several years before taking up his resi- dence in California, which he did in 1870. Locating at that time in Watsonville, he found employment with the well- known firm of Charles Ford Company, as representative of their lumber department, and the lumber interests of the town today are directly traceable to his efforts in early days. He passed away at the early age of forty-seven years, in 1881, while his wife survived until October 4, 1909.
One of a family of five children born to his parents, Fred P. Krough received his education in the public schools of Watsonville and Salinas, the greater part of this being accom- plished prior to the age of twelve years, for after that he combined work in a drug store with his studies, and finally gave up the latter altogether after he had saved up the means with which to perfect himself for the druggist's profession. Going to Chicago, Ill., in 1893 he entered Northwestern Uni-
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versity, from which institution he graduated with honors the following year, taking all of the three prizes offered, besides receiving honorable mention on account of the high average attained in all branches of studies. After his graduation he remained in Chicago for a time and upon coming to the west located in Sacramento, where for a time he filled the position of prescription clerk in a drug store. From there he came to Watsonville and took up similar work, and in the spring of 1897 established the business of which he has since been the proprietor, located in the Cooper block on Main street. Here may be found a complete line of pure drugs and medicines, also a fine line of fancy goods and supplies usual to a well- equipped drug store.
Mr. Krough's marriage was celebrated in 1895 and united him with Eleanor Fouts, of Watsonville, and two children, Lucile and Thelma, have been born to them. Though the duties of his business absorb a great deal of his time Mr. Krough is not neglectful of his duties as a good citizen and is always ready to aid any measure that has the well-being of the community at heart. He served on the board that drafted the charter of Watsonville. Politically he is a Re- publican, and fraternally he holds membership with the Elks, Odd Fellows and with the Native Sons.
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MATT J. McGOWAN.
Numerous philanthropic and religious movements have con- tributed their aid to the moral upbuilding of Watsonville and among these none has been more successful in its efforts or more permanent in its influence than the Young Men's Chris- tian Association, of which since 1902 Mr. McGowan has offi- ciated as president. For the year previous to his election as chief executive he served as a director. The history of this organization proves that it has met a long-felt want, offering to the young men of the community an excellent opportunity for the broadening of their lives along lines of the greatest helpfulness. A membership of forty-five constituted the nucleus of the present body. With that number as a start others were drawn into the movement and each year wit- nesses a substantial increase. The Association maintains a just pride in its building, a substantial structure with a frontage of fifty-nine feet and a depth of three hundred feet, erected at a cost of $22,000, on a lot valued at $5,000 occupy- ing a central location in the town. The building is equipped with the appurtenances necessary to a modern and model structure having for its object the development of the bodies and the training of the minds of the young.
The McGowan family is of remote Scotch lineage, but at the time of the religious persecutions in Scotland some of the race crossed into Ireland and established homes there. John McGowan, who was born in Ireland, lost his father by death when he was a small child. In his youth he brought the widowed mother and the younger children to the United States and settled in New Jersey, near Trenton, where he made a successful but desperate struggle to support the fam- ily out of his small wages. In time other members of the family were able to work and his own wages were increased,
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so that the necessities of existence were never lacking from the home. After he had lived in New Jersey about seventeen years he came to California in 1864 and embarked in farming on the Hughes ranch. From that time until his death, in March of 1901, at the age of about seventy-eight, he devoted . his energies wholly to ranch pursuits.
The marriage of John McGowan united him with Eliza Jarvis, who was born in Ireland and died in California about the year 1872. Six children were born of the union. All attained mature years and all are still living except James, who in 1905 was killed by a falling tree. It is a noteworthy fact that the five survivors reside within three miles of one another and all have comfortable homes of their own. They are as follows: W. J., Sadie, R. H., Matt J. and H. T. At the family home in the Pajaro valley, Monterey county, near the line of Santa Cruz county, Matt J. McGowan was born October 30, 1866. The schools of the valley afforded him a fair education. During early manhood he devoted his atten- tion to general farming, but eventually he turned his atten- tion to fruit-growing. His ranch of one hundred and fifty acres lies three miles in a direct line from Watsonville and contains twenty-two acres of orchard, besides a large bed of strawberries.
While superintending the place personally, Mr. McGowan resides in Watsonville, where he has a pleasant abode at No. 551 Main street. During 1892 he married Miss Louisa Thompson, of Watsonville, who died October 7, 1902, leaving four children, namely: Alice, John and Cecil (twins) and Jarvis. His present wife was formerly Miss Jessie Ryason, of Watsonville, a lady well known in this city and universally admired for attractive qualities of mind and heart. Both Mr. and Mrs. McGowan are earnest communicants of the Presbyterian church and since about 1900 Mr. McGowan has
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officiated as a member of the board of trustees of the congre- gation. Fraternally he has been prominent in the local par- lor, Native Sons of the Golden West, and is now past presi- dent of the order. In addition he has been warmly interested in the Woodmen of the World, while his wife has been equally active in the Woman's Circle of Woodcraft, and at the pres- ent time (1911) she is serving as president of El Pajaro Par- lor No. 35, Native Daughters.
DAVID FRANCIS MAHER.
Personal qualifications of a superior order combined with thorough training for his profession have made the name of David F. Maher well known in legal circles in Watsonville, where for ten years he served efficiently as city attorney, and since retiring to private practice has gathered about him a clientele which speaks eloquently of his knowledge of the law and of his ability to cope successfully with intricate legal questions. A native of the city in which his name and abil- ities are so well known, he was born in Watsonville November 10, 1866, the son of Thomas and Hannah (Mackey) Maher, both of whom were born and reared in Ireland. By trade the father was a machinist and blacksmith, his thorough knowl- edge of which he found of inestimable value, when, as a young man, in 1856, he came to this country and located in Wat- sonville, Cal. On Main street he established a machine and blacksmith shop, where now is located the city hall, and main- tained a thriving business until 1874, when he met with an accident in his work that affected his eyesight so seriously that he was compelled to retire from active duties. In 1877 he went to Minnesota, but two years later returned to Cali- fornia and located in Sacramento, in 1882 came to Santa
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Cruz, and in 1884 located once more in Watsonville, where he was making his home at the time of his death in 1898, at the age of sixty-seven years. Five children comprised the family of Thomas and Hannah (Mackey) Maher, but one of the number is deceased.
David F. Maher received his preparatory education in the public schools of Sacramento, Santa Cruz and Watsonville, and thus laid the substantial foundation upon which in later years he builded so wisely and well. Ambition rather than necessity led him, while still a boy, to begin his independent career, and for a time he filled the position of roller boy in the office of the Pajaronian, a newspaper in Watsonville, and subsequently he entered the office of the Watsonville Tran- script for the purpose of learning the printer's trade. Being an apt pupil he readily acquired a knowledge of the printing business in all of its details and finally was made foreman of the Transcript office. It was while filling this position that he began reading law, the greater part of this being done after his day's work at the office was over. Finally, in 1891, he resigned his position in Watsonville, and going to San Francisco secured a similar position and at the same time continued his legal studies. Having in the meantime com- pleted his studies he finally returned to Watsonville and was admitted to the bar before Judge McCann in 1893. It was about this time also that he received his appointment as city attorney, a position which he filled acceptably for ten years altogether. In order to perfect himself in his profession he took a course in the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, graduating from that institution with the degree of LL. B. Mr. Maher's entire legal career has been passed in Watson- ville, where from the first he had received the patronage of the best class of citizens, who recognize and appreciate his ability and in giving him their accounts, do so with the knowl-
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edge that their interests will be protected. At first Mr. Maher had a partner in L. D. Holbrook, business being car- ried on under the name of Holbrook & Maher, but after about six years the partnership was dissolved and since then Mr. Maher has continued in practice alone. In addition to his private practice he acts as attorney for a number of corpora- tions.
In Ann Arbor, Mich., June 23, 1897, Mr. Maher was united in marriage with Marie E. Bruegel, a native of that city, and three children, Waldo, Oscar and Rolland, have been born to them. Since 1893 Mr. Maher has been qualified to act in the capacity of notary public. Fraternally he belongs to the Masonic order, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World, Elks, Knights of Pythias and also to the Native Sons of the Golden West. In his political leanings he is and always has been a staunch Republican.
HENRY A. PETERSEN.
The owner and proprietor of the Watsonville bottling works has been a resident of California ever since a youth of seventeen years, at which time, in 1884, he secured employ- ment in the sugar factory owned by Claus Spreckels and lo- cated in San Francisco. Being entirely inexperienced, at first he received only meagre wages, but his salary was increased as his usefulness was demonstrated and in a very few years after he had started with the company he had risen to a posi- tion of considerable trust. During the year 1888 the com- pany sent him to Honolulu to fill an important position in their plant on the Hawaiian islands, where he continued for three years, being sent back to San Francisco in 1891 to re- sume work in the plant at that point. In the interests of the
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same company he was requested to come to Watsonville in 1893 and it was in this way that he became a resident of the city with whose commercial enterprises he has been person- ally connected ever since his arrival.
After having filled the position of sugar-boiler for the com- pany for a considerable period, Mr. Petersen began to find a salaried position unsatisfactory and he decided to embark in business for himself. It was during 1895 that he em- barked in his present business as proprietor of a bottling plant and since then he has built up the largest business of its kind in Santa Cruz county. The satisfactory result at- tained may be attributed to his determination and energy. When he started he had nothing, yet in a comparatively brief period he has developed an industry profitable to himself and capable of further development. To the already extensive business in 1904 he added a plant for the manufacture of soda and since then he has kept on hand practically every kind of soft drink to be found on the market. In addition he acts as agent for the sale of a variety of mineral waters. The plant is situated on Kearney street, Watsonville, and contains the equipment necessary for the successful prosecution of the business. In October, 1910, he erected a comfortable home, modern in appointments, on Lake avenue, and here he makes his home with his family.
Keenly interested in political issues and firm in his ad- vocacy of independent principles, Mr. Petersen has been active in civic affairs ever since he became a citizen of Wat- sonville. During 1907 he was elected a member of the board of aldermen for a term of two years and at the expiration of the time in 1909 he was again chosen alderman, this time for a term of four years. In the council he favors progressive enterprises and is ever on the alert to further movements for the general welfare, believing that the growth of a town is
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commensurate with the public spirit and ambition of its peo- ple. In fraternal relations he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, Order of Eagles, Foresters of America and Knights of the Royal Arch. With a number of these organ- izations he became identified as a charter member upon their establishment in Watsonville. The work of the fire depart- ment has enlisted his support and as a volunteer in the same he has been of use in promoting a civic enterprise of accepted importance. The marriage of Mr. Petersen was solemnized in 1897 and united him with Miss Minnie Nohrden, by whom he has one child, Violet, born in 1899. The entire life of Mrs. Petersen has been passed within the limits of California and she has many friends among those who have enjoyed her acquaintance. Born in San Francisco and reared in Watson- ville, she is a daughter of the late Henry Nohrden, who for years before his demise occupied a high position among the influential citizens of Watsonville.
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