USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume II > Part 10
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Maurice M. Roach attended the Christian Brothers College until sixteen years of age and subsequently secured a position as clerk in a retail grocery store, being thus employed until 1894. He then became requisition clerk in the United States construction and repair department on Mare Island, holding that position until May, 1905. when he resigned and returned to Oakland. Here he spent two years in the government supply business and then became deputy county assessor, discharging the duties of that position for a year and a half. On the expiration of that period he purchased a half interest in the undertaking establishment of J. H. McCarthy & Company. now known as Roach & Kenney, and has remained in that business to the present time, success attending his venture. In March, 1914, they removed to their present location at 3479 Piedmont avenue, where they have one of the finest equipped parlors in the state.
In March, 1896, in San Francisco, Mr. Roach was united in marriage to Miss Alice M. Giggus, by whom he has four children, as follows: Maurice, sixteen years of age, who is a student in St. Anthony's school; Elizabeth, who is fourteen years old and attends Lourdes Academy; Leo, who is nine years of age and attends St. Anthony's school; and Charles, five years old.
In his political views Mr. Roach is independent, supporting men and measures rather than party. His fraternal relations are with the Knights of Columbus, the Maccabees and the Foresters of America. Well known in the city of his nativity, he has won the uniform trust and good will of all by reason of his pleasant and attractive per- sonality, and all his life he has been straightforward and honorable.
FRANK A. BRIGGS.
Frank A. Briggs is an active representative of business interests in Alameda county as manager of the Oakland branch of Sherman- Clay & Company of San Francisco, who are the leading piano mer- chants on the Pacific coast. His birth occurred in Booneville. Mis- souri, on the 18th of August, 1877, his parents being Dr. C. H. and Mrs. Mattie A. Briggs. He became a public-school student in Nevada, Missouri, at the age of twelve and a year later entered a private school at Fayette, Missouri, there continuing his studies until fourteen years of age. During the following four years he attended Central College and subsequently engaged in the profession of teach- ing in Kansas City, Missouri, for four years. He next pursued a
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two years' post-graduate course in Vanderbilt University at Nash- ville. Tennessee, and then returned to Kansas City, where he taught school until September, 1904. At that time he entered the service of the Jenkins Music Company as salesman and later became depart- ment manager, holding the latter position until February, 1912, when he resigned to become manager of the Oakland branch of Sherman- Clay & Company of San Francisco. In that position of responsibility he has remained to the present time, ably directing the interests of the firm in Oakland, for he is a young man of excellent executive ability and sound judgment.
In May, 1903, at Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Briggs was united in marriage to Miss Bessie Barlow, by whom he has one child, Richard, who is nine years of age and a public-school student. He is a republican in politics and belongs to the Chamber of Commerce, the Oakland Commercial Club and the Nile Club. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, being past commander of Oriental Commandery of the Knights Templar in Kansas City. He has by his winning personality formed a large acquaintance in Oakland and his successful business career as well as his general reputation for sterling integrity and ability have made him respected wherever he is known.
JOHN J. McDONALD.
John J. McDonald, a practicing attorney of Oakland, has here followed his profession successfully for about two decades and has likewise been a prominent factor in political circles. He is num- bered among the worthy native sons of Alameda county, his birth having occurred near Haywards. His father, Thomas McDonald, was one of the early settlers of this county, coming here in 1854.
In the acquirement of an education John J. McDonald attended the public schools of Alameda county and also pursued a course of study in St. Mary's College, where he was graduated in 1891. In preparation for the practice of law he entered Hastings Law School and following his graduation was admitted to the bar in 1894. Dur- ing the nineteen years which have since elapsed he has built up an extensive and enviable clientage in Oakland and has maintained a reputation as one of the able and successful representatives of the profession here. Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity. it cannot be denied that members of the bar have been more promi-
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nent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and training which qualify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. Mr. McDonald has been a very prominent fac- tor in public affairs and for the past fifteen years has taken an active part in democratic politics in California. He served as chairman of the democratic county committee for ten years and was a member of the board of freeholders which formed the last city charter of Oakland, being the only democrat elected on the board.
In April, 1904, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Miss Alice Flynn, a native of San Francisco, by whom he has two sons, John J., Jr., and Robert L. He is a member of the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks and the Knights of Columbus and also belongs to the Athenian Club of Oakland. In professional, political and social circles of Alameda county he is well and favorably known, having spent his entire life within its borders.
JOHN WATERMAN PHILLIPS.
As president of the Grayson-Owen Company and in many other important connections John Waterman Phillips is prominently iden- tified with the business life of Oakland, where for many years he has been considered one of its most enterprising citizens and a man who in a large way has contributed toward establishing the present pros- perous conditions. A descendant of old New England families, Mr. Phillips has inherited many laudable traits of character peculiar to that race which he has turned to good account. His birth occurred in Middletown, Connecticut, in 1832 and he is a son of Elijah and Clarissa (Hough) Phillips, both natives of that state. The original seat of the Phillips home was in England, whence an ancestor emi- grated to American shores during the Colonial period. The mother was a daughter of Asa Hough, who distinguished himself in the Revo- lutionary war, serving with the rank of captain.
In the public schools of Lewis county, New York, John Waterman Phillips acquired his early education and later attended Lowville Academy, his parents having removed from Connecticut to New York state in 1837, when he was but five years of age. For two winters Mr. Phillips taught school but in 1854 came to California over
JOHN W. PHILLIPS
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the Isthmus route. Arriving in San Francisco, he proceeded to Mari- posa county, where for one winter he followed placer mining. In the spring he removed yet farther north to Trinity county, locating near Weaverville, where he established several meat markets. He also engaged extensively in buying cattle, driving them to his place of business, where he slaughtered them and prepared them for sale. For the greater part of the time he conducted three markets and also supplied a number of local butchers in that section. The year 1858 found him in Oregon purchasing cattle which he drove to the Cali- fornia markets. In 1860 Mr. Phillips returned to New York for his bride and shortly after again set out for California, continuing in his former line, conducting meat markets in Trinity county and in Red Bluff, Tehama county. He carried on an extensive business of this kind for about ten years.
The year 1870 witnessed his arrival in Oakland, where shortly after he established a wholesale packing house from which he sup- plied the city butchers as well as the surrounding country. His firm was known as Grayson, Owen & Company and so continued until 1901, when Messrs. Grayson and Owen sold their interests. The continually growing business made it advisable to incorporate and for that reason the Grayson-Owen Company came into being, its capital stock amounting to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Phillips was elected president and has ever since continued in that important position. Mr. Phillips has also other interests, being director of the Union Gas Engine Company, a director of the Pacific Surety Company and at present president of the Mountain View Cemetery Association. He has also been a director of the Central Bank ever since its inception. In early days Mr. Phillips invested in Fruitvale property, and the first business block ever built in that section was due to his initiative. He is an aggressive and progressive man, shrewd, able and one who readily understands a situation and who, moreover, can make such situation serve his purpose. The Grayson-Owen Company own twenty thousand acres of the finest land in San Luis Obispo county, where they raise and breed cattle for the market, and they have a large plant at the stockyards at Emery- ville.
In 1860, at East Durham, New York, Mr. Phillips married Miss Anna M. Pierce, the only daughter of a well known and highly respected merchant of East Durham. She bore her husband two daughters, the oldest of whom became the wife of Irving C. Lewis, vice president of the Grayson-Owen Company. Mrs. Lewis died April 1, 1907, leaving one son, Phillips Frisbie Lewis. The other Vol. 11-7
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daughter married G. N. Easton, and their children are Anna J., Russell and Elizabeth. After forty-three years of domestic happi- ness Mrs. Phillips passed away in 1903. Two years later Mr. Phillips married Mrs. Henry Martin of San Francisco. She has also been called to her final rest, and he has since made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Easton.
Mr. Phillips is prominent in the Masonic order, having been one of the charter members of Brooklyn Lodge, No. 225, F. & A. M., of East Oakland, in which he has held all of the chairs. He also belongs to Alameda Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M., and Oakland Commandery. No. 11, K. T. He is a life member of the Order of the Eastern Star. His club connections are with the Athenian, of which he is a life member, the Home and the Claremont Country Clubs. Although now past eighty years of age Mr. Phillips is still actively concerned in all questions of public importance and gives much time and thought to his extensive interests. He has become a loyal son of California and is proud of the city which honors in him one of her pioneers.
GEORGE ROEHM.
George Roehm is the president of the Independent Brewing Com- pany of Oakland, which he organized on the Ist of November, 1911. His birth occurred in Wittenburg, Germany, on the 18th of Novem- ber, 1872, his parents being David and Margaret Roehm. He attended the public schools until fourteen years of age and subse- quently served an apprenticeship in a brewery, being employed therein until he had attained his majority. At the age of twenty- one he emigrated to the United States and located in San Francisco, California, where he was employed as a brewer in the South San Francisco Brewery until February, 1899. He then came to Oakland and was here engaged as brewer with the Anchor Brewery until November 1, 1911, when he organized the Independent Brewing Company, of which he has since remained the president. Success has come to him in large measure and has won him recognition among the prosperous and representative business men of the city. He is a valued member of the Brewer Masters Association.
On the 8th of September, 1900, in Wittenburg, Germany, Mr. Roehm was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Neu, by whom he has two children, George and Fred, who are twelve and nine years of age respectively and are attending the public schools. He gives his
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political allegiance to the republican party and belongs to the Schwaben Verein, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Foresters. Mr. Roehm is a man of many sterling traits of character, reliable in business and progressive in citizenship, and has gained the confi- dence, good-will and esteem of all who have been in any way asso- ciated with him.
W. B. TOWNSEND.
W. B. Townsend, who has been a resident of Oakland for the past three years, acts as general agent of the Western Pacific, Denver & Rio Grande and Missouri Pacific Railways, to which position he was appointed on the ist of July, 1910. During his varied career he has been identified with journalism, advertising, photography and rail- road interests, now having charge of all freight and passenger busi- ness for the Western Pacific Railway in Alameda county. He began his business career at the age of eighteen as official photographer for the Missouri Pacific Railway at St. Louis and spent two years in taking photographs of all industries, depots, etc., of the Missouri Pacific System. At the end of that time he was appointed traveling passenger agent of the Missouri Pacific and St. Louis, Iron Moun- tain & Southern Railways at Memphis and was thence transferred to Chicago as traveling passenger agent for the Missouri Pacific System.
Immediately after the peace treaty had been signed with the Spaniards after the Cuban war, Mr. Townsend entered into a con- tract with the N. D. Thompson Publishing Company and the St. Louis Republic to visit Cuba, Isle of Pines, Porto Rico, Sandwich Islands and the Philippines and take some three thousand pictures showing the island possessions of the United States as they looked at the conclusion of the war and also to write upon conditions of the country at the time. This work consumed a year and a half and resulted in the publication of a thousand page book called "Our Island Possessions and Their People," which was sold extensively in connection with newspapers throughout all parts of the United States. After completing this trip Mr. Townsend was appointed superin- tendent of the Southwestern Railway Advertising & Distributing Company at St. Louis, that company distributing railway advertising matter throughout the states of Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Texas and Louisiana.
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On the ist of January, 1902, Mr. Townsend was appointed travel- ing passenger agent for the Rock Island Railway at Buffalo, where he remained during the Buffalo Exposition. From that point he was transferred as traveling passenger agent of the Rock Island Railway at Salt Lake City, but resigned this position to take that of contract- ing freight agent for the Missouri Pacific Railway at San Francisco. Subsequently he was appointed traveling freight and passenger agent of the Denver & Rio Grande at San Francisco, and later district freight and passenger agent of the Denver & Rio Grande, Missouri Pacific and Texas & Pacific Railways at San Jose, while afterward he was again transferred to San Francisco. On the Ist of July, 1910, he was appointed general agent of the Western Pacific, Denver & Rio Grande and Missouri Pacific Railways at Oakland and in this capacity has remained to the present time, being recognized as a valued and highly efficient representative of those roads.
Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Leila McKillican, her father being Robert McKillican, a prominent contractor of Oak- land. He owns a handsome little bungalow at the foot of Paru street in Alameda. Mr. Townsend is a popular member of the Encinal Yacht Club, the Athenian Club of Oakland, the Oakland Commercial Club, the Nile Club, Aahmes Temple of the Mystic Shrine, Apollo Lodge of Masons and California Commandery of San Francisco. He has lived in various places throughout the United States but likes Oakland better than any previous home.
LESTER WARREN MANTER.
Lester Warren Manter, a progressive young citizen of Oakland, was for four years connected with the Macdonough theatre as its treasurer and assistant manager. His birth occurred in Pasadena, Los Angeles county, California, on the Ist of December, 1887, his parents being Edwin Warren and Nellie B. Manter. In 1889 the family home was established in Oakland and here our subject attended the graded and high schools until the age of nineteen years. Subse- quently he spent two years as a clerk in the retail crockery store of Nathan Dohrman & Company and afterward was employed as book- keeper by the Firemen's Fund Insurance Company for one year, serv- ing as an usher in the Chutes theatre at the same time. He next acted as an usher in the Orpheum theatre of San Francisco for ten months and later spent a year and a half as clerk with the Whittier &
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Coburn Company. Afterward he was employed as a salesman by Butler Brothers of San Francisco until 1909, when he resigned his position to become treasurer and assistant manager of the Mac- donough theatre in Oakland. Throughout the intervening four years he has ably discharged the duties devolving upon him in these con- nections and his efforts have been an important factor in the success- ful management of the theatre.
On the 22d of July, 1911, in Oakland, Mr. Manter was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Henry, by whom he has a son, Warren Addis. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is identified fraternally with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. Mr. Manter likewise belongs to the Theatrical Treasurers Club and is a young man well liked and highly esteemed.
GEORGE H. NOBLE.
George H. Noble, a prominent contractor and builder of Ala- meda, was born in Allegan, Michigan, January 15, 1865. He is a son of John and Maria (Burroughs) Noble, the former a native of Oswego, New York, and the latter of Rochester. The father was a hotel keeper in his native state. He afterward moved to Los Angeles and later to Alameda, where he became well known in religious circles, doing a great deal of effective church work and holding the position of sexton of the Methodist Episcopal church until his death in 1911.
George H. Noble acquired a public-school education, laying aside his books in 1879. He learned the carpenter's trade and worked at it for about two years, giving it up in 1881 in order to mine in Colo- rado, a state in which he remained for two years. In September, 1883, he came to California and for a time worked in the mountain lumber camps around Lake Tahoe and Truckee but came eventually to Alameda, where he turned his attention to the painting business. In 1886 he moved to Los Angeles but after three years returned to Alameda, again establishing himself in the painting business in this city and conducting a profitable enterprise of this character from 1889 to 1907. In the latter year he went to Lake county and engaged in mining, also taking up a government claim, which was valuable on account of the mineral springs upon it. This property, which he called Castle Springs, he sold shortly afterward and, returning again to Alameda, engaged in contracting and building, in which he has
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continued since that time. Many fine business buildings and resi- dences in the city and in surrounding communities testify to his skill and ability, and he has already secured a large and representative patronage, which is constantly increasing as he becomes more widely known.
Mr. Noble married Miss Bessie Echenberger, a daughter of Carl F. and Frances Echenberger, of Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Noble have four children: George Leonard, aged nineteen; Ruth Elizabeth, aged sixteen; Doris Margaret, thirteen; and Harold Edward, nine. Mr. Noble was for ten years a member of the volunteer fire depart- ment of Alameda, and fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the World and the Improved Order of Red Men. In the development of his individual success he has con- tributed also to the commercial advancement of the city where he makes his home and where he is held in high regard by his business associates by reason of his enterprise, integrity and sterling personal worth.
M. M. ENOS, M. D.
Among the prominent and successful surgeons of Alameda county stands Dr. M. M. Enos, founder and owner of St. Anthony's Hos- pital, Oakland. Dr. Enos is truly a native of this county, his birth having occurred at Hayward, July 26, 1875.
Dr. Enos acquired his early education in the public schools of his native town and later attended the California Medical College at San Francisco, from which he was graduated in 1896. He after- ward took a course in the National University of Chicago and was later a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Chicago, the medical department of the University of Illinois, and later took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Polyclinic. For a time Dr. Enos taught surgery in the National Medical School of Chicago and while there was associated with many of the leading surgeons of the middle west.
He is the founder of St. Anthony's Hospital, established in Oak- land in 1904, and he holds a high position in the ranks of the medical profession in California. The Doctor specializes in surgery.
Dr. Enos is a director in the Portuguese-American Bank of San Francisco and makes his home at the Hotel Oakland. He is a member of the American Medical Association and the California
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State and Alameda County Medical Societies and always keeps in close touch with the most advanced thought and practice of the medi- cal profession. He is a conscientious and able physician and is held in high regard by the local public and by his fellow practitioners.
RICHARD T. KESSLER.
Richard T. Kessler, a successful and representative citizen of Oak- land, acts as secretary and manager of the Kessler Cafe at No. 463 Eleventh street. His birth occurred in Bernburg, Germany, on the 14th of November, 1861, his parents being Albert and Augusta Kessler. The father was a manufacturer of lead and tin pipes, con- ducting a foundry and machine shop at Bernburg.
Richard T. Kessler attended the gymnasium until seventeen years of age and afterward was employed as a clerk by an importing and banking firm of Stettin, Germany, until 1880. In that year he emi- grated to the United States and, landing in New York, there became clerk for a large pocket-book manufacturer, for whom he subse- quently traveled until 1886. During that year he spent three months in Europe. He next made his way to San Francisco and there spent a year as a hotel clerk in the Russ House, while later he conducted a cafe in the wholesale district until 1895. Selling out, he then spent one year in European travel.
Returning to San Francisco, Mr. Kessler again opened a cafe and conducted the same until 1905, when he sold out to become manager of the Pabst Cafe in Oakland, on Eighth street, between Broadway and Franklin. There he remained until April, 1913, and then removed to Eleventh street, between Broadway and Washington, which is his present location. The name was changed to the Kessler Cafe and our subject now acts as its secretary and manager. It is attractively appointed and has become very popular and much patronized under the able management and direction of Mr. Kessler.
In San Francisco, on the 26th of August, 1896, Mr. Kessler was united in marriage to Miss Emma Michaelis, by whom he has a daughter, Irma, who is a high-school student. He is a republican in politics and casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of that party. He belongs to the Turn Verein and is likewise identified with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Loyal Order of Moose, the German General Benevolent Society of San Francisco and the Ger- man Altenheim, Fruitvale. With trade interests he keeps in touch
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as a member of the Commercial Club, the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants Exchange. He is widely and favorably known in various connections, possessing the social, genial qualities which everywhere gain friendship and win confidence.
JOSEPH NICHOLAS GHIRARDELLI.
In the death of Joseph Nicholas Ghirardelli, which occurred in Oakland, May 11, 1906, Alameda county lost one of its most popular, prominent and successful business men and public-spirited citizens, and California a representative of one of the best known pioneer families of the state. Mr. Ghirardelli was born in San Francisco, February 7, 1852, and was a son of Domingo Ghirardelli, a pioneer in that city, who had founded and conducted a successful chocolate manufacturing business for many years.
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