USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume II > Part 44
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Mr. Maslin has been deeply interested in horticulture and stands as a prominent representative of fruit-growing interests in California. He has watched experiments and has been a leader in the movement which has brought about many improvements in the methods and manner of cultivating fruit on the Pacific coast. His religious faith is that of the Episcopal church. He belongs to the Unitarian Club of Alameda and to the Friendly Club of San Francisco. In politics he is primarily an old-fashioned democrat, but frequently votes for candidates of the republican party. In a word, he is a broad-minded man, who looks at every vital and significant question from a liberal standpoint, and he keeps in touch with the trend of thought and interests of the day. Old age need not suggest as a
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matter of course idleness nor want of occupation; on the contrary. there is an old age that grows stronger and brighter mentally and physically as the years go on and gives out of its rich stores of wisdom and experience for the benefit of others. Such is the career of Edwin Wesley Maslin, who at the age of eighty years is still an active factor in the world's work.
GEORGE HENRY MASTICK.
George Henry Mastick, an able and prominent lawyer of San Francisco and a resident of Alameda, was born in the former city May 23, 1856, a son of E. B. and Lucretia L. M. (Wood) Mastick, both of whom were natives of Ohio. They came to California in 1853, and Mr. Mastick opened an office for the practice of law in San Francisco, where he continued in active connection with the profession until his death in February, 1901, covering a period of nearly fifty years. He ranked not only as one of the pioneer law- yers but also as one of the prominent and honored attorneys there. His wife passed away about the same time. In 1862 the family had removed their residence to Alameda and here G. H. Mastick still resides.
It was in the public and high schools of San Francisco that George H. Mastick pursued his early education, while his profes- sional training was received in the Hastings College of Law, from which he was graduated with the class of 1881. He at once entered upon active practice in San Francisco, where he has since remained, and following in the footsteps of his father he has gained success, honor and prominence as a member of the bar, being accorded a large and distinctively representative clientage. In addition to his profession he has done much public work of an important character with far-reaching and beneficial effects. For the past twelve years he has been one of the trustees of the State Normal School at San Jose and to him is due the credit for the establishment of Alameda's beautiful public library. Since reaching the age of eighteen years he has been a member of the library board and much of the time has served as its chairman, which position he now occupies. It was in 1875 or 1876 that the library was established and received its first supply of books from private libraries of the city. The people took a keen interest in the movement and in 1878, when the state law was voted giving cities the authority to own and manage public
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libraries, it was decided to turn the library over to the city. During the latter part of 1897 Mr. Carnegie volunteered a gift of ten thou- sand dollars, but Mr. Mastick immediately took the matter up with him, explaining that the city could furnish the necessary ground but that it would not be possible to provide the cost of building, which should not be less than thirty-five thousand dollars. After full con- sideration of the subject and through the persuasion of Mr. Mastick, Mr. Carnegie granted the full thirty-five thousand dollars, with which was built the handsome library that stands as a monument to the city's intellectual progress and would be a credit to a city of much larger size.
On the 19th of May, 1883, in Alameda, Mr. Mastick was married to Miss Lizzie Spencer, a native of Illinois, and unto them have been born a daughter and two sons: Winifred, the wife of Ira Clerk of Alameda; and Spencer and George H. The two sons are en- gaged in operating the Langtry ranch in Lake county and, although both are young men but little more than twenty years of age, they are meeting with notable success in the undertaking. Mr. Mastick is a republican in politics but not an active party worker. He is widely known in San Francisco and throughout Alameda county and is a popular member of the Pacific-Union and the Bohemian Clubs of his native city.
JOHN H. NICHOLL.
The name of John H. Nicholl has come to be regarded as synonymous with business development and progress in Oakland, for as secretary of the John Nicholl Company he has given to the city one of its largest and most important realty concerns. His initiative spirit has founded other enterprises, which his executive ability has made prosperous and important. He has, moreover, been active in promoting the best interests of the community along many lines and throughout his entire life has directed his efforts where mature judg- ment and keen discrimination have led the way.
John H. Nicholl was born in San Leandro, Alameda county, in 1855. and is a son of John and Agnes Booth ( Hodge) Nicholl, natives of the north of Ireland, both of Scotch ancestry. The father is one of the pioneers of Alameda county. He came to America in 1849 and to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1853. Upon his arrival in San Francisco he paid one dollar to go across the bay
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to San Antonio, now Oakland, and he went thence to San Leandro, where for a time he operated a grain ranch on shares. He later pur- chased land of his own, raising yearly abundant crops of wheat and potatoes, and he operated this property until 1857, when he moved to San Pablo Rancho, now the city of Richmond, where he again engaged in grain farming, also buying and selling grain and operat- ing a warehouse at Stege. In 1876 he built the Arlington block at Ninth and Washington streets in Oakland, the first brick block on Washington street, and this building is still in possession of the family. Even in the early days he was a firm believer in the future of Ala- meda county and frequently predicted that a city would rise on the old San Pablo Rancho and a tunnel would be cut through the hills to the bay, making a shipping port at that point. This prediction has since been fulfilled in every detail. In 1895, following the death of his wife, John Nicholl, Sr., moved to East Oakland, where he now lives in retirement at a very advanced age, as he will be ninety-two years old in November, 1914.
John H. Nicholl acquired his early education in the San Pablo public schools and later attended the California Military Academy at Oakland and the Pacific Business College of San Francisco. Fol- lowing the completion of his studies he ran the Nicholl Hotel in Oakland for four years, after which he engaged in mining on the Wood river, Idaho. He removed thence to Salt Lake City and in 1899 returned to Oakland, organizing in the same year the John Nicholl Company, a close corporation, of which he has since been secretary and manager. He maintains offices in Richmond and Oakland, through which passes daily an immense amount of busi- ness. The John Nicholl Company controls valuable real-estate holdings in Ventura, Contra Costa and Alameda counties and holds valuable tracts of land around Richmond. Land belonging to the company was sold in 1896 for the right of way for the Santa Fe Railroad. The company made the first sale in Richmond to Claus Spreckels for the use of the San Francisco & San Jose Valley Rail- road. The consideration was eighty thousand dollars, and the land was the best part of "Point Richmond." Mr. Nicholl recently sold for five hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars one hundred and eleven acres in the heart of Richmond, land which had been acquired by his father in the early days for thirty dollars per acre. This was the largest sale of undivided and unimproved property ever made in the United States. Mr. Nicholl is now the owner of some of the most valuable ranches in Ventura county, Spanish grants acquired int 1867, and has one thousand acres in that locality planted in lima
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beans and English walnuts. He still has large property hold- ings in Richmond and in various other sections of California. Al- though he is a man of power and prominence in real-estate circles, his interests have not by any means been confined to this field, as is evident from the fact that he was the founder in 1901 of the Bank of Richmond, which, starting with a capital of thirty thousand dol- lars, has under his administration as president increased this to one hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Nicholl is also known as the organ- izer of the first water company in Richmond. His knowledge of present day business conditions is comprehensive and exact and to the solution of many difficult problems which have confronted him in the course of years he has brought keen discrimination and pene- trating sagacity.
Mr. Nicholl is an ex-member of the Richmond industrial com- mission and in the summers of 1913 and 1914 made trips to Wash- ington as a delegate to secure an appropriation from the United States government for harbor improvements in Richmond. He can always be counted upon in the furtherance of any plan for the ad- vancement of the city, where he has gained prominence as a man of marked ability and substantial achievement. His unbending integ- rity of character, his marked business ability and his public spirit make him a citizen whose worth is widely acknowledged.
HAROLD HAVENS.
It is readily conceded that the rapid growth of California's cities is largely due to the intelligent efforts of real-estate men, who by keeping the realty market active have induced millions of foreign capital to flow to this state and have ever promoted enterprise and expansion. One of the men who stands high among these success- ful promoters is Harold Havens, of Berkeley, president of Harold Havens, Incorporated, engaged in real-estate dealing and a native of Oakland.
Mr. Havens received his education in the Oakland schools and Leland Stanford Junior University, and was practically reared in a real-estate atmosphere, having ever since his youth devoted his ener- gies to that line of business. He has acquired a knowledge of realty values which is wonderful in its accuracy, and he readily recognizes an opportunity. He gives his customers and patrons the benefit of his vast knowledge in this line and they are assured of expert service.
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In Oakland he was connected with the Realty Syndicate and with his brother, Wicham Havens, in the Wicham Havens Company, remain- ing in that city until 1907, when he came to Berkeley and acquired by purchase the hillside land overlooking San Francisco bay and the Golden Gate. This tract comprised two hundred and eighty-seven acres and he subdivided the same, giving it the name of Cragmont. It is divided into attractive residence lots and is highly improved with fine roads, drives, parking, flowers and trees, and traction lines traverse the property. It commands probably the most attractive view in Alameda county and the most modern street work has been put into the subdivision. Cragmont is therefore fast becoming one of the most exclusive residence sections of the city. Mr. Havens is also interested in a number of other land companies. Moreover, he is a director in the Claremont Hotel Company.
An incessant worker, Mr. Havens finds his recreation in the open, of which he is a great lover, and is as ardent a player as he is a worker. He is deeply devoted to the hunt and has trailed and brought down with his gun big game in Alaska, Montana and Nevada. Among his trophies is grizzly bear and moose, and he has brought from his hunting trips a collection which is one of the finest in the state. Mr. Havens is well known in clubdom, is a member of the Bohemian and Family Clubs of San Francisco, the Athenian Club of Oakland and the Fairmont Country Club. Careful of his own interests, he has achieved success while he has always been considerate of others. He is public-spirited in the most noble sense of the word and is ever ready to place his ability and his means at the dis- posal of worthy public enterprises. A western man, he pulses with the western spirit, and he imbues with his enthusiasm all who come in contact with him. Genial and pleasant in manner, he has made many friends who prize his close acquaintanceship and is highly esteemed and respected by the general public for what he has accom- plished and those qualities of his character which have made pos- sible his success.
CHARLES A. JEFFERY.
The history of Charles A. Jeffery is that of a representative busi- ness man of the west, alert and energetic. The steps in his orderly progression are easily discernible. He has none of those qualities which are termed genius, but he has a talent for hard work, com-
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bined with a discriminating judgment, that enables him to readily recognize what is essential and discard the nonessential. Thus it is that he has won place among the leading and prosperous business men of San Leandro and Alameda county. He was born in Chi- cago, Illinois, in September, 1879. His father, John B. Jeffery, was one of the pioneer publishers of that city, devoting many years of his life to newspaper work and the publishing business in Chicago. He is now a resident of New York city and is at the head of the Jeffery-Ferguson International Publicity Bureau. The extent and importance of his business interests have gained him prominence in his chosen field.
Charles A. Jeffery was a student in the public schools of Chicago, also pursued a business course there and took night courses of study in the Young Men's Christian Association. In 1898, under the civil service rules, he became civilian clerk under his father, who was appointed by President Mckinley as assistant quartermaster of United States volunteers for service in the Philippines. Mr. Jeffery went to the Philippines and there remained for a year, at the end of which time he was mustered out. In the meantime the family had removed to Oakland, where he joined them. After his return home the Suburban Light & Power Company was organized, and Mr. Jeffery was elected its secretary, in which position he continued for ten or eleven years, or until the company sold out to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. He was largely instrumental in bringing about the success which attended the original company, bending his efforts to administrative direction and executive control and along practical lines, building up a business which became one of the profitable industries of the district. He was also at one time secre- tary of the Mount Diablo Light & Power Company and since his retirement from those offices he has given his attention to the real- estate and brokerage business and to the supervision of his individual interests. In the fall of 1911 he removed to San Leandro and erected a large and beautiful residence on Estudillo avenue, where he now makes his home.
Mr. Jeffery has never allowed business interests to so occupy his time that public duties have been forgotten. In fact, throughout his entire life he has cooperated in movements for the general good and in July, 1913, he succeeded A. B. Cary as trustee of the San Leandro school district, being appointed by the county superintendent of schools to fill the vacancy. He was also elected to the office of clerk of the board. His cooperation can always be counted upon to further public measures that have to do with the material, intel-
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lectual, political and moral progress of the community. He votes with the republican party, yet is not an active worker in its ranks. He is a member of the First Congregational church of Oakland, and he belongs also to the Masonic lodge, the Eastern Star and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
On the 15th of April, 1903, in Oakland, Mr. Jeffery was united in marriage to Miss Louise Robins, a daughter of George Robins, a pioneer of California and one of the early judges of San Francisco. The children of this marriage are five in number : Dorothy, Florence, Charles A., and John B. and George R., twins. Like her husband, Mrs. Jeffery is a member of the First Congregational church and takes an active and helpful interest in its work. She is also known in club circles and is treasurer of the Alta Mira Club of San Leandro. Their social position is one of leadership, and their own home is noted for its warm-hearted hospitality. Mr. Jeffery is among those who have recognized the wonderful opportunities of the growing west and, taking advantage of these, has made rapid progress in a business way, his even paced energy, undaunted enterprise and enter- prising spirit bringing him into important business relations.
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CHARLES PROWSE.
For many years Charles Prowse has been successfully engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Hayward, California, in which city he was one of the pioneers. He also discharges the duties of justice of the peace and county supervisor and moreover is town recorder. He was born in Galena, Illinois, May 28, 1852, and is a son of Thomas and Elvina ( Bradshaw) Prowse, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Jacksonville, Illinois. The father paid his first visit to California in 1850, but in 1851 returned to Illinois, coming again to California in 1868, when he brought his family to the Castro valley, where he engaged in farming. He died in 1869, his wife passing away quite recently. In their family were thirteen children, of whom our subject is the seventh in order of birth.
Charles Prowse attended public school in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, but at the early age of thirteen made his way across the plains to Montana, bringing a drove of cattle from his native state to the western frontier a trip of about twenty-six hundred miles. He lived in Montana about three years but later came to the Castro
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valley, where his father had bought land. Following the death of the latter he continued in the opeation of the family farm for a time, but in 1880 gave up agricultural pursuits and moved to Hayward, where he accepted a position as foreman of the warehouse business and lumber yard conducted by Anspacher Brothers and so continued until 1883. He then turned his attention to the real-estate and insur- ance business and has ever since been active along that line. The years have brought him success, and he has handled much country and town property, being now considered one of the substantial residents of his city. He has always proven himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him and his advice is frequently sought upon financial matters in regard to real estate, as he is considered one of the best judges of land in and around Hayward.
Mr. Prowse married Miss Lucinda F. Luce, a native of Cali- fornia, the ceremony taking place at Hayward. They became the parents of five children: Joseph Bradshaw; Emma L., deceased ; Mary Olive, the wife of Joseph A. Gibson, of Elmhurst; Gertrude L .; and Arthur James.
Mr. Prowse has always taken a most active part in public prog- ress. One of his achievements was in securing Hayward public park, the Plaza, which for years was a dumping ground for refuse and a menace to the health of the city. Part of it was occupied by business concerns who were illegally holding and using the ground. In 1900 Mr. Prowse began a movement to secure and devote the spot to public use. The matter had to be taken into court and a favor- able decision was handed down by Justice Field, reestablishing the city's title to the entire plat, which embraces a huge city block. Judge Prowse personally donated one hundred trees at a consider- able expense as a beginning to beautify the Plaza, which is now one of the show places of the town and would be a credit to a city many times the size of Haywarl.
He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and in 1903 was appointed to the board of supervisors in order to serve out the unex- pired term of Joseph Pinentel-a period of two years -and was subsequently elected and reelected for two terms of four years. He acts as justice of the peace and has earned the general indorsement of the public, for his decisions have always been fair and impartial. Since January 1, 1901, he has also been town recorder of Hayward. He has shown himself able and faithful in the discharge of his public duties, the people giving evidence of the confidence which they have in him by continued reelections. Politically he is a republican, active in the interests of his party and loyal to its principles. He
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belongs to Sycamore Lodge, I. O. O. F., Eucalyptus Lodge of Masons and the Alameda Lodge of Elks. In all his relations of life Mr. Prowse has proven himself a valuable and useful citizen who is ever ready to give his moral and material support to those measures which promise to be of benefit to his fellowmen.
HERBERT F. BROWN.
Among the many qualities of mind and character which render men useful and worthy citizens that of public spirit stands pre- eminent, for it takes success beyond the ranks of individual benefits and places it among valuable and important public assets. Gener- ously endowed with this quality is Herbert F. Brown, who more than any other individual has built up the city of Richmond, pro- moting its civic, moral, industrial and financial development and accomplishing along with his own prosperity a valuable work of public service. His name has come to be regarded as a synonym for '. progress and advancement in the community which numbers him foremost among its men of worth and substance.
Mr. Brown is a native of Wisconsin and came to California in 1889, engaging in the hardware business in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He continued at this occupation until 1907, when he came to Richmond, where he has since been numbered among the representative and valued citizens. His interests here have extended to many fields touching closely the general good of the community, a fact which is plainly evident from a list of his important accom- plishments and his business connections. In 1907 he bought the New Richmond addition of fifty-nine lots, erected houses and later sold the entire tract. He has the remarkable record of having since that time put about thirty tracts of Richmond property upon the market. He is a member of the Richmond Industrial Commission and served two years as president of this organization, in the work of which he still takes an active part. In August, 1912, he founded the Western States Porcelain Company of Richmond, which under his able man- agement as president and treasurer has become one of the most pros- perous industrial concerns in the city. Mr. Brown is vice president of the Mechanics Bank of Richmond, former president of the Sterl- ing Fixture Company and of the Herbert F. Brown Company, Incorporated. He has important banking interests in San Francisco. was the organizer of the Calistoga National Bank of Calistoga
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and owns apartment houses and homes in Richmond valued at over one hundred thousand dollars. He has the utmost faith in the future of this city, a faith testified to by many investments and made stronger by the successful completion of various projects of advance- ment. A keen and resourceful business man, he has worked steadily along lines of progress and growth with the result that many of the most important business concerns in Richmond owe their founda- tion to his initiative spirit and their continued prosperity to his ability and insight.
HENRY GORDON McGILL, M. D.
Dr. Henry Gordon McGill, a successful physician and surgeon of Livermore, has here practiced his profession continuously for the past eleven years and has won an enviable reputation as a representa- tive of his chosen calling. He is a native of Toronto, Ontario, his birth having there occurred in 1862. His father, George McGill, M. D., was also a native of that province and a banker in Ontario.
Henry G. McGill acquired his early education in a private school and subsequently attended Trinity University and McGill University of Montreal, studying medicine in both institutions. In 1883 he went to San Diego county, California, and for several years resided on a large fruit ranch there, while later he purchased a small ranch in Pomona, Los Angeles county. In 1887 he went to New York city and there took a course in medicine, being graduated in 1890. Immediately afterward he located for practice in San Fran- cisco and there followed his profession successfully until 1903, when he came to Livermore, where he has maintained an office continu- ously since. He has especially developed his ability as a surgeon but does a general practice and is accorded a liberal and lucrative patronage. He frequently contributes articles on case observations to professional journals, and these have been widely read and are recognized as of value to the fraternity. Dr. McGill has served as health officer for the town of Livermore during the past eight years and has long been numbered among the leading and able represen- tatives of his profession in Alameda county.
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