USA > California > Alameda County > Past and present of Alameda County, California, Volume II > Part 49
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HISTORY OF ALAMEDA COUNTY
hundred dollars per acre. He soon proved the possibilities of his place for general farming and then turned his attention to the culti- vation of fruit, planting a cherry orchard in 1861. Within a few years his cherries became famed throughout the United States. Year after year he continued his horticultural activities until he retired in the later years of his life. No man did more to demonstrate the possibilities of California for fruit production, and the example which he set was followed by many others, resulting greatly in the benefit and prosperity of his section of the state. Mr. Farrelly, as success attended him, made large investments in bank stock and was one of the organizers of the Bank of San Leandro, of which he be- came a director, so continuing until his death, while for many years he was also vice president. Other banks profited by his wisdom and judgment and his life at all times was one of distinct worth and value to his county.
On the 26th of December, 1852, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Farrelly and Miss Henrietta Wilson, who was born in Pulaski, Mercer county, Pennsylvania. Theirs was a union of kindred inter- ests in every particular. Mrs. Farrelly is prominent among the pio- neer women of Alameda county, where she has lived for more than three score years. She has witnessed the entire development and up- building of this section and the transformation of towns into thriving metropolitan cities. She is a daughter of William M. Wilson, who owned a ranch in this section in pioneer days, having been drawn to California by a desire to win wealth in the gold fields. Mrs. Far- relly was born in 1837 and afterward became a resident of Cincin- nati, whence she came to California with her stepmother by way of the Isthmus route in 1851, joining her father in Alvarado. The fol- lowing year she became the wife of Robert Farrelly and for a num- ber of years they were residents of Alvarado, removing thence to the place which became notable as their home.
In politics Mr. Farrelly was an active figure for an extended period, exerting a wide influence in support of republican principles in Alameda county. He was frequently called to office, serving as county treasurer for two terms and as supervisor for six terms. The validity and value of his public acts were never questioned and his public spirit was a marked force for good. He never met defeat at the polls and had the general support of broad-minded citizens, who recognized his fitness and ability. His life was always one of bene- fit to the community. He had an extensive acquaintance and his in- fluence was invariably on the side of progress and improvement. His were the blessed accompaniments of old age-honor, riches and
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troups of friends. Ere his death it was written of him after he had passed the eightieth milestone on life's joruney :
"On all occasions when it has lain within his power to render material assistance to promote the welfare of the community he has not shirked his duty, but on the other hand has given freely of his time and means toward the advancement of the best interests of all and the elevation of the industrial, educational and moral status of Alameda county. A man of unimpeachable integrity and abouning public spirit, whose religion is a spirit of good-fellowship and an ad- herence to the golden rule, his name will long be remembered as that of one of the most useful and representative men of California. In the twilight of his life he and his wife are surrounded by those comforts to which their long labors entitle them, honored and respected by all who know them. Throughout their lives they have set an example which may well serve to guide those of the younger generation who would win not only success but the regard of their fellowmen."
E. A. HERON.
One of the commanding figures of the business life of Oakland is E. A. Heron. Coming to California at the age of twenty-one, he has ever since made steady progress toward prominence and is today connected with many important interests which have made for growth and expansion. He has also large financial interests and has been in a large measure instrumental in making this city what it is today-one of the most flourishing of the Pacific coast.
Mr. Heron was born in Galena, Illinois, in January, 1852, and acquired his education in the common and high schools and also in private institutions. The lure of the west induced him to come to California in 1873 and in 1875 he became secretary to E. C. Sessions, a well known banker and real-estate operator in his day. In 1876 Mr. Heron became one of the organizers of the Highland Park & Fruitvale Railroad and in the following year, 1877, established an extensive real-estate business, in which he was active for twenty- five years with ever-increasing success. In that connection he be- came acquainted with the conditions and needs of the country. acquiring a broad outlook as to the financial and commercial situa-
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tion. In 1889 he was one of the organizers and became the president of the Piedmont Cable Railroad, which was subsequently absorbed by the Oakland Traction system, of which he has served continu- ously as president since its organization in 1895. Mr. Heron has displayed extraordinary executive ability and succeeded in building up one of the most perfect systems in the state. He has also other important financial interests. He was one of the organizers and until recently the president of the San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose Consolidated Railway, now known as the San Francisco-Oakland Terminal Railroad Company, and is vice president of the Realty Syndicate. He is also a director in the Oakland Hotel Company.
In 1892 Mr. Heron married Miss Elizabeth L. Dudley, of Stockton, California, and they have two sons, William D. and Er- nest A. Mr. Heron is prominent in Masonry, being a member of Oakland Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M .; and Oakland Commandery, No. 11, K. T. Careful of his own interests, he has always considered those of others and never loses sight of the effect his activities have upon the general welfare. He is deeply convinced of the great fu- ture in store for California and his city and exhibits a healthy enthu- siasm which he makes effective in promoting public enterprises of worth. He has well earned the proud American title of self-made man and has taken his place among the foremost railroad men and financiers on the coast, having brought about his elevation to the high and important office he now holds entirely by his own efforts.
JOHN J. CALLAGHAN.
John J. Callaghan, one of the leading and successful attorneys of Livermore and Oakland, engaged in the general practice of law in partnership with A. F. St. Sure and J. Leonard Rose, was born in Livermore, September 13, 1877. He is a son of John and Margaret (Moy) Callaghan, the former of whom engaged in teaching school in Ireland in his youth and afterward became a prominent stockman in California. He died March 6, 1905, and was survived by his wife until November 28, 1907. To their union were born seven children, five of whom are living. The eldest is John J., of this review. Henry J. is a wireless telegraph operator in Manila, Philippine islands. Margaret married Charles Owens, purchasing agent in Livermore, California, and has one son. Edward F. is engaged in the stock business on a portion of his father's estate in Livermore.
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He is married and has a daughter. Susan E. married Emmet Moran, postmaster of Altamont, California, where he is also engaged in the hotel business. They have become the parents of a son.
John J. Callaghan was reared in Livermore and acquired his pre- liminary education in the grammar and high schools of his native city. He afterward enrolled in Hastings Law College of San Francisco, which is now the law department of the University of California, and he was admitted to practice before the state courts in June, 1900. In May of the following year he received his degree of LL.B. from the university. Following his graduation he returned home and managed the estate until January, 1913, when he formed a partnership with A. F. St. Sure, of Oakland, opening offices in Oak- land and Livermore. The partners control a large and growing patronage and are connected with a great deal of important litigation. Mr. Callaghan has interests aside from his profession, for he owns a stock ranch in San Joaquin county and is secretary of the Stock- man's Protective Association of Alameda and San Joaquin counties, being active and prominent in the work of this organization. He was at one time a director in the First National Bank of Livermore and is now attorney for the Farmers & Merchants Bank of this city. He is a director in the Chamber of Commerce and interested in the development of Livermore, supporting many movements which have for their object the permanent interests of the community.
Mr. Callaghan is connected fraternally with the Knights of Columbus, the Foresters of America and the Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks, and he has been grand director of the Young Men's Institute. He gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is a member of the democratic county central committee. He is a young man of energy, enterprise and discrimination and holds a high place in professional, business and social circles of Livermore.
EDSON ADAMS.
In the death of Edson Adams, which occurred December 14, 1888, Oakland lost its founder and first settler and a man who had been a conspicuous figure in the upbuilding and development of the Bay country of California, where for nearly forty years he had made his home. His life had been so varied in its activities, so honorable in its purposes and so far-reaching in its effects that it constituted an
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integral part of the history of the state, and his death is still deeply and sincerely regretted after a quarter of a century. Mr. Adams was descended from one of the early Colonial families, his paternal an- cestor, Edward Adams, having established the name in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1640. Four years later the American progenitor of the branch, Edward Nash, became a resident of Norwalk, Con- necticut.
Edson Adams was born in Fairfield county, Connecticut, May 18, 1824, and acquired a public-school education in his native state. Following the completion of his studies he engaged in trade until 1849, when, attracted by the reports of the gold discoveries in Cali- fornia, he took passage on board a steamer bound for the Pacific coast, arriving in San Francisco in July of the same year. In the following September he went to the mines and after a few months returned to San Francisco, whence he conducted a thorough examination of the Bay country with the purpose of establishing a town. On the 16th of May, 1850, he located permanently at a point now known as the foot of Broadway, Oakland, taking up one hundred and sixty acres of what was then public domain. His property lay on either side of the present Broadway and extended from the estuary of San Antonio north to the present location on Fourteenth street. Mr. Adams was the first settler in this locality, which was then a frontier wilderness. But others followed soon afterward, among the first of whom were Andrew Moon and H. W. Carpentier. In the latter part of 1851 Mr. Adams with Mr. Carpentier and Mr. Moon employed Julius Kellersberger and others to survey, lay out, set the stakes and make maps and plats for the present city of Oakland, to be founded upon a tract of land including the properties of the three gentlemen. Mr. Adams took a very active and prominent part in the organization of the community and after it was founded was elected to fill various offices, the duties of which he discharged in an efficient manner and with a public spirit worthy of a pioneer. He and his associates in this enterprise labored under many disadvan- tages, for as a rule the first settlers in California were single men who preferred to spend their time in the mines rather than assist in the upbuilding of a town in which they would probably not care to re- side permanently. The citizens of San Francisco were slow in making Oakland their home because of the poor ferry conditions, the only means of travel at first being an occasional exursion from San Francisco to the new town, then called Contra Costa. Finally a company was induced to establish ferry communications with at least one round trip each day. The fare was one dollar each way but
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was finally reduced to fifty cents, with the chance of being detained by foggy weather five or six hours on the trip. Gradually all of these conditions changed, immigration became heavier and, with the ap- pearance of new settlers in the town, city conveniences became a matter of course, and Mr. Adams lived to see his dream fulfilled and a city of importance and prosperity grow from his efforts and those of his associates in the early days.
On the 3d of May, 1855, Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Hannah J. Jayne and they became the parents of three children, Julia P., Edson F. and John C. Throughout his entire life, which came to a close December 14, 1888, Mr. Adams continued to reside in Oakland and became one of its foremost citzens, active in all work of municipal progress and a leader in the furtherance of any plan for the advancement of the general welfare. His honorable and use- ful life, which bore the closest investigation and scrutiny, gained for him the unqualified respect and esteem of the people of the city which his enterprise and ambition had founded and his progressive spirit built up and developed.
EDWARD H. CLAWITER.
With every phase of ranch development Edward H. Clawiter is familiar and his efforts have been an element in bringing about rapid progress and development in the production of both grain and vege- tables in this section of the state. Today he is living retired as the possessor of a handsome competence, which has come to him through well ordered business affairs. He is a strong, forceful and resource- ful man, active and energetic, and the most envious cannot grudge him his success, so honorably has it been won and so worthily used.
When Alvarado was known as Union City, Edward H. Clawiter was born there November 27, 1852. His father, Edward Clawiter. Sr., was born in Prussia, Germany, in 1817, and in his youthful days learned the machinist's trade, but the spirit of wanderlust was in him in early manhood and led him to leave his native country, seeking opportunity and adventure elsewhere. Thus, eventually he came to California. He had spent some time upon the sea and had been ad- vanced until he was occupying an official position on the ship that bore him to the harbor of San Francisco in 1847. He did not then give up the sea, but returned to San Francisco from another voyage in 1849. It was then that he learned of the discovery of gold and.
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abandoning the ship, he went to Sonora, where he engaged in the search for the precious metal, meeting with considerable success. He it was who bore the first American gold to Germany and it was de- posited in the Museum of Berlin. During this temporary sojourn in his native country he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Garding, a native of Bremen, Germany, born in 1830. In 1851 he brought his bride to the new world, taking up his abode in Union City, Califor- nia, where he embarked in merchandising, having originally but a small stock. His enterprising methods, however, were soon mani- fest in a growing trade and in time he was at the head of a very grati- tying business. During the residence of the family at Union City their first child was born and she was the first white female child to claim Union City as the place of her nativity and was given the name of Union, while John M. Horner, who owned most of the town site, presented her with a lot, owing to the fact that she was given the name. Three other children were afterward added to the family: Edward H .; Mary, who lives with her mother; and Ida, who be- came the wife of H. Krusi, a resident of Alameda. The eldest daughter, Union, became the wife of Converse Howe, who was au- ditor of Los Angeles county and died at a comparatively early age, leaving four sons.
In his merchandising venture Mr. Clawiter met with substantial success for two years. He possessed good business ability and, more- over, was a linguist, speaking Spanish, German and English fluently. When the boom subsided he invested in land in Mount Eden and San Lorenzo and continued the cultivation of five hundred acres until 1877, when he turned the management of the ranch over to his son Edward H. and took up his abode in Alameda, where he passed away December 13, 1883. His portrait, presented by his son, Ed- ward H. Clawiter, occupies a place in the Museum in Golden Gate Park of San Francisco. He was the owner of much valuable prop- erty, also holding extensive realty at Oakland and other parts of this state. For many years he held membership with the Odd Fellows and was a charter member of Sycamore Lodge at Hayward.
While Edward H. Clawiter was born in Union City, he was still an infant when his parents removed to the farm. After attending the public schools he became a student in the Pacific Business College of San Francisco and thus prepared for the onerous and responsible duties of later life. His education completed, he became the active assistant of his father and afterward took over the management of the ranch and other properties held by his father. In all he has dis- played splendid business ability, and his record proves that success
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is not a matter of genius, but is the result of sound judgment, experi- ence and keen insight. His plans are carefully formulated, his investments wisely made and he has extended his holdings and in- creased the value of the properties he inherited. He was married on the 18th of October, 1877, at Mount Eden, to Miss Annie G. Schafer, a native of Eldorado county, California, and they have become par- rents of two children, Edward Ivan and Grace B. The son, after completing a common-school course, entered the University of Cali- fornia, from which he was graduated in 1900. He took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar upon examination before the supreme court in June of the same year. He likewise pursued a course in civil engineering at the Vander Naillen School in Oak- land. Soon after completing that course he went to Manila, P. I., where he remained for more than five years. While there he met and wedded a young lady, who was a native of one of the eastern states. He returned to the United States, but soon afterward went to Europe and subsequently engaged in engineering work on the Suez canal. After once more returning to America he became asso- ciated with the Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Company, a large firm of harbor contractors, and was for a time engaged on work on the Erie canal. At the close of that work he severed his connection with the firm and went to Buenos Aires, South America, remaining in that country for seven months, during which time he converted one hun- dred miles of steam railroad into an electric line. After a brief visit to the States he again went to South America for a year. He was then transferred by his firm to Los Angeles, California, and later to San Francisco, having now lived in the latter city for the past year. The daughter is a musician, possessing both instrumental and vocal talent in a marked degree, and is a member of the Adelphi Club of Alameda.
Politically Mr. Clawiter is a stalwart republican, doing all in his power to advance the interests of his party. Fraternally he is well known as a member of Hayward Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M .; Doric Chapter, No. 66, R. A. M., of San Leandro; and Oakland Commandery, No. 11, K. T. He also belongs to Aahmes Temple of the Mystic Shrine and is a member of Eden Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West, of Hayward.
While in active business Mr. Clawiter utilized his ranch for the production of grain and vegetables and in 1887 purchased the ware- house at Mount Eden station and for many years dealt in grain on a large scale. In 1904, however, he discontinued his warehouse busi- ness and retired. He now leases his large ranch, retaining only the
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orchard which surrounds his beautiful home. In the summer of 1910 he and his family made a two months' tour of the east, visiting the principal cities and places of interest. He owns valuable real estate in the city of Alameda as well as his ranch property. His chief rec- reation is motoring and he has a fine car, enabling him to indulge his desires along that line.
FARMERS AND MERCHANTS SAVINGS BANK.
One of the leading banks in northern California is the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank of Oakland which since its organiza- tion in 1893 has had a steady growth coincident with the growth and development of the city. The bank transacts a strictly savings busi- ness in all respects in accordance with the laws governing savings banks in the state of California. Its deposits are invested in interest- bearing securities of the first class and its loans are made only after careful investigation of the security offered. The greater part of these loans are made upon first mortgages in Oakland and the sur- rounding country and usually do not exceed fifty per cent of the appraised value of the real estate and improvements. The Farmers and Merchants Bank has four classes of savings accounts : term, or- dinary, special ordinary and certificates of deposit. It also has checking accounts for the convenience of its customers. From the time of its organization in 1893 until June 29, 1910, the bank occu- pied rooms on Broadway, just north of Twelfth street, and in the latter year it removed to the new bank building at the southeast cor- ner of Thirteenth and Franklin streets. This is one of the hand- somest buildings of its kind on the coast and is used only for banking purposes. The construction is steel frame and absolutely fireproof, the first building of its type ever erected in Greater Oakland. Of modified Grecian architecture, the building lifts from a base of highly polished granite to the height of an ordinary three-story build- ing. The superstructure was built of white menti stone from Utah and the facade is supported by Ionic columns having beautifully carved architraves, between which appear the name of the bank in letters of stone. The building occupies a lot fronting fifty feet on Franklin street and one hundred feet on Thirteenth street, and the interior was arranged with infinite pains to secure the best working conditions, being roomy, well ventilated and beautiful to look upon. The vaults are protected by the American District Telegraph Com-
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pany's electrical devices and the safe deposit department is adequately equipped with safe deposit boxes with the new Yale changeable key locks. One of the features of the bank is its ladies' parlor, which is the finest of its kind on the coast and greatly appreciated by all the women customers of the bank.
The officers of the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank are as follows: Edson F. Adams, president; S. B. McKee, vice president; George S. Meredith, cashier; and F. C. Martens, assistant cashier. The directors are, Edson F. Adams, S. B. McKee, A. W. Schafer, C. D. Bates, A. L. Stone, George S. Meredith and F. C. Martens. These are all men of insight, capacity and ability, many of whom have proven their capability in various other fields of endeavor and all of whom have by their intelligence and progressive management made the Farmers and Merchants Savings Bank of Oakland one of the leading financial institutions in Alameda county.
WILLIAM EDWARD DARGIE.
William Edward Dargie was for many years the owner and editor of the Oakland Tribune and built up the paper from a small and unimportant journal to one of wide influence and great power. He was known to all newspaper men in the state as a man of unusual personal force and ability and the regret at his death in 1911 was statewide.
Mr. Dargie was a son of John and Eliza G. Dargie, both of whom have passed away, the mother surviving the father until a few years ago. The subject of this review was born in San Francisco on the 13th of March, 1854, and received his early education in the public schools of that city. After his graduation from the Union grammar school he took a special course in the high school in order to prepare himself for the business career which had been his ambition from his earliest years. When but thirteen years of age he became bill clerk for the firm of Armes & Dallam, of San Francisco, then the leading wool and willow house of that city, and discharged the duties of that position in a manner which commended him alike to his employers and to those working with him. He remained in the employ of this firm for some time, but he was anxious for an opportunity to become connected with the publication business and at length he was given a place in the office of the San Francisco Bulletin. He became an apprentice printer and proved painstaking and industrious in learn- Vol. II-32
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