USA > California > Contra Costa County > The history of Contra Costa County, California > Part 58
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HENRY FULLER BEEDE .- The life record of Henry Fuller Beede en- titles him pre-eminently to the distinctive title of one of the builders of An- tioch, and as such he has contributed a notable share to the material progress of Contra Costa County. Nearly all of his life has been spent in California. He is still wielding a substantial influence for the upbuilding of his locality, and possesses the respect and esteem of his fellow-men. He was vice-presi- dent and general manager of the Antioch Lumber Company, and is one of the oldest residents of Antioch, having located here in 1869. Mr. Beede was born in Farmington, Franklin County, Maine, November 16, 1850, son of Thomas and Lucia Sarah (Merrill) Beede. His father was a native of New
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Hampshire, and his mother was born in Maine. His father came by boat via the Isthmus route to California, and remained in this State during the years of 1851 to 1853. He followed the livery business. He returned to his native State and took his family to Illinois when Henry was but five years of age. At the age of eighteen the subject of this sketch came to Antioch, where he has since resided. He first worked for his brother George, who was identi- fied with the mercantile interests of Antioch. He then, at the age of 21, worked for Galloway & Boobar, who were in the lumber business, and the originators of the present firm, of which Mr. Beede is now manager. He worked for them until 1877, when Mr. Galloway retired, and the business was run under the firm name of Rouse, Ferman & Beede. This firm contin- ued until Mr. Rouse sold his interest to Captain Simpson, of San Francisco, and the firm is now known as The Antioch Lumber Company, Mr. Beede, being the only original stockholder left. This concern is capitalized at one hundred thousand dollars. They do a general retail and jobbing business and conduct a planing-mill and lumber-yard in connection. Mr. Beede has witnessed and helped in the growth of Antioch. He was united in marriage to Margaret Ellen McNulty, a daughter of J. J. McNulty, April 13, 1872. To this union there have been eleven children-Harry McNulty, born April 13, 1873, married to Leonora Scott, a native of California; Charles Frank Tyler, born October 15, 1874, married to Edith Little, a native of England, and their three children are Nancy Bell, Charles Austin, and Frank McNulty; Mary Lucia, born April 17, 1877, married to E. P. Rapp, whose death occurred July 10, 1916; Ralph Merrill, born January 14, 1879, married to Anna Kath- erine Menchen, a native of Colorado, and their children are Ruth May, Henry Fuller, and Katherine; Olive Beede, born November I, 1883, married to R. V. Davis, a native of Missouri, and their two children are Margaret Olive and William King; Le Roy Wemple, born January 21, 1883, married to Winifred Bassett, a native of California, and their two children are Carroll and Winifred; Arthur Chamberlain, born September 13, 1885, died September 2, 1891; Nellie Geraldine, born August 6, 1888, married to W. J. Kelley, and they have one child, Patricia; Ramona Bell, born February 2, 1891, married to J. Ewell Cortner, a native of California; Margaret Alice, born August 14, 1893, died June 24, 1895; Frank Rattan, born April 30, 1897, is attending the University of California. Mr. Henry Beede has always taken an active part in community affairs. He served on the town board for many years and was a member of the Republican County Central Committee. He served as presi- dent of the Eastern Contra Costa County Promotion Club. He, in connection with the Hon. J. P. Abbott, is largely responsible for the entrance of the Santa Fe Railroad into Antioch. They were the owners of the water-front, and deeded over their rights and warehouses to the railroad company at a very liberal figure. Mr. Beede is a director and stockholder in the Bank of Antioch, and is a stockholder in the Robert Dollar Steamship Company of San Francisco. Fraternally, Mr. Beede is a Mason and past master of An-
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tioch Lodge No. 175, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Royal Arch chapter and Eastern Star.
EDWARD P. RAPP .- The name of the late Edward Rapp will long be cherished by the residents of Antioch and eastern Contra Costa County. He was a man of industry, activity, and enterprise. He held a high position among the respected citizens of his community, and for many years was in- timately associated with the business progress of Antioch. Mr. Rapp was a native of Jordanville, New York. Here he acquired his early schooling, and at the age of sixteen he came to California and located in Antioch, where he always remained. He was employed in the Belshaw store for a period of twenty-five years, where he held positions of importance and trust. In 1913 he left the Belshaw firm and engaged in business, being associated with W. H. Weeks under the firm name of Rapp & Weeks. Mr. Rapp was united in marriage to Miss Mary Lucia Beede on February 15, 1899. There are left, be- sides the widow, three sisters and one brother. The sisters are Mrs. Mar- garet Belshaw, of Antioch, Mrs. Sadie DeWitt, of San Anselmo, Mrs. Teresa Griffith, of New Haven, Connecticut, and the brother is Carl Anthony Rapp, of Richfield Springs, New York. Fraternally, Mr. Rapp was a member of the Masonic lodge of Antioch. The name of Edward P. Rapp will be forever held in loving remembrance by the business men and community in which he lived. He was a broad-minded, public-spirited man and citizen. Mr. Rapp's death occurred July 10, 1916.
GEORGE COPLE .- Nearly sixty years have come and gone since George Cople became associated with the frontier State of California. When he crossed the plains he was a young man, full of ambition, courage, and per- severance. He has been a dominant factor in the development of eastern Contra Costa County. Mr. Cople was born in Switzerland in 1837. He came to America in 1854, landing in New York City. He removed to Ohio, and later took up his residence in Chicago, where he remained until 1857. He had heard much about California, and it was about this time that he de- cided to cast his lot with the Golden West. He came here a young man, poor in pocket, but rich in ambition. In 1857, he drove teams from Leaven- worth, Kansas, in connection with soldiers going to Utah, and in 1858 he was ordered on to Benicia. For several years he found work in various parts of the State, largely following farming, and in 1867 he purchased three hun- dred and eighty-five acres near Byron. Mr. Cople was united in marriage to Margaret Eachus on April 17, 1870, and her death occurred in 1908, in her sixty-ninth year. To this union there were three children. Charles, the eldest of the family, was born on February 17, 1871. He was educated in the Ex- celsior school, after which he took a course in the San Jose Business Col- lege. Laying aside his books, he returned to the home place, and has always devoted himself to agricultural pursuits and for many years has had the management of the farm. On December 27, 1899, Charles Cople was married
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to Miss Elsie Johnston, daughter of John and Mary Johnston, of San Mateo County. Mrs. Cople's parents were among the highly respected families and pioneers of their locality. Her father died in 1893 and her mother passed away in 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cople have one son, Kenneth D., born August 2, 1901, who is attending school. Mary Eva, the second child of George Cople, died at the age of sixteen years. Ralph G., the youngest child, was born July 15, 1882. He is identified with the stock business and resides in Livermore, California. He married Miss Georgia Tozer, a native daugh- ter. Both George and Charles Cople give their political support to the Re- publican party. The latter is a member of the Native Sons and a member of Byron Parlor. Charles is a valuable assistant and manager of the home ranch. He is broad-minded and public-spirited, and is one of the foremost in promoting the welfare of eastern Contra Costa County, and takes an ac- tive part in the prohibition movement.
PERCY J. MOODY .- Among the representative men of eastern Contra Costa County who have been successfully engaged in ranching and horti- culture prominent mention should be made of Percy J. Moody. He is well known and progressive, and is constantly keeping in touch with the most advanced methods along his chosen field. He was born in Maine, on De- cember 4, 1859, a son of Gilman and Ellen Moody (deceased), both natives of Kennebec, Maine. In Mr. Moody's parents' family there were nine chil- dren, eight of whom are still living. One brother, however, of Mr. Moody came to the Pacific Coast. He makes his home in Fresno County. Percy J. Moody, the subject of this review, acquired his education in the public schools of his native State, and in 1879, at the age of nineteen, he came to California and located in Walnut Creek, where he learned the blacksmith trade with his uncle, J. S. Huntington, who was among the early pioneers of that locality. Mr. Moody remained in the employ of his uncle for three years, when he took over the shop and operated it for one year. He dis- posed of his interests and removed to Brentwood, where he engaged in business for nearly two years. He then engaged again in the blacksmith bus- iness at Brentwood, and operated his shop from 1884 to 1892. While a resi- dent of Brentwood, Mr. Moody was united in marriage to Mattie E. Pierce on August 6, 1885. Mr. Moody had eighty acres of choice land and set out twenty acres to orchard. He disposed of twenty acres to Frank Ayer and ten acres to Alfred Carlson. Mr. Moody has served as roadmaster for a period of twelve years, and his recent appointment in the same capacity will extend for another four years. To Mr. and Mrs. Moody have been born three children. Nellie May, wife of Charles Elsworth, of Knightsen, was born August 6, 1886. Rollin H. Moody was born in September, 1888, and married Miss Jean White, a native of California, on December 1, 1907, and their one daughter, Violet Martha, was born in 1908. John Moody was born December 16, 1901. At present he is connected with the Bridgeford Dairy
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Company. Politically, Mr. Moody is affiliated with the Republican party, and has attended the county convention for many years. He has served in the past as trustee on the local school board. Fraternally, he is a member of the Foresters Lodge of Brentwood and the I. O. O. F. of By- ron. Mrs. Moody's father, John T. Pierce, was a native of Ohio, and her mother was Sarah (White) Pierce. Her parents were united in marriage in the East, and they had five children. Mr. and Mrs. Pierce crossed the plains in the early '50s and settled in Sonoma County. Later they removed to Sac- ramento County, and in 1867 they came to eastern Contra Costa County. Mrs. Moody's father died on January 14, 1898, and her mother passed away on September 25, 1897.
JOHN GEDDES .- Numbered among the representative and well-to-do ag- riculturists of eastern Contra Costa County is John Geddes. He is in every sense of the word a self-made man. By his energy and wise management he has earned a large and pleasantly located farm in eastern Contra Costa County. He is a native of Colchester County, Nova Scotia. He was born June 23, 1836, a son of William and Mary Elizabeth Geddes. There were eight children born in the parents' family. George, a brother of the subject of this review, came to California in 1890, and died in 1900. In 1868 John Geddes came to California, via the Isthmus route, and landed in San Francisco. He went to San Joaquin County where he found employment at ranching for a period of fourteen years. In 1883 he removed to eastern Contra Costa Coun- ty and purchased three hundred and twenty acres near Byron, which he im- proved and brought up to a high state of cultivation. Mr. Geddes returned to Nova Scotia and was married to Miss Jessie Carroll, November 9, 1875, a daughter of Jerry Carroll. Mr. Geddes and his bride returned to Contra Costa County and began general farming. He has fifty acres of alfalfa. Each year he improved his place until now he has one of the best in the county. There were four sons and three daughters born to this union. They were Emma, wife of Robert Clark, a contractor of Knightsen; Elizabeth Mae, residing at home; George, residing on the Shafer ranch near Knightsen, was united in marriage to Mabel Shafer; Herbert, at home; Benjamin Harrison, at home, was united in marriage to Ruth Ellsworth; Lloyd, a rancher, was married to Miss Edith Chadwick; Margaret, attending college, preparing for a teacher. Mr. Geddes is active in matters pertaining to the advancement of eastern Contra Costa County, and especially in the good roads movement. Politically, he is a Republican. He has served for many years as trustee of the grammar and high school boards. Mr. Geddes has not only won the es- teem of his neighbors, but has a host of friends throughout his section. He is regarded as one of the main stays of his community.
COLBURN JOHNSON PRESTON .- Conspicuous among the most capable and successful ranchers of Contra Costa County is Colburn Johnson Pres-
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ton. He is a man of enterprise and keen foresight. He is among the early settlers worthy of representation in the history of his chosen county, and has been actively identified with the development of the eastern part of the county for many years. Mr. Preston was born in Bradford County, Penn- sylvania, on July 16, 1837. He received his education in the public school of his native State, and was reared on a farm. In 1864 he came west via the Isthmus of Panama and found employment at ranching in Nevada. On elec- tion day, 1864, he came to California, and in 1865 he located in eastern Con- tra Costa County. When he located on his present farm there were no houses between his place and Antioch. Mr. Preston was united in marriage to Melissa Woodard, a native of Pennsylvania, in October, 1859, and her death occurred on February I, 1917. To this union there were seven children -Francis M., born January 23, 1861, married Ida Buress of Bay Point, and their two children are Marion and Lloyd; Eva Sarah, born October 23, 1869, was united in marriage to Frank M. May, and their children are Marjorie and Evelyn; Rosa May, born February 13, 1872, and married George Daunt of Petaluma, and they have one daughter, Dorothea; Ida, wife of W. H. Engle, of Oakland, was born November 20, 1873; Jennie, born November 10, 1875, and died September 8, 1902; Bertha Anna, born March 8, 1879, and married Leslie V. Richardson on August 27, 1902, and has two children, Reginald and Gwendolyn; Mott C., born July 16, 1882, and married Winifred Shafer on October 12, 1904. Mr. Preston has always been energetic and am- bitious, and is a typical representative of a self-made man, and has always had the respect and esteem of his fellow-men. In 1904 Mr. Preston retired, and has spent some years in Berkeley, Antioch, Stockton, and now makes his home in Brentwood. He was one of the first ranchers to put in alfalfa in his locality. He set out every tree on his ranch, and in 1867 reaped all the grain on the west side from Bay Point to Visalia. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and for many years served as a school trustee in the Excelsior dis- trict. He also served on the high-school board of Brentwood.
MORITZ GUNAUER .- Energy, executive ability, and well-directed am- bition, guided and controlled by sound and practical judgment, have con- stituted the foundation upon which Moritz Gunauer has built his success, and these qualities have brought him prosperity in business. He was born in Germany on January 3, 1862. He acquired his education in his native land. His parents passed away twelve years ago. In the parents' family there were four children. Johanna, wife of H. Chain of Tracy, is the only sister of Mr. Gunauer in America. After attending school, Moritz came to Ameri- ca and to San Joaquin County, where he had a second cousin who was iden- tified with the mercantile business at Ellis, near Tracy. In this store, Moritz acquired his business training. He advanced naturally because he was am- bitious, energetic, and quick to recognize opportunity. He remained in his cousin's store for twelve years. In 1881 he removed to Byron, where he en-
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gaged in the mercantile business. He made an excellent record in his cousin's store, and ever since he established the Byron store he has been known as a conscientious and painstaking merchant. He holds to high ideals in business relations, and his sterling manhood has gained for him the warm and enduring regard of all with whom he has ever come in contact. In 1882 Mr. Gunauer erected the first warehouse in Byron. This was destroyed by fire on June 19, 1916. He at once erected a modern, corrugated iron ware- house, 50 by 100 feet, which was completed October 1, 1916. He also owns four hundred and eighty acres of land, which he has leased. Fraternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Byron. He has served on the Byron school board for a number of years. Mr. Gunauer was united in marriage on De- cember 6, 1888, to Miss R. Frank, a native of San Francisco, a daughter of Edward Frank, a prosperous merchant of that city. To Mr. and Mrs. Gunauer has been born Jeanette Byron, wife of Roy A. Badt of San Francisco. He is a consulting engineer and a member of the firm of Fisher & Badt.
CHARLES A. SWEENEY .- Among the men who by reason of their per- sonal integrity, ability, and personal enterprise have come to be regarded as representative citizens and leading business men of Contra Costa County, is numbered Charles A. Sweeney. He is a native of San Francisco, born on August 14, 1857, son of William B. and Nora (Hartnett) Sweeney, both na- tives of Ireland. Mr. Sweeney's father came to California in 1849 and his mother came in 1850. The father came in a sailing-ship via Cape Horn, and was one of the first men to take up the vocation of teaming in San Fran- cisco, which he followed for many years. His death occurred in 1909 in An- tioch. His wife passed away in 1906. The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of San Francisco, and at an early age he learned the butcher business, which he followed for many years in San Francisco. In June, 1880, he removed to Contra Costa County. His first work in his new field was that of foreman for a firm which dealt extensively in hogs. The hogs were shipped from various points in the valleys to Antioch, and Mr. Sweeney would fatten them and put them in condition for the mar- ket. He was soon firmly established in Antioch, and was made constable, which office he held in a most satisfactory manner for over twenty years. He has also been identified with the business interests of Antioch for many years. He was appointed city marshal by the board of trustees of Antioch in February, 1914, which office he has held continuously since. In politics Mr. Sweeney is a Democrat and has taken a keen interest in matters pertaining to the upbuilding of his town and county. He served as deputy sheriff un- der James Rankin during his incumbency. In 1879 Mr. Sweeney was united in marriage to Mary J. Curtis, a native of San Francisco. To this union have been born three children-Charles D., of San Francisco; Estella J., wife of William J. Beasley, of San Francisco; and Edward S., a traveling salesman. Mr. Sweeney is a member of the Native Sons, the Eagles, the Foresters of
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America, and the Young Men's Institute. The family are members of the Catholic church. Mr. Sweeney has served as secretary of the Eagles' Lodge No. 785 of Antioch for over ten years. He interests himself deeply in matters of public import, and his labors have been of distinct advantage to Contra Costa County.
PATRICK ROYCE .- The subject of this narrative was a native of County Wexford, Ireland. He came to this country in 1849 in the British ship "At- lantic." He served as first officer under Captain James Quinn. He followed mining in California and Idaho for a time. He again followed the seas for some years, and in 1873 he settled in Contra Costa County. He was identi- fied to quite an extent in stock-raising on New York Island for some years, after which he engaged in the hotel business in Pittsburg. He was lighthouse tender for a time and for a number of years, and up to the time of his death, was mail carrier in Pittsburg. Mr. Royce was married to Mary Carty, a na- tive of County Wexford, Ireland. To this union was born three children, one of whom, John Royce, was born in Pittsburg and received his education in the public schools of that town. He followed various vocations early in life, and in 1907 he went to Alaska, where he engaged in the fish business. Returning to Pittsburg, he engaged in the electrical business and later opened a garage in connection with his other line. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber of the B. P. O. E. of Richmond. His sister Margaret was appointed post- mistress in December, 19II, and held that office until her death, which oc- curred on February 8, 1915. She discharged her official duties in a prompt, capable, and efficient manner. Her demise was regretted by all who knew her. Mary, John's other sister, was born in San Francisco on July 18, 1879, and was assistant in the post-office. At the time of her sister's death she was made postmistress, and still holds that office.
ROBERT F. ROBERTSON is numbered among the representative ranch- ers of eastern Contra Costa County, and the success he has achieved is the result of his own efforts. He was born in Scotland on September 6, 1884, son of John and Jessie Robertson, both deceased. Mr. Robertson acquired his education in the public schools of his native land. Early in life he assisted on his father's farm, and afterward worked out. In 1903 he came to America, and located at once in Contra Costa County, renting a quarter-section of land on Kellogg Creek, belonging to J. H. Brown. On March II, 1909, he was united in marriage to Anna Isert, a native of San Francisco, daughter of John and Minnie Isert. A daughter, Edith, was born on December 7, 1910. Fraternally, Mr. Robertson is a member of the I. O. O. F. of Byron. He has always been identified with farming pursuits, and during the summer months finds it profitable to operate a hay-pressing machine. He has also done much work for Balfour, Guthrie & Co. Mrs. Robertson's parents are now located at Lathrop, California. They were among the early ranchers at Knightsen
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and Antioch, having spent thirty years in each place doing general farming. Mr. and Mrs. Robertson have many friends in their locality. By good man- agement they have brought their ranch to a high state of cultivation.
JOSEPH M. McAVOY is an active and enterprising representative of busi- ness interests in Pittsburg, as purchasing agent and manager for the David Israel General Store, which important position he has held since the fall of 1904. His birth occurred in Empire, a mining town near Pittsburg, Contra Costa County, October 4, 1878. He is the son of John and Maria McAvoy. His father was a native of Ireland, and his mother was from Pennsylvania. The parents of Mr. McAvoy married in Pennsylvania and came to the Coast in 1853, settling first in Placer County, where his father became identified with mining interests. The mother, with their nine children, made her home in Somersville while her husband was working in Placer County. He passed away in the mining camp, and his body was brought to Downieville. Joseph M. McAvoy, the subject of this sketch, acquired his education in the public schools of Somersville. He was united in marriage to Miss Amy V. Harris on September 25, 1901, after which they moved to San Francisco and Mr. McAvoy worked at the coppersmith trade for a period of three years. In the fall of 1904 they returned to Black Diamond (now Pittsburg), and Mr. Mc- Avoy became identified with the store. Their one son, Joseph Ernest, was born on June 9, 1902. The parents of Mrs. McAvoy were David D. Harris, a native of Wales, and her mother, Levina Harris, was also a native of the same country. They were married in San Francisco and were the parents of three children-Amy V., Daniel, and William. Mr. McAvoy is a Republican. He has served as town trustee for six years, and has been on the school board for four years. He is a member of Diamond Parlor No. 246, N. S. G. W., the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Knights of Pythias, all of Pitts- burg. Mrs. McAvoy served as postmistress in Summerville for two years after she finished her education in San Francisco. The grandmother of Mrs. McAvoy, Mrs. Mary Humphrey, came to California via the Isthmus route about 1850. She is still living, and is now in her eighty-fifth year. Mrs. Mc- Avoy is a member of Sterling Parlor No. 146, N. D. G. W., of Pittsburg, and takes an active part in its work. She was elected grand outside sentinel in 1910, which office she held one year. She then filled the office of inside sen- tinel for one year. Se has served as grand inside sentinel and grand marshal. She served on the board of grand trustees for three years. She was clerk one year and chairman of board two years. Mrs. McAvoy established Sterling Parlor with twenty-two members, and now the membership has reached eighty-two. Mr. McAvoy instituted Diamond Parlor with twenty-two mem- bers, and it has increased to one hundred members. Mr. and Mrs. McAvoy are well-known and highly esteemed citizens, and their substantial qualities have gained for them many friends in the Bay counties, in fact all over Califor- nia.
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