Biography of George F. Stanley of Santa Cruz California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Prominent among the representatives of the bar of Santa Cruz, is Judge George F. Stanley, who as lawyer and police judge is well-known. He was born in this city on the 4th of June, 1869—a fact that has given him a great advantage, for he has always been in close touch, understanding and sympathy with Californian institutions. His father was John R. Stanley, a native of Massachusetts, and he married Miss Mary O’Donnell, a daughter of green Erin’s isle. Five children were born to the worthy couple and of this family, two are still living, Judge Stanley and his brother, … Read more

Biography of Alex Richard Underwood of Monterey California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Alex Richard Underwood, proprietor of the old Central Hotel in Monterey, now operated as the Underwood Hotel, and one of the best known men in western California, is a native son of California and has been a resident of this state all his life, a continuous resident of Monterey for the past quarter of a century. He was born on the great Chupinos ranch, then owned by his father, in the vicinity of Monterey, February 7, 1862, and is a son of Charles and Catherine (Armstrong) Underwood, the latter of whom was a native of Ireland, and they were married … Read more

Biography of George P. Butler of Santa Cruz California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

The spirit of enterprise and business discernment finds expression in George P. Butler, grower and shipper of fancy hothouse cucumbers, of 562 Ocean street, Santa Cruz. He was born in Surrey, England, April 24, 1877, a son of George and Eliza (Smith) Butler, the former a native of Rye, England, now deceased, while the latter was born in the world’s metropolis, London, and is still living. George Butler, Sr., was a grower of cucumbers under glass in England, where as a boy of ten years George P. Butler of this review started to experiment with some planted seed in a … Read more

Biography of La Von E. Gottfried of Carmel California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

La Von E. Gottfried, of the historic mission town of Carmel, is one to whom considerable credit is due for whatever of modern form and spirit now distinguishes the town. He is engaged in the general contracting business and at all times works to improve the appearance of the community as well as advance his own fortunes. He was born on a farm in Ohio, July 12, 1896. His father, Phillip Gottfried, was a farmer, and in the building of a home was ably assisted by his good wife, who, before her marriage was Miss V. B. Ritenour. To the … Read more

Biography of Luke P. Biskup of Watsonville California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Luke P. Biskup, prominently identified with the fruit-packing industry of Watsonville, is a self-made man and a representative of that type of foreign-born American citizen whose inherited tendencies of industry, enterprise and integrity have added so much to the development and prosperity of our nation. He was born June 5, 1887, in the province of Dalmatia, Austria, and was reared on a farm. His education was acquired in his native land and in 1908, when eighteen years of age, he yielded to the lure of the new world. After reaching the United States he started for Watsonville, where he joined … Read more

Biography of Adolf Rother of Santa Cruz California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

A native of Germany who has become a full-fledged American and enjoys the confidence, esteem and goodwill of his fellow-citizens in this, his adopted country, is Adolf Rother, the proprietor of the “Town Clock Cafe,” at 107 Pacific avenue, Santa Cruz. He was born in Riesengebirge, Germany, August 12, 1881, and when nineteen years-of-age came to America. For a while, he worked in the Hotel Waldorf-by-the-Sea, at Rockaway Beach, Long Island, and later was employed in some of the prominent hotels and leading cafes in New York. For ten years he worked in Achtel Steller’s restaurant, in Newark, New Jersey, … Read more

Biography of Edward B. Breschini of Blanco California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Breschini’s Emporium in Blanco, is one of the well known and thriving mercantile concerns of Monterey county. In 1888 John Breschini came from Switzerland and settled in central California. For several years he worked on dairy farms in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and then bought a ranch near Blanco. In 1900 he gave a turkey shoot and raffle at his ranch, the first of its kind in this section of the state. Since then the annual event of this character is one of the “big doings” of the county. Frequently five thousand people are in attendance and from a … Read more

Biography of Stephen Scurich of Watsonville California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Some men are born with a genius for leadership and no obstacle can prevent them from attaining the object of their ambition. Of this type is Stephen Scurich, who came to this country a poor boy and through the strength of his character and the force of his mental endowments has overcome circumstances, bending them to his will. He has now reached a field of broad influence and usefulness, and Watsonville is the richer in resources and citizenship because of his enterprise and public spirit. Stephen Scurich was born in Dalmatia, October 18, 1868, and in 1884, when sixteen years … Read more

Biography of Joseph W. Hand of Carmel California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Decidedly among the most interesting, as unquestionably among the most honored of citizens of Carmel-by-the-Sea are Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Hand, of Ocean avenue, who have resided here so many years that they may well claim to be a part of the historic art colony. Mr. Hand was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, July 29, 1845, and in the still colorful days of ’61, he came west, and while yet a lad of eighteen, he was a pony express rider on a branch line that ran from Virginia City to Humboldt. He later met his “beloved Mollie,” who was then … Read more

Biography of Carl F. Arnold of Watsonville California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Carl F. Arnold, whose talents lie along mechanical lines, has worked for many of the leading automobile manufacturers of the country, constantly broadening his knowledge and augmenting his skill, and is now classed with the most successful dealers of Watsonville, where he also operates a well equipped repair shop. Fortune has not always bestowed her favors upon him, but adversity has spurred him on to renewed effort, and by hard work and perseverance he has conquered every impediment in his course, pressing steadily onward to the goal fixed by his ambition. Mr. Arnold was born June 29, 1879, in Battle … Read more