Monterey County

Biography of Lorenz Lorentzen of Gonzales California

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

Lorenz Lorentzen was born in Schleswig, Denmark, December 2, 1882, and is a son of Ole and Helen Mary (Ahrenkiel) Lorentzen. The father was engaged in the feed business in that country for many years, or until 1921, when he came to California, where he is still living. In his boyhood and youth Lorenz Lorentzen attended the local schools, completing his education by a course in a business college. Before coming to California in 1904, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits and the printing business in his native land. His first year in California was spent in Salinas, and the … Read more

Biography of Harry Wurzel of New Monterey California

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

Harry Wurzel is manager of the Peninsula Upholstering & Drapery Company at 730 Lighthouse avenue, New Monterey, and is one of the most progressive merchants of the state, combining with business and executive ability, a rare appreciation of all that is tasteful and artistic in house furnishings and decorations. He was born In Hungary, December 13, 1884, and at thirteen years of age began to learn the trade of upholsterer and decorator. In 1904 Mr. Wurzel crossed the ocean to New York and in the eastern metropolis he worked at his trade with Messrs. Potes & Styrnes, the exclusive interior … Read more

Biography of John Ober of Soledad California

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

One of the oldest and most highly respected citizens in the neighborhood of Soledad is John Ober, who was born in Sweden, April 6, 1850. The name was originally Oberg and the records in his native land show that he is the son of Peter and Christine (Pearson) Oberg. His father was a farmer and John grew up on the farm. At the age of twenty years he left Sweden for America. The first four years of his life in this country were spent in the east and the middle western states, where he was engaged manly in railroad work. … Read more

Biography of Asa E. Day of Moss Landing California

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

Asa E. Day, proprietor of a general mercantile store at Moss Landing, was born in Virginia City, Nevada, July 1, 1863, the son of Dania W. and Charlotte ( Hess) Day, the former an ambitious westerner who pitched his tent at Virginia City when a young man. He mined there, and in time came to California, arriving here in the late ’60s. After an active and very useful life, all in all successful, the father died, esteemed by all who knew him. The mother is still living, at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. Attending the public schools in … Read more

Biography of Harry Turner of Carmel California

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

Harry Turner of Carmel, is a contractor well posted as to the conditions and details necessary in stone, brick and cement work. He has long been successful in this field of business, making a specialty of stone patios, chimneys and fireplaces. He was born at San Francisco, August 15, 1880. A son of Benjamin Turner, a native of England. The latter was a brick mason and fifty years ago followed his trade in San Francisco. He worked on the first Palace Hotel and many other large buildings there before the fire and he also worked on the building of the … Read more

Biography of John W. Fretwell of Parkfield California

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

John W. Fretwell, justice of the peace at Parkfield, was born October 8, 1852, and is a son of John W. and Katherine (Ford) Fretwell, the former a native and the latter of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch came to California in 1872 and for about three years lived in the Sacramento valley and Solano county. In 1875 he came to Parkfield and is now the oldest resident in the valley in point of years, who arrived after he had reached the age of twenty-one years. He homesteaded one hundred sixty acres and preempted another one hundred sixty. By … Read more

Biography of Hon. James Alfred Bardin of Salinas California

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

James Alfred Bardin, for nearly ten years judge of the superior court of Monterey county and for twenty years a member of the bar, practicing at Salinas and one of the best known lawyers in this section of California, is a native son of Monterey county and has been a resident of this county all his life with the exception of the period spent in finishing his college work in the east and a year thereafter spent in newspaper work there. Judge Bardin was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Salinas, December 27, 1873, and is a … Read more