Santa Cruz County Archives - California Genealogy

Biography of Frank Mattison of Santa Cruz

Frank Mattison, born near Santa Cruz, California, on February 5, 1860, served as a member of the state board of equalization from the fourth district of California. He was the son of John S. Mattison, an English-born original California forty-niner, and Lila Miles, of Pennsylvania. Frank’s career began in agriculture and expanded to the grocery business before entering public service. Elected county assessor in 1890, he served three terms. In 1902, he was elected to the state board of equalization. Active in the Republican party, Mattison also held roles in various fraternal organizations. He married Carrie A. Peck in 1883, and they had two daughters, Lila E. and Ruth.

Biography of George F. Martin of Watsonville California

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

George F. Martin, manager of the California Pine Box Company of Watsonville, is a native of the Pajaro valley and represents one of its pioneer families. He was born on the home ranch, January 20, 1872, and his parents were Adam and Ella (Cochran) Martin. His father was a native of Germany and followed the tide of immigration to the new world, settling in Santa Cruz county, California, early in the ’60s. He located in the Riverside Road district and was one of the first to glimpse the possibilities of this region as a fruit-growing center. He had two ranches … Read more

Biography of Louis C. Scholl of Santa Cruz California

A popular institution for the comfort of the masses is the Seabright Rati-t at Seabright Beach, in Santa Cruz county, owned and managed by Louis C. Scholl. A native son of the most loyal type, always enthusiastic for the Golden state, Mr. Scholl was born at Santa Cruz, on August 7, 1887, the son of Conrad and Alice (Gripenstraw) Scholl, the former from New York city, the latter a native of Illinois. Conrad Scholl was born in the eastern metropolis June 2, 1856; and his father having died when he was only two years old, he was brought out to … Read more

Biography of Clarence M. Smith of Watsonville California

Clarence M. Smith, a veteran of the World war, is acting as manager of the Hammond Lumber Company at Watsonville, and that he is a thoroughly dependable young man of more than average ability is indicated by his selection for this responsible position. He was born in Leadville, Colorado, January 30, 1893, and there received his early instruction. He also attended schools in England and in Stockton, California, completing his education in the Polytechnic College of Engineering at Oakland. In 1917 he responded to the call of his country and spent twenty-two months overseas, winning the commission of first lieutenant. … Read more

Biography of J. C. Falkenberg of King City California

Few merchants of Monterey county have been longer in the business or have had a more varied experience than J. C. Falkenberg, president of the King City Mercantile Company. He was born in Denmark in 1864, reared on a farm and received a high school education. When about sixteen years of age he decided to seek his fortune in America. Shortly after landing in this country he found his way to Watsonville, California, and obtained a position as clerk in a store. That was the beginning of his mercantile career. Later he formed a partnership with a Mr. Krogh, his … Read more

People’s Finance & Thrift Company

Eminently deserving of public interest and confidence, and, therefore, most naturally in the enjoyment of substantial prosperity is the People’s Finance & Thrift Company, of Santa Cruz, with headquarters at 3 Locust Street. It is incorporated under the laws of the state of California, and received its charter May 31, 1923. It offers a thoroughly commendable proposition usually netting high returns to farsighted business and professional men who will organize—with sufficient and proper aid,—a company locally owned, locally managed and locally controlled. It operates according to the Wimsett system and has a capital of fully fifty thousand dollars. The story … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Rowe of Watsonville, California

Among the men now dwelling in the pleasant “evening time” of their lives who have watched the development of this region from the days of the early settlers there are few perhaps who have more vivid recollections of the “days of old” hereabout than has Charles W. Rowe, one of the veteran ranchers and landowners of the beautiful valley of the Pajaro at the jointure of the three counties in the vicinity of Watsonville. His father was one of the first settlers in that valley, and he was born there almost seventy years ago and has always made his home … Read more

Biography of Peter Sager of Watsonville California

Among the citizens of foreign nationality whose enterprise, ability and public spirit are essential to Watsonville’s progress and prosperity is numbered Peter Sager, who has served for several years on the board of aldermen and is also a successful business man. He was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, under the Danish flag, on the 23d of July, 1864, and in Glucksberg learned the blacksmith’s trade. He served for three years in the German army as a member of a company of field artillery and in 1892, when twenty-eight years of age, arrived in San Francisco, California. From May to September of … Read more

Biography of Matt J. McGowan of Watsonville California

Few men in the Watsonville neighborhood have a wider acquaintance than Matt J. McGowan, a substantial rancher in the Trafton district of the Pajaro valley, and few thereabout are held in higher regard, for his good works in the community-have long established him as a real friend to all mankind. Many of the young men in the Watsonville community are proud to look upon Mr. McGowan as a typical “big brother” and his helping hand has been extended in many directions known only to those who have been the immediate beneficiaries of the help thus bestowed. At the time the … Read more

Biography of Hugh J. Leonard of Santa Cruz California

A progressive man of valuable, practical experience and inspiring optimism is Hugh J. Leonard, the affable and popular secretary and manager of the People’s Finance & Thrift Company of Santa Cruz. A native of Ireland, he was born October 21, 1885, and as early as 1898, made his first trip to America. Remaining only a year, however, he went back to Erin, to work there as a farmer. He also crossed over to Scotland, and for a while worked for wages in Glasgow. Coming to the United States for the second time in 1906, he was for eighteen months in … Read more