An extensive shipper of apples, who is also his own grower and packer, is Nicholas N. Alaga, of 114 Maple avenue, Watsonville. Like many others in this locality, he was born in Dalmatia, February 18, 1874, his parents being Nicholas and Mary Lettunich. The mother is still living but the father, who was a hardworking farmer, is now dead.
Nicholas N. Alaga had rather a hard time acquiring his education after he had gone through the lower grades of the home schools, but has gained a good knowledge of affairs since coming to the United States at the age of seventeen years. After spending two years in San Francisco he went to Santa Clara valley, where he lived a similar length of time. Wherever he went, he kept his eyes and his ears open, the better to inform himself as to California conditions.
On the 14th of July, 1894, Mr. Alaga came to Watsonville and went to work for his uncle, Mr. Lettunich, acting as his foreman for some time. Having saved a little money he then embarked in business for himself as a buyer and shipper of fruit in 1898. From this small start, Mr. Alaga has attained to his present prosperity. He is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and is a third degree Knight of Columbus and a member of the Austrian Benevolent Society. Mr. Alaga was married in 1911 to Miss Teresa Farlan, a native of Eureka, Humboldt county, California, and they have two sons, Nicholas, Jr., and Lloyd.
Source: History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California : cradle of California’s history and romance : dating from the planting of the cross of Christendom upon the shores of Monterey Bay by Fr. Junipero Serra, and those intrepid adventurers who accompanied him, down to the present day. Chicago: S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1925.