Prominently connected with the business interests of Crockett
is Louis Arata. He was born in Italy, December 14, 1850. He acquired a
limited education in the public schools of his native land, and at the age
of sixteen he came to America. Remaining in New York City for a time, he
then removed to Philadelphia, where he worked at his trade of pastemaker for
a period of three years. In 1871 he came to California and remained in San
Francisco for about three months, when he removed to Somersville and found
employment in the mines. He followed this vocation for a few months, and
then engaged in the vegetable business until 1885. Later in the same year he
purchased eight hundred acres of land and engaged in general farming until
1891, when he disposed of his farm holdings and removed to San Francisco,
where he resided four years. In 1899 he came to Crockett. Mr. Arata was
united in marriage to Kate Treaso, a native of Italy, in 1883. To this union
have been born four children. One daughter, Linda Del Monte, was drowned in
the straits near Crockett. The other children are Silva, wife of Edward
Prytz, of Crockett; Atilio, who is managing the business in Crockett; and
Louis, who is attending Santa Clara College. In politics Mr. Arata is
affiliated with the Republican party. He has served as a delegate to various
county conventions, and at one time served on the election board.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Antioch Lodge, I. O. O. F. The family
attend the Catholic church. Mr. Arata is numbered among the pioneers of
Contra Costa County and is well known in Crockett and vicinity.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 549-550.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.
A distinguishing feature in the career of Randolph C. Marsh,
an esteemed and honored resident of Oakley, where he has made his home since
1897, has been an unswerving integrity and uprightness, which have won for
him the confidence of all who have had business dealings with him. He is the
"Father of Oakley," and has made a success financially, being possessed of
much business ability. He is a man of sound judgment and conservative
methods, and he has done much to promote the general welfare and develop the
resources of eastern Contra Costa County. A native of Union County, Ohio,
Mr. Marsh was born May 24, 1838, the son of Samuel and Mary (Ryan) Marsh.
His father died at the age of eighty-eight, and his mother passed away in
her sixty-fifth year. Randolph C. Marsh received his education in the
district school of Marysville, Ohio. Laying aside his books, he found
employment at farming until the Civil War broke out, when he was one of the
first to answer the call to arms, which was in April, 1861. He served three
months and re-enlisted twice for three years' service, and was mustered out
in July, 1865. Returning home, he again took up farming and continued to
reside in Ohio until 1866, when he removed to Kansas and followed
agricultural pursuits for six years. In 1875 he came to California and
remained three years in Petaluma. He took up land in Lake County and
remained there thirteen years, being identified with general farming and
stock-raising. In 1897 he removed to Contra Costa County and purchased
twelve acres, establishing and and naming the town of Oakley. He gave the
first business lot in the town gratis to Joe Jesse for a grocery-store, and
upon completion of the building presented him with a deed. Mr. Marsh and A.
N. Norcross purchased twenty acres and put on a town-site. After two years
Mr. Norcross disposed of his interest to Mr. Marsh and he continued in the
real-estate business. Mr. Marsh is the leading spirit of Oakley, regarding
the establishment of schools, churches, etc. He has one daughter by his
first marriage, Anna, wife of J. J. Every (deceased), of Lakeport, Lake
County, California. Mr. Marsh's second marriage was to Eunice Coffin, a
native of North Carolina, and to this union have been born two children -
Kattie C., wife of E. E. Noyes, of Lake County, and Byron R., a resident of
Los Angeles, at present business manager for Anita Baldwin. Mr. Marsh's
second wife died in January, 1913. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the
Masonic lodge of Middletown, Lake County. He has served as postmaster of
Oakley for fourteen years, receiving his appointment from President
McKinley. Mr. Marsh serves on the Oakley school board, and is a member of
the town board. He has aided in many ways in the upbuilding of Oakley and
the surrounding country. His judgment is often sought on account of his
fairness and absence of personal interest. Mr. Marsh has been an advanced
thinker and something of a politician for a good many years - not seeking
political office for himself, but striving to mold more independence of
thought on political lines, and of bringing our Government back nearer to
the people. He is very fond of music and local home entertainments, and
often writes little poems by request for such benefits.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 550-551.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, October, 2006.