Throughout the years of an active business career Charles
Berndt Johnson, of Bay Point, has given all or most of his time and
attention to the lumber business, and is today one of the most trusted and
valued lumbermen in California. He has risen through the various departments
to be general superintendent of the C. A. Smith Lumber Company, of Bay
Point, California. This position he is now filling with credit and
distinction. He was born in Sweden, May 2, 1871, and is a son of Johannas
Anderson. In his country the son takes the first name of his father. His
mother, Assarina (Anderson) Johnson, was also a native of Sweden. Our
subject received a limited education in the old country and at an early age
worked on his father's farm. At the age of twenty he came to America and
located in Minnesota, where he found employment in a lumber-yard as a common
laborer. He progressed and was promoted to shipping clerk for the
Shelvin-Calpenter Lumber Company. Here he remained for fifteen years. He
then removed to Freece, Minnesota, and there followed the same work for
three years. In 1911 he came to Bay Point and became identified with the C.
A. Smith Lumber Company, as shipping clerk and general foreman, after which
he was promoted to the office of general superintendent, which position he
now holds. He is watchful of all indications concerning trade conditions, is
energetic, and has achieved a measure of success, which is the direct reward
of persistent earnest effort. Mr. Johnson is a Republican. He has repeatedly
been elected in the Bay Point school board. Fraternally, he is affiliated
with the Masonic lodge and the I. O. U. W. Mr. Johnson was twice married;
the first union was to Hannah Larson, a native of Sweden. This marriage
occurred in 1892. His first wife died in 1903. To this union were born two
sons and two daughters - Myrtle, wife of H. L. Taylor; Edna, who resides at
home; Berndt, of Bay Point; and Henry, deceased. The second marriage was to
Helena Elmgrem, also a native of Sweden, in October, 1905. To this union two
children have been born, Bernice and Leslie. Mr. Johnson has many friends in
the Bay cities, and he is popular among those with whom he is concerned.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California",
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, p. 495.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, August, 2006.
The life record of Simon W. Cunningham is interwoven with the
history of Contra Costa County. His parents, indeed, are of the true
pioneers of the country; his father was one of the first men to locate in
this part of the State. Simon W. was born at Bay Point, April 30, 1868, a
son of Daniel and Fannie (Hickey) Cunningham, both natives of Ireland. His
parents were united in marriage in Albany, N. Y., and came west in 1850,
locating in Sonoma County. His father worked at ranching for a time for
Colonel Swift, and later became identified with Mr. Hood in buying large
numbers of sheep. Mr. Cunningham's father brought the sheep to Contra Costa
County and made all arrangements to locate in this county on government
lands. He took up six hundred and forty acres of land at Bay Point,
afterward adding to his holdings. When the C. A. Smith Lumber Company
located at Bay Point in the spring of 1908, Simon W. and his brothers
disposed of one thousand acres to this concern. Mr. Cunning-ham's father
died in 1901, and his mother passed away in 1914. There were eight sons and
one daughter born into the parents' family. The subject of this sketch
acquired his education in the public schools of Bay Point, after which he
looked after the ranch interests and became interested in business at Bay
Point for ten years. In 1910 he engaged in the dry-goods and gentlemen's
furnishing-goods business, and is recognized as a far-sighted and
resourceful business man. In politics Mr. Cunningham is a Democrat.
Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, I. D. E.
S., and the U. P. E. C. He was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Williams of
Concord. To this union there have been two children - Warren, born April 19,
1905, and Mervin, born July 2, 1914. Mrs. Cunningham's father, Joseph
Williams, Sr., is one of the respected ranchers in his locality, and has
been a resident of Contra Costa County for many years.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California",
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 495-496.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, August, 2006.