Merced County
Biographies
MANUEL T. CUNHA
Bereaved of his father when eleven years of age, and of his mother when four, Manuel Cunha had a hard row to hoe but he has hoed it well and has arrived at a comfortable competence and commands the respect of his fellow citizens. He was born in St. George, in the Azores, on December 25, 1872, the son of Manuel and Anna (Bettencourt) Cunha. The father was a clerk in a store in St. George, came to California in the fall of 1875 and settled at San Rafael, Marin County, where he carried on a farm and dairy business. At the early age of thirty-three he passed away and his wife died at twenty-four. Manuel had one brother who is at Petaluma. Manuel attended the grammar school until his father died, then he started out to work for himself, taking odd jobs at first till he got steady employment on a farm near Millbrae, where he worked three years in gardens and at general farming. The dry goods business was his next venture, and he followed it for ten years in San Rafael. Upon selling out he came to Gustine, Merced County, in 1910, and for six years was manager of the dry goods department of Miller and Lux's store in Gustine. In 1916 he became manager of the Gustine Creamery, holding the position for two years. In 1919 he engaged in the insurance business with the New York Life Insurance Company for six months, and then with the Reliance Life Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, with which he still remains.
In September, 1911, Mr. Cunha married, at Stockton, Mrs. Frances Fernandes, widow of Manuel Fernandes. Her maiden name was Frances Rose, and she was born at San Rafael, the daughter of Manuel and Isabella Rose. Her father was a native of the Azores Islands, who came to California as a young man and engaged in the dairy business, and later in brick making. Mr. Cunha's family consists of five children: Anna Fernandes, a stepdaughter; Nathalie, Margaret, Frances and Milton. In politics he is a Republican. He is a director of the Bank of Gustine and is corporation secretary of the Gustine Creamery. Mr. Cunha owns an alfalfa ranch of twenty-seven acres near Gustine; and his home, which he bought in 1918 in Gustine.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 867-868
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
IVAN W. LILLEY
Prominently
identified with the best interests of Merced County is Ivan W. Lilley, an
enterprising and progressive nursery man and horticulturist, residing in Merced,
where he is engaged in the nursery business. The business was established in
1920; later he formed a partnership with Thomas B. Stribling, Jr. and they
specialized in commercial fruit trees, putting particular stress on fig trees, a
fruit which is admirably adapted to Merced County climate and soil. They also
handle ornamental trees and shrubs. Lilley and Stribling maintain their nursery
at Le Grand, Merced County, where they grow their stock. They handle about a
million and a half fruit trees annually, employing fifteen men during the
planting season. Their stock is of the very best to be obtained, and they sell
throughout the State.
Ivan W. Lilley was born in the State
of New York, on June 6, 1895, the son of Dr. W. E. and Mabel (Crosgrove) Lilley,
whose sketch may be found in this history. He was brought to Merced in 1899, and
was graduated from the Merced High School in 1913, then entered the University
of California, from which he was graduated with the degree of B.S., in 1919. He
took up horticulture, and for one year worked as field man with the Peach & Fig
Association in Fresno. He then engaged in contract pruning until he established
a nursery business in Merced County, which has expanded rapidly under the joint
management of Messrs. Lilley and Stribling.
The marriage of Mr. Lilley united him
with Miss Inez H. Youd, a native daughter of Merced. Mr. Lilley's interest
centers in Merced County, which he considers one of the most fertile portions of
the State, and he takes an active part in the development of its resources. He
is a member of the Merced Chamber of Commerce and the Farm Bureau. He is a
member of Alpha Chi Chapter of the Kappa Alpha college fraternity. In politics
he prefers to vote independently of any party lines.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 868-869
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JAMES McCUE
While James McCue is among the more recent accessions to the business ranks of Merced he is none the less deservedly popular and successful in his line, that of contract plastering, in which he usually employs six men. Among the outstanding contracts he has handled was the plastering of the gymnasium of the Union High School building, the new Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and many of the finer residences where A-1 work was required. He was born in Erie, Pa., on July 13, 1872, a son of Thomas and Helen (Flannigan) McCue. The father, Thomas McCue, was a machinist by occupation and lived and died in Pennsylvania.
James McCue received his education in the public schools of Buffalo, N. Y. Reaching young manhood he learned the plasterer's trade and for a number of years followed it successfully; he also ran a grain elevator in the East before coming to California, about 1900, and made his home in Oakland, although he worked around the Bay district. It was not until the summer of 1922 that he located in Merced, and by his integrity and exceptional grade of work he has taken the lead in his line of business.
At Oakland, Cal., Mr. McCue was married to Miss Bertha White, one of California's native daughters. In politics Mr. McCue prefers to select the candidate best fitted to serve the public rather than be confined to strict party lines; fraternally he is a member of the Loyal Order of Moose at Merced.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 869
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
A. A. LEWIS
Although a resident of Merced only since 1922, A. A. Lewis has won for himself a place among the successful business men of the city as the agent for the Studebaker automobiles. Besides carrying a full line of cars he has a large stock of parts and supplies, all of which is housed in a concrete, fireproof building erected by the company at 842 Seventeenth Street. The business has steadily grown from month to month under his management. His birth occurred in Sierra County, Cal., on March 29, 1884, a son of David and Leah (Davis) Lewis, both natives of England, who came to California in 1871. The father, David Lewis, spent the greater part of his life in placer mining, but is now living retired with his wife in Plumas County.
A. A. Lewis finished the grammar and high school courses, then took a business course; later he took a mining course in the Van der Nailen School of Mines in San Francisco, and for twelve years thereafter followed mining. From 1907 to 1910 he operated the old Virginia mine at Coulterville. From 1911 to 1912 he resided at Coalinga, Cal., where he was engaged in the oil business; then he returned to his mining operations and spent the following seven years in the quicksilver mines of Northern California. In February, 1919, he returned to Coalinga, where he was associated with Mr. Fluetsch in the Pioneer Garage and Machine Works, which they operated until 1922, when Mr. Lewis came to Merced and established his present business.
The marriage of Mr. Lewis united him with Miss Eula McKeehan, a native of Warrensburg, Mo., and a graduate of the normal school there. Four children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis: Leah Lillian, Artajean, Richard Kenneth and James William. Mr. Lewis is satisfied to make Merced his permanent home, where he takes a good citizen's part in all measures looking toward its prosperity and advancement. He is independent in his political views.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 869-870
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler