Merced County
Biographies
CHARLES WILLIAM DEMPSEY
One of the busiest and most enterprising men of Merced is Charles William Dempsey, contractor and builder, architect and designer. In many ways he has proved a valuable citizen of his county, contributing to its growth, fostering its enterprises and promoting its welfare. At Washington, D. C., on October 20, 1885, he was born, the son of William Daniel and Elmira (Chilton) Dempsey, who have both passed away. The father was a carpenter by trade and the son, after what education he was able to get in the public schools of Washington, learned the trade from his father, which he followed in the capital of our country up to 1906, when he reached his majority and struck out for himself. Houston, Texas, was his first landing place, where he spent two years at his trade. Various cities in the State of Washington were where he followed his trade for the next four years. In 1912 he came to Merced, and since 1917 has been contracting for himself. He specializes in residences, remodels buildings and also designs new buildings, employing eight men. Among the seventy fine houses which he has built in Merced the homes of E. S. Hass and Charles Crossland may be mentioned as evidence of superior workmanship and design. He also built the wholesale house for the Richfield Oil Company.
The changing vicissitudes of life brought Mr. Dempsey in contact with Miss Emily Scofield, a lady who was brought up near Merced. An intimacy was formed which resulted in marriage and two children, viz.: Thomas and Thelma. As a public-spirited man, he is deeply interested in the progress of Merced. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias; and is the Worshipful Master of Yosemite Lodge No. 99, F. & A. M., of Merced, and is highly respected.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 892-893
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
MAURY CURTIS
The genealogy of Maury Curtis, is traced back to Scotland and England, his ancestors being among the American families who settled in Virginia in an early day. He was born on his father's farm in Virginia, on May 18, 1885, a son of A. M. and Roberta (Hume) Curtis, both natives of Virginia. A. M. Curtis served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War; after the war he engaged in farming for the balance of his life and passed away in 1901. The mother is still living.
Maury Curtis began his preliminary educational training for his life's work in the public schools of his native state; after graduating from the high school he entered the academic department of the Washington Lee University at Lexington, Va., where he remained one year; subsequently he entered Georgetown University Law School in Washington, D. C., from which he was graduated with the degree LL.B., in 1910. He then became connected with the solicitor's office, in the United States Department of Agriculture. On January 1, 1912, he left Washington for San Francisco to become assistant to the solicitor of that department, and remained in that position until April 15, 1914; he then spent one year in private practice in San Francisco. In 1916, he went into the United States Department of Justice and was thus occupied until 1917, when he removed to Los Angeles, where he became clerk in the United States District Court under Judge B. F. Bledsoe. On August 15, 1920, Mr. Curtis removed to Merced to become assistant district attorney of the county, where he has since resided. Mr. Curtis is a single man and takes great delight in all outdoor sports, especially baseball and football. No trait is more noticeable in his character and life than that of energy, and he deservedly ranks among the enterprising and resourceful citizens of Merced.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 893-894
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN M. SILVA
Among the many immigrants from the Azores Islands who have contributed towards the development of Merced County is John M. Silva, who possesses those traits of character upon which material success is founded. He was born in St. George, of the Azores on June 7, 1886, the son of Joseph M. and Barbara Silva, and was the second of six children as follows: Germania (deceased), John M., Rosa (deceased), Antonio, Joseph and Manuel. He came to America in 1904 and stopped for a short time in Boston, Mass., came to San Luis Obispo where he secured employment as a milker on a dairy ranch for four years. It was the first round of the ladder on which he hoped to climb toward a business for himself. With the wages he saved he was able to enter into partnership with J. M. Diaz, in a dairy of 100 cows on a ranch of 700 acres, five miles from San Luis Obispo, and after running the dairy five years they moved fifty of the cows to Merced County and settled on the Henry Pfitzer place five miles southwest of Gustine. Here John M. Silva has sixty-three acres in alfalfa, having bought the land the same year he came here. In March, 1925, he bought out his partner and is now running the business alone.
On September 9, 1914, J. M. Silva was married to Mary Azevedo in San Luis Obispo. She is the daughter of Manuel and Minnie (Perry) Azevedo and was born in San Luis Obispo; her parents were both natives of the Azores, the former of Pico and the latter of Fayal. Her father came to California in 1889 and was married in San Luis Obispo, where he is still dairy farming near that place. Mrs. Silva is the eldest of six children, namely: Mary, Ida, Manuel, William, Louis, and Mabel. She attended school in the Los Osos and the Santa Fe districts, both of San Luis Obispo County. Mr. Silva is a member of the U. P. E. C. and of the I. D. E. S. of Gustine; also a member of the Foresters of America and Knights of Columbus of Newman. Mrs. Silva is a member of the S. P. R. S. I. of Gustine and of the U. P. P. E. C. of Newman.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 894-895
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
PATRICK J. THORNTON
An official of Merced County who has proven his worth and ability in the discharge of the duties of his office, is Patrick J. Thornton, the county clerk. He was born on March 27, 1872, within a stone's throw of the limits of the city of Merced, a son of the late William and Julia (Whelan) Thornton. William Thornton owned and operated a large ranch in the McSwain school district. He was born in Ireland, came to California across the Isthmus of Panama in 1865, and settled in Merced County in 1867. He was married in San Francisco in 1869. His wife was also born in Ireland, and came to California in 1866. Of this union ten children were born, all in Merced County: Daniel W., who died in 1898, at the age of twenty-six; Patrick James, of this review; Mary A.; Margaret M.; John J.; Hannah T., now the wife of M. S. Maddux; Julia B. who died unmarried; Rose M., who married W. H. Wegner; William W.; and Joseph F., who died in early boyhood. William Thornton, though a stanch Democrat, never aspired to official honors. He was a man of excellent judgment and common sense. He died at the age of sixty-nine; but his widow survived until 1919, dying at the age of seventy-two. She was an active member of the Catholic Church and liberally contributed to the fund for the building of the new edifice.
Patrick J. Thornton attended the McSwain district school and grew up to farm work. He became a student at St. Mary's College, Oakland, graduating from its business department. He entered the court house in the capacity of deputy county clerk, under W. B. Croop. In 1906 he became a candidate for the office on the Democratic ticket and was elected, being returned to the office of county clerk in 1910, 1914, 1918, and 1922.
On May 19, 1920, Patrick J. Thornton was united in marriage with Miss Agnes Ryan, a native of Ireland but a resident of California since 1917. The family home is located at 1030 L Street, the house having been erected in 1921. The Thornton ranch of 740 acres has been divided among the living children, who still own it. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are members of the Catholic Church in Merced. He is a member of Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E.; a Past Grand Knight of the Merced Council, Knights of Columbus; and a member of Yosemite Parlor No. 24, N. S. G. W., and of the local Chamber of Commerce. By virtue of his office, during the World War Mr. Thornton was a member of the County Council of Defence. He gives his whole time to his official duties.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 895-896
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler