Merced County
Biographies
HARRY E. DOYLE
Successful in his chosen work, Harry E. Doyle is entitled to a place among the substantial citizens of Merced County, to which location he came in 1917, when he assumed the agency for the Dodge Brothers motor cars. His fireproof building is located at 644 Seventeenth Street in Merced. A son of William S. and Adaline (Legg) Doyle, he was born in Ellenville, N. Y., on January 28, 1889. Both parents are still living in New York State.
Harry E. Doyle completed the grammar and high school courses; then took a course in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, N. Y., and completed his education at Stanford University. In 1917 he removed to Merced to take over the agency for the Dodge Brothers motor cars, and during the time of his residence in this section his strongest interests and associations have been in the community which he selected for a home.
The marriage of Mr. Doyle united him with Miss Helen Jones, a native of Porterville, Cal. Fraternally, Mr. Doyle is a member of Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E.
Mr. Doyle takes great pride in his growing business, but finds time during the heated season to spend a few weeks in the open, camping beside a mountain stream and indulging his fondness for fishing.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 842
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
REVEREND MANUEL CORDEIRO
Active in the Roman Catholic Church circles in Merced County, whose interests he has zealously upheld for twenty years, is Rev. Manuel Cordeiro, pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Atwater; he also serves the church of the Immaculate Conception at Buhach. He was born in Fenaes da Luz, Azores Islands, on May 13, 1879, a son of Anthony and Mary da Encarnacao Mello. His father died when Manuel was but two years old but the mother still makes her home in Fenaes da Luz. Father Cordeiro was educated in the schools of the Azores and attended Angra Seminary, where he took his work in the classics, theology and philosophy. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 23, 1905, and was called to the San Francisco diocese by Archbishop Riordan. He was assistant pastor at Centerville, Cal., for two years, then was called East and for over two years labored in St. Michael's and in Santo Christo churches, in Fall River; Our Lady of Lourdes, in Staunton; and St. John's, in New Bedford, all of the Fall River diocese in Massachusetts. Father Cordeiro then returned to California and for four years was assistant pastor at Santa Maria Parish. He was the first pastor of and served four years at Our Lady of Guadalupe, at Guadalupe, both in Santa Barbara County. During the late World War he served as chaplain at Balboa Park, San Diego, Cal., for eight months working among the Knights of Columbus. Then he was assistant pastor in Riverside and at the same time was chaplain at Marshfield Camp; also during this time he had charge of the Arlington Parish for seven months, during the illness of the priest in charge. After that he was appointed pastor at Elsinore, still retaining his position as chaplain. After these labors he was granted leave of absence and made a trip to his old home in the Azores Islands to visit his mother and remained there one year. Returning to California he was placed in charge of the school and church at Bakersfield; then his next appointment was pastor of Our Lady of Victory at Compton, Cal. In 1922 he came to Atwater as pastor of St. Anthony's, and the Immaculate Conception at Buhach. This includes the towns of Livingston, Winton, Delhi, Hilmar, Amsterdam and Cressey. Thus he ministers to all the Portuguese of this part of Merced County.
In this connection it will be well to give a little history of the Catholic Churches in this district. St. Anthony's Parish, as it is now known, was started as the Immaculate Conception Parish, Buhach, in the diocese of Monterey and Fresno. The parish is a memorial to Rt. Rev. Bishop Henry da Silva, who organized it in 1908, as he was passing through on a visit. The following year Rev. A. M. Souza was appointed pastor. He built the church and rectory at Buhach that same year, 1909. The first marriage solemnized in the church was on February 23, 1909, when Crespinus Stefani and Elizabeth Cordella were united. The first baptism was on February 14, 1909, Blancha Rossi, daughter of David and Blanche (Fleming) Rossi. Rev. Fr. Joseph Cunha succeeded Fr. Souza in 1911. The latter founded the church in Atwater and in 1913 the building was erected. In December, 1913, Rev. Henrique A. Ribeiro took charge, and remained until November 14, 1914, when Rev. Manuel C. Grillo came to Atwater. He was succeeded by Father John Power in July, 1917; and in 1918 Rev. Abel Costa took charge and remained until 1922, when Father Cordeiro assumed the work of the parish. He changed the name to St. Anthony's. In 1922 the rectory was erected. The church is in a healthy condition and rapidly taking its place in the community.
In 1919 there was a movement started for a Catholic cemetery for St. Anthony's Church and the members of the church negotiated for five acres of land at Winton for that purpose. On February 3, 1920, the first burial was made when Maria Mattos was laid to rest. The cemetery is not yet officially recorded as a Catholic cemetery, although all of the conditions for which the property was purchased have been fulfilled. The committee in charge (in March, 1925) have not yet deeded the property to St. Anthony's parish.
Father Cordeiro is a Republican in politics and fraternally is identified with the Knights of Columbus, Third Degree of the San Diego Council. He is accorded a high place as a citizen for his efforts to coordinate his charge and in giving his best efforts and most unselfish endeavors to advance the general welfare of the locality where he resides.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 842-844
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOSEPH V. ALVES
One of the enterprising business men of Atwater, and manager of the Martha Washington Stores Inc., on Broadway, is Joseph V. Alves. He is one of the many men who have come from foreign countries and, beginning at the bottom of the ladder, have taken advantage of the abundant opportunities which this country offers and have climbed to wealth and affluence. The only son and the youngest of two children he was born in Flores of the Azores Islands on December 25, 1882, a son of Antone R. and Mary (Alves) Vieira, farmers in the Azores. Mrs. Keaton of Fergus station is his sister. He received his education in the common schools of his native land and was reared on the small farm of his father. At the early age of fifteen he left the parental roof, in 1897, on a two-masted schooner to seek his fortune beyond the sea, and after a voyage of forty-one days landed in New London, and soon after came direct to California. He got work on ranches near Fresno at fifteen dollars a month. Later on the Bloss ranch near Atwater he earned thirty dollars a month. After being in California about a year he found it difficult to get mail addressed to him because there were so many here by the name of Vieira. So he had his name changed, taking the maiden name of his mother. In 1916 he left the ranch to go into business as part owner of the Broadway Cash Store, which was succeeded in January, 1921, by the Martha Washington Store, and which carries a fine stock and is doing a good business. He owns the store building and also residence and rental property in Atwater. He was naturalized in Merced in 1905, and as a Republican has fulfilled the duty of a loyal American citizen. He has been secretary of the U. P. E. C. for four years and he belongs to the Buhach Council No. 32, I. D. E. S. He was married in Merced to Mary C. Vincent, a native of Oakland and daughter of Fred Vincent of Atwater. They have two sons, Charles V., who is married and has a daughter; and Arthur. Mr. Alves is highly respected for his integrity and strict attendance to his own affairs. He has been an eye-witness of the growth of Atwater from a population of less than 100 to over 1000 at the present time.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 844-845
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler