Santa
Clara County
Biographies
CHARLES
EDWARD HABLUTZEL, M. D.
The
family represented by this popular physician of San Jose had its origin in
Switzerland. His father, George, was born in that historic republic, but his
earliest recollections were of St. Louis, Mo., where the family settled during
his infancy. When but a boy he served as a member of the First Missouri
Regiment in the Civil war. For some years he was interested in mercantile
pursuits in St. Louis, but later removed to Mexico, Mo., finally returning to
St. Louis, where he died. His wife, Clara E., daughter of Charles Berger, was
born in Pottsville, Pa., and accompanied her father to Carthage, Ill., where he
died. Her death occurred in Mexico, Mo., when her son, Charles Edward, was a
youth of seventeen years. All of her five children are still living, two sons
being in St. Louis, one in San Jose, and the two daughters also in San Jose.
The eldest of the five children,
Charles Edward Hablutzel was born in Louisiana, Mo.,
April 24, 1865, and at fifteen years of age became a clerk in a local store.
During 1886 he came to California and secured a clerkship in Santa Ana. The
year 1887 found him in San Jose, where he has since made his home. For more
than a year he worked as a clerk and then took up the study of Medicine. After
a course of three years, in 1895 he was graduated from the Cooper Medical
College, and returned to his home city, where he has since conducted a general
practice in medicine and surgery, with office in the Ryland building. For three
years he held the position of city physician. He was made a Mason in San Jose
Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., in which he now holds office of worshipful
master. His Masonic relations further include membership in the local chapter
and mystic shrine commandery, Islam Temple. Other
orders with which he is identified are the following: Benevolent Protective
Order of Elks; Knights of Pythias, in which he is
past chancellor and a member of the Uniform Rank; Independent Order of Odd
Fellows; Ancient Order of United Workmen; Woodmen of the World; Modern Woodmen
of America and the National Union. He is a Republican in politics and with his
wife holds membership in the Second Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Hablutzel
was born and reared in San Jose and is a daughter of Dr. Benjamin and Sarah (Braly) Cory, the latter in turn being the daughter of a
Cumberland Presbyterian minister, who was a pioneer preacher in the west. Dr.
Benjamin Cory was born near Oxford, Ohio, November 17, 1822, being a son of Dr.
James Manning Cory, a prominent physician of Oxford. Inspired by his father’s
success no less than his own inclinations, Benjamin Cory early turned his
attention to the study of medicine and after graduating from Oxford College he
entered the Cincinnati Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1844 as
an M. D. In 1847 he came across the plains to California and was the first
American physician to conduct practice in San Jose, where he continued until
his death, in January of 1896. His ability as a man and public sprit as a
citizen led to his election as mayor of San Jose and as the representative of
this district in the state legislature, the first meeting of which was held in
his office. In both of these important positions he discharged every duty with
fidelity, intelligence and zeal. In early manhood he married Sarah Braly, who was born in Crawford county,
Mo., and in 1847 crossed the plains to Oregon with her father, Rev. John E. Braly, a native of North Carolina. From Oregon the family
came to California during the year 1849 and Mr. Braly
not only did pioneer work here as a Presbyterian minister, but also conducted
farm pursuits at Lawrence, Santa Clara county. In politics Dr. Cory was a stanch Republican from the organization of that party until
his death, and fraternally he was connected with the Masons. His daughter,
Susanna, was given the advantage of domestic training in a home that was a
synonym of neatness and refinement, and had the further advantage of superior
educational opportunities, being a graduate of the California State Normal and
the Leland Stanford University. For several years before her marriage she was
successfully engaged in educational work. With her husband, Dr. Hablutzel, she holds the respect and esteem of the people
of her home city and is a welcomed guest in the most select social circles.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 298-299. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.