Santa
Clara County
Biographies
EDWARD C. YOCCO
As a
successful business man, Edward C. Yocco is remembered in Los Gatos, Santa
Clara county, where he had made his home from 1883 to
the time of his death, November 20, 1901. He was a native of the state, his birth having
occurred in San Jose November 23, 1857.
His father Joaquin Yocco was born in Europe and came to California in
1849, making the voyage by way of Cape Horn, and upon his arrival in the state
engaged in mining. He continued this
occupation but a short time when he located in San Jose and engaged in a
general merchandise and commission business, in which enterprise he met with
most gratifying success. With the proceeds
of his efforts he returned to France in 1866 and located in Paris, to educate
his children. He died in that city in
December, 1899, when about eighty years of age.
His wife, formerly Josephine Huet, also a native of France, died March
4, 1901, at about the same age. Of their
children, one son and one daughter, Edward C. was the younger, and Pauline is
now the wife of Emile Lebelle, of Paris France.
Until he
was nine years old, Edward C. Yocco received his education in the Gates school
in San Jose, after which he was taken to Paris where he attended private
academies. He completed his education at
fifteen years of age, and 1872 he returned to California, which was to be his
choice of a home. He first secured
employment with an uncle who was in business in San Jose, remaining in the
capacity of clerk for four years, when the business was sold out and he became
a clerk in the city store of Auzerais & Pomeroy. He then went to Almaden and engaged in the
butcher business until 1883 when he located in Los Gatos. For six years following he worked in a meat market
which he purchased in 1889, conducting the same with much
success until May, 1901, when he rented his shop and retired from
business. In November of the same year
his death occurred, and with his passing away was lost to the community a man
and citizen whose place it is difficult to fill. He was public-spirited and energetic in all
his enterprises, and as such added to the commercial prestige of the place. Politically he was a Democrat and for eleven
years acted as school trustee of Los Gatos.
Fraternally he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Mr.
Yocco was married twice, his first wife being Gracie Garat, with whom he was
united in Marriage in 1879. She was born
in Mayfield and died November 15, 1889.
To them were born the following children: Henrietta Beauchamp of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and George,
a student of at the State University at Berkeley. Mr. Yoccos’ second marriage united him with
Miss Ella K. Knowles, the ceremony being performed February 18, 1892. She was a native of Rock Island county, Ill., born near Port Byron and is a woman of rare
intelligence and business ability and as such commands the recognition among
the business enterprises of Los Gatos.
In March 1902, she was made secretary of the Cemetery Association of Los
Gatos, which is incorporated, and has since performed the duties of her office
in an efficient and capable manner. She
is also administrated of her husband’s estate, and owns a ranch of fifty-seven
and one-half acres of orchard in the vicinity of this town. She is the mother of two children, Edward S.
and Mary, at home.
Transcribed by
Louise E Shoemaker March 28, 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1101-1102. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Louise E. Shoemaker.