HERMAN SUND
Los Gatos
Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES: PETERSON, SCHREPPER,
One of the oldest settlers of Los Gatos who has had much to do with the
growth and development of the city, as well as shaping the destinies of
its civic and municipal government is Herman Sund, who is highly
respected and greatly loved and esteemed by everyone in this beautiful
city. He is a native of Sweden, born at Venesburg, in December, 1844, a
son of Herman and Margaret Sund. He was reared in his native place, had
the advantages of the excellent schools for which Sweden -is famous,
and when fifteen years of age he left home and apprenticed to the
carpenter trade. When twenty-three years of age he shipped aboard a
vessel as a carpenter and sailed to different countries including
Europe, West Indies, North and South America. In 1865, having quit the
sea, he came to the United States and followed his trade in different
Southern states and in Kansas until 1873, when he came to California.
Locating in Oakland he worked at his trade in San Francisco. As foreman
of carpenters he assisted in building the First and Second street cable
roads in that city, on Clay and Geary streets.
In 1881, Mr. Sund located in Los Gatos and bought a ranch in the city,
adding to it until he had forty-one acres. He engaged in contracting
and building, and also established a- lumber yard in 1884, which he
ran for many years in connection with his building business, and being
very active and energetic he built up a great portion of the city. He
also improved his ranch with orchards, and since the city has grown he
has laid out a portion of his land which he has sold to builders of
homes. When Los Gatos was incorporated in 1887 he was elected a member
of the board of trustees and reelected to the office. He took an active
and prominent part in shaping the destiny of this beautiful foothill
city, being now the only one living of the original charter board he is
not only referred to as the father of the town but as the grandfather
of the town.
Mr. Sund's first marriage was in Kansas, when he was united with
Josephine Peterson, who died leaving three children. After coming to
Los Gatos he was married to Miss Louise Schrepper, born in Glarus,
Switzerland, a well-educated and cultured lady who came to San
Francisco when twenty-two years of age and to Los Gatos in 1883, so she
has also seen the growth of this pleasant Mr. Sund is a splendid
specimen of the upbuilders and supporters of worthy measures, and a
believer in protection for Americans, he is a stanch Republican.
From Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 1090
LOS GATOS
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