LOUIS SMAUS
Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES:MULLER
Among those who have found poultry raising a profitable field for the
direction of their energies is numbered Louis Smaus, who has become
well known throughout the Santa Clara Valley in this connection, and
his well devised plans and systematic methods have resulted in the
attainment of gratifying degree of success. An native of
Czecho-Slovakia, he was born July 22, 1885, his parents being John and
Marie Smaus, and in the public schools of that country he acquired his
education. After his school days were over he worked as a
landscape gardener from 1900 to 1904. Then when nineteen years of
age, he sough the broader opportunities for advancement offered in the
United States and after arriving in this county remained for two years
in New York, where he followed landscape gardening with a large firm
that laid out private and commercial grounds, after which he spent four
years in New Jersey in the same line. He then came to California
in 1910 and worked as a landscape gardener at Stanford University, and
subsequently had charge of the Lathrop grounds for one year. He
afterward entered the employ of A. B. Spreckles, for whom he worked in
San Francisco for two years , while for five years he was in charge of
Mr. Spreckles estate in Napa, Cal. In 1919 , in association with
Hermon Hohn , he purchased a farm of thirteen and half acres on
the Los Gatos and Saratoga road, in Santa Clara County, the property
being at that time in a badly neglected state. They have supplied
the place with the most modern equipment and added many improvements,
converting it into one of the model poultry farms of this part ot he
state. When they acquired possession of the plant it was stocked
with about 700 fowls, while they now have 8,000, shipping most of their
product to the San Francisco markets. They have added three new
buildings, 20x300 feet, the latest and most modern in their line.
Their business is conducted along the most modern and progressive lines
and is enjoying a remarkably rapid growth, due to the enterprise and
close application of the men at its head. On account of a large
pine tree in the front of the farm their place is known as the Pine
Tree Poultry Farm and in its operation they employ three assistants.
Mr. Smaus married Miss Marie Muller, a native of Schleswig, Germany,
and a daughter of Louis J Muller. In his political views mr.
Smaus is a Republican and he finds recreation in motoring, spending as
much time as possible in the open. He is deeply interested in all
that pertains to the welfare and progress of his community, county and
commonwealth and his close study and unremitting industry have brought
him to the front in his chosen work.