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Home > California > Stone Carvers... > Menu > Cemetery Stone & Monument Carvers...Alphabetical List > Western Granite Works/Western Granite & Marble Co.
A Summary of The History of the Western Granite & Marble Company as of 1888, excerpts from Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California.
Western Marble and Granite Yards, from Santa Clara County and Its Resources: A Souvenier of the “San Jose Mercury,” San Jose, California, 1895, pp. 195. |
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Western Granite and Marble Company. (Photograph from Commercial History of San Jose, California, 1892) |
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Mid-1880s - Name change from “Western Marble & Granite Company” to “Western Granite & Marble Co. The following excerpt is from History of Santa Clara County; With Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women, by Eugene T. Sawyer, 1922, pp. 277.
“The marble business was established in San Jose in 1870 by J. W. Combs, and in 1878 W. W. Blanchard and Timothy O’Neill opened the first granite works. In 1883 a partnership between the three men was formed and the two interests were combined under the firm name of Combs, Blanchard & O’Neill. The name was afterwards changed to the Western Marble and Granite Company, and for many years business was done on First Street near the Southern Pacific railway tracks. At last, being cramped for space, the establishment was removed to Stockton Avenue.”
1887-1888 - Western Granite & Marble Co., North First nr. S.P.R.R. depot, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (McKenney’s San Jose City Directory, Including Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz County, 1887-1888, in the “Marble Dealers” and “Granite Dealers” sections)
1887-1888 - Western Granite & Marble Co. Officials and Employees (compiled from city directory entries) Address: office and yard First Street opp. Southern Pacific Railroad Depot.
Combs, Blanchard, O’Neil, & McLannan, proprietors.
Wm. W. Blanchard; John W. Combs; Timothy O’Neil; and Angus W. Combs, foreman and carver.
1888 (See the history of the Western Granite & Marble Co. at the end of this chronology.)
1888 - Western Granite & Marble Co. Organized in May 1888. Western Granite & Marble Co. was organized in May 1888. Address: Office No. 1st St at the crossing of the So. Pacific RR. Branch office in Oakland for exhibition and sale. Their trade extended all over California and the contiguous states and territories. In 1888 business was expected to reach $100,000. 40 to 50 workmen including a special artist in designing were employed at the time. The company operated granite quarries at Yuba Pass, Placer County, California, called the Crystal Lake Quarries. (Abstracted from Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, edited by H. S. Foote, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1888 )
1889 - Western Marble & Granite Co., San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties, 1889, McKenney Directory Co., Publishers, San Francisco, CA, in the “Marble Works” section)
Some officials employees of the Western Granite & Marble Co. from the 1889 San Jose city directory: Wm. W. Blanchard, manager; John W. Combs, vice pres., Timothy O’Neil, superintendent; Allen O. Kendall, foreman.
1891 - Western Granite & Marble Co. (Advertisement)
Western Granite and Marble Co. of San Jose. Capital, Paid Up, $100,000. C. T. Ryland, President; E. O. Smith, Vice-President, B. D. Murphy, Treasurer; W. K. Beans, Secretary; T. O’Neil, Superintendent; O. H. Barnhart, Manager. Bids and estimates furnished on all kinds of Marble, Granite or Sandstone. Cemetery Work a specialty. Office and Works: Nos. 370 to 378 North First Street. (San Jose Daily Mercury, August 1891) |
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1892 - Western Granite & Marble Co. Employees (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties, 1892, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA )
A couple of employees of the Western Granite & Marble Co. compiled from city directory: Timothy O’Neil, granite cutter; Allen O. Kendall, foreman.
1892 - Western Granite and Marble Co. Article. The following excerpt is from Commercial History of San Jose, 1892, pp. 62, viewed at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Library in the California Room.
Prominent Business Houses.
“The Western Granite and Marble Company is a strong corporation, with a capital stock of $100,000, which was formed some three years ago for the purpose of engaging in the production of dressed or undressed granite or marble building material, monuments, headstones, copings, curbings, etc. This company has Mr. B. D. Murphy at its head in the position of president; Mr. O. H. Barnhart is vice president and manager; Mr. Will K. Beans is secretary. The moving spirit in the concern is the vice president and manager, Mr. O. H. Barnhart, who is ably seconded by Mr. T. O’Neil, who occupies the position of superintendent.
“This company is engaged in operations of a really extensive character. It has three granite quarries in Placer County, and one sandstone quarry in Santa Clara County, in which it gives employment to some forty men. It has also an extensive depot at Nos. 370, 372, 374, 376, and 378 North First Street, San Jose, where it gives employment to a staff of some forty men. The company is at present engaged in supplying and setting the stone material in the Santa Clara County Hall of Records, and is ready to undertake contracts for that kind of work in any part of this end of the State.
“The Western Granite and Marble Company is likely to develop into one of the great industrial enterprises of this neighborhood. It is in the hands of men who have money and the courage and brains to enable them to use it advantageously.”
Western Granite and Marble Company. (Photograph from “Commercial History of San Jose, California,” 1892)
1893 - Western Granite & Marble Co. Employees (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara Directory, 1893, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA)
Some employees: Timothy O’Neil, superintendent; Allen O. Kendall, foreman; and Arthur L. Brownell, marble cutter.
1894 - Western Granite & Marble Co., B. D. Murphy, pres., J. W. Ryland, vice pres., C. M. Shortridge, mgr., 370-378 N First St, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose and Santa Clara Directory, 1894, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA, pp. 432; Western Granite & Marble Co., 370-378 N 1st in the “Marble and Granite” section, pp. 673)
Some of the officials and employees: B. D. Murphy, pres.; J. W. Ryland, vice pres.; C. M. Shortridge, manager, Timothy O’Neil, superintendent; Allen O. Kendall, foreman.
1895-1896 - Western Granite & Marble Co., B. D. Murphy, pres., John Ryland, vice pres., T. O’Niel (sic), sup. 370-378 N 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County: A Classified Business Directory of the County, 1896-1897, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA, pp. 422; Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 N 1st, “Marble and Granite” section, pp. 669)
Some of the officials and employees: B. D. Murphy, pres., John Ryland, vice pres., Timothy O’Neil, superintendent; Dennis O’Neil, employee; and Allen O. Kendall, foreman.
1895 - Western Granite & Marble Co. Photograph (Santa Clara County and Its Resources: A Souvenir of the San Jose Mercury,” 1895)
1896-1897 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 N 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County: A Classified Business Directory of the County, 1896-1897, pp. 719)
Some of the employees: Timothy O’Neil, superintendent; Dennis O’Neil, stone polisher; and Allen O. Kendall, foreman.
1897 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 N 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1897, pp. 671)
Some of the employees: Timothy O’Neil, superintendent; Dennis O’Neil, stone polisher; and Allen O. Kendall, foreman.
1897 – Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 to 378 North First Street, San Jose, California (from Stone: An Illustrated Magazine, March 1897, Vol. XIV, No. 4, pp. 410)
“San Jose, Cal. – The Western Granite and Marble Co., at meeting held recently, levied an assessment of $5 per share upon the capital stock of the corporation, payable immediately in United States gold coin to the secretary of the corporation at the office, 370 to 378 North First street.”
1898-1899 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 N 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1898-1899, pp. 659)
Proprietor: Timothy O’Neil.
1899-1900 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 N 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1899-1900, pp. 619)
Proprietor: Timothy O’Neil.
1900 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 N 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory, 1900, pp. 750)
Proprietor: Timothy O’Neil.
1901-1902 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 n 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory,” 1901-1902, pp. 707)
1903-1904 - Western Granite & Marble Co., 370 n 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1903-1904, pp. 685)
Business Card and Door Plaque of T. O’Neil Company (Successors to Western Granite and Marble Co.), contributed by Bob Douat, a descendant of Timothy O’Neil.
T. O’Neil Company, Successors to Western Granite and Marble Co.
Stockton Avenue, near Polhemus Street, San Jose, Cal.
Branch, near entrance Oak Hill Cemetery
Phone: John 3466
Estimates Furnished on Application - Mausoleums, Vaults, Monuments, Headstones, Copings, Curbings. All kinds of building work in Granite, Sandstone, or Marble
1905-1906 - Western Granite & Marble Co. (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1905-1906.)
Some employees of the company: Timothy O’Neil, manager; Dennis O’Neil; and L. F. Butts, manager.
1906-1907 - O’Neil, T. Co. successors to Western Granite & Marble Co., 370-378 n 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1906-1907) (Dennis O’Neil was one of the employees of the company.)
1911-1912 - Western Granite & Marble Co. (T. O’Neil Co.), San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1911-1912, pp. 696)
1920 - Western Granite & Marble Co., Stockton, S Jose 2746, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose, Santa Clara County & Redwood City, San Mateo County - The Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Co. Telephone Directory, 1920)
1922 - Western Marble & Granite Co. (The following is an excerpt from History of Santa Clara County, by Sawyer, With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women, by Eugene T. Sawyer, 1922, pp. 277.)
“The marble business was established in San Jose in 1870 by J. W. Combs, and in 1878 W. W. Blanchard and Timothy O’Neill (sic) opened the first granite works. In 1883 a partnership between the three men were formed and the two interests were combined under the firm name of Combs, Blanchard & O’Neill (sic). The name was afterwards changed to the Western Marble and Granite Company, and for many years business was done on First Street near the Southern Pacific railway tracks. At last, being cramped for space, the establishment was removed to Stockton Avenue.”
1926 - Western Granite & Marble Co. - Wm. Schuh, President, A. Morandi, Vice President, M. Vertin, Secretary, W. C. Ghetti, Manager. 254-256 W. Santa Clara, Stockton near Polhemus & Oak Hill Cemetery. (Polk Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1926)
1927 - Western Granite & Marble Co. - Wm. Schuh, President; A. Morandi, Vice President; M. Vertin, Secretary, W. E. Ghetti, Manager, W. Santa Clara, San Jose (Polk Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, pp. 421, 629)
1961 - Western Granite & Marble Co., Oak Hill Improvement Co. Oprs., Monterey Road and Stone av, Opposite Oak Hill Cemetery, Tel Cypress 4-1610. (1961 San Jose City Directory)
1962 - Oak Hill Monument Co. (Formerly Western Granite & Monument Co.), Oak Hill Improvement Co. Oprs., 300 Curtner av, Tel Cypress 7-2447. (1962 San Jose City Directory)
Excerpts from Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, edited by H. S. Foote, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1888, pp. 199.
“The Western Granite & Marble Company - J. W. Combs - was organized in May 1888. C. T. Ryland, President, John W. Combs, Vice President, D. B. Murphy, Treasurer, T. P. Ryland, Secretary, W. W. Blanchard, Manager, and T. O’Neil, superintendent.
“Their office, yard and works were on North First Street at the crossing of the Southern Pacific Railroad and are supplied with steam polishers…The company owns its own granite quarries at Yuba Pass, California, known as the Crystal Lake Quarries. The marble used is chiefly from Vermont. The company employs 40 to 50 skilled workmen, including a special artist in designing. Besides the finest and most elaborate monumental tombstone work, the company makes a specialty of building material in any style or finish. They have a branch office in Oakland for the exhibition and sale of manufactured goods. Their trade extends over California, and the contiguous states and territories and will reach $100,000 during the year 1888.
“Although this company was but recently incorporated, the history of its origin and business dates back over a period of years. J. W. Combs established the marble business in San Jose in 1870, and in 1878 W. W. Blanchard and T. O’Neil opened the first permanent granite manufactory in the city. In 1883 a partnership was formed between the three men, and the two interests combined under the firm title of Combs, Blanchard, and O’Neil. The business…(grew) to such proportions that in order to own and operation their own quarries.…”
WESTERN GRANITE WORKS, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.
1912-1913 - Western Granite Works, W. C. Ghetti, T. O’Neil Successors to T. O’Neil Co., Granite Marble & Sandstone Cutters, Stockton av near Polhemus, Phone S J 2746, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1912-1913)
1913-1914 - Western Granite Works - Successors to T. O’Neil Co. Granite & Marble & Sandstone Cutters, W. C. Ghetti, T. O’Neil, Stockton av nr Polhemus, Phone S J 2746, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1913-1914, pp. 452)
1915 - Western Granite Works, W. C. Ghetti - Dennis O’Neil, Stockton nr Polhemus, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1915)
1916 - Western Granite Works, W. C. Ghetti - Dennis O’Neil, Stockton nr Polhemus, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1916)
1919 - Western Granite Works, W. C. Ghetti - Dennis O’Neil, Stockton nr Polhemus.
1920 - Western Granite Works, Stockton nr Polhemus, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1920)
1922 - Western Granite Works, W. C. Ghetti - Dennis O’Neil, Stockton nr Polhemus, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1922)
1923 - Western Granite Works, W. C. Ghetti, Stockton nr Polhemus, Tel. 24746W. San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1923)
1924 - Western Granite Works, 1401 S. 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1924)
1925 - Western Granite Works - W. C. Ghelli, Manager, Stockton nr Polhemus, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1925)
1880-1881 - The following excerpt is from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web site, by Nancy Pratt Melton.
(pp. 824) “White, J P, mason - Sonoma House.”
1880-1881 - The following excerpt is from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web site, by Nancy Pratt Melton.
(pp. 643) “ Merced Marble Works, Wm. H. Wilson, prop. L.”
(pp. 644) “Wilson, Wm H, Merced Marble Works, L.”
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