USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 32
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At the age of seventeen she left home and friends and started out into the world to gain an independent livelihood. Having received a thorough academic education and possessing a facile pen, she naturally drifted into literary work. She was soon tendered an editorial position on the Santa Clara Valley, a monthly horticultural journal published at San José, which she accepted, and became the editor of the household department of the publication. Later she acted as special correspondent for the San Jose Daily and Weekly Mercury.
In 1890 she, in partnership with C. A. Peckham, established the Monterey Enter- prise at Monterey, California. The enter- prise proved financially unsuccessful and after six months the periodical was discon- tinned. In April, 1891, she began publish- ing the Castroville Enterprise, which she now owns.
Through all her editorial work is seen her independent spirit and commendably aggres- sive newspaper policy, the inflence of her pencil being felt throughout the Salinas val- ley. Its tone is elevating and carries with it the assurance of success in all battles, where the principles of right are arrayed against the wrong.
Miss Francis is a member of the Pacific Coast Woman's Press Association and her Enterprise is the official organ for the associ- tion. She is also a member of the National Editorial Association and assistant corre- sponding secretary for the same, she being the only member of the organization on this coast who was honored with a position on its staff of officers at their recent national con- vention at San Francisco.
Miss Francis relinquishes her editorial duties for a time to aid her associates in the national association work at the coming World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago in
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1893. She is a bright and vivacious business woman, and her pencil is ever ready to grace- fully acknowledge all courtesies shown to the newspaper world to which she belongs.
ANUEL R. MERRITT, EsQ., a native son of California, born in Monterey, June 8, 1855, son of Hon. Josiah Merritt, deceased, a pioneer of California of 1849, native of New York, born in Orange county, August 21, 1796. He received a college education in his native State, and then studied and entered the practice of law, being adınitted to the bar in New York city, where he practiced his profession for several years. Later, in 1845, he located and pursued his profession in Illinois a short time, coming to California via the southern route through Texas, arriving in 1849. In January, 1850, he reached Monterey and took a somewhat active part in organizing Monterey county in 1851, and was chosen first County Judge, serving from 1851 to 1854. As a lawyer, citizen, jurist and friend he was able, fearless, active and true. He was twice married, first in New York, where his wife died, leaving two sons, Caleb, of Newbury, on the Hndson, a successful business man, and Sylvander, an engineer on the Erie railroad; served as Mayor of Port Jervis, New York, and died in 1886. Josiah Merritt came to California and married a second time, in 1850, to Juana, eldest daughter of Simeon Castro, deceased, Judge of the First Instance under Mexican rule, and a prominent and wealthy Spanish citizen of Monterey. Mrs. Merritt was an amiable Spanish lady of unusual graces of heart and mind, and was greatly admired for her personal beauty. She was born June 24, 1820, in Monterey, where she spent her entire
life. Here she bore and reared an attractive family, and died February 27, 1889. Her children were: Joseph Merritt, born April 19, 1851; Joseph, learned the art of printing in his native city, in the Monterey Gazette office, and was later one of the publishers of the Monterey Democrat, which he established and published for time, and also of the Cas- troville Argus; he was married in 1872, to Miss Annie Phillips, of Monterey, now de- ceased; in 1882 he was editor of the San José Mercury, and later, in 1884, on the editorial staff of San José Daily Herald. In Angust, 1887, he engaged in real estate and died No- vember 21, 1887. He was a first-class news- paper writer, and able with his pen, astute in business, kind of lieart and of gentlemanly bearing. The living children are: Lavinia, Herlinda, Jennie and the subject.
M. R. Merritt was born in the town of Monterey, June 8, 1855. He is the son of ex-County Judge Josiah Merritt, and was educated in the public schools of his native town. In 1869, his father having died, he left school and entered the office of the Mon- terey Republican, where he learned the printing business. He later became the editor and publisher of the Castroville Argus, and later published the Monterey Herald, in connection with E. E. Curtis, now telegraph editor of the San Francisco Chronicle. In 1878 he engaged in mercantile business, which he followed for several years. In 1882 he was elected Supervisor of Monterey county from the First District. He has been a delegate to the Democratic State Convention four times, and served as Secretary to the Democratic County Committee for several years, and is now Chairman of said County Committee. For several years he was Clerk of the Board of Trustees of Castroville Dis- trict, also Justice of the Peace, a Notary
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Public and ex-Postmaster of that town. He is Past President of Gabilan Parlor, No. 132, of the Native Sons of the Golden West. At present he is Chief Deputy in the County Assessor's office.
Several years ago he was married to Miss Lizzie W. Townsend, of Alameda. They have a charming home in Salinas city, and three children.
- AVID RODERICK, a prominent busi- ness man of Monterey, and President of its Board of City Trustees, was born in North Fairfield, Maine, February 22, 1845, one of the eleven children of Francis and Catherine Roderick. His parents were both of English descent, and his father was a farmer. In his youth David was apprenticed to the trade of sash, door and blind making, and later learned, and for a time worked at, the trade of barber. He came to California in 1876, and here turned his attention to mining and merchandising, at which he was engaged for three years. He spent eight years in San Francisco, identified with a wholesale coal and iron business, and from there came to Monterey.
During the years of his residence in this city, Mr. Roderick lias done much to advance its best interests. On locating here, he en- gaged in the real-estate business, and in part- nership with Dr. J. P. E. Heintz purchased, subdivided and put on sale the Oak Grove tract. The enterprise proved successful, and as a result a charming addition to Monterey is fast being developed. He also successfully handled other properties. He was one of the promoters of the Bank of Monterey, which is one of the most solid financial institutions of the State. In 1892, he engaged in the hard- ware business, also handling doors, windows,
etc., and in this line does the leading busi- ness of the town. He has been active and foremost in the recent marked developments of Monterey, identifying himself with the various local enterprises. He is now serving his third year on the Board of City Trustees, and as official head of the city government is discharging his duties with credit to himself and his constituency.
Mr. Roderick was married, February 13, 1866, to Hattie S. Tozier, by whom he has two daughters, Mrs. F. A. Botsch, of Oak Grove, and Mrs. E. C. Mainwaring, of Oak- land, California.
He has for twenty-five years been a mem- ber of the F. & A. M., St. John's Lodge, No. 1, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, the second oldest lodge in the United States.
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ASH ROHRBACK, one of the sub- stantial farmers and highly respected citizens of Priest Valley, Monterey county, California, has been located here since the fall of 1871. He has nnder improve- ment about 300 acres of land, and has 400 acres used as a stock range,
Mr. Rohrback was born in Washington county, Maryland, April 28, 1842, son of Daniel Rohrback. The family subsequently removed from Maryland to Ogle county, Illi- nois, where they were residing when the civil war broke ont. In 1863 the subject of our sketch volunteered his service for the Union cause, and served as a member of the Seven- teenth Illinois Cavalry until the war closed.
After the close of the war Mr. Rohrback came to California. He first located in Con- tra Costa county, and from there came to his present farm. In 1875 he was married, at Watsonville, to Miss Clara, daughter of Eli
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Hughes. They have five children, Clara, May, Daniel, George and Ethel. Mr. Rohr- back is one of the School Trustees of his district.
W. MANKINS, who owns 160 acres of fine land located about three miles and a half from Paicines, San Benito county, is one of the representative farmers of this vicinity.
Mr. Mankins was born in Madison county, Arkansas, January 14, 1842, son of J. B. Mankins. His father came to California in 1850, mined on Mount Shasta and at Placer- ville, and subsequently returned to Arkansas and brought his family to this State, locating at Placerville, where he continued his mining operations. Later, le lived in Mariposa county and in other parts of central and southern California. In the meantime he made several visits East. On his fourth re- turn trip to California he died. This was in 1876. He and his wife, nee Matilda Gibson, had seven children, three of whom are living, namely: James; Masa J., now a widow; and G. W., the subject of our sketch.
Mr. Mankins was married in 1870 to Miss Arminda C. Watson, daughter of Jacob Wat- son, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. She died October 22, 1876, leav- ing two children, Jacob and Charles. June 16, 1877, Mr. Mankins wedded Mrs. Meg- gitts, of Tres Pinos Creek.
J. CROW, of Hollister, California, was born in Franklin county, Mis- souri, January 21, 1842, son of Joseph and Cassia (Sullivan) Crow, the former of Scotch and the latter of German descent.
Josepli Crow visited California in 1849. Af- ter mining in Placer county for a time he returned to Missouri, and still lives in Craw- ford county, that State.
W. J. Crow came to California in 1862. He first lived on a farm at Gilroy, and later at Mountain View and San José. He then came to San Benito county and located on his present place at Cienega. Here he owns 237 aeres of tilled land, under fence and good im- provement.
Mr. Crow married Angeline Whitton, a native of Napa, California, and has six chil- dren: Joseph W., Annie Lanra, Angeline, Emma, Warren and Hugh.
Both socially and politically Mr. Crow stands high in San Benito county. He repre- sented his district on the County Board of . Supervisors for the term of four years, from 1884 to 1888.
H. CROWE, a native of Nova Scotia, was born January 12, 1855. He learned the trade of harness-maker in his native land, and came to California, where he followed the same calling at Sacra- mento, Hollister and San Francisco. Later he engaged in the grocery business at Wat- sonville.
At Blanco, November 11, 1885, he married Alice (Lewis) Bardin, widow of the late Jacob Bardin, who died Jannary 1, 1879. Mrs. Crowe is the daughter of R. H. Lewis, origin- ally from Missouri, who spent the latter portion of his life at Salinas, and is now a resident of Santa Cruz. Mrs. Crowe was born in Sonoma county, July 5, 1860. By her former marriage she has one daughter, Lillie Bell, and she has borne her present husband two sons, namely, John W. and
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Harvey J. Our subject has recently taken up his residence in Santa Cruz, and engaged in merchandising. Both he and his estima- ble wife are highly respected citizens of Santa Cruz, and Mr. Crowe is a very successful business man.
HARLES MCINTYRE, a pioneer of California, came to this State in 1850. Ile crossed the plains, via St. Josephi, Missouri, spending two months in Salt Lake City and Utah. He came overland as a com- panion of General George E. Groves, who came to California for his health. Their route from Salt Lake City lay through Car- son and the Humboldt river ronte. At the head of the latter river they found a pack team and came into California at Ringgold, two and one-half miles from Weberville, and abont the same distance fromn Hangtown. Our subject engaged in mining from Febru- ary to July, in 1851, on Bear river, with in- different success, however. He then engaged in the hotel business in Sacramento, until February, 1852, when he engaged in farming in Santa Cruz county until 1865, since which time he has been farming near Castroville, on the Cooper ranch.
The subject of this sketch is of Scotch descent, and was born in Batton, Warren county, New York, May 15, 1830. His father, Garner McIntyre, was a farmer of that town, who married Mariah Putnam, a lineal descendant of General Israel Putnam, and a native of New York. Garner McIn- tyre emigrated to Dane county, Wisconsin, in 1848, and of his nine children our subject is the fifth born.
Our subject married, in 1860, Miss M. J. Buelna, a native daughter of California, born
of Spanish parents, at Santa Cruz, February 15, 1843. . Mr. and Mrs. McIntyre have had fifteen children, namely: Frank M., born De- cember 1, 1861; John B., born June 24, 1863; Cordelia M., born March 12, 1865, and is now Mrs. William Gowanlock, of Sali- nas, and has two children,-Annie, born Oc- tober 20, 1885, and Charles William, born July 27, 1887. The third child of our sub- ject is Charles G., born December 1, 1866; next, William Henry, September 19, 1868; Jennie, August 9, 1870; Hiram J., Jannary 28, 1873; Annie, September 25, 1874; Josie, April 16, 1876; Martha, Jannary 23, 1878; Nellie, July 8, 1879; George, December 11, 1880; Maggie, August 4, 1882; Addie, An- gust 26, 1884; Eva M., June 17, 1888. Frank, the eldest, married Annie Bacon, of Salinas, and has three children,-Inez, born February 17, 1886; Eunice, June 16, 1887; and Ver- nie, November 10, 1888. The second child, John, married Laura Bennett, of Soledad. Mr. McIntyre is one of the substantial farm- ers of Castroville, and is highly respected in Monterey.
OHN C. MILLER was born in Clarke connty, Iowa, February 6, 1855. At the age of eight months he was bereft of a father's care and protection, and he was reared by his grandparents. When he was eight years old he came with them across the plains to California, making the journey with ox teams, They first located at San Joaquin, where they remained two years, after which, in 1865, they went to Santa Clara; thence, in 1868, to Hollister, Monterey county, now San Benito county. Young Miller engaged in ranching at an early age, and has ever since continued thus occupied.
Mr. Miller has one brother living, at Coro-
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nado, San Diego county, California. He also has four half-brothers and two half-sisters,- all in California. His mother is a resident of Stockton, this State, and is now fifty-six years of age. October 6, 1881, he married Miss Georgia Cummings, by whom he has one son, Clyde, aged eight years.
Although yet a young man, Mr. Miller is ranked with the pioneers of the State. He has been successful as a rancher and a busi- ness man, and as a citizen is honorable and upright.
ATRICK HART, one of the well-known farmers and respected citizens of Priest Valley, Monterey county, California, is a native of the Emerald Isle, born in 1830. At the age of twenty he came to America, landing in Quebec, where he remained two years. He subsequently spent some time in Wisconsin, engaged in lumbering, and in 1859, came to California. Until 1861 he lived in the northern counties of the State, and at that time located on his present farm in Priest Valley. He raised the first crop of wheat ever raised in this valley, and threshed it in the old-fashioned way, tramping it out with horses.
Mr. Hart was married in Oshkosh, Wis- consin, to Miss Margaret Burns, a native of Tipperary county, Ireland. They have five children, viz .: Mary, wife of John Clayton; Ella, wife of Leroy Akers; Maggie; Kate, wife of William Wescott; and Thomas.
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EDRO ZABALA. - This gentleman, though not himself boastful or vain, it is but just to remark, bears a naine distinguished in the annals of Spanish his-
tory, and is himself descended from one of the most noted families that did honor to the name.
Mr. Zabala was born in Bilbao, Biscay, Spain, June 29, 1826. Although brought up in a fertile country, where the soil was generous and compensating, and where he was inured to farm life in childhood, he always evinced business tastes and aspira- tions. After studying in the government schools, he took a commercial course and was shortly afterward placed behind the counter as a clerk in his native city.
In 1843 he set out for the west coast of South America, which so many of his coun- trymmen had sought and where they had achieved fortune, and landed in Valparaiso, Chili. There he was employed in a large importing and shipping house, and so thor- oughly adapted to the business did he show himself that after five years of service he was sent by his firm to San Francisco to dis- pose of a large cargo, and determine upon the expediency of opening up a branch house in that city which had become the cynosure of the commercial eye by reason of the wonderful gold discoveries. He arrived in San Francisco, February 20, 1849, disposed of his cargo, and, like many thousands of others, was lured to the mines. He pros- pected, with indifferent success, in what is now Calaveras county, and other localities. Tiring of the uncertainties of a miner's reward, he returned to San Francisco after an absence of a few months, intending to sail direct for Chili. Hearing of Monterey, of its climate and harbor, and that business was brisk and inviting there, he went to Mon- terey, arriving October 1, 1849. There he engaged in general merchandising, conduct- ing it profitably for nine years and laying the foundation of liis present affluent posi-
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tion. Having acquired large tracts of land, he retired from business and devoted his energies to the cultivation of the soil and to the raising of stock, in which he is still prosperously engaged. He has made Salinas his home for many years, it being convenient to some of his largest holdings.
Mr. Zabala was married April 24, 1859, to Miss Anna Hartnell, a danghter of the dis- tingnished and highly esteemed pioneer, William E. P. Hartnell. Nine children out of the fifteen born to them are now living, and Mr. Zabala in the evening of his days is as blessed with domestic happiness and worldly goods as man could well desire.
SARRY A. GREENE, of Monterey, is one of the foremost citizens of the county and a capitalist. He is a native son of California, and was born in San Fran- cisco January 12, 1852, and was a son of the late Hon. William Greene and Annie Eliza- beth Cotton Fisk, of Rhode Island. William Greene was a pioneer of 1849. He brought his bride to San Francisco that year on a wedding tour. The then infant seaport gave promise of so bright a future that they re- mained. He was one of eight children of William and Jane (Meredith) Greene, and was a grandson of General William Greene, conspicuous in English history of his day as a brave English officer.
William Greene, the California pioneer, came to America when a mere youth. He was a shrewd, business man of affairs and upon locating in California he became closely identified with the growth of his city and went hand in hand with such men as Lick, Geary and others of his day and from year to year aided in shaping her civil and political
policy, and he was made President of the first board of Alderman of the city of San Fran- cisco, and became the owner of large blocks of real estate in the city. He subdivided various tracts of land into additions to the city. The names, Van Ness avenue, Geary and Greene streets were named after those leading officers of the first government of San Francisco. He died August 1, 1870, leaving an honorable name and a valuable estate to his wife and heirs. Mrs. Greene still sur- vives and lives in San Francisco. She is a native of Rhode Island, and a member of a family that has been very conspicuous in the financial world. Her father, Francis Mel- bourne Fisk, was at one time one of the wealthiest men in New Orleans, and was an uncle of the famous Colonel "Jim " Fisk, whose name is familiar to the world as a bold and successful capitalist and railroad mag- nate.
Of the five children of Mr. and Mrs. Greene, Clay Meredith is the oldest, being born March 12, 1850, and was the first white male child born in San Francisco. He is now a successful dramatic author of wide repute. Francis Melbourne is the youngest child, and is also a talented and a successful literary man. Harry Ashland, the second son, is the subject of this sketch. Clement Herbert died at the age of eight years, and the only daughter, Elizabeth, died at the age of five years.
Harry Ashland Greene spent his boyhood and youth in his native city. He received the rudiments of his education from private tutors. Later he attended the public school, mission near Sixteenth street, and still later the city college on the corner of Geary and Stockton streets. Afterward he went to Santa Clara College. In 1866 he took a course of study at the military institute at Poughkeep-
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sie, New York, and in 1870 he went to Paris to resume his studies, but the Franco-Prus- sian war broke out, throwing Paris in a state of siege, and he returned home. He then completed a commercial course of study at Pacific Business College and took up mining. He spent several years in the mining districts of Placer county, gaining a thorough knowl- edge of mining methods, and while yet a youth in years dealt in mining properties and oper- ated in mines.
Returning to San Francisco he took a clerical position with George Babcock & Co. large dealers in produce and grain. He re- mained with them for a few months, and then became a stockbroker. He remained with an active and influential member of the Stock Board until 1889, serving two terms as vice- president. In 1874 he, with his brother, Clay, organized the stock-brokerage firm of Greene & Co., but in a few months Clay drew out to follow his profession and owing to a serious illness our subject closed up the affairs of Greene & Co. in 1890, with an honorable record on the "Board" as the oldest commission stock-broker that had not succumbed to financial disaster. In 1886 Mr. Greene built his present residence at Monterey as a summer home. Broken down in health he retired from active business and came hither to permanently reside. He is one of the owners of the New Monterey tract, which is fast developing into one of the most attractive and healthful resident points on the central California coast.
The marriage of Mr. Greene took place July 31, 1873, to Miss Belle, daughter of the late Milton Little, of Monterey, a respected pioneer of whom extended mention is made in another part of this work. Mrs. Greene, Jr., is a native daughter of Monterey, a lady of rare social accomplishments and domestic
tastes. They have one son, William, born in San Francisco, May 2, 1874, and a daugh- ter, Belle Ursula, born June 27, 1876, like- wise in San Francisco.
During their residence in San Francisco, Mr. and Mr. Greene were active in social circles. He was a leading member of the Olympic club, S. F. Bycycle club, and a veteran of the National guards. He was one of the fathers of roller skating on the Pacific coast, and the game of Polo found recognition there on account of his individual efforts; and he originated a code of rules and regulations to govern Polo playing, which has been pub- lished, widely circulated, and has become standard authority. Mr. Greene is one of the oldest and most active members of the San Francisco Bicycle Club, a conservative organization, and served for a time as its chief.
Since locating in Monterey Mr. Greene lived in comparative retirement devoting the most of his time to the management of his personal business affairs until lately, when he originated the Monterey & Fresno railroad, and by his hard work for the people's inter- ests he has become immensely popular. He has invested liberally in the Bank of Mon- terey, and is a stockholder and officer in the Monterey Electric Light and Improvement Company and takes an interest in all matters tending to the prosperity of his chosen home. He is a man of broad culture and finds much pleasure in books and study. He is a student of nature and delights in the grandeur of his surroundings. His beautiful home is an evidence of his taste and judgment.
Mr. Greene is a proud son of the Golden State, enthusiastic in the preservation of her history .and the early landmarks, and it is safe to say that but for his vigorous protest old Cotton Hall, the place of California's
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