USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 34
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Mr. Tuttle received a fair common-school education, and was reared on a farm. At the age of twenty years he began to do for himself. He had only three dollars in money, and after paying half of it for his license, he began married life with the small sum of $1.50. Near Ottumwa, Iowa, he engaged in farming and got a good start. Then, in 1852, he came to California, across the plains. Their party was composed of about eighteen persons, and they had seven wagons. After a journey of five months, they landed safe in Shasta City, in August. Six months later they went to Colnsa county, and there Mr. Tuttle at first farmed, by the month. Then he bought land and raised barley for the Gov- ernment. In 1854 he came to Santa Cruz
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county. His first purchase of land was 200 acres, which, after he had it all fenced, etc., he lost through an old Spanish title. Not discouraged, however, in 1860 he bought ninety acres near Watsonville, which he has since improved, and to it added eighty acres. He has also owned some desirable stock ranches and has raised some fine stock. He is ranked with the successful men of the county, notwithstanding the fact that he was broken up in the start through a defective title. He laughs over it now, and says he is able to buy out all who claimed a better title than he could prove.
Mr. Tuttle was married in Iowa, in 1844, to Miss Mary A. Pardoe, a daughter of Rev. John and Susan (Lotspeich) Pardoe. Their children are as follows: Dr. Hiram P., of Tacoma, Washington; Susan, wife of Sheldon Allen; Owen S., a stock-raiser of Santa Cruz county; Mary, wife of Sidney Menasco; and Frank G. and Schuyler, butchers, Watson- ville.
In politics Mr. Tuttle is a Republican. He was chosen by a large majority to repre- sent his county in the Legislature in 1878, to form the new constitution. He has taken a lively interest in educational matters, and has not only given his children good education, but has given them all a comfortable start in life.
EASIDE .- This town was laid out in the fall of 1888, and the land upon which it is located comprised a portion of the Noche Buena rancho. The town was originally platted as East Monterey, but upon the location of the post office it was found necessary to change the name, as it conflicted with other offices of a similar name; so January, 1890, it was given the
appropriate name of Seaside. It contains 1,800 fine residence lots, about 1,200 of which are sold, the remaining 600 still on the mar- ket. About 100 families from the various interior towns make this charming place their suinmer home, while others are so de- lighted with the attractions of the place, that they reside here all the time. It has many advantages as a place of residence, located as it is on the broad sand beach of Monterey bay, affording excellent bathing facilities. The climate is free from the harsh winds of the ocean, and when it has been proven that the most delicate plants can be propagated, and roses made to bloom, out of doors all the year round, as it has, there is no further need of expatiating upon the perfect climate of this gem of resorts. It has a post office, which is located one mile from Del Monte, on the Southern Pacific railroad. It has very excellent school facilities, and all the advantages to be obtained upon the shores of old Monterey bay. Among the natural attractions of Seaside are the beautiful lake and wonderful live-oak tree, said to be the largest of its species in the world.
D. J. Houghton and his partner, J. L. D. Roberts, M. D., operate a lumber-yard at the railroad station, and encourage the erection of homes at Seaside.
J. L. D. Roberts, the present efficient and obliging Postmaster of Seaside, is a native of Osceola, Lewis county, New York, having been born in that place January 14, 1863. He took a thorough course in the English branches at Watertown, New York, and later an academic conrse at Utica, New York, and after that attended Union College, and there entered upon the study of medicine with Dr. H. N. Porter, of Utica. He graduated at the University of New York in 1885, and commenced the practice of medicine at Utica,
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where he remained for three years, and then came to California and settled at Monterey, in 1887.
In 1888 Dr. Roberts married Miss Edith A. Maltby, of Troy, New York. To the Doc- tor and his wife one son has been born,- Honghton Maltby Roberts.
H. BLOSSER, a prominent and highly respected citizen of San Ben - ito, San Benito county, California, was born in Fayette, Seneca county, New York, April 24, 1827. In his youth he learned the trade of tanner and currier at Lockport, New York, and in 1848 went to Michigan, where he worked at the same in Medina, Lenawee county.
While working quietly at his trade in Michigan, the California gold fever swept over the country and Mr. Blosser was one of its victims. He drove a teamn overland from Michigan to the American valley in Plumas county, this State, arriving at his destination August 14, 1852. From that time until 1861, he pursned the various callings of a persistent miner, and with no very brilliant success. In 1861 he joined the United States Army and fonght the Indians on the frontier, in New Mexico and Arizona, nntil 1864. In November of that year he returned to Plumas county, via steamer from Wilmington to San Francisco and up the Sacramento river, and remained in Plumas county until October, 1868. The following year he came to San Benito county with Bolivar Smith, and bought a squatter's claim to land that now comprises a portion of his comfortable home ạt San Benito.
Mr. Blosser was married, December 10, 1873, to Mrs. Rachel (Pullen) Appleton, a 18
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native of Livingston county, Michigan, and the widow of D. E. Appleton. By her first husband she had three children: Maggie, May and De Witt. She and Mr. Blosser have one daughter, Etta O.
AJOR E. McMICHAELS is one of the respected pioneers of San Benito county. He came to California in 1849. Passing on his journey to the mines, he camped in the fruit orchard adjoining, and comprising a portion of the San Juan Mission property at old San Juan. He ar- rived safely at the mines of Tuolumne county, and remained there until 1853, spending first, however, a brief time in Mariposa county. Later he followed stock-raising in Stanis- laus county, whence he removed to the San Joaquin valley. He finally, in 1859, took up his residence in San Benito county, and continued stock-raising. And since that date he has been an honored citizen of San Jnan.
Major McMichaels was born in the town of Orangeburg, Orangeburg county, South Caro- lina, June 1, 1809. In 1858 he married, in California, his present consort, who was, by maiden name, Emma Stone. They have three children. The Major lives in comparative retirement at San Juan, and since 1887 has ably filled the position of United States Post- master. He is a gentleman possessing many estimable qualities, and is highly regarded by all who know him.
AVID LEESE, son of Jacob P. Leese, was born in Sonoma county, California, January 8, 1846. He came to Mon- terey county when a child, and attended the public schools of Monterey. Then for a
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number of years he followed various pursuits.
He was married in Salinas, in 1875, to Delia Estelle, daughter of W. G. Martin, and their union has been blessed with two sons and six daughters, all living, namely: Her- bert Primer, born in 1876; Adelaide Sophia, in 1878; Grace Estelle, in 1880; David Will- iam, in 1882; Edith Anna, in 1884; Delia, in 1888; Jessie Frances, in 1890; and Ber- tha Pomposa, in 1892.
Mr. Leese came to King City in the year 1885. He is now engaged in farming on the San Bernabe rauch. On the 15th of September, 1888, a serious accident, and a phenomenal one for California, occurred to him. The house in which he was living, lo- cated five miles from King City, was struck by lightning and its contents burned. Many horses and cattle were also killed from the effects of the lightning.
Mr. Leese has been and is still a very suc- cessful fariner, and in his chosen pursuit has acquired a competency. He bears a reputa- tion above reproach. Mr. Leese conies from an ancestry of which any one might well be proud, his mother being a sister of the dis- tinguished General Vallejo. For further reference to his ancestry see the various allu- sions to Jacob P. Leese in the general history in this work and a sketch of him.
OSEPH BOWIE, for many years a resi- dent of San Juan, San Benito county, and one of the most successful merchants of the place, is a native of Montreal, Canada, born September 6, 1830. His parents, Alex- ander and Elizabeth (Arthur) Bowie, were natives of Scotland and of the north of Ire- land, respectively, the latter being a daughter of William Arthur. Alexauder Bowie was a
baker by trade. He came to California in 1852, worked at his trade in Murphy's camp, and in 1857 came to San Juan. Joseph was twenty-three years of age when he landed in California. He mnined in the diggings of Calaveras county abont three years. In 1857 he came to San Juan aud found employment on a stock ranch. He subsequently served six years as Deputy Sheriff of Santa Clara county, under Sheriff Adams, and during that time was stationed at the New Almaden quicksilver mines. He afterward served as Deputy Sheriff of old Monterey county, un- der Andy Wasson. Since 1877 he has been engaged in the merchandise business at San Juan.
Of Mr. Bowie's family we record that he has one single sister, Eliza; Alexander, his brother, is in Europe; Agnes is the wife of J. P. Sargent, a prominent and wealthy rancher of Santa Clara county; Charlotte H. is the wife of S. W. Smith, of Monterey.
DWARD L. B. SMITH, deceased, one of the honored and esteemed pioneers of California, paid the debt of Nature in 1853, leaving to his descendants an in- heritance beyond price, that of an untar- nished name.
Our subject came overland from Spring- field, Illinois, to California, in 1848, leaving Springfield in April of that year. The journey was a perilous one and Mr. Smith was so un- fortunate as to receive an accidental wound in the arm from one of the guards while placing them around, that proved very serious. This wound was received while guarding the camp at night, when he was serving as Cap- tain of the guard. Mr. Smith made his ad- vent into San Francisco on the 22d of Octo-
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ber, the same year. He was a merchant by trade and pursued his calling until Novem- ber of the year 1849, when he removed to Santa Cruz, where he remained until January, 1850, when he located at San Juan. As he was a man of broad intelligence and well versed in English and American law he be- gan the practice of the same in San Juan. Mr. Smith was the first Postmaster of San Juan, and at the time of his death, in 1853, was Surveyor of Monterey county.
Mr. Smith married Miss Jane Whittacer, a native of Kingston, New York, where the marriage ceremony occurred. Mrs. Smith was of Holland Dutch descent. Mr. Smith was also a native of New York, his birth- place being Ulster county, that State. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith were all born in Kingston and were by name as fol- lows: Annie, wife of Judge R. F. Peckham of San José, is now deceased; Caroline is the widow of John N. Bigley and resides at San Juan; Leath M. is the wife of John Breen, of San Juan; Mary S. is the wife of George Chal- mers of San Juan; Josephine married W. Jeffries of Santa Clara county and is now de- ceased; and John, the only son, who is now a resident of Stockton. Mr. Smith was an honorable man, an energetic and esteemed citizen who is still remembered by the host of friends he left behind.
A. BLESSING, a California pioneer of 1850, and a prosperous farmer of San Benito county, residing near Hollister, is deserving of some personal mention in this work.
Mr. Blessing is a native of Virginia, born on the Red river, son of Abraham and Mary (Anderson) Blessing. By the death of his
parents he was left an orphan at the age of two years and was cared for and reared by strangers. When a youth he went to Mis- souri and at the age of twenty crossed the plains from that State to California, coming via the northern route, and after a journey of seventy-five days landed in " Hangtown " on the 1st of July, 1850. He spent twenty-five years in the mines of Placer, El Dorado and adjoining counties, and in 1875 came to San Benito county and located near Hollister. Here he owns a fertile farm of eighty acres.
Mr. Blessing was married at San Francisco, in 1863, to Mrs. Ruth Roe, a native of Lena- wee county, Michigan. They have five chil- dren: William A., Estella M., Mary. Alice, John Franklin and Oliver C. The two daughters and one son are married.
OHN SEXTON, a native of Arkansas, was born December 28, 1837. His fa- ther, Jacob Sexton, a farmer, came to California in 1850 and died the same year, in Sacramento county. His wife, nee Eliza Reed, a native of Kentucky, died in the spring of 1886, leaving four children, of whom onr subject is the second.
Mr. John Sexton served during the rebel- lion three years as United States Government Wagon-master in the Commissary depart ment. After the war, in 1865, he came to California and remained two years at Napa, where he engaged in farm work. In 1867 he located in Salinas, where he bought seventy acres of land, his present home. The Sexton residence is one of the most attractive rural homes in the valley and is a source of pride to the citizens of the surrounding county.
Mr. Sexton was married July 17, 1865, to Sarah C. King, the daughter of Philip King,
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a farmer of the Salinas valley. Mrs. Sexton was born in Indiana, March 21, 1846. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sexton, namely: Ida B., now Mrs. James Kenney of San José; O. C., now Mrs. Wright Alsop of Salinas; A. D., now Mrs. J. H. A]- sop of Salinas; Eda May and John T., at home.
Mr. Sexton enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him, and he and his wife are worthy representatives of the Salinas valley.
OHN W. HAWKINS, a representative business man of Hollister, is a native of Marion county, Missouri, having been born near the city of Hannibal, September 22, 1840. His life has been chiefly devoted to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been very successful.
His father, Nicholas Hawkins, was also a life-long farmer and a native of Kentucky, where he was greatly esteemed. Our subject was reared in his native State, and in 1868 came to Hollister and was one of the original settlers on the subdivision of the San Justo or Hollister grant. He now owns one of the finest farms of 200 acres in the county, which joins the city of Hollister, also 700 acres of productive farm land near Winters, Cali- fornia.
Mr. Hawkins married Miss Frances J. Chapped, a native of McDonald county, Mis- souri, born near Neosho, October 7, 1845, and a daughter of Alfred Clapped, a resident of Hollister. Mr. and Mrs. Hawkins have four living children, namely: William E., born July 30, 1867; Alfred N., born April 11, 1869, married Emma Elizabeth Sherman, and is now a farmer of Woodland, California; Mary A., born December 28, 1870; Lee, born
January 15, 1878; and Frank C., born May 22, 1873, died March, 4, 1892. Mr. Hawkins has been active in all enterprises that had for their object the material, educational or social advancement of the city of Hollister and county of San Benito. No family in the State is held in any higher esteem by those who know them than is that of the subject of this notice.
APT. E. P. WRIGHT is one of the oldest pioneers of San Benito county. He came to California, in 1849, from Wilcox county, Ala., but is a native of South Carolina, being born in Sumter district, September 3, 1816. Soon after his birth his father removed to Alabama, and there died five months after.
The captain was reared in Conecnh county, Alabama, until eighteen years of age,when he engaged in raising cotton and corn until 1835, when he went to Texas, joined the revolution and aided in gaining the inde- pendence of the Lone Star State. He served there as a private during 1836, and then located in Coucordia parish, Louisiana, near Natchez, Mississippi, as a farmer. In 1844 he returned to Alabama, but in 1849 came to California, being one of a party who chartered a schooner and sailed for Brazos-Santiago, Texas; crossed the Rio Grande river, and with teams, wagons and pack mules made their way to Mazatlan, Mexico. From this point they sailed to San Francisco, taking thirty-one days to the trip. Upon arrival in California. Captain Wright spent about three years in the mines and then returned to Alabama. In 1852 he again made the trip, and embarked in farming at Gilroy. While living there he was several times elected Justice of the Peace, which office he filled
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with credit. Later, he came to San Benito county and located his present home at the confluence of the Tres Pinos and San Benito creeks, in the most fertile and cultivated portion of central California.
He was married in Alabama in 1844, to Miss Margaret L. Hank, a native of Ala- bama, who is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Wright have eight children, seven of whom are daughters, and of these seven six have occupied responsible positions as teachers in the public schools. Mrs. Wright is a lady of intelligence, and is a devoted wife and mother.
Although born and reared in the heart of secession, Capt. Wright has always been a strong Union man and a Gerrit Smith abolitionist. He served in his early days in the Alabama militia, with rank as Captain, which title has clung to him, and he is known and liked as Captain Wright by a large circle of acquaintances and friends. He is a man of wide observation, general information and pronounced opinions, and is liberal to a fault.
WESTFALL, M. D., has been one of the physicians of Monterey since 1878, and of California since 1869. He is a native of Indiana, born July 30, 1841, son of Isaac Fall Westfall. The Doctor received his medical education at Keokuk, lowa, where he graduated in 1869 from the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Upon coming to California, he practiced his profession at various points in California and finally located at Monterey, in January, 1878.
In 1861, Dr. Nestfall joined the Union army in Iowa, and was mustered into the Fourth Iowa Infantry. He served one year,
taking an active part in the battles of Shiloh and Donelson, where he received injuries, and was commissioned First Lieutenant as a reward for his bravery, but was discharged on account of his wounds.
His marriage occurred in 1875, to Miss Nellie Fadden, a native of Minnesota, and they have one son, Jacob.
The Doctor is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of City Recorder for two years. He enjoys a fine practice, and has the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
EV. N. R. PECK, one of the honorable members of the superannuated Methodist clergy, is a well-known citizen of Pacific Grove. He is a native of Chittenden county, Vermont, born March 23, 1813. His father, a Baptist preacher, was born in Rhode Isl and, although he followed his calling chiefly in Vermont and St. Lawrence county, New York, in which latter place his death occurred in 1860, when he had attained the age of eighty-five years. His wife, mother of subject, Sabara Rounds, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, town of Clarendon, of English de- scent.
Our subject was the second child in a large family, was educated in the public schools of Vermont, and also attended the St. Lawrence Academy at Malone, New York. In 1838 he joined the Black River Conference, having been engaged in the local ministry of the Northern New York Conference for some time prior to this step. In 1855 Mr. Peck became a member of the California Confer- ence by transfer from the Black River Con. ference in northern New York, being sta- tioned at Los Angeles in the same year. He remained only about six months when he was
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stationed at Sacramento, where he built up 'a fine church organization and erected the pres- ent Methodist Church on H street. He filled various appointments in Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, and Amador counties, and served as Presiding Elder in the California Confer- ence in 1861. This good man continued his ministrations until 1889, when he superannu- ated, after a service of fifty-four years. He resided for several years in Placer county, where he was a pioneer in the growing of olives and oranges in that county, propagating them from the seed. In this way Mr. Peck became interested in horiculture, and for some time was an influential member of the State Board of Horticulture.
In 1889 Mr. Peck took up his residence in Pacific Grove, where (in 1892) he still lives, and is universally beloved. Mr. Peck first visited California in 1850, and as an indepen- dent preacher traveled and preached the gos. pel of the Bible to the miners, sometimes hav- ing audiences as large as 1,500 people, chiefly miners, at the old Spanish bar on the Ameri- can river. When asked how he could afford to preach so long without remuneration he said, "Why, bless you, I never had up to that time seen so much money, and scarcely have I since. While sitting alone in my cabin door those open-handed and generous miners used to throw sacks of gold dust through my open window or door, not even halting to receive my thanks."
Mr. Peck married, in 1833, Mary Rounds, a daughter of Joseph Rounds of Monkton, Vermont. Two children were born to them, namely: Marilla, who married and was sent to India in 1856 as a missionary, where she died in 1863, leaving a daughter who was re- turned to her native land and is now the wife of Rev. J. W. Kuykendall, of the California Conference. The other daughter of Mr. Peck
was married to J. N. Maddux, of California, and is now living in San Francisco.
Mr. Peck is greatly esteemed in Pacific Grove, and is now enjoying a well-earned rest after a life of toil and ardnous labors.
J. HANEY, the subject of this brief sketch, is a native of Ireland, where he was born in 1814. In 1840 he shipped for America, and after arrival in this land of freedom and plenty, he located in Wisconsin, where he resided for about twenty-two years. Prior to his settlement in Wisconsin he had traveled extensively in the United States, and so finally resolved to seek in the mild climate of California the comfort during winter that Wiscon- sin does not afford; so in 1875 he made the trip, and, since his arrival in the State, has been the keeper of the court- house grounds of Monterey county. This work he is well able to perform, as he was reared on a farm and has always engaged in agricultural pursuits.
In 1849 our subject was married to Miss Henrietta Luce, who bore him one son, Edward. Mr. Haney has always been very industrious, and his energy and thrift have won for him a competency. He now has a comfortable home in Salinas, where his sociability and strict integrity have made him many friends.
RANK R. DAY is a representative busi- ness man and capitalist of Monterey. He has been a resident of California for about twenty-five years. His father, Lott Day, coming to California with his family in 1866, purchased the Capital Hotel at Sacrameuto,
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and operated the same until 1871. After a trip East he settled in Oakland, where he lived in retirement until his death in 1883. He was a native of Ohio, born at the present site of Cincinnati about 1822. He became one of the most successful hotel men of his day, and owned some of the leading hotels in Ohio and adjoining States. The mother of our subject was Anna, daughter of John K. Wright, M. D., an eminent physician with a practice extending throughout Indiana. She was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and died at the age of thirty-three years, in South Bend, Indiana, leaving three children, a son and two danghters. The younger daughter died at the age of five years, and the older Lizzie, married W. S. Bender, a nephew of E. B. Crocker, agent for the Central Pacific Railroad Company. They lived at Reno, Nevada, where she died in 1871.
Mr. Day was born in South Bend, Indiana, April 9, 1853. He learned civil engineering after coming to California, and as civil engi- neer worked for the Pacific Improvement Company for a time. Later, he worked for the Sonthern Pacific and other railway com- panies in various capacities, and was also in the employ of Wells, Fargo & Company, these engagements covering a period of about twenty years. In 1883 he located in Los Angeles. He organized and was for a time connected with the well-known business firm of Joe Bayer & Co., of that city. In 1886 he disposed of his business interests and became one of the volunteer firemen of Los Angeles, which position he filled four years, the last two years being Chief of the paid department. He served as a member of the City Council of Los Angeles two years, from the second ward, one of the wealthiest wards in the city. He was popularly known for his political sagacity and business enterprise. He was an
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