USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 47
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He was married in 1885 to Miss Juliet Rouk, and Carson Jensen, Jr., is their only child.
Mr. Jensen is one of the pioneers of San Benito county, and indeed may be called one of its founders.
DWARD B. MONTGOMERY .- One of the most enterprising young men in San Benito county, California, is Edward B. Montgomery, who recently entered upon he duties of County Treasurer, having re- ceived the largest vote polled by any candi- date who appeared before the people of this county for their suffrage at the election in 1890.
Edward B. Montgomery was born in San
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José, Santa Clara county, California, June 18, 1867. He removed with his father's family to Hollister in 1872, and has since resided continuously at this place. His education was gained in the public schools. In May, 1887, when but twenty years of age, he was elected Town Treasurer, which position he has since filled with honor and credit. Several years ago he commenced business as a real-estate and insurance agent, and has enjoyed a mnost successful career. He is an active member of Mound Lodge, No: 66, I. O. O. F .; San Benito Lodge, No. 96, A. O. U. W .; and Fre- mont Parlor, No. 44, N. S. G. W.
RADLEY V. SARGENT, Jr., is a native of Monterey county, born on the San Carlos ranch in Carmel valley, July 5, 1863. He was reared on this ranch until he reached the age of ten, when the family removed to Monterey. Here he attended the public schools until 1881, when he was sent to a Jesnit college. He was graduated from this noted seat of learning in 1884, receiving the degree of B. A., and a year later the same institution conferred upon him the de- gree of Master of Science. In September, 1885, he entered Yale College, remained there two years and completed a thorough course of law, receiving his diploma in 1887.
On his return to California he was in poor health, due to severe application to study ; so, to regain his accustomed good health, he re- turned to the freedom of the ranch, where he had been an expert in riding spirited horses, and in the use of the riata. He also worked in the Los Burros mines for some months. After some time he went to San Francisco and entered the office of E. B. Stenehill, the district attorney, by whom he was employed
as Assistant District Attorney until August, 1888. In this office he found excellent op- portunities for perfecting himself for the office to which he was called by the vote of the people, later on. As he possessed exceptional qualitication for public speaking, he was called upon by the Democratic Central Committee to canvass the southern part of the State in connection with Hon. Thomas Geary, then a candidate for Congress in that section. Mr. Sargent began the practice of law in Salinas, late in 1888, and in the May following was appointed Assistant District Attorney, under James A. Wall. He served in this position until 1890, when he was elected District At- torney of Monterey county.
Mr. Sargent is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West and Past President of Santa Lucia Parlor. He is also a member of the State Bar Association. This gentle- man is one of the most influential of the young lawyers of California, and fair is the future before him.
RANK D. SHERMAN, of Hollister, San Benito county, California, was born in Wisconsin, December 16, 1854. At the age of five years, in company with his parents, he left his native home and started for the great State of California. They first located at Oroville, Yuba county, remaining there one year. Next we find them at Grass Valley, Nevada county, which place continued to be their home until 1870, when they took up their abode in Hollister, Monterey county, now San Benito county. Here he and his father opened a blacksmithing and wagon- making business. The firm now consists of F. D. Sherman & Brother, who are doing a thriving business.
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Mr. Sherman was married to Miss Mary W. Young, January 1, 1875, in Santa Clara county, near San José. His mother is still living, and is now sixty-three years of age.
Although comparatively a young man, Mr. Sherman is a pioneer. He has thoroughly identified himself with the best interests of his town, and is one of its highly respected citizens.
G. ARMSTRONG, a representative agriculturist of Salinas, is a native of Delaware county, New York, born in Bovina, in 1834. His father, John Arın- strong, was a farmer by occupation and a native of the Empire State, who married Isa- bel Coutter.
Our subject came to California in 1868 and purchased 160 acres of land, near Salinas, which is his present home. To this he has inade extensive additions, until he now is the owner of 2,859 acres of good farming and grazing lands. The home is one of the most attractive in its surroundings and arrange- ments in the Salinas valley.
In 1861 our subject married Miss Christi- ana Smith, a lady of excellent traits of character and great domestic thrift. She has borne her husband three children, namely: John A., Edwin and Nellie, all of whom are at home.
Mr. Armstrong stands in the front rank of those of his calling and is a thorough- going business man.
DWARD INGRAM, a native of Cali- fornia and a well-known business man of Monterey, was born in Sonoma county, California, January 23, 1855. His father,
Thomas W. Ingram, came to the State in 1851, reaching Placerville, then Hangtown. The winter of 1851-'52, he spent in the Salt Lake valley, on his way overland. He was born in Muhlenberg county, Kentucky, No- vember 17, 1825, and is a son of Isaac In- gram, a farmer by occupation. Of a family of nine children, Thomas W. was the young- est. Upon arrival in California he spent several months in the mines of El Dorado county, on the middle fork of Feather river. In 1852 he squatted on land in Napa valley, Sonoma county, and here married Miss Isa- bella Walker, a daughter of Joel Walker, who was a brother of Captain Joe Walker, the veritable "pathfinder" and explorer. Mrs. Ingram was born in Missouri and came with her parents across the plains when a mere child. Mr. Ingram lived in Napa val- ley but a short time, and then removed to Sonoma county, where he lived about twenty ycars. He then came to Monterey county, in the fall of 1873, located at the Sur, from 1873 to 1882. The time intervening be- tween 1882 and 1889, he spent in Napa county, and since that time has been engaged in the dairy business at Monterey, where he is much esteemed. Mrs. Ingram died in 1878, leaving eleven children, namely; Ed- ward; Isaac J .; John F .; Emma, who is the wife of William S. Kuykendall, of Sonoma; Mary L., who married Z. P. Barnes, of Mon- terey. and is now deceased; Fannie; Ada, who is the widow of Charles Kenedy, of Sonoma; Ella M., deceased, who married Robert F. Rogers, of Sonoma; George P .; Olive; and Edna B.
Edward, the oldest of the family, came to Monterey county, in 1872. He spent ten years on a ranch, and in 1882 removed to Monterey city and entered the butchering business, which he has continuously followed
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ever since. He is well known throughout the county for his enterprise and business thrift, the firmn Ingram Brothers being one of the most successful in its line in the county. Mr. Ingram has been identified with the civil growth of Monterey. He held the Postmastership of Monterey for three years, under President Cleveland's adminis- tration, and resigned upon the election of President Harrison. He is an influential Democrat and a leading member of the City Board of Trustees.
Mr. Ingram was married, April 12, 1878, to Miss Emma Tubbett, of Oakland. She is a native of Boston, Massachusetts, and they have four children, namely: Kinza, Edgar, Eugene and James.
Mr. Ingram is public-spirited and enter- prising, and has invested his capital liberally in banking and electric light development .in the city, both of which enterprises have had much to do with the modern development of old Monterey.
AIRAM WATSON, deceased, is repre- sented at Paicines by Mrs. Ellen Wat- son, his estimable wife and her family. Mr. Watson was born May 15, 1837, in Scott county, West Virginia, and came to California with the family of his father, Jacob Watson, deceased. Mr. Watson was a frugal, industrious man, which character- istics are common in all the members of the Watson family iu San Benito county.
Mr. Watson married Miss Ellen Clem- mons, October 3, 1869. She was born April 14, 1855, daughter of Levi and Cyn- thia (Claffin) Clemmons, the former a well- known citizen and farmer of Paicines, San Benito county, for twenty-three years. He
came to California from McHenry county, Illinois, and died September 17, 1891. His wife passed away at Paicines, in 1875, aged fifty-six years. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Watson: Phœbe L., born April 2, 1871; Cynthia J., born Novem- ber 5, 1872; Mattie M., born December 15, 1874; Callie C., born September 11, 1877; Melvin H., born January 25, 1887. They reside on the homestead, consisting of 285 acres of fine land. Mrs. Watson is a prac- tical business woman of quiet manners and social nature. She is a leading member of the Paicines Baptist Church, of which she was one of the organizers. Perhaps a short history of its organization would not be in- appropriate in the sketch of the good woman who did so much to make it a success. The First Baptist Church of Paicines was organ- ized September 1, 1891. The Rev. W. E. Adams officiated and the following were the members: Mr. and Mrs. James Watson, Mrs. Ellen Watson and T. J. Carlisle and the trustees, T. J. Carlisle, Mrs. Ellen Watson and William MacIlway. Mrs. Ellen Watson was clerk, and Mrs. James Watson, treasurer. A commodious church has been erected, prayer-meeting service is held weekly, with G. W. Chick as leader. The Sunday-school is in a flourishing condition.
OSE M. ESCOBAR was born in Mon- terey, California, January, 10, 1848, son of José Mario Escobar and Ascension, nee Beronda. He had to struggle for him- self in early life, his father having died when he was quite young, and found employment on the Laureles and Buena Vista ranches. He is now engaged in farming and stock- raising, and lives on his own ranch in the
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Malarin precinct, better known as the Lime- kiln, seven miles north of Gonzales.
April 18, 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Amanda Cantur, and their union has been blessed with one child.
ATRICK JORDAN, a well-known mer- chant of Castroville, was born in east Canada, near Quebec on November 14, 1842. His father, James Jordan, was a farmer by occupation and married Miss Cath- erine Bulger, both being of Irish birth, he coming to America in 1832. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the sub- ject of this sketch is the second child.
Patrick came to California in 1869 and worked on a ranch in Santa Clara county for three years, and in 1873 embarked in the mercantile business in Castroville, in which he has continued ever since.
Mr. Jordan is a successful business man and he and his wife are highly estecmed by their large circle of friends.
His marriage occurred in 1873, to Miss Jane Whalen, a native of West Canada, and they have one son, James P.
HARLES T. ROMIE is a leading citi- zen of Monterey. His father, John F. Romie, a native of Berlin, Germany, was a merchant tailor by trade and occupa- tion. He came to California as early as 1841 and pursued his trade at Monterey until the spring of 1848. He then spent the fall of that year and the spring of the following year at Hangtown, where he contracted a sickness, from the effects of which he died, in the fall of that year, aged about fifty. The
mother, a most estimable woman lived to the ripe old age of seventy-six, and died in Mon- terey, in 1888. Mr. Romie has a personal acquaintance with General Sutter, which fact influenced him to emigrate from Germany to California. The children of this family are as follows: Ernest, a resident of San Fran- cisco, and manager of the Espenosa estate; Panl T., the youngest son of the family, was born in Monterey and is a resident of Salinas: Louise, an older member of the family died soon after arrival in California; Mary C. is now Mrs. David Jacks, of Monterey, and Charles T., the subject of this sketch.
The subject of this sketch has been a con- tinuous and influential citizen of Monterey county from boyhood. He has engaged ex- tensively in the stock-raising business, and owns large tracts of land at and in the vicin- ity of Soledad, amounting to about 10,000 acres. He is likewise engaged in grain rais- ing on a portion of his estate. As he is an astute business man he has been very success- ful, and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends. The county testified her appreciation of his services by electing him to the County Board of Supervisors.
Z. HEBERT .- The biographies and rem- iniscences of the early settlers of California would be an interesting contribution to literature. The hardships they endured, the reverses they met and over- came, the amusing positions in which they were often placed, and finally the success which has crowned the efforts of many of them, would form a picture strong in de- tail and contrast, in which the skillful artist could so dispose the lights and shades that something would strike a sympathetic chord in every heart.
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The subject of this sketch has been the hero of many adventures, but his buoyant, fun-loving disposition has caused him to always see the ludicrous phase of every situ- ation, and from temporary reverses and mis- fortunes he has always rallied, and at the sound of the bell was on the track ready to "trot them another heat."
Z. Hebert was born at Breaux Bridge, St. Martin parislı, Louisiana, January 17, 1826. His father was a farmer and planter, and young Hebert's education was received at Breaux Bridge prior to the age of fifteen, at which time he left home and went to New Orleans, relinquishing his interest in his father's estate to his brothers and sisters. After following various occupations here, he started for California, in 1850, via Chagres and Panama. His capital consisted of $700. After walking from Chagres to Panama he was in a badly used-up condition, and his mental condition was not improved on learn- ing that a steamer ticket for San Francisco would cost $500. He finally secured passage for $75 on the brig W. Brown, but was three months at sea, a part of the time on very short allowance of food and water. During the voyage the passengers were compelled to take possession of the vessel, put a drunken captain in irons, and place the second mate in command. Such were the privations and dangers of this voyage that Mr. Hebert re- solved never to go home until he could go by land.
When he arrived in San Francisco he was surprised to see so much gambling and such a quantity of gold bars and gold-dust. The killing of a man every day was not unusual. Mr. Hebert immediately secured work in a butcher shop and grocery store, at $200 per month, and subsequently opened a butcher shop, on the corner of Jackson and Dupont
streets. He made about $3,000 here, when his partner got the gold fever and they started for the mines. But his mining experience was disastrous. There was an ill omen at the start. Their pack mule ran away and scattered their pans and other mining paraphernalia along the trail. Soon after he returned from the mines he opened a butcher's stall and subsequently started a wholesale butcher business, and commenced dealing in sheep, with a man by the name of Sedgley for part- ner.
In 1865 he bought 3.000 acres of land at Natividad, Monterey county, which he still owns. He came to Monterey county to re- side in 1868, and has ever since been prom- inently identified with the county. He has been a life member ever since its organiza- tion of the Monterey District Agricultural Association, and owns some good trotting stock. He was one of the founders of Salinas City Bank, and is still a stockholder. He is frank, broad aud liberal in his views, and generous to a fault.
HOMAS M. LYNN, a well-known resident of Peach Tree valley, has resided there since 1873, engaged in agricultural pursuits. He formerly was a resident of the Santa Ana valley, near Hol- lister. Mr. Lynn is a son of James Lynn, a pioneer of 1847, who came across the plains to California from Jackson county, Missouri. He was one of the first explorers of the far northern country and established the trails over which so many thousands found their way to the coast. His estimable wife was Mary Haun, a native of Missouri, and of her eight children the subject of this sketch is the youngest.
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Mr. Lynn, our subject, was born in Jack- son county, Missouri, March 27, 1844, and came to the coast with his father, James Lynn, and the family first settled in the Santa Clara Valley, where the father pur- sued his trade of millwright, in the redwoods of that county. Later he moved to Santa Cruz, where he erected the first sawmill of that place. Upon the discovery of gold he went to Hangtown, now Placerville, and mined there for six years. In 1848 Mrs. Lynn died. She was the first white woman in Hangtown and was greatly beloved by her family and friends. Mr. Lynn split the stakes and erected the first redwood house in the town of Santa Clara. He died, December 14, 1867, on the ranch, near Santa Clara, California, where he had finally located.
Onr subject was married at Watsonville, to Miss Mary, daughter of Joseph V. Mat- this, one of the very earliest settlers of San Benito county and now a resident of Hollis- ter, where he is esteemed as a California pioneer and citizen. Mrs. Lynn was born at Springfield, Sangamon county, Illinois, January 10, 1850. She is a lady of strong force of character, frugal and domestic in her tastes and has great executive ability. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn have two children, namely: Luna, Mrs. George Deward, Jr., of Peach Tree valley, born March 11, 1870, and George W., born February 22, 1874. Mr. and Mrs. Lynn located on their present home in Peach Tree, in 1874, where they have a fine ranch.
HILIP MACDONALD, one of the leading dairymen in Monterey county, came to California in 1864 from Ontario, Canada.
Born in Prince Edward county, Canada, February 11, 1845, the son of Henry Macdon- ald, a farmer by occupation, was reared on a farm, and was engaged in agricultural pur- suits previous to his coming to this coast. After his arrival in California he resided in Marin county four years, Fresno county two years, and then in Santa Cruz county till 1872, when he came to Monterey county. He leased and operated the Haight ranch two years, after which he came to his present location in Car- mel valley. This property he leases of James Meadows. He owns his stock, keeping about one hundred and twenty cows. The butter he manufactures in his dairy is of the best quality, and always commands the highest market price.
Mr. Macdonald was married in Monterey county to Miss Ellen Flood, a native of New York city. Her father, James Flood, is a pioneer of San Rafael, California, and is by occupation a dairyman. Mr. and Mrs. Mac- donald have six children. Of Mr. Macdonald's parents, it should be stated that his father was a Highland Scotchman, and his mother, nee Hannah Pettingill, a native of Albany.
ON. SAMUEL B. GORDON .- There are few pioneers of California more widely or favorably known than the sub- ject of this sketch.
He was born in Pendleton, South Carolina, January 17, 1828, and while an infant moved with his parents, Thomas F. and Lovina (Powell) Gordon, to Georgia, locating near Clarksville. Later they moved to Walker county, saine State. His father was a planter and slaveholder, and on the farm Samuel B. was reared. At the age of twenty-one years he left home and came to California, making
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the journey hither via Cape Horn, and arriv- ing in San Francisco in 1850. While in Habersham county, Georgia, a mining dis- trict, his father had giving some attention to gold mining, and with him the son had gained some experience in that line. He accordingly, upon coming to California, proceeded to the mining districts with machinery, which he had brought with him. He found it of no practical use, however, in California mining, and never utilized it. He worked in the mines of Yuba with pick and shovel, owned claims, and pnr- sued the business according to the customs of early mining days, remaining thus engaged only about one year. He then turned his at- tention to farming about five miles north of San José, where he remained two years, after which he removed to Redwood City, San Mateo county. At the latter place he did a lumbering business.
In 1857 Mr. Gordon was elected to the California State Legislature from San Mateo county, and served his constituents with marked ability and discretion, doing important committee work. He was the first Represen- tative sent from the San Mateo district to the Legislature. He is a Democrat. He subse- quently served as ex-officio Superintendent of Public Schools of his county, and still later as County Assessor.
He came to Monterey county in 1859 and located the Tularcitos and Little Tularcitos ranchos, one and a half leagues, and engaged in raising horses, mules, cattle and sheep. There he remained until 1888, acquiring ownership to about 5,000 acres of land, and doing an eminently successful business. In 1888 he disposed of his landed interests, came to Monterey and later to Pacific Grove. At the latter place he built a fine residence and is now living, retired from active business.
Mr. Gordon was married December 11,
1859, to Miss Nancy J. Whisman, daughter of John Whisman, deceased. Her father, a native of Virginia, emigrated to Missouri, and hence crossed the plains in 1847, locating in Santa Clara county. Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have had eight children, six of whom are now living.
DECARLI, a prosperous farmer and dairyman of Carmel valley, Monterey county, California, was born in canton Ticino, Switzerland, in 1861. His people were dairy farmers, and to that occupation he was reared in his native land. He came direct to California from Switzerland, and located in Carmel valley in 1886, having, however, worked on various dairy farms by the month prior to that time.
In Carmel valley he was married, in 1888, to Miss Jessie Machado, a daughter of Chris- tian Machado of the San Carlos Mission ranch. Mrs. Decarli was born at the mission. They have two children.
Mr. Decarli has recently purchased the Thomas Bralee ranch, consisting of about 1,200 acres, and is doing a successful business, also is a representative of his race in Monte- rey county.
CTAVINO BORONDA .- The Boronda family name is a familiar one in the annals of the Salinas valley. José Eusibio Boronda was the grantee of a large tract of land from the Mexican Government in 1840, known in those days as Rinconda del Zanjon, but later became familiarly known as the Boronda rancho. He is said to have been a son of Manuel and Gertrudis Higera, his wife, and was a brother of Canute Bo-
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rondo, both of whom were actively engaged in the early history of California.
In 1836 José Eusebio was majordomo of the Virjelns ranche and seems from the re- cords to have been a man of affairs, attending to the business for others and in 1841 he held the office of Juez de paz.
This gentleman married Josefa Buelna, who was the daughter of Joaquin Buelna, who also was well known for his many business suc- cesses and good traits of character. The Bo- ronda adobe still stands as one of the conspicu- ons land marks of early days. The rancho has been subdivided and sold off, but parts of it still are owned and occupied by the two sons of José Boronda.
Octavino Boronda, the subject of this sketch, is the eldest of the two sons of José Ensibio Boronda and he was born in the old adobe, above mentioned, March 22, 1847. He was married in 1881 to Senora Josefa Sober- anes, a daughter of Don Francisco Soberanes and they have a family of three daughters, Josie, Jennie and Julia.
The home of Señor Boronda is one of the most attractive in the valley and is located about one and one-half miles north of Salinas and the farm comprises seventy-three acres The Señor is a man of fine appearance and his wife and children are intelligent and pleasing.
M. KELEHER .- This gentleman has been a resident of California since 1853, although he is a native of Cork county, Ireland, where he was born Decein- ber 14, 1830. At the age of twenty he emi- grated to America, landing in New York, in 1850. From this city he went to Boston, where he remained three years and then sailed from the latter city to California, in 1853,
via Isthmus of Panama. After living in this State until 1868, he took up his resi- dence in the Salinas valley, where he engaged in farming on the Santa Rita ranch. Here he purchased 200 acres of Don Manuel Soto, lived on it and cultivated it until 1888, when he sold the same and located at Salinas.
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