USA > California > A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California > Part 49
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Mr. Malarin's father, Lorenzo Malarin, was of Italian birth, and spent the greater part of his life in the silver mines of South America. The subject of our sketch is a man of family. He was married in 1874 to Miss Cristina Malarin, a distant cousin of his, and their union has been blessed with five children.
Quiet and unobtrusive in manner, kind- hearted and generous in disposition, Mr. Malarin is popular with all classes of people, and especially with those in his employ.
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OBERT STIRLING, one of Castro- ville's esteemed citizens, is a native of Scotland, having been born there, in Lanarkshire, April 10, 1831. (For history of his ancestry, see sketch of William Stir- ling, this book.)
Our subject was married, in his native land, in 1853, to Miss Agnes Mounts, also a native of Lanarkshire, and after marriage the young couple came to America, arriving the following year. Mr. Stirling and his brother learned the art of weaving and he worked at his chosen calling for several years. He had also learned the trade of baker, but only pursued it a brief time, while in New York.
Upon coming to California, in 1873, he lived on the present Martin ranch, on the Salinas river. He later located at Castro-
ville in 1876, where he still remains. Four sons of Mr. Stirling's are still living, name- ly: John B., a native of Scotland; Andrew, Robert and James, the two latter being na- tives of Canada. Mr. Stirling is one of a large family and he is a man highly esteeined in the city of his adoption, where he is a re- spected citizen.
AMUEL PALMER, one of the first settlers of Priest valley, has been a resident of California since 1853. He is a native of New York and was born in Westchester county, April 18, 1831. His father, B. M. Palmer, was a pioneer of Wash- tenaw county, Michigan, having located in the town of Lyndon, in 1836. The inaiden name of the mother of our subject was Sarah Griffin.
Our subject remained in his native place until his marriage, October 26, 1852, to Miss Nancy L. Fox, a daughter of Benjamin F. Fox, of Unadilla, Livingston county, Mich- igan. The following year the young couple started overland, for California, via Council Bluff, lowa, north fork of the Platte river, etc., and on to Marysville, where Mr. Palm- er pursued farming from 1855 to 1867: and from 1867 to 1869 he traveled and pros- pected for a location for a farm. The last named year he met John W. Green, at Gil- roy, who told him of the fertility and beanty of Priest valley. Mr. Palmer visited the valley with Mr. Green, but returned to Gil- roy, where he spent one year. In 1870, however, he located on his chosen home, where he has since resided. The land on which Mr. Palmer located was unsurveyed and belonged to the Government, but was afterward surveyed by John Raymond, in
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1871. Mr. Palmer now has 1,280 acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, or in fact in the entire State of California. A portion of this land is devoted to grazing purposes.
Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have three sons and an adopted danghter, namely: Frank Love- land (see sketch elsewhere in this work), George Fox, Charles N. and Helen. Mr. Palmer is one of the solid men of San Benito county and is a good representative of the early pioneer.
HOMAS MORRISY is a farmer and resident of Castroville. He came to California in 1865 direct from his na- tive county, Ireland. He was then about seventeen years of age, having been born in Limerick county in 1841. He spent three years in the war of the Rebellion, in the Union army, as a soldier of the One Hun- dred and Forty-nine New York Volunteer Infantry: soon after his enlistment he was transferred into the regular army. He fought through the battles of the wilderness and the battle of Gettysburg, besides numerous hot engagements of less note, and received two wounds, in his left leg.
He was married to Mrs. Edward Nolan. By her former marriage she had two chil- dren, Mary and Lizzie, and by her latter mar- riage she has had one son, Thomas.
OHN HAMES, one of the oldest American settlers of California, came to the State, via Cape Horn, from New York, as a carpenter of the ship "Phoenix." He remained abroad of his ship one year,
leaving her in Peru, South America, and worked at his trade in Peru, Chili and Equador during the years of 1842-'43. Com- ing to California he first located at Monterey, in May, 1843, but visited Los Angeles and San Francisco, at both of which places he worked at his trade. His next venture was the taking of mill timber to the Barbadoes for Captain Smith. Mr. Hames then built the first sawmill at Niles Station, Cal- ifornia, in 1844-'45. He located the present town of Soquel, in Santa Cruz county, at which place he built mills and made the town his home, until 1883, during whichi time he ranged sheep in the Salinas Valley.
Mr. Hames has seen much of pioneer life in California, following as he did his trade of carpenter and millwright so many years. He knew Marshall, to whom credit is given of having discovered gold at Sntter's mill. in 1848, and was working in the mill race at the time the first gold nugget was picked up. To quote the words of Mr. Hames: "The Mormon boys were working at the mills for Sutter, with Marshall as fore- man. One of these brothers found the gold, handed it to Marshall, who in turn gave it to Sutter, who sent it to San Francisco, where it was pronounced gold." Mr. Hames also relates the fact of having himself raised the first stars and stripes at San José. It was a small banner, about six feet long. He put it on a little willow pole that surmounted an old adobe building. "Tom" Fallon has been credited in historical volumes as having performed this act.
Mr. Hames is a native of Orange county, New York, having been born there March 22, 1811. His father, Benjamin Hames, was a millwright by trade and a native of the same State, who came West in the early days of Michigan settlements, located at Bath
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Creek, Calhoun county, Michigan, where he built the first mill and resided until his death, which occurred in 1850. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Re- becca Hardin, who was born near the city of Rochester, New York.
The subject of this sketch was married to Drusilla Shadden, in 1846, by the Hon. Thomas O. Larkin, at Monterey. Mrs. Hames was a native of Arkansas, but came to California in 1843, with her father, Thomas Jefferson Shadden, now a resident of Oregon. This lady bore her husband eight children, namely: Benjamin F., born in Santa Cruz county, April 9, 1847, married July 3, 1873; Miss Ella, daughter of A. J. Copby, and they have fonr children, namely: Bart, May, Frank and Eva, the two former are twins. The other children of our sub- ject, are: George, Susan, Eliza, Martha, Lucrecia, Carrie and Lillie. Our subject makes his home with his son Benjamin, of Peach Tree valley, San Benito connty.
ENRY E. KENT, one of the most en terprising and popular business and public men of Pacific Grove, Califor- nia, was born in Yates City, Knox county, Illinois, March 17, 1853. His early life was passed in his native place and he graduated at Mount Morris Seminary at the age of nine- teen years.
On first coming to California, he settled on a farm near Hollister, San Benito county, and was for some time engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. To benefit his wife's health, he removed, in 1888, to Pacific Grove, where he has ever since resided, meeting witlı flat- tering success in business. On first coming to this city he purchased the mammoth
livery stable from J. O. Johnson, and by un- tiring energy and careful management en- larged botlı his facilities and trade until he now has one of the most commodious and best appointed establishments of the kind on the coast. As a citizen, he is strikingly public-spirited and progressive, ever the first to put his shoulder to the wheel of the city's enterprises. An admiring constituency elected him one of the first Councilmen, in which position he was nntiring in his efforts to revoke the old charter and secure the is- suance of a new one, reincorporating the Grove as a separate city, distinct and apart from old Monterey. He was chosen as a committee of one to wait on the Legislature then in session at Sacramento, and present the matter for the consideration of that hon- orable body. His success is sufficient proof of the wisdom of their choice.
He was married November 7, 1876, to Miss S. A. Dunlap, an estimable lady of Buda, Illinois, and they have three interest- ing children.
As a husband and father, business man and public citizen, he has always been the same,, able, upright and whole- souled man, and justly enjoys the esteem of his entire community.
ILLIAM TIBBETTS, a pioneer resi- dent of California, dates his arrival in this State in 1852. He is a native of Maine, born in Brewer, Penobscot county. Leaving the Pine Tree State, he went to New York, and from there sailed for San Fran- cisco, via Panama, in December, 1851, ar- riving on the Pacific coast in February of the following year.
Like many others Mr. Tibbetts came to California in order to better his financial con-
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dition. He accordingly proceeded immedi- ately to the mining fields of Calaveras and El Dorado counties, where he remained during the years 1852-'53-'54, his mining adventures resulting in average success. In the latter part of 1854 he went to Sonoma county, located at Sonoma, and engaged in the livery and stage business. Later he con- ducted the same business in Petaluma. He was a pioneer in this branch of business. He ran the line from Petaluma to Tomales for about eleven years. He then went to Silver mountain, California, where he had acquired mining interests. He also spent some time at Carson City and Genoa, Ne- vada. In 1865 he returned to Sonoma county and resumed staging for two years. Here he remained up to the year 1873, with the ex- ception of one year when he kept the Wilson's Exchange hotel at Sebastopol.
In 1873 Mr. Tibbetts took up his residence in Monterey county, and for several years was successfully engaged in sheep-raising on the headwaters of Carmel river. For three years he was in the employ of Charles Spreckels in the hotel business at Aptos, Santa Cruz county. This was from 1876 to 1879. In the winter of the last named year he mined on Aptos beach, doing a fairly profitable business in mining fine gold. In 1880 he returned to Monterey, where he has since resided, and since 1886 has conducted the Central Hotel and bar.
December 5, 1860, Mr. Tibbetts was united in marriage with Miss Carrie E. Mauk, of Sonoma county, California. They have two daughters and two sons, namely: Amy J., wife of John T. Bell, of Los Gatos; Augusta, wife of Grant Troole, of Monterey; Charles Nathaniel and William Wilson.
In connection with Mr. Tibbetts' family history it should be further stated that his
father, Nathaniel Tibbetts, a native of Maine, passed his life on a farm in Penobscot county, and died there. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary E. Shedd, was a daughter of Captain William Shedd, a patriot of the Revolutionary army. He entered the service from Massachusetts, and participated in the historic battle of Bunker Hill. After the war he became a citizen of Maine, locating in the Penobscot valley.
William Tibbetts' life has been one of business activity, and during the years of his residence on this coast he has made many friends and acquaintances.
W. CANFIELD, a resident of San Juan, and an esteemed pioneer of San Benito county, is a native of New Or- leans, having been born there, March 27, 1820. His father, R. F. Canfield, was a merchant by occupation, and lived during President Jackson's administration, was active in political matters, and held the office of Appraiser at the port of New Orleans. He was a native of Morris county, New Jersey. Mr. Canfield's great-grandfather, James Can- field, was a patriot of the Revolution, and was a native of Virginia and a graduate of Princeton College. He developed into an itinerant clergyman of Elizabethtown, New Jersey, serving in the Revolutionary army as a chaplain and soldier. He was murdered by a sentinel, June, 1780. Mr. Canfield's grand- father was locally prominent as an advocate of the principles upon which American inde- pendence was founded. His home was at Morris Plains, and there he pursued his occu- pation of farming. Mr. Canfield's father left his native State when about eighteen years of age, and located in Louisiana. He gained
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practice and experience in mercantile busi- ness while in a firm of that description; be- came a merchant, and lived and died in New Orleans.
Our subject left New Orleans for Illinois, and located on a prairie farm in Sangamon county, nine miles west of Springfield, on Spring creek, where he lived for several years. He came to California in the fall of 1850, and after a brief stay in San Francisco he located a claim on Mountain View, in Santa Clara county. His claim formed the nucleus of the present town, to which he gave its name. He lived there until the spring of 1858, when, owing to the serious defect of the title to his land, he abandoned his claim and located on his present estate, near San Juan, where he has lived for the past thirty years, engaged in farming and stock-raising, also dairying. He has been an active busi- ness man, alive to the interests of his State, county and town. His estate comprises 200 acres of land, all very fine.
Mr. Canfield was married at twenty-one years of age, to Miss Frances A. Bowers daughter of H. G. Bowers, of North Hamp- ton, Massachusetts. She died in 1872, leaving a family of six children, all settled in life.
ILLIAM ROBSON, a pioneer of Cali- fornia, is a native of Scotland, hav- ing been born in that country, Feb- ruary 5, 1828.
Upon arrival in California our subject spent about five years in the mining regions of Rich Bar, Feather river country and Pine Grove. He then located in Sonoma county, near Petaluma, and engaged in dairy farming, where he remained from 1857 to 1865. He then located in Monterey county, at Salinas,
and continued for some time in the dairy business, but now has practically retired from active business.
In 1858 Mr. Robson married Miss Jennie Scott of San Francisco, a lady of Scotch birth, also. Mr. and Mrs. Robson have one daugh- ter, Jennie, now Mrs. B. A. Erdley, wife of a prominent and well-known citizen of Pacific Grove.
Mr. Robson and his wife are well known and highly respected in Salinas as thoroughly reliable people, of whom all speak well.
ERRY M. JACKS was born in Pike county, Missouri, not far distant from Kansas City, September 3, 1827. His father, Thomas Jacks, was born in 1797, and emigrated to Missouri in 1817, where he was for many years engaged in farming and stock- raising. He was a carpenter by trade, but never followed it as a business. Mr. Jack's mother, nee Miss Cynthia Martin, was born in Virginia, and with her parents went to Ken- tucky, where from infancy she was reared. They raised a family of eight sons and three daughters, of whom Perry M. Jacks is the third.
The subject of our sketch inherited from his father the true instincts of a business man, and at an early age became familiar with stock-raising in its every detail. He came to California in 1849, and almost direct to the Salinas valley. He purchased and sold stock, off and on, for about three years. He then engaged in merchandising on the south fork of the American river. In 1854 he located the Strawberry Valley ranch of about 10,000 acres, it then being unsurveyed land. The following year he sold his claim to Dr. Roup, and went to Sacramento. He there
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became extensively engaged in dealing in hay and grain, and owned the valuable property he occupied, corner of Seventh and J streets.
In 1855 Mr. Jacks married Miss Elizabetlı Headrick, a daughter of George and Matilda Headrick, natives of Howard county, Ken- tucky, and later residents of Virginia.
Mr. Jacks returned to Missouri and became a merchant at West Point, in the meantime having made a trip to Pike's Peak. In 1867 he came back to California, and here he has since resided. He owns and operates one of the best farms in the Salinas valley, located on the San Juan road, two miles and a quarter east of Salinas.
Mr. Jacks is of Scotch and English extrac- tion and Mrs. Jacks' ancestors were English and Irish. Their union has been blessed with two sons, Henry C., a farmer of San Ardo, and Thomas, at home.
ANIEL McCRAY, deceased, a well- known and highly respected pioneer of California, who settled in Hollister in 1873, with the best interests of which he was identified for many years, was born in Wash- ington county, Tennessee, June 14, 1814. His father, Henry McCray, was a well-to-do farmer of Tennessee, where he also was born, and passed a long and useful life in that State.
Daniel McCray passed his early years on the home farm, and attended the common schools in his vicinity. He was reared to agricultural pursuits, which he followed un- interruptedly during his entire life. In 1857, he removed with his family to California, crossing the plains in the usual emigrant fashion and experiencing the hardships and vicissitudes common to all. Arrived in the
Golden State, he settled on land near San José, where he pursued farming for many years. Having been favorably impressed with Hollister and the surrounding country, he re- moved, in 1873, to a farm of eighty acres in that vicinity. He was here successfully oc- cupied in agricultural pursnits until his death, January 4, 1888. Perhaps no one could have been called hence whose loss would have been more keenly felt by the community in which he had passed so many useful years of his life. Of the highest integrity, unusual intelligence and uniform courtesy, he was a general favor- ite with all who knew him.
He was married in Monroe county, Ten- nessee, October 17, 1837, to Miss Malinda McCooky, daughter of J. A. McCooky, a highly respected resident of that county, and sister to John McCooky, an influential busi- ness man of Hollister. There are five living children: Julia F., now Mrs. John Weathers of San José; Frank P. and Victor, civil en- gineers, living in Arizona; Harry W., an architect and civil engineer, of Bakersfield, Kern county, California; and Ella, a teacher in the public schools of Hollister. Mrs. Mc- Cray lives in Hollister and enjoys the esteem of a large circle of friends.
HARLES BARDIN, a successful and enterprising farmer and the second youngest of the family of the late James Bardin, was born at Blanco, on the old home- stead, February 1, 1859.
Mr. Bardin married December 1, 1880, Miss Rachel, a daughter of William Rider, a resident of the Salinas valley. He and his wife reside at Blanco, on the original location of Mr. Bardin's father, in 1855, which now contains one of the finest ranches in the valley.
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This farm consists of 150 acres from the family estate at Blanco, 388 acres of the west side of the Salinas river and forty-six acres of land added to the home farm, from an ad- joining property.
Mrs. Bardin is a native daughter of the soil, having been born in San Francisco, October 1, 1858, and she has borne her hus- band four children, three danghters and one son, namely: Elizabeth, Bertha, Maggie and Charles W. Mr. and Mrs. Bardin are very estimable people, and support with honor the name that is known throughout all the por- tion of the State in which the family has made its home for so many years.
AN WILLSON, of San Juan, San Benito county, is a California pioneer, having come from Boston to this State in 1849. He was born in Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, January 22, 1827. His father, a farmer by occupation, was a native of Northfield, Massachusetts, and his mother, nee Levina Collins, was born in Cheshire county, New Hampshire. The subject of our sketch learned the trade of bricklayer and plasterer, and worked at the same at his native place.
On arriving at California he went to the mines of Mariposa and spent the winter there in gold mining. Later he took up quartz mining in Tuolumne, on the Stanislans river, and followed the same for about two years. After that he turned his attention to farm- ing, stock-raising and dairying. He located on his present place at San Juan in 1868. Here he owns 300 acres of excellent land, one of the best farms in San Benito county.
Mr. Willson has been thrice married. In 1854 he married Miss Bicente, daughter of
Don José Maria Sanchez. She left five chil- dren: Henry, George, Emma, Elbridge and Alvin. All are now married and settled in life except Elbridge.
His second marriage occurred in 1868, at Santa Cruz, the lady of his choice being Mrs. Malvina Malona, a native of Maine. They had five children: Nellie, Dan, Belle and Mell (twin daughters) and Joe. The mother died January 3, 1875.
In 1880, Mr. Willson wedded his present companion, nee Miss Cornelia Hardenbergh, a native of New York.
He is a member of San Juan Lodge, F. & A. M. He has taken a commendable inter- est in the progress and development of San Benito county, and has always evinced a lively interest in educational matters, having served for about twenty years as Trustee of his school district.
ALTER C. LITTLE, a son of the la- mented Milton Little, was born at Monterey, April 21, 1861. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and in 1876 went to San Francisco, where he spent three years as clerk in a drng store. In 1879 he returned home and for two years was assistant superintendent of the Pacific Improvement Company's interests at Pacific Grove, under Superintendent John- son. He then took up surveying and civil engineering and now is tilling the position of City Engineer for both Pacific Grove and Monterey. Mr. Little has served on the City Board of Trustees of Monterey, but resigned the office, owing to press of business cares.
The marriage of our subject occurred Sep- tember 21, 1887, to Miss Anna Smith, a daughter of S. D. Smith, of Oakland, then
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of Sacramento, where Mrs. Little was born. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Little, namely: Walter Cotton and Arthur Elwood. The beautiful home of Mr. Little is at New Monterey, where he lives sur- rounded by his wife and family. Mr. and Mrs. Little enjoy the respect and esteem of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
NNO BLOHM, the genial and efficient Postmaster and a merchant of Blanco, Monterey county, California, is a native of Germany. He was born April 25, 1854, and came from the old country direct to Cali- fornia in 1874. After having farmed on the Cooper ranch for two years, he removed into Corral de Tierra country, and there farmed about 260 acres. He then spent two years in Germany, returning to this State in 1884. After his return he resnmed farming on the Bardin.ranch, on the west side of the Salinas river. Here he raised fine crops of English mustard, marketing one year as high as 800 sacks, which he sold at 3 cents per pound. He then, in 1889, bought a home at Blanco, and has since been engaged in merchandising.
Mr. Blohm chose for his wife and wedded Miss Katharine Dircks, a native of his own country, and by her has six children, namely : Emma, Andrew, Fred, William, George and Henry.
ENJAMIN HITCHCOCK is one of the leading citizens of the Salinas valley, and is a pioneer of California, having come to the State in 1855. The first years of his residence on this coast were spent in the mines of Nevada county and vicinity. He then engaged in dairying in Sonoma and
Marin counties. Later he farmed for C. S. Abbott until he purchased his present home, in 1872. His farm comprises 200 acres of as fine land as can be found in the beautiful and fertile Salinas valley.
Mr. Hitchcock was married in Santa Cruz in the fall of 1872, to Miss Agnes M., daugh- ter of Jolin Abbott, and their union bas been blessed with a son and daughter: Elba E. and Donna Laura. Mr. Hitchcock is a man of strict integrity and temperate habits, and is held in high esteem by all who know him.
ARCUS BUNDESON, deceased .- This esteemed gentleman was a na- tive of Denmark, having been born there, February 24, 1840. He came to America, when abont nineteen years of age, as a sailor before the mast from Liverpool. Upon arrival at San Francisco be aban- doned the sea and proceeded to Redwood City, where he worked in the redwoods till he earned money enough to buy hinself a team, then he was teamning there for several years.
After that he went to Watsonville and en- gaged in farming for four years.
The marriage of this estimable young man occurred in San Francisco, 1872, to Miss Mette M. Sandholdt, a young woman of Dan- ish birth, who bore her husband four chil- dren, namely: Peter, Christine, Andrew and Marcus, all of whom were born in Monterey county.
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