USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 11
USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 11
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ganizing a government and aided in framing a temporary code of laws and securing its sup- port by the Spanish population. He laid out the town sites of Benicia and Vallejo and was a leading member of the constitutional convention. His whole career showed that he was actuated by an unselfish ambition to be recognized as one of the leaders in the state. He offered to con- struct buildings at Vallejo for the seat of gov- ernment, but after being ratified by the people and the legislature the plan was never carried out. Squatters began to settle on his land and soon the supreme court of the United States re- jected his title to the larger part of his estates and he spent the last years of his life in a small homestead, "Lachryma Montis," near Sonoma, dying a comparatively poor man.
GEORGE BLACKIE.
The childhood memories of Mr. Blackie are associated with the southern part of Scotland, where he was born in October of 1834 and where, as one of the older sons of a large fam- ily, he early learned the lessons of self-reliance, helpfulness and perseverance so essential in the formation of a well-rounded character. The parents were in humble circumstances and the children were taught habits of frugality and in- dustrious application, so that they were well prepared for the struggles awaiting them in the busy world. It was not possible for them to secure collegiate advantages, but they were sent to the common schools and laid the foundation of an education which self-culture afterward en- larged and broadened.
Crossing the ocean to Canada in 1857, George Blackie remained three years, but he found the severity of the climate very trying and accord- ingly in 1860 came via New York and the Isthmus of Panama to California, where his first employment was as an assistant in leveling some of the streets through the hills of San Francisco. From there he went to Contra Costa county and worked in the harvest fields. In 1861 he went to Watsonville and for a time was employed in a livery barn. While he lived in Watsonville the high water of 1861-2 brought ruin and dis- aster in its wake and he remembers vividly many. incident of those exciting days.
The autumn of 1862 found Mr. Blackie in Monterey county, where since he has made his home. With Mr. Riddle as a partner he rented the land where Castroville now stands and mar- keted his grain in Monterey and Watsonville, the nearest markets at that time. One year later he moved to the Cooper ranch, where he re- mained for thirty years, meanwhile farming four hundred acres in grain and potatoes. His first purchase of land was made in 1873 and from time to time he added to his possessions until he had the title to five hundred acres in the Prune- dale district in San Miguel canon. From the Cooper ranch he eventually moved to this tract and has since engaged in its cultivation, having in the mean time decreased the size of the farm by sales, so that now he has two hundred and eighty acres in the tract. Grain-raising is his specialty, but at one time he devoted considerable attention to fruits of various kinds.
The marriage of George Blackie took place January 4, 1877, and united him with Mrs. Sarah J. (Williams) Manley, whose first hus- band, William Manley, an Englishman by birth and education, had died in Monterey county in August, 1875, at the age of thirty-five years, leaving the widow with an only son, William A., born in May of 1875 and now living in San Fran- cisco. Mrs. Blackie was born in Connecticut in 1856, came to California in 1864 via the Isth- mus of Panama and settled in North San Juan, Nevada county, where in 1874 she was married to Mr. Manley. Her father, Thomas Williams, was a native of Wales and settled in Connecticut, where he became actively identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In Con- necticut he married Mary Parry, a native of England, and two children came to bless their union. Leaving his family in the east, Mr. Williams came via the isthmus to California and engaged in mining for twelve years at North San Juan, Nevada county. The year after his arrival he was joined by his family and he re- mained at North San Juan until 1875. when he and his wife removed to Monterey county and settled on a farm near Castroville. Thereafter, until his death in 1890, he was associated with the agricultural development of the county and proved himself to be a progressive farmer and upright man. His wife survived him only one year.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
All of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Blackie were born in Monterey county. They are as follows: Mrs. E. C. Richards, who resides in San Jose and has two sons; Mrs. Charles Har- haugh, of Salinas, who has a daughter and a son ; George, Jr., who operates the home ranch; Grace, at home; Ellen, who is a graduate of the San Jose State Normal and teaches school in this county; and Mrs. J. P. Foster, of San Jose. Fraternally Mr. Blackie is identified with Alisal Lodge of Odd Fellows and in politics he votes with the Republican party. Through his own efforts he has reached a high degree of success and, while promoting his personal affairs, he has never neglected the duties of a citizen. In move- ments for the benefit of community and county he is always depended upon to do his part and his interest in good schools led him to accept the office of school trustee, in which capacity he rendered efficient service.
JOHN B. STIRLING.
Genealogical lineages of prominent Scotch families include the clan of Stirling residing near the city of Glasgow, where John B. Stirling was born in 1853 and where he was reared by a grandmother. Notwithstanding the humble cir- cumstances of the family he was sent to private schools until he was eleven years of age, but it then became necessary for him to aid in earning his own livelihood, so he was put in a factory to learn the weaver's trade. The father, Robert, aspiring to the possibilities of the new world, had crossed the ocean to Canada and secured a start in that country, whereupon he returned and in 1866 took the family to the new Canadian home. For some years they remained in that country, but the rigors of winter were hard to bear and finally they decided to come to California, this decision having been hastened through reports received from a cousin, James Martin of Mon- terey, who had been in California for several years. The Webster family also wrote favorably of the location and urged them to remove hither.
Coming to the Pacific coast in 1873, the family settled in Monterey county, where Robert Stir- ling now occupies a farm of two hundred acres near Castroville. For about twenty-five years
he has operated a threshing machine and, in point of consecutive years of identification with the in- dustry, he ranks as the oldest thresherman in the Salinas valley. His wife died in the spring of 1905, but he still survives and at seventy- eight years of age, is energetically devoting. himself to the activities of his younger years. Of his sons we note the following: Andrew lives in the Prunedale district ; Robert N. is supervisor of the Natividad precinct; and James P. oper- ates a portion of the Cooper ranch.
The eldest son in the family is the gentleman whose name introduces this narrative and whose residence on the Pacific coast dates from the year 1873. At the time of migration to the west he was a young man of twenty years and had acquired a thorough knowledge of the care of stock, having been given charge of that branch of farm duties in Canada by his father. For four and one-half years he worked for Mr. Mar- tin for wages and meanwhile hecame familiar with farming on an extensive scale. In those days small farms were not popular in the west. Upon starting out for himself he began to raise stock on the mountains and for years he made a specialty of Shire horses, which he retained after removing in two years from his mountain ranch to Castroville. From boyhood he was a lover of equine flesh and desired only the best. His carriage team took the first prize at the Salinas fair and at other fairs his work teams were similarly complimented.
In 1898 Mr. Stirling purchased the ranch he now occupies, consisting of one hundred acres well adapted to beans, barley and onions. Since about 1905 the land has been leased to Japanese who have been successful in market gardening. The owner has erected a comfortable residence and other buildings and has improved the prop- erty with fences. In addition to his own place he rents one hundred acres of pasture land and carries about seventy-five head of beef cattle.
Mr. Stirling is the father of five children. The second of these, John D., was accidentally killed August 6, 1908. The others are named as fol- lows : Robert N., William James, Andrew J., and Mary, wife of Stanley W. Ollason. The present wife of Mr. Stirling, with whom he was united in 1892, bore the maiden name of Emma L. Patton, and is the daughter of a pioneer of Mon-
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Luis Wolter
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
terey county. The Democratic party has re- ceived the stanch allegiance of Mr. Stirling, but he is not a politician and has taken no part in party matters aside from serving as a delegate to county conventions. Fraternally he has been associated with Alisal Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F., since 1887, and has passed all the chairs in the lodge, besides which he is connected with Compromise Encampment No. 37, at Salinas. Movements for the agricultural development of the valley receive his co-operation. During the long period of his residence in the west he has proved himself to be loyal to the best interests of the commonwealth and public-spirited to an unusual degree.
LUIS WOLTER.
Apparent chance led to the establishment of the Wolter family in California. The founder of the name in the new world was Capt. Charles Wol- ter, a native of Stralund, Throlsenden, Germany, and for many years a sailor on the high seas. When eighteen years of age he ran away from home and went to sea and for many years fol- lowed a varied life, beginning at the very bottom of the ladder and gradually working his way to the front until he became owner and master of his own vessels. He landed in Peru and after a residence of two years there took out citizenship papers, in December, 1833, becoming a Mexican citizen. He sailed out of the ports of the south- ern country and was master of the Leonore from 1836 to 1838: the Clara or Clarita from 1840 to 1843; the Julia in 1844 and 1845 and of the El Placer in 1848. It is very likely that he visited California prior to 1833, hut it was soon after this date that he settled in this state, and as soon as the Americans assumed control of affairs he again secured his papers and became an Ameri- can citizen.
On his first voyage the vessel was boarded by pirates, who searched all on board, and on ac- count of his youthful appearance he was nearly passed by, but some one said that he must not be overlooked and his clothing was cut from him and $2,000 in gold coin that he had concealed in a belt about his body rolled on the deck of the ship and in jeering tones the one that demanded a search spoke to the pirate that was going to
pass him hy. From the foregoing it may be sur- mised that Mr. Wolter's parents were well-to-do. He also had a good education for he was made master of vessels at an early age. It is known that there is some estate in the old country held by those of the same name. Once having been in California Mr. Wolter was attracted to the terri- tory by the possibilities offered to those willing to work amidst pioneer conditions and after he- decided to leave the sea he settled on El Toro rancho of five thousand six hundred acres, lo- cated not far from Monterey, and where he- married the widow of R. Gomez. Mrs. Gomez bore the maiden name of Josefa Estrada and was born in California, where her ancestors had raised sheep and cattle in the valleys for a num- ber of generations back.
By her first marriage Mrs. Wolter had five children, Felipe, Isabel, John, Rafael and Mari- ana, who were educated by their step-father and affectionately cared for by him until his death .. The union of Captain and Mrs. Wolter resulted in the birth of five children, one of whom, Jo- seph, now deceased, was marshal of Monterey for eighteen years. Those now living are as fol- lows : Manuel, of Monterey ; Luis, living in the- Carmel valley; Mrs. Charlotte Fitton, of New Monterey; and Mrs. Laura Wolter Brown, a resident of San Francisco, but now in Europe. The captain died September 26, 1856, at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife died in 1897, at the age of seventy-seven years.
At the family home in Old Monterey Luis. Wolter was born August 8, 1849, and at the age- of seven years he was orphaned by his father's death. When eleven years old he was sent to the Toro rancho to herd sheep that his mother had inherited from the Estrada family. For nine years he remained on the ranch. The few people whom necessity took in that direction be- came familiar with the lonely figure of the bare- footed sheep-herder watching his flocks as they pastured in the valleys and along the mountain sides. Finally he returned home to aid his mother there. In 1878, at the age of twenty-nine years, he married Juana Ma Luciguela Vasquez, daughter of Antonio Marie Vasquez, and a na- tive of California, born June 12, 1859.
The young couple settled on land now known as the Jacks ranch. Two years later they came
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to the Carmel valley and bought three hundred and twenty acres of the Vasquez estate, where they established their home. Later Mr. Wolter added to the place by the purchase of seventy- nine acres and afterward bought fifty-four acres. The entire tract is devoted to fruit. stock and hay, and ninety-five acres are under the plow. The land has been cleared of timber and brush and in 1902 an apple orchard was planted cover- ing nine and one-half acres. At one time a large dairy business was conducted and butter was manufactured for the city markets. At this writing he is making a specialty of potatoes. Since he came to this property about 1880 he has made many valuable improvements that have enhanced its productiveness, and in consequence he is in the enjoyment of the receipt of a gratify- ing income from the investment.
Of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Wolter one ·child died at six months and another, Josefa, passed away at the age of twelve years. Those now living are as follows: Arthur L., who was born in 1880 and is now engaged in farming with his father ; Lucretia A., born in 1881 ; Adelina E .. 1882: Florence L., 1883 : Agnes P. B., 1886: Gustave. 1888: Jose E., 1890: Julia, 1892; Luis F .. 1894: David P., 1896; Robert, 1898, and Irene E., 1903. All excepting the eldest were born on the present family homestead and all were educated in (or are now attend- ing) the district schools. They display a natural talent for music and art and several of the chil- dren are exceptionally proficient in drawing and as musicians. Politically Mr. Wolter is a Repub- lican in national affairs and in early days he took an active part in party affairs, always giving his allegiance in local measures to the men whom he ·considered best qualified to represent the people.
.
HENRY CHASE.
An early period in the colonization of Massa- chusetts found the Chase family associated with its agricultural development and there Ezra and Tirzah (Wells) Chase were born and reared, re- moving thence to New York state and settling near Livingston, where a son, Henry, was born July 21, 1832. The parents became affiliated with the Mormon church and when the leaders
removed to the Mississippi valley they accom- panied them, settling at Nauvoo, Hancock county, Ill., as early as 1841. The struggles of the next few years are well remembered by Henry Chase, who was acquainted with all the heads of the Mormon church of that period and per- sonally knew Joseph Smith. The Mormons in- curred the hostility of other settlers; Smith was placed in the county jail at Carthage and there he was shot.
The migration of the Mormons toward the then unknown west lured the Chase family to the primeval wilds and in 1846 they settled in Ne- braska where Omaha now stands. One year later they started for Utah and crossed the plains with an expedition comprising ninety-six wagons. Thousands of buffalo were to be seen as they crossed the plains. The animals were so fearless that guards were obliged to keep watch at night to keep them away from the caravan. The train was under the charge of Capt. Lorenzo Snow, at one time president of the Mormon church. On arriving in Utah the settlers laid out the present Salt Lake City and there they took up the ardu- ous task of earning a livelihood far from the cen- ters of civilization. After the discovery of gold in California the elder Chase decided to bring his family to California and for three years he mined in Eldorado county. With his son he also raised barley and hay. It was his custom to haul the hay to Placerville, making the round trip from his ranch in one day and receiving $80 per ton for all that he could deliver. Removing to Santa Clara county in 1853. he purchased four hundred and eighty acres, only to discover later that an old Spanish grant rendered his claim invalid. During 1856 he and his wife returned to Utah and there they remained until they died when ad- vanced in years.
The marriage of Henry Chase was solemnized in San Bernardino county in 1860 and united him with Miss Mary Ann Baldwin, who was born in Illinois of English parentage. The young couple settled in the vicinity of the bride's home, but destructive floods caused them to re- move to the vicinity of San Jose, and in 1866 they came to San Benito. where Mr. Chase paid $30 an acre for a part of the Pacheco grant. The same land had sold in 1856 for $2.50 an acre, while land in the hills had been as low as
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
twenty-five cents an acre. No improvements had been made on the tract, which previously had been utilized as range for cattle and sheep. On the present site of Hollister there was only one building and that was the residence of the illus- trious pioneer in whose honor the town was named. After he had fenced the land Mr. Chase began to raise wheat and in good seasons he had very profitable crops. With barley he was less successful. Hogs, too, did not prove money- makers. During 1902 he embarked in the dairy industry and now he milks forty cows, sending the milk to the condensing factory. Ample water enables him to cut six crops of alfalfa each year from his meadow of forty acres. For power he utilizes a gas engine of ten horse-power, with a capacity of five hundred gallons per minute. The cow-barns are equipped with modern conven- iences and all of the appliances have been provided with a view to securing the most satisfactory ef- fects from a sanitary standpoint. During 1907 the owner had an average of $86 per cow in gross receipts and in 1908 the gross receipts were $83 per head, in addition to which he had the in- crease of the herd and the use of the milk. In former years he engaged in raising horses, but now he devotes less attention to that industry. The largest team that ever went out of this county (weighing four thousand and one hun -. dred pounds), was sold by him in 1898, but he received only $250 for the same.
Politically a Republican, Mr. Chase frequently has served as a delegate to county conventions. At the time of the exciting contest relative to the division of the county, a majority of the people of the San Felipe valley opposed the project. Largely through his efforts a tax was levied for the purpose of erecting a schoolhouse in the Pacheco district and for thirteen years he served at a trustee of the school. Another enterprise which he promoted was the building of a public hall in Pacheco district for the use of lodges and for the holding of public functions ; to this he donated the land. Years ago he realized the usefulness of the telephone and urged upon his neighbors the necessity of co-operation in secur- ing a system. With his private line as the nu- cleus, a system was built for the farmers of the district. His wife also is enthusiastically in favor of progressive enterprises and is now a
stockholder in the Grangers' Union, besides aid- ing other local movements of importance. They are the parents of four children now living. Their eldest daughter, Tirzah, who was born in San Bernardino county, married William Brom- ley, who died in 1891; she survived him until 1900 and at her demise left two daughters and two sons. The eldest daughter now living, Ab- bie, was born in Santa Clara county and married H. N. Tracy, of Los Angeles ; they have three children. Lottie, who was born in Santa Clara county, is a teacher in the Pacheco district. The youngest children. Etta and Henry, Jr .. reside with their parents on the home farm.
WILLARD F. TREAT.
In tracing the causes that have led to the pres- ent prosperity of California, the student of his- tory discovers that the citizenship of men from the states to the east has been a leading factor in the results now apparent. Numbered among the citizens of Salinas who by their excellent busi- ness judgment and untiring energy have contrib- uted to the growth of the city mention belongs to Willard F. Treat, who has been a resident of Monterey county for nearly forty-five years, and has made his home in Salinas since 1900. A native of New York state, he was born Au- gust 9, 1833, the son of Timothy and Lovicia (Bentley) Treat, they too being natives of the Empire state. As his parents were farmers the son was reared and educated in rural surround- ings, and when he reached years of discretion he too settled down to follow in their footsteps in the choice of a calling.
The keen interest to wrest wealth from the mines which brought many thousands to the west in the years immediately following the gold dis- covery in California had abated somewhat at the time Mr. Treat came to California in 1865. but nevertheless his first experience upon locating here was in the mines. Going direct to Eldorado county, he mined in that locality with splendid success for about two years, when, with the money which he had in the meantime accumu- lated he located in Monterey county and pur- chased a ranch of one hundred and eighty-five acres in close proximity to Salinas. This was
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the scene of his activities for about thirty-five years, during this time making a specialty of raising high-grade cattle and also raising grain, but finally, on account of failing health, he was compelled to relinquish these activities. Accord- ingly, in 1900, he leased his property and took up his residence in Salinas, where he has since lived retired from active cares. Soon after locating in the city he purchased property and erected houses thereon, the proceeds from which furnish him with a comfortable income. In 1907 he sold his ranch property.
Mr. Treat's marriage, which occurred Novem- ber 14, 1869, united him with Sophronia Howell, a native of West Virginia, and two children, both sons, have been born of their union. The eldest, Frank, is a resident of San Francisco, while Fred A., who was formerly district attorney .of Mon- terey county, is now a resident of the city of that name. Fraternally Mr. Treat is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. With his wife Mr. Treat has a pleasant home at No. 620 South Main street, where in their declining years they are enjoying the comforts made pos- sible by the accumulations of by-gone days.
GEORGE HENRY WILKINSON.
In George H. Wilkinson Monterey county, Cal., has an English-American citizen who re- flects credit both upon his native and upon his adopted country, and who embodies those thrifty and substantial traits which make his country- men welcome additions wherever they choose to locate. Near Metz he owns a ranch of nearly four hundred acres, of which a part is in orchard, a portion is in hay, and upon the remainder he raises cattle and horses.
As has already been intimated, Mr. Wilkinson is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Yorkshire, December 2, 1850. His boy- hood, youth and young manhood were passed in the surroundings of his birthplace, and there, too, he fitted himself for the business world by learning the iron molder's trade. He became proficient in this calling and had followed it for a number of years in England when, in 1888, he came to the United States and followed his trade with even greater success than he had in his
native country. Locating in San Francisco upon his arrival in this country, he secured a position as molder in the Union Iron Works, and was employed there and in Alameda for nearly twenty years. In the meantime, in 1902, he had pur- chased a ranch of one hundred and fifty-two. acres near Metz upon which he located his fam- ily, while he continued work at his trade. The great earthquake and fire of April, 1906, how- ever, destroyed the works in which he was en- gaged and since that time he has had charge of the home ranch. Of this, two acres are in or- chard, fifty acres in hay, while the remainder is devoted to the raising of cattle and horses. In 1908 Mr. Wilkinson added to his holdings by the purchase of two hundred and thirty acres which also lie in close proximity to his home place, and of this tract twelve acres are in orchard and fifty acres in hay. Besides the two tracts mentioned he also has one hundred and sixty acres in the foothills which he home- steaded, and this he uses as pasturage for his stock. Taken all in all, his ranches are well suited to the purposes to which they are devoted, and in the comparatively short time which he has had them under his personal supervision he has had remarkable success in bringing them up to the fine state of cultivation which they have reached at this time.
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