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 16

Author: Guinn, J. M. (James Miller), 1834-1918; Leese, Jacob R. Monterey County; Tinkham, George H. (George Henry), b. 1849. Story of San Benito County
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif. : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 454


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 16
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 16


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their provisions. They then retreated to New Mexico. A few days after reaching New Mexico Mr. Leese entered the store of Mr. St. Varan, of San Fernando, with whom he made an agree- mment satisfactory to each. October 27, 1833, he left New Mexico with a Spanish trading party and arrived in Los Angeles December 24, having there the good fortune to meet Isaac Williams, an old associate of the hunting expedition. June I he visited Monterey, at that time the capital of California, and here lie formed some warm acquaintanceships, among others meeting Gen- eral Figueroa, who gave him a general passport as well as letters to all the padres of the mis- sions. It was his intention to contract with the padres for all the mules they had to sell, it be- ing his ambition to obtain control of the mule trade between California and New Mexico. With the padres of San Miguel and San Luis Obispo he made arrangements to get one hundred mules every year at $14 each, $7 to be paid down and the balance on his return. In this way he reached Los Angeles in September with four hundred and fifty mules and horses. In October he started with nine men for the Mohave river, in- tending to join the returning Mexican party, but found on his arrival that they had passed a few days before. Proceeding on his way, he met with disaster in a short time by reason of an attack from Indians, who stampeded their mules, so that they could collect only twenty- seven head. About the same time he learned that the New Mexicans, camped but a few hun- dred yards above, had been attacked and five of their number massacred.


Thankful to escape with his life, Mr. Leese returned to California. Until the spring of 1836 he engaged in commercial business in Los An- geles. From there he went to Monterey and formed a connection with Capt. W. S. Hinckley and Nathan Spear for the purpose of establish- ing a business on the bay of San Francisco. On his return to Los Angeles he closed out his busi- ness and left for the north, arriving at Santa Barbara at the same time with a schooner which had on board a new governor, Gen. Mariano Chico. The two traveled to the capital together, and there the governor gave Mr. Leese a letter to the authorities of San Francisco, empowering them to give him a grant of one hundred yards


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of land anywhere on the bay of San Francisco that he might wish to locate. This letter he presented to the alcalde, with the statement that he desired to locate on the beach of Yerba Buena cove. After considerable discussion and a sec- ond visit to the governor the desired space was secured, and he arrived at Yerba Buena July I. His home was finished in time to celebrate the Fourth of July, and on that day for the first time the stars and stripes waved over the land of Yerba Buena. It was a memorable occasion. Vessels lying in port supplied bunting for dec- oration ; bands gave their sweetest music; among the sixty guests was Gen. M. G. Vallejo, who proposed a toast to Washington. Dancing and other amusements followed the banquet, and as Mr. Leese observed in his diary "Our 4th ended on the evening of the 5th."


April 1, 1837, Mr. Leese married Rosalie Val- lejo, as sister of the general. Their eldest child, Rosalie, was the first child born in Yerba Buena. He continued in the commercial business until August, 1841, when he sold out to the Hudson Bay Company and removed to Sonoma. Two years later he made an expedition to Oregon, taking with him eleven hundred head of cattle. The trip consumed seventy days, during which time he and his companions were constantly an- noyed by Indians lurking in ambush. When near Colusi they were attacked by the savages, who killed some of their cattle. At last, however, they reached Oregon in safety and disposed of the stock at fair prices. The return trip was made on one of the Hudson Bay Company's vessels, the voyage from the mouth of the Colum- bia to the bay of San Francisco taking five days. From there Mr. Leese returned to Sonoma, and there remained until June 12, 1846, when, through misrepresentation, he fell under the dis- pleasure of Colonel Fremont, who caused his arrest. He was taken to Sacramento and placed in close confinement, together with General Val- lejo and others, remaining there until August I, when all were liberated by order of Captain Montgomery. After his release Mr. Leese re- turned to Sonoma. At the time of the discovery of gold he removed to Monterey and soon after- ward made a voyage to China, returning with one of the richest cargoes China had sent to our country up to that date. The change which


took place during the fourteen months of his absence was remarkable. When he left there were fourteen vessels in the harbor, but when he returned in 1849 he found four hundred ships, waving the flags of almost every country in the world, and appearing "like a great forest of dead trees," as Mr. Leese expressed it. Nor was the change noticeable in the harbor only. Land which had been worth only $200 readily sold for as many thousand. The tranquil quiet of Yerba Buena was gone, having given place to noisy bustle and reckless excitement. Men were delirious over the discovery of gold and rushed madly into speculation of every form. Fortunes were madly staked and won and lost in an hour.


The subsequent years of Mr. Leese's life were quietly passed in Monterey county. Like the majority of pioneers he was a man of positive character, strong purpose, high resolve and un- tiring perseverance. Through all the toil and danger, the trials and temptations which ever beset the path of the pioneer, he carefully pre- served the "image in which he was created," and his mild and dignified manner, cheerful face and kindly manner spoke to all of a life well spent and a mind at peace with all. His death oc- cured at St. Luke's Hospital, San Francisco, February 1, 1892, and he was buried by the California pioneers.


For facts contained in this article the writer acknowledges indebtedness to "The Hesperian," published in San Francisco in June 1859.


JOHN G. JOY.


As one of the representative men of Monterey county J. G. Joy is numbered among the sturdy sons of Maine who have come to the Pacific coast country and assisted in the development of this commonwealth. Born on the parental farm near Bangor in 1843, he is a son of John C. and Pauline (Robinson) Joy, the former dying at a comparatively early age, while the latter lacked but little of being a centenarian at the time of her death. John G. Joy received his education in the public schools and an academy until the break- ing out of the Civil war, when his schooling came to an end by his enlistment, at the age of seven- teen years, in Company E, Second Maine Regi-


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La Casey


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ment Volunteer Infantry, in 1861. The officers of the regiment were Captain Emerson, Colonel Jameson and Colonel Roberts. Mr. Joy's army record is noteworthy in that he saw fighting from the very first and during all the time he was in the service he never was wounded nor was he laid up from any disability. His first engagement was the First Battle of Bull Run; later was in the engagements participated in by the Fifth Army Corps, the Peninsula Campaign, Second Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Chancellors- ville. He also participated in all the engage- ments led by General Grant, Battle of the Wilder- ness, Manassas and was present at the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee.


After his discharge from the service Mr. Joy went to Michigan and in 1867 came to Cali- fornia, stopping for a time in Santa Clara, and the same year came to Monterey county and leased land where Salinas now stands and farmed for a time. He has always been a Republican and in the councils of the party has taken an active place and has been in public office, being elected to the office of auditor of the county, in which capacity he served his constituents faith- fully. He was appointed postmaster of the town by President Harrison and served one term of four years. In 1898 he was appointed to the same office by President Mckinley and held it one term.


Mr. Joy is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree ; a member of the Salinas Lodge No. 614, B. P. O. E., and of the Grand Army of the Republic.


WILLIAM CASEY.


One of the supervisors of Monterey county is William Casey, a native son of the county in which he makes his home, and he was born in Castroville, March 2, 1863. He is a son of Jeremiah Casey, of whom mention is made on another page of this work. When William was a lad of six years his father moved to Long valley, in the southern part of the county, and here he was reared and educated in the public schools. His early training was on a ranch, and from that beginning he has broadened out till to-day he has become recognized as one of the most progressive men in agricultural fields in the


county. One of his teachers in Long valley was M. J. Smeltzer, a well-known educator, and at one time superintendent of the schools of the county, as well as proprietor of the Daily and Weekly Journal. From school to work on the father's ranch was the first step of William Casey, and from a small beginning he has grad- ually climbed the ladder of success until he has won a competence for his family. He has made a specialty of stock and grain, and in the last few years has met with unqualified and well- merited success in both lines. He is a warm friend of education and has labored to maintain a high standard of schools in his district, serv- ing as trustee for the past fifteen years. In 1889 he removed to San Ardo, where he fol- lowed his chosen calling until 1893, when he removed to the vicinity of San Lucas, where he has since made his home and followed farming with good results. He has under his direct con- trol about eighteen hundred acres of land in the Trescony grant, and upon this he raised in 1909 over one thousand tons of barley, thus showing what well directed efforts will accomplish.


One of the sources of income to Mr. Casey is the operating of two large threshing outfits. He began this work in 1886, when his father bought an outfit, and this he operated until 1893, when he purchased one of his own, and in 1909 bought the second machine, and now carries on the busi- ness on an extensive scale. He introduces from time to time any labor-saving device that he deems advisable to further facilitate his work, for he is a firm believer in up-to-date methods.


February 17, 1890, Mr. Casey was united in marriage with . Catherine L. Hoalton, who was born in Humboldt county, and they are the par- ents of two sons and two daughters. Ada, a graduate of Notre Dame Academy, in San Jose, is a proficient musician ; Mary, also a graduate from the same institution, is attending the State Normal in San Jose ; she has made art work her specialty ; William is attending Santa Clara Col- lege and Henry F. is attending the public school in the Alberta district. All the children are being given the best advantages for an educa- tion obtainable to fit them for positions in life when they take up its burdens for themselves.


Mr. Casey has always taken an interest in politics and has served on the county central


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committee of the Democratic party. In 1904 he was elected a member of the board of supervisors of the county, serving efficiently for the term,, and in 1908 he was re-elected to succeed him- self, being made chairman of the body, which position he still occupies. He has never been what one would call a partisan in local matters, and has many friends among the Republicans, who have supported him at the elections. In all matters that have been brought to his notice for the well being of the county he has given his support, and in all things has shown a very progressive and public spirit. He is a member of Salinas Lodge, No. 614, B. P. O. E., and the N. S. G. W.


HON. PARIS KILBURN.


In every career two dates stand out with start- ling pre-eminence, the date of birth and that of deatlı. Two locations have equal prominence, the place where the eyes first opened to the light and the environment on which the vision last rested before the earth consciousness faded into the beauty of eternity. Hon. Paris Kilburn was born at Lawrenceville, Tioga county, Pa., July 21, 1834, and died in Pacific Grove, Cal., January 18, 1909, two days after he had been stricken with paralysis. Between these two dates is a lifetime of earnest and successful effort, filled with many activities and crowned with the re- spect of a large circle of friends. To him life brought its beauties of hope, affection and loyalty, and death came suddenly ere the waning of men- tal and physical faculties had dimmed the joy of existence.


Paris Kilburn was a son of Wells and Ann (Guy) Kilburn, natives respectively of Penn- sylvania and Maryland. In 1851, just as he was growing into stalwart young manhood he came to California with his parents and the other children, six in all, and joined the throng of Argonauts that pushed their arduous way across the plains to the west. For many years they lived at Napa, Napa county, where the parents died. Of the four sons and two daughters the only survivor is Capt. William Kilburn, U. S. N., retired. When the attention of Paris Kil- burn was called to the agricultural possibilities


of the Salinas valley late in the '6os he came to Monterey county and soon became extensively engaged in farming on the Spence and Gonzales ranches. Later he bought a tract of land north- east of Chualar, where for some years he made his home. Eventually he bought property at No. 151 Archer street, Salinas, and moved his family to town, but later he disposed of his ranch and established his home at No. 120 Fountain avenue, Pacific Grove. His marriage took place Decem- ber 10, 1860, and united him with Miss Sarah Olmstead, who passed away at her home in Pa- cific Grove in October, 1909. Three children were born of their union, namely: Cleon, of Berkeley; Jessie, wife of H. J. Leighton, of Syracuse, N. Y .; and Cora, who died aged sixteen years.


For years Mr. Kilburn was one of the most prominent men in the Republican party in Mon- terey county and in the state. During 1880 he was elected to the state legislature, where he voted for John F. Miller for United States senator. In 1888 he was a delegate from Cali- fornia to the national convention that nominated Benjamin Harrison for president and was named as a member of the notification committee that waited upon Mr. Harrison. During the previous national campaign, that of 1884, he had served as chairman of the county committee of Mon- terey county. With others he expected the elec- tion of James G. Blaine and accordingly ar- ranged a celebration upon an extensive scale. When it was learned that the honor had fallen to Grover Cleveland he turned the preparations for the banquet over to the Democrats.


Under the administration of President Har- rison an appointment was accepted by Mr. Kil- burn as surveyor of the port of San Francisco. During 1894 Governor Markham appointed him a member of the board of state bank commis- sioners and he filled that responsible position for four years. Governor Gage in 1899 tendered him the appointment of president of the state board of harbor commissioners and he remained in the position for a full term, retiring in 1903. After establishing his home at Pacific Grove he became deeply interested in the library move- ment and assisted in securing for the town the Carnegie library, being honored with the presi- dency of the board that was instrumental in se-


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curing the erection of the beautiful library build- ing. The many positions to which he was called indicate his high standing as a citizen and the intelligence and efficiency with which all of these offices were filled prove him to have been a man of superior ability and lofty patriotism. Sterling qualities of head and heart endeared him to friends and when he was suddenly stricken with paralysis and removed from the scenes of his usefulness the entire community mourned his loss. People in Salinas and Pacific Grove joined in deploring the demise of one who had made his influence felt for good in business, in society, in education and in all other movements appertain- ing to the county's welfare.


T. A. WORK.


No name is more intimately associated with the material upbuilding of Pacific Grove than that of T. A. Work, whose success is significant of the opportunities offered by the west and sig- mificant likewise of his own mental resources and keen foresight. As he enjoys the comforts of his luxurious residence on University Heights, recently erected at a cost of $20,000, he doubtless more than once has reflected upon the destiny that brought him from the rockbound coast of his native island, where he was born in 1869, to the sunny land of California, where oppor- tunity awaits effort and peace smiles upon the people living beside the sunset sea.


Mr. Work arrived in Monterey when he was fifteen and one-half years of age. When he was two years older he began business, and with the energy characteristic of him in every position he grasped the opportunities afforded him for getting a business start. The result is almost startling in its proof of his ability. The hay, grain and wood business gave him an opportunity by starting on a small scale to prove his adapt- ability for commercial pursuits. Orders were filled with promptness and financially his word was his bond. Prices were as low as commen- surate with fair profits. From this nucleus he rose to be the head of a large enterprise, the principal department of which has been the sup- plying of building materials, and other commodi- ties used in the construction and finishing of


residences are kept in ample supply in his stores. While selling to others, he has used much of the building material for his own purposes, hav- ing erected more cottages than any other citizen in Pacific Grove. To facilitate his work he acquired a large lumber and planing mill, which turns out much of the building material for the town. Meanwhile he has retained his interests in the wood and coal business.


Besides his many other activities Mr. Work has engaged in the buying and selling of real estate and a considerable amount of property has changed hands through his efforts. At a great expense he erected the T. A. Work Theater at Monterey. which has a seating capacity of eight hundred and is thoroughly modern in all of its appointments. He also erected the T. A. Work Company building, which is utilized as a branch store for his rapidly expanding hardware busi- ness. He is the largest individual business property owner in Monterey as well as in Pacific Grove. In the latter place he erected and still owns the Del Mar hotel and the T. A. Work block. The Work building stands on Light- house avenue and is the only three-story busi- ness structure in the place.


Although preferring to concentrate his atten- tion entirely upon business affairs, Mr. Work has not been unmindful of the duties devolving upon him as a citizen, but in every way has en- deavored to do his part as a true patriot, loyal to the upbuilding of his adopted country. In political views he advocates Republican prin- ciples. Since April of 1898, with the exception of two years, he has served as city treasurer of Pacific Grove. In fraternal relations he is a member of Salinas Lodge No. 614. B. P. O. E., Pacific Grove Lodge, I. O. O. F., and the A. O. U. W., His home is brightened by five children and is presided over by his wife, whom he mar- ried in 1895 and who was Miss Maude E. Porter, a native of El Dorado county, this state. He is a stockholder, vice-president and a director of the First National Bank of Monterey and presi- dent and general manager of the T. A. Work Co., a corporation worth about $250,000, and of which he is the principal stockholder. This is one of the most successful business enterprises in Monterey county. The unusual success re- warding his efforts is proof of the sagacity guid-


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ing all of his actions and the foresight displayed in his investments; at the same time his pros- perity is a source of encouragement to others, who, like him, are coming to our locality without any capital except such as is represented by keen minds, good health and tireless energy.


ANDREW J. MYERS.


Although now living somewhat retired from business activities and making his home at No. 406 Prescott street, New Monterey, it is not possible for Mr. Myers to wholly withdraw himself from association with the world of prog- ress. Being of an energetic temperament, he thoroughly enjoys participation in movements for the upbuilding of the community and the development of local resources. At this writing he is interested in the developing of oil and coal on his ranch, which is one of the most valuable in Priest valley. The estate is still very large, although recently its dimensions were reduced by the sale of three hundred and twenty acres of oil land to the Associated Oil Company of Coalinga.


Born in Tioga county, N. Y., August 20, 1830, Andrew J. is a son of James and Mary (Darrow). Myers, natives of the Empire state and lifelong residents of the east. Reared in the county of his birth and educated in its schools, Mr. Myers had gained no knowledge of the outside world prior to his migration to the Pacific coast, there- fore the voyage in 1853 via the Panama route was intensely interesting to him as well as practically instructive. After he had landed he started out in search of a location and soon rented land in the vicinity of San Jose. While there he helped to harvest one of the first crops of wheat in Santa Clara county and recalls the fact that the yield was sixty-four bushels to the acre.


Returning to New York September 30, 1858, Mr. Myers married Miss Emma J. Fitch, who was born and reared in that state. They made the return trip via the Isthmus, arriving in San Francisco December Ist, that same year. Upon his arrival Mr. Myers settled at Watsonville and forming a partnership with John A. Per- kins started the first cheese factory in the Pa- jaro valley. After he had sold out there he


removed to Gilroy and again became interested in the cheese industry. During the spring of 1878 he came to Monterey county and entered the employ of Miller & Lux, whose representative he continued to be for five years. At the ex- piration of that period he secured one hundred and sixty acres in Priest valley, and has added to this from time to time, until he owns over eleven hundred acres. The location of the prop- erty is superb and its value is constantly in- creasing, so that the investment, begun so many years ago, has proved a most fortunate one. The ranch is now in charge of a son and the raising of hogs and cattle is the principal in- dustry conducted on the place. He set out some of the first apple trees in Priest valley in 1884.


There are three children living in the family of Mr. Myers. The daughter, Enriqueta, is the wife of F. L. Palmer and lives in Priest valley, Monterey county; they have two sons and three daughters. John A. acts as super- intendent of the oil pipe line from Coalinga to Monterey. James H. at present lives at the old homestead in Priest valley and superintends the ranch; he is married and the father of one son, A. J., Jr. One son, George D., died aged ten years. For three years Mr. Myers served as deputy assessor of Monterey county, but it has been his preference to avoid public positions and devote himself entirely to his private in- terests. In fraternal relations he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. holding membership with the King City lodge.


ABRAHAM PARSONS.


The life which this memorial depicts began in Randolph county, Va., August 17, 1809, and came to an end in Gonzales, Monterey county, Cal., August 19, 1884. Between these dates was crowded a lifetime of useful activity, the earlier part of which was spent in the south, where his parents, James and Nancy (Rust) Parsons, were lifetime residents. Public schools were unknown in his home locality, and he was educated by pri- vate instruction. His early life was spent on the home plantation and later he became proprietor of a property of his own in the south. In 1872 he came to California, and, locating in Monterey


A, Leonard


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county, purchased a ranch of five hundred acres in the vicinity of Gonzales, which he operated up to the time of his death, making a specialty of raising wheat and barley.


Mr. Parsons' marriage occurred February 12, 1834, and united him with Miss Emily Parsons, a cousin. Born of this marriage were the follow- ing children: Washington, Judson, Jacob and James, all of Salinas ; Job, a resident of Morgan- town, W. Va .; Harriet, the wife of James E. Long, of Parsons, W. Va .; Elizabeth, the wife of John Kalar; Virginia, Mrs. Duncan McCabe, of Oakland; and Phoebe, the wife of J. Boeke- noogen, of Gonzales. While living in the south Mr. Parsons exhibited the same public spirit and interest in beneficial and uplifting measures that he did in his later years, for many years having served as sheriff of Randolph county, W. Va. He was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and a worker in and a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars.




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