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 29
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 29
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Among the children of Absalom Benton and Cornelia (Hardgrave) Harvey was a son, John H., whose name introduces this article and who was born in Healdsburg, Sonoma county, Cal., September 24, 1867. When only one year old he was brought to Salinas and later attended the public schools of this place. After leaving school he learned the trade of blacksmith, which he fol- lowed for a few years, but discontinued the trade in order to engage in the livery business. After a time he sold his livery interests to John Cimpher and entered the San Francisco Veter- inary College in 1894, continuing in the institut- tion until his graduation, since which time he has practiced at Salinas. December 24, 1899,
he was united in marriage with Grace V., daughter of S. M. Shearer, a well-known resi- dent of Salinas. The only child of the union was born January 21, 1909, and was given the name of Kathryn French Harvey. The family residence stands at No. 321 Cayuga street and is frequently the center of a group of friends drawn to Dr. and Mrs. Harvey by their fine personal traits and genial friendliness of spirit.
WILLIAM F. BURNETT.
Five miles from Hollister may be seen one of the valuable farms of San Benito county, a tract comprising one hundred and sixty acres and de- voted to the raising of grain and hay, also to the breeding of horses and cattle of good grades. Since 1884 this property has been owned and operated by William F. Burnett, one of the lead- ing ranchers of the county and the third sheriff of San Benito county. Through a long identifi- cation with the growth of California he has formed a large circle of acquaintances, extend- ing back to the early days when his associates were the daring frontiersmen and hardy pio- neers to whose resolute purpose we owe the rich commonwealth of today. Himself a pio- neer of 1850, he was a youth of twenty years when he bade farewell to the friends of child- hood and started out on the long journey to- ward the setting sun. Of eastern descent, he was born at New Lebanon, Sullivan county, Ind., in 1830, and passed in an uneventful man- ner the years of boyhood and youth until he began his journey toward the coast. With a party of eight emigrants he crossed the plains. Each member of the company had a saddle horse and in addition a team of six mules and five yoke of oxen were utilized to expedite the tedious journey. Misfortune overtook them in the stampeding of the oxen by Indians, after which the mules were used to convey both supply wag- ons.
A tedious trip of six months found its welcome termination in Weaverville, Trinity county, and Weaver creek furnished Mr. Burnett with his first experience as a miner, after which he mined on the north fork of the Feather river. Having decided to seek other pursuits, he removed to
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the Santa Clara valley and bought one hundred and sixty acres near the village of Santa Clara, where he began to raise barley and potatoes. During 1854 he sold the tract and moved into Santa Cruz, from which point he went into the red woods, erected a sawmill and embarked in the lumber business. From there he went to San Luis Obispo county in 1858 and for two years engaged in raising cattle. His next loca- tion was in the village of Monterey, where he acquired prominence as the owner and pro- prietor of an extensive system of stage lines characteristic of pioneer days. The stage lines which he controlled had for their objective points the towns of San Jose, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Juan. These lines were operated in connection with the coast lines and the Los An- geles stage line. For four years he continued this business. At the expiration of that time he moved to San Juan, San Benito county, from which town he ran a stage to the New Idria quicksilver mines in the southern part of the county. For seventeen years he operated this line, when he was elected sheriff of San Benito county, in 1882. While filling the office for a term of two years he made Hollister his home. but on the expiration of his term he removed to his present farm five miles from town. For years he has been one of the leading Republicans of this part of the county and he is also prominent in Masonry, belonging to Texas lodge at San Juan. During 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss Rosella Call, a native of Massa- chusetts. Four children form their family, namely: Ella, who married J. J. Croxon, the present sheriff of San Benito county: William E., a leading rancher of Tres Pinos; Clarence E. and Ida A., who reside with their parents.
JAMES THOMSON.
The family represented by this well-known citizen of Salinas comes from a distinguished Scotch lineage, and he himself was a native of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, born June 26, 1829, into the home of William and Margaret (Anderson) Thomson. As he was one of a large family of children he was early made familiar with the sterner side of life, and it thus happened
that after gaining such an education as the com- mon schools of his home vicinity afforded he turned his attention to work in the quarries. From this developed a knowledge of contracting, a business which he followed in his native city to some extent, but since coming to the United States his interests have been confined to other lines.
Severing his associations with the land of his forefathers in 1864, Mr. Thomson came to America that year and located in Brantfort, Can- ada, where with the band of select Short-horn cattle which he brought with him he engaged in breeding and raising cattle. During the ten years in which he followed this business he be- came acquainted with many large cattle dealers throughout the United States, among whom was Jesse D. Carr, of Salinas, Cal. Having sold a trainload of cattle to the latter, Mr. Thomson came with them to California in 1874, making the trip from Canada in twenty-six days. Before leaving Canada he had disposed of the greater part of his holdings, so that in the event he wished to remain in the west it would be unnec- essary to retrace his steps. Suffice it to say that he was charmed with the outlook and has since had no reason to regret that Fate led him to this garden spot of the west. .
Mr. Thomson's first employment was as super- intendent of one of the large ranches which Mr. Carr owned, but the desire to become independ- ent and receive the entire profit of his exertions led him to become proprietor of a ranch himself. Securing a ranch of four hundred and fifty acres near Salinas he made a specialty of raising grain on the property until, having added eight hun- dred acres adjoining to his holdings, he began raising sugar beets, a commodity which was in great demand and easily disposed of in a near-by factory. Mr. Thomson had been closely associ- ated with ranching interests in this community for thirty years when, in 1904, he sold out his holdings and retired from active business, at the same time locating in the city with his family.
Before leaving his native land Mr. Thomson had formed domestic ties by his marriage, in June, 1853. with Miss Mary Baillie, who was also a native of Scotland. Of the twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, who blessed their marriage only eight are living, as follows: Will-
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
iam, a resident of Globe, Ariz .; Andrew, who is a member of the police force in San Francisco; Adam; Joseph; Matthew; and David, the four just mentioned residents of Salinas ; Margaret, the wife of George Sulley, of San Jose; and Alice, the wife of Levi Weaver, of Salinas. The mother of these children was a most estimable woman, one whose consistent Christian life made her an inspiration not only in the home circle, but wherever she chanced to be. Before her marriage she was engaged in teaching school, a position for which she was well fitted by educa- tion and inclination. She passed away in Sep- tember, 1889, in the faith of the United Presby- terian Church, of which she was a devout mem- ber. Ever since locating in Monterey county, over thirty-five years ago, Mr. Thomson has made its welfare parallel with his own, and as a result he is rightly considered one of its truest and most dependable citizens. Politically he is a Republican, and for a time he served efficiently as a member and clerk of the school board. Now, in the evening of his days, he can look back over his life, well content, for he has wilfully wronged no man, but on the other hand has done all within his power to uplift humanity and spread the gospel of good fellowship.
OLIVER HAZARD PERRY.
The name borne by this honored Forty-niner of California was given to him in honor of the illustrious Commodore Perry, whose memorable naval victory during the second war with Eng- land won the plaudits of the entire civilized world and whose death in 1819 was mourned as a national bereavement. The life of the west- ern pioneer, though never rising to the world- wide prominence won by the original bearer of the name, was yet not without its modest suc- cesses, its justly won prizes and its thrilling ad- ventures. The early years were uneventful, even barren of interesting details. Born at Dublin, N. H., June 19, 1821, a son of Benjamin and Susan Perry, the childhood home of the lad was a small farm in an isolated spot, remote from the busy world of commerce.
It was natural that the young man, eager to start out for himself, should go to Boston in
search of employment; and while there he en- listed in the Mexican war. With his regiment he sailed to the front and took part in various battles, rising meanwhile from the ranks to the office of first lieutenant of his company. His widow still has in her possession the sword that he carried and the diary that he kept during the war. On being honorably discharged he re- turned to the east and arranged his affairs so that he might cast in his fortunes with the far west.
The barque Smyrna, Major Abbott command- ing. sailed out from the harbor of Boston on the 12th of March, 1849, carrying a large crowd of passengers bound for the gold fields of Cal- ifornia. Just before the ship left the harbor each one of the crew and all of the passengers. received as a present a small copy of the Bible,. and the one presented to Mr. Perry is still in the possession of his widow. The vessel round- ed the Horn and arrived at San Francisco after- a tedious but uneventful voyage. The young war veteran proceeded direct to Stockton and began to buy and sell grain, building up an ex -- tensive commission business. Selling out in. 1859 he took up farm pursuits near French Camp and met with fair success for some years. One year was then spent in Tuolumne county, after which he settled in Stanislaus county on the west side of the San Joaquin river, where he engaged in farming for a period of six years. Coming to Monterey county in 1874 he- settled near Chualar and in due time became the owner of a number of ranches that he operated. Farming continued to engage his attention until his death, which occurred September 26, 1891, at the age of eighty years.
The marriage of Oliver Hazard Perry took place February 22, 1859, and united him with Miss Sarah E. Sparks, who was born in Massa- chusetts, and whose present home is at No. 231 Lincoln avenue, Salinas. They became the par- ents of three children. The daughter, Sarah, is the wife of G. J. Patton, of Gonzales. The sons, Oliver A. and Orrin H., own and occupy ranches in Santa Cruz county. In the early part of his life Mr. Perry voted the Democratic ticket and supported the measures of that party, but at the opening of the Civil war he changed his politics and afterward voted the Republican
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ticket. For a number of years in Stockton he .served as a member of the city council. In that city he also held office as first lieutenant of the Stockton Blues, the first company to be or- ganized in the town. When the Civil war be- gan he assisted in organizing a company and was chosen its captain, but the men were never sent to the front, although they were prepared, by orders from headquarters, to go immediately if so desired. When the company finally dis- banded at the close of the war the men presented their captain with a sword that is now in the possession of one of his sons. A skilled marks- man, he won many prizes for his success with his rifle and was recognized as an unerring shot. Personally he was a man of kind heart, ever ready to help those in need or distress ; generous to charitable projects ; enthusiastic in movements for the upbuilding of the country; devoted to the welfare of the west, his chosen home and the center of the activities of his manhood; pro- gressive and public-spirited, a champion of meas- ures for the common good.
GEORGE GRANT.
The genealogy of the Grant family represent- ed by this honored citizen of Monterey county is traced to Scotland and the first to immigrate to North America was William, born in 1829 and deceased in 1897. On crossing the ocean he settled in Middlesex county, Ontario, Canada, and proceeded to develop a wild tract, in which work he was so successful as to be numbered among the well-to-do farmers of his county. After a prosperous period in the same locality he re- moved to the newer country of Manitoba in 1888 and engaged in the development of large bodies of wheat land, remaining in that province until his death at the age of sixty-eight years.
During the residence of William Grant in Middlesex county, Ontario, his son, George, was born May 29, 1856, and there he received such advantages as the common schools afforded. Ambitious to secure greater opportunities than his native province afforded he started toward the west and settled in Manitoba, where he took a contract to break over twelve hundred acres of raw land. Although he met with no special
luck in Manitoba, he saw the remarkable possi- bilities of the new country and induced his father and brothers to remove thither. After two years he went to Seattle, Wash., and worked as a con- tractor in street grading, later began railroading out of Seattle, and next took contracts for con- struction work in the Monte Cristo mines. Un- fortunately he became so troubled by rheumatism that after working for three years, principally in getting out the telegraph poles for the mines, he was obliged to resign and seek a more health- ful climate. In this way he happened to settle in California. For two years he worked in San Luis Obispo county under the contractor who built the seven tunnels on the Coast line of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The marriage of Mr. Grant took place in King City in April of 1895 and united him with Miss Evelyn, daughter of R. J. Rogers, and a member of a family comprising four children, the others being Margaret, Robert G., and Gwen- dolen (Mrs. Dave Reid of Chico). For some years R. J. Rogers followed the business of a tea merchant in his native England and in 1876 he came to California, where for a time he re- mained at San Juan, San Benito county. Next he removed to the vicinity of King City, Mon- terey county, and bought a sheep ranch of three thousand acres. At this writing he is a resident of Santa Cruz. In 1903 he was bereaved by the death of his wife.
For three years following his marriage Mr. Grant engaged in ranching, but the drought caused him heavy losses. When the sugar fac- tory was in operation he was made one of the foremen and remained for five years under W. C. Waters. Upon leaving the factory he bought fifty acres near Salinas and from this tract he since has taken off seven hundred cords of wood. The cleared land has been placed under culti- vation and there are now ten acres in fruit of the best varieties. The pleasant country home is brightened by the presence of a son and daugh- ter, Robert Adolphus and Marguryte, both now students in the Lagunita schools.
The political affiliations of Mr. Grant bring him into harmony with the Republican party, to the county conventions of which he has been a delegate. For four years he served as roadmas- ter of the Pajaro district under J. F. Mann and
Andrew & Copley 80.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
at this writing he is clerk of the board of school trustees. His acceptance of these two offices in- dicates that he has two "hobbies," good roads and good schools, and it is his belief that with- out them no country can enjoy permanent pros- perity. Fraternally he is identified with the Woodmen of the World, holding membership in the Salinas camp.
ANDREW J. COPLEY, JR.
The name of Copley is one which bears weight and influence among the better element of citi- zens in Monterey county, where the father lo- cated in 1869, and as his sons have grown to maturity and taken their place in the affairs of life, have emulated his example in uprightness and irreproachable business methods, and have thus added lustre to a name already held in high repute. (For a more detailed account of the family history the reader is referred to the sketch of the father, Andrew J. Copley, else- where in this volume.)
A native son of the state, Andrew J. Copley, Jr., was born February 19, 1862, at Spanish Dry Diggings, Eldorado county, where the father was then interested in mining. When the son was a small child, however, the father gave up mining, and, going to Sacramento, turned his attention to agriculture, carrying on a ranch in that locality for two years. Another change was then made, the family removing to Monterey county and locating in the Freeman valley, and after remaining there two years located in the Long valley. Two years were also passed in the latter location, when they leased and removed to the James Lowe ranch, the father also having charge of the stage station for two years. From there he subsequently removed to Peachtree, where he purchased a ranch, upon which he made a specialty of raising sheep and cattle, be- sides carrying on general farming. During the various removals of the family Mr. Copley re- mained with his parents and was a valuable as- sistant to his father. In 1880, however, he un- dertook responsibilities on his own account by locating upon the nucleus of the ranch in Wild Horse canyon, which is his home to-day. Since
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then he has added to his original tract by pur- chase and by homesteading adjoining tracts, un- til he now has thirty-six hundred acres under his control. Of this he now has five hundred acres under cultivation and on a portion of the remain- der he raises cattle, hogs and sheep. All of the land was in its primitive condition when it came into Mr. Copley's possession, and all of the im- provements seen on the property to-day have been placed there by himself. These include a commodious cottage, the home of the family, and twenty-five miles of fencing, all in excellent re- pair. Everything about the ranch indicates the owner to be a man of enterprise and progress, which is a truthful estimate of this well-known rancher of King City.
Mr. Copley's marriage occurred October 27, 1880, and united him with Miss Elizabeth Jane Smith, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Smith, early settlers in Long valley. Both na- tives of England, Mr. Smith came alone to the United States in 1866, going directly to the New Idria mines, in San Benito county, Cal .. and after following mining there for several years came to Monterey county and settled in Long valley in 1876. Mrs. Smith, who was born in Cornwall, England, in 1830, came with her six children to the United States in 1873. Of these only two are now living, Mrs. A. J. Copley, Jr .. and William J. Smith, of Salinas, assessor of Monterey county. Mr. Smith passed away De- cember 23, 1893. Though now in her eightieth year, Mrs. Smith is still active and interested in the affairs of life, and is proud in the posses- sion of sixteen grandchildren and six great- grandchildren. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Copley, but of the number only nine are living, as follows: William C. and Ed- win J., both residents of Long valley; George A., of Arizona; L. Pearl, the wife of Albert J. Sargenti, of Point Reyes; Andrew J., Jr. (2), at home, as are also the younger children, Sam- uel J., Bessie J., Clarabelle C. and Chester A. Politically Mr. Copley is a Republican, though not a partisan, casting his vote for the candidate possessing the best qualifications, without regard to party name. At the time when the Copley district school was in existence Mrs. Copley served as trustee for several years and was also clerk of the board.
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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
EDMUND SMITH WATERS.
Familiar with life in a coast town during boy- hood, Mr. Waters recalls among the memories of childhood the days when the family lived in Massachusetts and when seafaring men returned to the town of New Bedford with the fruits of their voyages laden on ocean vessels. Born in that city in 1857, he was a small child when the Civil war brought its thrilling experiences to every citizen of the country and he recalls the excitement prevalent in his own town during the long struggle. When he was eleven years of age another memorable event came into his life and this was the removal of the family across the continent to the Pacific coast. A home was taken up near Monterey in the county of that name and the family began the arduous task of building up a profitable property out of a desert. School facilities were few and the children were obliged to secure their educations by self-culture rather than by attendance at school, yet each one in spite of handicaps became well-informed and broad- minded.
The initial knowledge of the stock business gained by Mr. Waters was acquired on the ranch near Monterey, where he and his father worked with a fair degree of success until they sold out in 1890. The next location was near King City, two and one-half miles south of that place, on the San Bernabe ranch, where at this writing they rent about three thousand acres, a large portion of the tract being grazing land. Four hundred acres are under cultivation to barley, and two hundred acres are in alfalfa; both the grain and the hay are profitable crops in this part of the 'state. A large number of hogs and cattle are raised on the ranch and there are one hundred and fifty fine milch cows, forming a dairy that is one of the most profitable features of the farm. Another remunerative industry, although on a smaller scale, is the apiary which contains fifty colonies of honey bees.
In addition to the management of the home place Mr. Waters is engaged with three brothers in the stock business about sixty miles south of Monterey, where a large pasture provides feed for the herds of cattle. Through marriage he is identified with one of the old families of Mon- terey, his wife having been a member of the in-
fluential and honored pioneer family of Sober- anes. One child blessed their union, a son, Ed- ward Robert, who is assisting in the care of the stock and the cultivation of the home ranch. For fifteen years Mr. Waters served as a trus- tee of the Malpaso school near Monterey and during that period he gave his influence toward all measures for the betterment of the schools and the enlarging of their usefulness. Politics has never interested him to the neglect of home duties, yet he strives to discharge every duty de- volving upon a public-spirited citizen. Frater- nally he is a member of San Bernabe Lodge No. . 358, I. O. O. F., at King City, and has held all of the chairs in that lodge, whose philanthropic work he stands ready to aid, as he does all move- ments for the well-being of his community.
C. J. CHRISTENSEN.
The ancestors of this progressive farmer of Monterey county resided in Denmark as far back as the lineage can be traced. Each genera- tion was characterized by loyalty to country and devotion to family. In their humble spheres of activity they labored long and faithfully, and one by one they passed into eternity cheered by the hope of the Christian, their last days un- dimmed by remorse and regret. There still lives. on the old home farm in Denmark Christian Christensen, whose lifelong occupation has been that of agriculture and who is passing the after- noon of a toilsome existence in the midst of the scenes familiar to his early memories. Dur- ing 1879 he married Minnie Lauritzen, who died in the year 1897. The children of their union were named as follows: Lars, Jens, Christian, Anton, Neils, Kerstine, Sene and Christiana. All were born in Denmark and all remain in the old home land with the exception of Christian (the subject of this sketch) and two of his sis- ters, one residing in the state of Iowa and the other in San Miguel, San Luis Obispo county, this state.
On the 4th of July, 1886, C. J. Christensen was born at the old homestead in Aalborg, Denmark, and the memories of childhood bring to his mind thoughts of the rugged north country lying along the coast of the Cattegat, where a race of men
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