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 33
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 33
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became enamored of the country and decided to take up their permanent residence here.
Suiting the action to the word, Mr. Phares rented four hundred acres of land near Chualar, Monterey county, carrying this on successfully for two years, when he gave it up and came to Salinas, locating on a ranch of twenty acres close to the city limits. Besides this he also had under his supervision a ranch of two hundred acres outside of the city. These combined inter- ests engaged his attention continuously for about twenty years, when he gave up the larger tract and confined his attention to the twenty-acre ranch near the city. Both by training and by instinct Mr. Phares is an agriculturist and his success has therefore been assured from the first. However, this could not be were it not for the fact that he has brought to bear in his under- taking honest, upright principles, and these are his in large measure.
In West Virginia, near St. George, in 1863, Mr. Phares was married to Miss Harriet Jane Kalar, a native of that state, and one child has been born to them, a daughter, Laura Dell. Fra- ternally Mr. Phares is a Democrat, to the prin- ciples of which party his ancestors adhered for many generations. At the time the Civil war was being enacted he was about sixteen years old, and he readily recalls the havoc and devasta- tion which followed in its wake. The horrors of warfare were no less indelibly impressed upon the youthful mind of Mrs. Phares, for her girl- hood home was close by the spot where was fought the famous battle of Carrick's Ford, where Gen. R. B. Garnett was' defeated and killed by the Federal troops July 13, 1861.
ALEXANDER RAINE.
Many generations of the Raine family flour- ished in France, where the fame of their achieve- ments gave them national prominence. One of their branches became established in the seaport town of Brest and by reason of residence among a people bred to a love of the ocean they became identified with seafaring activities. Thus it came about that Alexander Raine, Sr., developed a large business as a ship-builder and eventually, as master of vessels of his own construction,
visited many of the ports of the civilized world. As commander of a trading schooner he had frequent occasion to visit New Zealand and there he and his wife, who was Catherine Gib- len, a native of Brest, established a home at Auckland. Their son, Alexander, Jr., was born in that city April 14, 1840, and as soon as old enough to accompany his father he went on numerous voyages to different ports of the world. These trips naturally interrupted his regular attendance at school, yet he acquired, by travel and habits of close observation, a far better education than many obtain in the most select institutions of learning. Besides his familiarity with the French language he is also skilled in speaking Spanish and English, so that on many occasions he was engaged to act as interpreter in important transactions between representatives of the different nationalities.
A voyage made in 1850 on the wooden ship Harmon, an English vessel, brought Captain Raine to the bay of Monterey on a quest of the hidden treasure of the golden west. With him he brought his ten-year old boy, who recalls vividly the sights and scenes of that now far- distant day of mining excitement and frontier activities. Although the father had come to the state for the purpose of mining, when he landed at Monterey and found an excellent opening for ship-building he changed his plans and took up the occupation familiar to his earliest years. The son assisted the father in building vessels and accompanied him on numerous voyages along the coast. The father died in 1904, at a ripe old age, after having been spared to witness the remarkable development of the country to which he had come more than one-half century before his demise.
As an agriculturist the first venture of Alex- ander Raine, Jr., was on a leased farm near Castroville, where he remained for a number of years and engaged in raising grain and blooded cattle. Afterward for seven years he leased a place at Chualar. At the expiration of that time he bought from B. Pomeroy a tract ten miles north of Salinas comprising five hundred and twenty-eight acres and known as the Crazy- Horse ranch. Besides raising grain he built up a profitable dairy business and also engaged in raising blooded horses. The ranch proved the
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J. M. Copley
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source of a neat income by sagacity on the part of the proprietor, who in 1905, after a long and successful experience retired from ranching pur- suits. Since then he has made his home at No. 403 Front street, Salinas. In politics he has been stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party and his sons hold the same political views as himself.
Through a long residence in Monterey county Mr. Raine has made a host of warm friends. Many of those with whom in early days he labored for the permanent upbuilding of the county have now passed into eternity. Another generation has sprung up to take their place in the activities of commerce and agriculture. While he misses the comrades of the long ago he does not allow himself to live wholly in the past, but maintains the warmest and most per- sonal interest in the young people of today and is ready to aid them with counsel and the benefit of his ripened experience. Of the white settlers of this county he is one of the three survivors, the others having been called to their eternal rest, nor are there now living many of the men belonging to the ancient Spanish regime that flourished prior to the discovery of gold.
The first marriage of Mr. Raine took place in August of 1869 and united him with Maria Murray, who died in 1874, leaving three chil- dren, namely: Catherine J. and William A., both of Monterey; and Edward J., of Salinas. In 1875 Mr. Raine was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Reed, a native of California. Of this union were born the following children : Frederick J., Henry A. and Albert K., all of Salinas; Carrie B., wife of Edward Smith, of Salinas; Benjamin F., who is connected with the Western National Bank of San Francisco; Annie F., who married Henry T. Alsiene of Santa Cruz; and Alice, of Salinas.
JOSEPH MOORE COPLEY.
During a lifetime filled with varied expe- riences and devoted almost wholly to agricultural pursuits, it has been the privilege of Mr. Copley to witness the remarkable growth made by every section of California within the past one-half century. When he was a child conditions were
largely those of the frontier. The old Spanish regime, with its aristocracy and large land hold- ings, was disappearing, while the American oc- cupancy had not yet taken substantial form. It was an era of change and transformation. His earliest recollections are associated with the camp at Spanish Dry Diggings, Eldorado coun- ty, where he was born in 1859 and where he spent his early childhood. From there the fam- ily removed to a ranch near Sacramento, where two years were passed, but illness caused them to remove to Monterey county, and in 1869 they settled in Freeman's valley. Land was taken up there, but the seasons were unfavorable and the results were so unsatisfactory that the father, Andrew J. Copley, Sr., removed to Long valley, where he bought a squatter's right to a claim, also secured a title to three hundred and twenty acres adjacent.
After three years in Long valley the family removed to Peach Tree upon disposing of their holdings in the former locality, and in the new place of residence the father raised stock and also conducted - a hotel. Eventually he disposed of his property there to Miller & Lux. Next he settled in Spring valley, where he was bereaved in 1898 by the death of his wife. Later he re- moved to San Diego, where he acquired city property, as well as a ranch, on Mission ave- nue, but during 1907 he sold his possessions in San Diego county, since which time he has been making his home with his children.
When twenty years of age Joseph Moore Copley started out to make his own way, his first step toward independence being the renting of land owned by his father, while at the same time he engaged in freighting to Soledad for two years. On leaving the ranch he removed to Tom's valley, where he proved up on a pre- emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres, also took up and commuted a homestead. Since then he has added to his holdings by the pur- chase of land, until now his landed possessions aggregate two thousand acres. About two hun- dred and sixty acres are under cultivation to grain, while the balance of his property is used for grazing purposes. In addition he rents one hundred and thirty-five acres of barley land and two hundred and eighty acres of range adjoin- ing. Barley and wheat are his principal prod-
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ucts in grain, while in stock he makes a special- ty of raising horses and cattle. While superin- tending his own large estate, at the same time for many years he acted as superintendent of the Peach Tree ranch and remained in the employ of its owners, Miller & Lux, superintending their interests with the same sagacity, earnestness and intelligence displayed in his own affairs.
The marriage of Mr. Copley took place in 1879 and united him with Miss Mary Ellen Col- well, a native of Monterey county. Four chil- dren came to bless their union, but Nellie Maude and Andrew B. were taken by death from the midst of the family circle. The two surviving children are daughters, one of whom, Mrs. Luella Wideman, resides at Los Angeles; the other, Dora Hannah, married J. P. Wasson, formerly a resident of Hollister, but now engaged in blacksmithing at King City.
THOMAS JEFFERSON ST. CLAIR.
To one who in childhood was accustomed to the keen wintry winds and destructive storms prevalent in Nova Scotia, the change to the mild and beneficent climate of California cannot but be congenial. This has been the experience of Mr. St. Clair, who was born in that northern country, January 1, 1858, the son of parents who had made that country their lifetime home. Nature had not endowed him with as sturdy a constitution as his parents wished him to have, and in the hope of remedying this deficiency his parents permitted him to go on a sea voyage when he was only nine years old, in company with a relative of his mother's. Permitted such an ex- perience at this impressionable age, it was only natural that he should form an attachment for life on the sea, and when he had recovered his health he was loathe to leave it for the life of the landsman. The consequence was that he con- tinued the life of the sailor, working his way steadily to the front, until he was twenty-one years of age.
Mr. St. Clair saw California for the first time May 28, 1877, when he embarked from the ship Jabez Howie in the port of San Francisco, and so well pleased was he with the outlook that he then and there determined to settle down to the
less hazardous life on land. In looking about for a desirable place to make his permanent resi- dence, he went first to Yolo county, but two years later removed to Staten Island, and seven months afterward came to Monterey county, which has since been his home. His first purchase of land consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, which he bought as a homestead claim from the govern- ment, and since that time he has bought and sold a number of properties, all of which has been done with the desire to find a ranch exactly suited to his needs. He now owns and makes his home upon a tract of two hundred and forty acres in Pine valley, near the town of San Ardo, where he has one hundred and fifty acres in barley and wheat, while the remainder of the land forms a range for cattle and horses. He also raises hogs and poultry to some extent. All of the improve- ments seen on the place have been made by Mr. St. Clair, for there was not a building or fence to be seen when he located on the property. In the fall of 1908 he lost a commodious barn and a harvester by fire, which was the second time he had been burned out, the other fire taking his house and furnishings.
The marriage of Mr. St. Clair occurred in Long Valley in 1884, uniting him with Miss Mary Blair, whose parents were pioneers of Long valley. Two children have blessed their marriage, William W., who is now in Washing- ton running a threshing outfit, and Robert H., a student in the public schools of San Ardo.
ABNER S. MURPHY.
The citizenship of California is made up largely from those born and reared in the states to the east, and of these not a few have come from far-off Maine. This was the native state of Abner S. Murphy, who was born in Penobscot county in 1832, the son of parents and the de- scendant of ancestors who had passed their entire lives in New England. It was thus looked upon as a venturesome undertaking when, in 1858, Mr. Murphy announced his intention of coming to the Pacific coast country to begin a career under new and untried conditions. He made the voyage by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and as the records do not state to the contrary it is safe
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to presume that it was unattended by any unusual storm or disaster. The boat which he boarded on the Pacific side of the Isthmus reached San Francisco November 2, 1858, and from there Mr. Murphy went immediately to Marysville, Yuba county, where he prospected to some ex- tent, but did very little mining, as his investiga- tions did not warrant him in doing so.
Having satisfied himself that mining was not his forte, Mr. Murphy made no further attempt to work at it, but instead set about diligently to find an occupation that would be remunerative and at the same time congenial. Crossing over the state line into Nevada, near the town of Car- son City, he engaged in teaming, also carried on a farm, besides engaging in the lumber business, all of which he managed successfully for nine years or until he returned to California and took up his permanent residence. This was in 1868, when he came to San Benito county, but before locating permanently upon a ranch he rented property near Chualar, Fair View and Tres Pinos, respectively, in order to satisfy himself as to the best location for a permanent home. Ten miles northeast of Hollister, at what is known as Lone Tree, he found a ranch which suited his needs, and in purchasing it he felt confident he had made no mistake. This has been abundantly proven by over forty years residence upon it. The ranch comprises three hundred acres of land well suited to the purposes to which it is adopted. During the earlier years of his exper- ience on the ranch he made a special feature of hog-raising, and at the time was known as the largest and most successful rancher in that line in San Benito county. Later, however, this gave way to more diversified farming, and though lie still raises hogs to some extent, he also raises cattle and has a large part of his ranch devoted to hay and the various grains grown successfully in this part of the state.
As his companion in life Mr. Murphy chose Miss Isabella Christianson, a native of Norway, to whom he was married in 1865. Two children were born of this marriage, Susan and Dena, the former at home with her parents, and the latter the wife of Thomas Watson, of Monterey. No citizen of San Benito county is more public- spirited or eager for the upbuilding of his com- munity than has Mr. Murphy been since his loca-
tion here. This was especially shown in the in- terest which he took in making good roads a pos- sibility, his interest and ability along this line leading to his election as deputy road master of the county. During his service in this capacity covering several years, he had five miles of country roads to keep up, and it goes without saying that his duty in this respect was not neg- lected. Politically Mr. Murphy is a Republican, although in casting his vote he is influenced more by the suitability of the candidate for the office in question than by the party which he represents. Fraternally he is a member of but one organiza- tion, the United Workmen at Hollister.
JAMES A. FRASIER.
A number of the residents of the city of Sa- linas and county of Monterey came from the his- toric county of Delaware in the State of New York, and among these may be mentioned the Frasier family, who for years made their home at Delhi, that county. The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch and who is one of the leading farmers of the Carmel valley was born in New York City October 3, 1846, but passed the years of youth at Delhi and attended the schools of that village. The family of which he was a member comprised eight children, of whom two daughters and four sons are now liv- ing. The father, Alexander, for years engaged in the mercantile business, but afterward culti- vated a farm in York state. There he met and married Miss Alice Douglass, who like himself was born in New York. Prior to her marriage she followed the occupation of teaching. for which a broad and liberal education admirably qualified her.
One of the daughters of the Frasier family had married W. W. Ramsey and had removed with her husband to California, settling in the Salinas valley. From there she sent back favor- able reports concerning the country and these reports induced her parents to remove to the western coast. It was during 1868 that they brought their family to the shores of the Pa- cific, making the trip via steamer from New York to the Isthmus of Panama, crossing the isthmus by railroad, and thence sailing northward by
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steamer to San Francisco. From there they pro- ceeded to the Salinas valley, where the father en- gaged in raising stock and in conducting a dairy. Their latter years, however, were passed in Ta- coma, Wash., where his death occurred in 1897, and his wife passed away in 1899.
The marriage of James A. Frasier was solem- nized in 1868 and united him with Miss Josephine Shaver, a descendent of a Revolutionary soldier and a member of the Daughters of the Revolu- tion. One daughter, Adaline, blessed their union. To her was given every advantage within the means of the parents. On arriving at maturity she became the wife of Hon. J. B. Holohan, and they have one daughter, Josephine. For years Mr. Holohan has been one of the most influen- tial Democrats in this part of the state. His pop- ularity among all classes of people is shown by the fact that he was elected to the state senate from the Republican counties of Santa Cruz and San Mateo. His service in the senate has been characterized by dignity and hearty devotion to the interests of his constituents.
Mr. Frasier enlisted in August, 1863, in the Eighth New York Light Artillery, and saw serv- ice until July, 1865, when he was discharged. He was present at the bombardment of Fort Fisher, a naval battle. He was a charter mem- ber of New York City Post No. 2, G. A. R., and is now a member of Steadman Post of Salinas.
JOHN DIVEN COCHRAN.
A life of over forty-five years in the west has given Mr. Cochran a broad knowledge of the resources of the region, as well as a patriotic and affectionate regard for this commonwealth. As one of her loyal citizens he has contributed to her progress and aided her development through a long period. Although not one of her early settlers, he has been a contributor for many years to that portion of the state where his lot was cast. Thus his opinions concerning the pos- sibilities have not been obtained through others, but are the result of an observing eye, a logical mind and a keen, sagacious judgment.
For many years the Cochran family had been associated with the middle west, particularly with Illinois, and it was in Marshall county,
that state, that the birth of John D. Cochran occurred April 9, 1839. He was the first to es- tablish the name in California, arriving in San Francisco in young manhood, in February, 1864, at which time he and A. Wideman, who came to California with him, located in Santa Cruz. Having been reared in a farming community during boyhood and youth he found his knowl- edge of agriculture his principal stock in trade upon locating in a new country, and it was along this line that he sought employment in the vicin- ity of Santa Cruz. He continued in the employ of ranchers in that locality for about one year, when he went to San Jose and was similarly oc- cupied for the same length of time. His inves- tigations next took him to Watsonville, going from there to Castroville, and remaining in the latter place during the years 1866 and '67. It was at this juncture that he came to Gonzales and it is with this particular part of the country that his life has since been associated. An ex- perience of four years in the employ of others in this locality gave him confidence in his own abil- ity and resulted in the establishment of a ranch- ing enterprise of his own. Securing a tract of three thousand acres of land, he entered enthu- siastically in his new undertaking, undaunted by the fact that he and Mr. Wideman, his part- ner at that time, were the only white ranchers in the country round about, all of their neighbors being Spaniards and Indians. Besides carrying on general farming they also made a specialty of raising a fine grade of stock, and during the seven years which followed they met with a financial success in excess of their anticipations. Selling out his ranching interests at the end of this time Mr. Cochran established himself in the butcher business in Gonzales in 1876, this being the second mercantile business to be established in the place, and from then until the present time or for a period of thirty-three years, he has followed this business uninterruptedly. During this time, however, in 1902, he took his son, John D., Jr., into partnership, since which time business has been carried on under the name of Cochran & Son.
Mr. Cochran's marriage occurred in Gonzales, Cal .. October 5, 1875, uniting him with Miss Helena Starr, a native of La Crescent, Minn., and a daughter of B. S. Starr, who was the first hotel
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keeper of Gonzales. Only one child, John D., Jr., was born of this union, and he, as previously stated, is associated with his father in business in Gonzales. He is married and established in a home of his own, however, his wife before her marriage having been Miss Jessie Iverson, the daughter of John Iverson, a prominent rancher and highly respected citizen of this community for many years. They have one daughter, Ber- nice Marie.
During his earlier years Mr. Cochran es- poused the cause of the Democratic party, serv- ing as a delegate to a number of county con- ventions, but of later years his vote and influence have been given in favor of the Prohibition party. Realizing that the evils of intemperance were working such havoc with the youth of the land, he felt it his duty as a true citizen to do whatever lay in his power to avert the evil, and since taking this stand he has let no opportunity pass to further the cause of prohibition and wipe out the saloon and its allied associations. The cause of education is also a subject in which he takes a keen interest and for six years he rendered efficient service as trustee of Gonzales school district. Fraternally he is associated with the Odd Fellows, holding membership in Gabi- lan Lodge No. 372 of Gonzales, and his son is also a member of the same lodge. Mr. Cochran is president of and a stockholder in the Gonzales Cemetery Association, Incorporated, and in his religious preferences he is allied by membership with the First Baptist Church of Gonzales, and for a number of years has served efficiently as superintendent of the Sunday school.
CHARLES PAUL COOPER.
Coming to California entirely without capital, so poor, indeed, that he finished his journey on foot, Mr. Cooper has experienced all the hard- ships incident to securing a start in a new coun- try. The early struggle was one that only the most robust constitution could endure and the most determined will could conquer. In the end, however, a fair degree of success was achieved, and he is now classed among the prosperous farmers of Monterey county, where he makes his home on the Escolle ranch, near Gonzales,
and operates fifteen hundred acres, under cultiva- tion largely to barley, potatoes and sugar beets.
Born in Baden, Germany, January 9, 1848, Charles Paul Cooper is a son of Joseph and Otilla (Keiser) Cooper, descendants of a long line of Teutonic ancestry. The father bore an active part in the revolution that occurred in. Germany during the middle of the nineteenth century, and, like all participants in that strug- gle, he was forced to flee from his native land in order to save his life. Accompanied by his family, in 1852, he crossed the ocean to New York, and from that state proceeded to Huron county, Ohio, where the son attended the coun- try schools, and, as he became old enough, be- gan to take a part in the operation of the farm. There he remained for thirty years, but in 1883. became a pioneer of North Dakota and con- tinued in that state for eight years.
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