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 6

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 6
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 6


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Born in Chautauqua county, N. Y., March 10, 1830, Henry S. Ball was a son of Aaron J. and Lucretia (Blodgett) Ball, natives of the Empire state. After having gained such meagre ad- vantages as the schools of the period offered, he with the family came west as far as Wisconsin in September, 1846, settling in Walworth county. During 1850 Henry S. came to California, spending five months in crossing the plains with


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horse teams. In his party was C. I. Hutchinson, who later became the first mayor of Sacramento. It was his privilege to meet Brigham Young at Salt Lake City and enjoy a long conversation with that famous leader, whom he found to be a very interesting man.


The first experience in mining gained by Mr. Ball was at Hangtown now Placerville, and during the same year he mined at Downieville, where, July 5, 1851, he witnessed the hanging of a woman convicted of murder. She was tried and sentenced in the morning and suffered the penalty of her crime in the afternoon of the same day, being the first woman to be hung in California. From Downieville Mr. Ball went to Sacramento and engaged in teaming. During 1855 he settled in Shasta county and engaged in trading, later building a ferry (now known as Balls Ferry) across the Sacramento river below Redding, where he remained for several years. In 1867 he came to San Jose and a year later he settled in Salinas, near which town he rented land and for five years engaged in farming.


The then wheat king of the coast, Isaac Fried- lander, offered Mr. Ball $500 per month to rep- resent him in the Salinas valley, but Mr. Ball preferred to work on commission rather than sal- ary, and for seventeen years, until 1890, he man- aged and was secretary of grain warehouses at Castroville, Chualar, Gonzales, Salinas and Sole- dad. In 1875 he loaded a vessel in Monterey Bay with twenty-five hundred tons of wheat, this being the only vessel loaded for a foreign port in this bay. During thirteen years of this period he served as mayor of Salinas and always he was prominent in affairs for the development of local interests. He still owns nine hundred acres of rich grain land near that city, but in 1899 he changed his residence to Pacific Grove, where he makes his home at No. 281 Central avenue. On the organization of the City Bank of Pacific Grove he became a stockholder and still holds office as one of its directors.


The first marriage of Mr. Ball was solemnized December 10, 1856, and united him with Miss Catherine Lane, who at her death left two chil- dren, namely: Stephen J. and Leile K., Mrs. McDougall, of Washington. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Ball married Miss Eva B. Allen, a native of Michigan. By this union there


is a daughter, Eva I. As early as 1882 Mr. Ball became identified with the Masons and ever since then he has been sincere in upholding the philan- thropic principles of the order. Besides being a member of the blue lodge and chapter, he holds membership in the Watsonville Commandery, K. T. His fraternal relations further include mem- bership in Alisal Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F. and in the Encampment at Salinas. Ever since com- ing to Monterey county he has taken a warm interest in measures for the development of the resources of the county and the upbuilding of the towns. More than once he has been called to positions of responsibility, not the least of these being his service in 1875 as foreman of the grand jury that indicted Vasquez, the famous bandit of San Jose, who, during the year named, suffered the extreme penalty of the law after having been convicted of crimes and sentenced to death by hanging. In Republican politics he always took an active part, and was chairman of the county central committee for years. He was one of the committee that framed the second charter of Sa- linas, and was always favorable to county divi- sion when that agitation was brought up. He was one of the organizers and is a director of the Monterey County Agricultural Society.


DUNCAN FLORENT MCKINNON.


It has often been remarked that those who have been born within the confines of California rarely ever leave it to make their home in any other part of the country, and in many instances they never leave their native county permanently. This is significantly true of Mr. Mckinnon, for with the exception of a year while at college he has never been out of his native county. Born in the Salinas valley, Monterey county, Decem- ber 6, 1877, he is a son of parents who came to the state in its early pioneer days, Duncan and Alice Maud ( Hebbron) Mckinnon. The father became one of the large ranchers in this county, and in doing his part of the farm work which falls to the lot of the average farmer's son, Dun- can F. Mckinnon gained an insight into the life which he was destined to take up later on.


Educated in the public school at Santa Rita, Duncan F. Mckinnon had an excellent teacher


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.


in S. J. Smeltzer, who was also editor of the lo- cal journal, and a man who in many ways was one to inspire the young to make the most of their lives and opportunities. After attending the Santa Rita school Mr. Mckinnon went to San Jose, where he had the benefit of instruction under a private tutor for a time. It was not long after his return to Monterey county that he was called upon to mourn the loss of his mother, whose death .occurred in 1886, when he was a child of less than ten years. After this bereave- ment he remained at home with his father and assisted him once more with the care of the home ranch, but some years later, determined to give a finishing touch to his education, he took a short business course in Santa Clara College in 1898- 99. Thereafter he once more returned home and resumed work under his father, but two years later he and his brother branched out for them- selves on two hundred acres of land leasing the Wyth place. Still later he and his brother rented sixteen hundred and sixty acres from their father, devoting it to raising barley and oats, commodities which yielded abundantly. In 1901 D. F. Mckinnon purchased land of Dr. Archer in Santa Rita. Besides this he has a life lease on two hundred and fifty acres which his father gave him, and in 1909 one hundred and twenty acres were bequeathed to him from an uncle. He also owns four lots in town, one of which is improved with a residence.


Mr. Mckinnon was united in marriage De- cember 1I, 1901, with Lida May Parsons, the daughter of Washington Parsons, who for some time farmed the Hebert ranch in this county. One daughter has blessed the mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. McKinnon, to whom they have given the name of Alice Ann. Fraternally Mr. McKinnon is a member of Salinas Lodge No. 614, B. P. O. E., and is also a member of the Knights of the Maccabees. His political sympa- thies are given to the Republican party and its interests, and on a number of occasions he has been sent as a delegate to county conventions, and for four years was a member of the county central committee. As one of the younger ranchers of Monterey county Mr. Mckinnon has reason to be proud of what he has accomplished, for it is frankly conceded that in appearance and productiveness his ranch takes rank with those


owned by men of twice his years and experience. One reason for this may be that Mr. Mckinnon is a natural mechanical genius, which makes it possible for him to repair instantly anything that may weaken or break about the ranch, and he has also installed many improvements peculiar to his own needs that have advanced the appear- ance and lightened the labor about his ranch.


J. P. MEHLWOOD.


An illustration of the opportunities afforded by California is to be found in the life and activities of J. P. Mehlwood, an extensive rancher of San Benito county, and a man honored among all classes for his integrity, progressive spirit and keen intelligence. To him, as to many other Danes, California has spelled opportunity. His home land, with its scanty acres washed by the ocean which beat against the rockbound coast, presented no opening to a youth of ambition. His native province of Schleswig, where he was born February 24, 1860, was at the time a part of Denmark and his ancestors were sturdy Danes who accepted the limitations of their environment with an inherited resignation. Less contented himself, he determined to seek a home across the ocean, and at the age of only fourteen years he started on the long voyage to California, coming alone to establish himself among strangers with whose language and customs he was wholly un- familiar. Though he came from a country with a rigorous climate, it had not been his good for- tune to possess clothing of the style worn by gen- tlemen nor of the warmth suited to his needs. A small parcel contained his belongings and with this and a blanket on his back, he landed at Sa- linas, Monterey county. Luckily he found work at wages without delay.


Coming to what is now San Benito county in 1878, Mr. Mehlwood worked on a ranch in Santa Ana valley for wages and later settled on a ranch in the Quien Sabe valley and there ranched on shares. In this way he laid the foundation of subsequent success. After continuing as a renter for a number of years he began to invest his sav- ings in land. The first real estate he acquired was Hollister town property. Next he bought land in the Santa Ana valley six miles east of Hollister, where he now owns and conducts five


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hundred and thirty acres in one body. In addi- tion he owns a ranch of two hundred and sixty acres and leases a valuable property comprising two hundred and fifty acres. In addition to this large estate, representing the fruits of his labors in the west, he owns real estate in Hollister and at Klamath Falls, Ore., and thus pays taxes on large landed holdings. Besides his ranch-house he owns a residence in town.


The tracts which he owns being especially suited to the raising of hay and grain, Mr. Mehl- wood devotes considerable attention to these two products, and in addition he keeps a large num- ber of cattle and horses in his pastures. To his adopted country he has been a loyal citizen. De- votion to ranch and other personal affairs has not prevented him from discharging the duties that devolve upon a public-spirited man. Move- ments for the public welfare receive his stanch support. . As a member of the board of town trustees of Hollister, which position he has held for a year or more, he has promoted enterprises for the well-being of the town, endeavoring to secure needed improvements without unduly tax- ing the property-owners. The people of Hollis- ter hold him in high esteem, recognizing his genuine devotion to the town's progress and his high-minded patriotism. Fraternally he is asso- ciated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Salinas and is also connected with the lodge and canton of Odd Fellows. His marriage in 1887 united him with Miss Sarah A. Brooks, who was born and reared in California. Her father, Volney Brooks, was a pioneer and promi- nent citizen of Calaveras county, where he made his home until 1868, in that year settling in San Benito county. Born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mehlwood are two daughters, Ethel A. and Hazel K., both of whom are well-educated, popu- lar and cultured.


WARREN J. BOWDEN.


After varied experiences as a fisherman off the coast of Newfoundland Mr. * Bowden came to California in 1882 and has since been identified with the ranching interests of Hollister and vicin- ity, where he has a fine ranch in the Union dis- trict. The family of which he is a member comes from old eastern lineage, his ancestors on both


sides of the family having been born and reared in Maine for many generations. His immediate ancestors, Charles and Amanda (Gray) Bowden, were both also natives of Maine, off whose rugged coast as well as off the coast of New- foundland, the father followed fishing as a means of livelihood for himself and family. The son, Warren J., was born in the Maine home, in Orland, Hancock county, September 18, 1846, and his earliest recollections call to mind the rugged, mountainous country surrounding his boyhood home. The dense woods not far distant furnished many an opportunity to test his abil- ity as a marksman, and the out-of-door life which he lived in this health-giving atmosphere gave him a sturdiness of body that has been of untold value to him throughout life.


As soon as he was old enough and after his school training had been completed Mr. Bowden turned his abilities to account by assisting his father in his fishing expeditions, and finally he undertook a business of this character on his own account. Altogether he followed the sea in this line of business for thirteen years, when his in- terest in the Pacific coast country brought him to California, and since coming here in 1882 he has contentedly followed the life of the lands- man. Coming direct to San Benito county at that time, he located in the southern part of the county near the village of Hernandez, where for seven years he carried on general ranching, raising grain, and also breeding and raising hogs, cattle and chickens. At the end of this time he came to Hollister, where for seven years he worked on the ranch of G. S. Nash, a large ranch- er and dairyman of this vicinity. Upon giving up his position with Mr. Nash, Mr. Bowden pur- chased a ranch three miles south of Hollister that has been his home ever since, and during the past twelve years he has abundantly demonstrated his ability as an all-around rancher and poultryman. Of later years, however, the raising of chickens has formed the chief industry on the ranch, and in this department he has a partner in his brother, Dean A. Bowden. Their united efforts as experts in this industry have resulted in the upbuilding of a large and important business second to none of a similar character in the vicinity of Hollister. At the present writing they have sixteen hundred hens in their poultry


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yard, and they find a market for all of their eggs with Levy Brothers, of San Mateo, averaging five cases a week.


Warren J. Bowden was united in marriage on April 2. 1869, with Miss Abbie A. Small, and three children have been born to them, as fol- lows: Elizabeth, the wife of George Legan, of Oakland: Grace, at home; and Charles F., the latter a resident of Mendocino county.


SAMUEL M. BLACK.


A man of scholarly attainments, active, ambi- tious and capable, Samuel M. Black is filling a position for which he is in every way qualified, as president of the board of education of Salinas. He is a native of the east, born in Auburn, Cay- uga county, N. Y., November 22, 1839, a son of Robert and Esther (Glascow) Black, they, too, being natives of the Empire state. The parents were farmers in Cayuga county, but their close proximity to Auburn made it possible for their son to have the best educational advantages, and thus it happened that he laid a good foundation for the career which was to be his later in life. Up to the age of twenty-one years he remained on the home farm with his parents, but at this time he made up his mind to come to the west and see what possibilities awaited him in Cali- fornia. Accordingly he set sail from the port of New York in the fall of 1860, making the journey by way of Panama, and in the spring of the following year the ship on which he sailed dropped anchor in the harbor of San Francisco. ยท Upon his arrival in that metropolis he lost no time in making his way to Sacramento, where for a time he worked on a ranch. The experi- ence in western farming there gained made him decide to lease a small ranch and plant it to small vegetables. About this time also he had been employed for a short time by the contractor that had in charge the laying of the foundation for the state capitol. After his truck farm was well under way and showed every evidence of being a successful undertaking, floods came and de- stroyed the results of his labor. This for a time discouraged him with ranching altogether, and in the spring of 1862 he went to the mines of Nevada in the hope that there he would meet


with hetter success. Arriving at Silver City, he found a very primitive settlement, and as there was no hotel in the place he was obliged to find accommodation in a "prairie schooner." He re- mained in Silver City for about three years, work- ing in the quartz mills and at general mining during that, time, and then, in 1865, he went to the new gold fields in Montana, at Bannock. There as in Diamond City, whither he went one year later, he met with the hoped-for success in his mining ventures. Still in pursuit of good mining claims he went to Washington in 1866, becoming interested there in the Palmco mines.


Mr. Black's identification with Monterey coun- ty dates from the year 1867, when, having de -. scended the coast to San Francisco, he came from there direct to the Salinas valley and settled near Castroville. Leasing a part of the Cooper ranch he cultivated it for about one year, and then for the two years following farmed on the Espinosa ranch. So successful had he been in these recent undertaking's that he determined to purchase a ranch and branch out on his own account on a larger scale. He therefore purchased five hun- dred acres of land near Blanco on which for thirty years thereafter he was profitably engaged in raising grain and stock. While a resident of that town he was closely identified with the best interests of both town and county, an interest which his fellow-citizens appreciated, as was shown in his election to the board of supervisors and also to the position of chairman of the board. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the Blanco district, and was clerk of the board for fourteen years.


In order to provide better educational facili- ties for his children, Mr. Black removed to Sa- linas in 1891, and here, as in his former place of residence, he entered heartily into the civic affairs of the city. For two years he served as a mem- ber of the city council and in 1907 was elected to his present position as president of the board of education. He still retains his ranch near Blanco, which has been developed to the highest point of perfection, having an excellent irrigat- ing plant and a full complement of suitable build- ings.


At Blanco, September 22, 1869, Mr. Black was married to Miss Amelia Warth, the daughter of the late William Warth. A native of Germany,


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Mr. Warth immigrated to the United States in 1853, and coming to California, became one of the substantial citizens of Blanco, where his death occurred. When he settled in Blanco in 1864, his daughter was an infant in arms, her birth having occurred in Germany, and she was reared and educated in Monterey county. Nine children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Black, as follows: William M., of Salinas ; Rob- ert A., a mining expert in Deering, Alaska ; Elizabeth, the wife of J. A. Anderson, of Sa- linas; Amelia C., who is engaged in teaching school in Palo Alto; James and Samuel, Jr., wlio conduct the ranch at Blanco for their father ; Clara B., the wife of Fred Lidig, of Carmel- by-the-Sea; Margaret, a teacher of this county ; and Ethel, a student in the Salinas high school, who graduated in June, 1909. In the summer of 1908, at his home in Salinas, Mr. Black enter- tained at a family reunion all the members of the Black family, an event which will be long remembered by those participating. Throughout his life Mr. Black has adhered to Democratic principles. He has also at all times shown a wholesome interest in all things that had for their end the development of the city, county or state, and the high position which he now holds as president of the board of education is one to which he is justly entitled.


GEORGE W. CONDON.


The interest which attaches to the life and happenings of the pioneer heightens rather than diminishes with the passing of years, for the time is not far distant when the last of the brave band of California pioneers will have crossed over the Great Divide. One of those who still remain to tell of the days of gold and of the struggle to gain a foothold in this then far-off land is George W. Condon, who, though now in his eighty-second year, is still hale and hearty and as of old, takes a keen interest in the business activities of his home city. For a number of years he was engaged in the hay and grain busi- ness in Salinas, but for some years past he has lived retired from active business, having a pleasant home at No. 12 Alisal street, where he is surrounded by all the comforts which years of industry have made possible.


A native of Ohio, George W. Condon was born in Guersney county, November 29, 1827,. a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Coombs) Con- don, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. As his home was in a farming community, his school advantages were limited. During young man- hood he was caught in the whirlwind of excite- ment that blew over the whole country at the. time of the finding of gold in California. Joining a party of about twenty, banded together to. make the overland trip, under command of a noted scout and captain, the Mont Joy party set out from Iowa in high hope. One night while en route they had arranged their wagons and. stock in a circle, preparatory to resting for the night, when they were surrounded by Indians. Their intense suspense was relieved by the ap- proach of a white man out of the darkness, who" proved to be an Indian agent, and who assured the emigrants of protection. The party left Keokuk, Iowa, April 20, 1852, and arrived at. their destination, Hangtown, Placer county, Sep- tember 20 following.


The mines had been the great attraction in. bringing Mr. Condon to the west, and naturally he lost no time in trying his hand at mining. After following it for five years with the suc- cess of the average miner, he gave it up and settled down to a life more dependable in its re- sults. Coming to Monterey county, he purchased: a government claim of one hundred and sixty acres, not far from Blanco, paying for the same $20 per acre. In this, as in his previous ven- ture, he was destined to meet with some dis -- couraging circumstances, for during the ten years that he operated the ranch his land was- flooded three times by the rising of the Salinas river. He finally disposed of the property and purchased another ranch of one hundred and sixty acres at Corral de Tierra, located in the. foothills. Having an opportunity to dispose of this at good advantage, he sold it two years later- and moved into the town of Salinas, where he. lias since made his home. Entering into the commercial life of the city, he established a hay and grain business and conducted a feed yard for a number of years, but in later years he disposed of his business and is now living retired. From time to time he made investments in real estate, one of which was a ranch of seventy-five acres,.


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near Salinas, which he improved and sold at a good profit.


In Keokuk, Iowa, August 18, 1851, Mr. Con- don was united in marriage with Miss Susan Phillipps, a native of that state, who since her marriage has been a resident of California, hav- ing come with her husband across the plains in pioneer days. Six children have been born of their marriage, as follows: Frank P., of Bakers- field; Virginia, living in Fresno; Anna, the wife of James H. Robinson, who is in charge of the county jail at Salinas; Thomas L., also of this city; Todd G., a resident of San Francisco; and Florence, the wife of J. P. Evans, of Salinas. Fraternally Mr. Condon has been a life-long Democrat, and one who has never relaxed his interest in public affairs, although he has at no time had an inclination to figure in public life himself. Over half a century has passed since he located in the Salinas valley, and as he was one of the first white men to set foot on this soil it goes without saying that he has seen many and wonderful changes with the passing of years. During the Mexican war he served two years in Company K, Eleventh United States Infantry, under Capt. A. C. Cummings.


BENJAMIN TITUS.


The hardships incident to transforming a wil- derness into a productive farm fell to the lot of Benjamin Titus and wife when they came from the east to California more than forty years ago. For five years prior to emigrating Mr. Titus had leased a tract of land in New Jersey, but, hear- ing much concerning the opportunities offered by the west, he decided to seek a field of activity there. For a year after his arrival in California he gave his attention to the duties of contractor in the building of the railroad from San Jose to Santa Clara, but in 1869 he removed to Monterey county and here the remaining years of his life were given to agricultural labors.




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