USA > California > Monterey County > History of Monterey County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, and mines : with biiographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 37
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He has considerable inventive ability, having made some valuablo improvements on the Vibrator Thresher. He has a complete threshing outfit, the Separator having been constructed after his own design. Its capacity is 2,000 centals per day.
178
SKETCHES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY CITIZENS.
JOHN RUPE.
JOHN RUPE, one of the oldest settlers in this section, was born in Lexington county, Missouri, November 10, 1831, on a farm; and when he was seven years of age, his father moved from La Fayette county to Platte county, in the same State, where he remained until he came to California with the family, overland, with ox-teams, and arrived in Hangtown, August 24, 1849. From there they went to Santa Cruz; then to Gold Run; then to Trinity county; then to Salmon river, where he mined; then to Scott's river, aud mined there; then he and his father returned to Santa Cruz county ; thienee to San Jose, Santa Clara county, where his father left him with Mr. L. C. Bostiek, and returned to luis home in Missouri. After remaining some three months in San Jose, Mr. Rupe went to mining on the Yuba river, and did well, making two thousand dollars in five months. He then threw away his pick and returned to Santa Cruz, where he followed farming for two years; then went to San Jose, remained there three months, then came to San Felipe, where lie went into the stock business, which he followed for two years. He then went to San Juan eañon, where he was married to Miss E. A. Mathews, and resided one year; thenee to Visalia, Tulare eounty ; thenee to San Juan; soon after wbieh he pur- ehased the farm on which he now resides.
He came to San Benito in 1853 and engaged in stock-raising, and in 1860 began general farming on his present farm of two hundred and sixty-one acres, ten miles from Hollister, and two miles from church, school and post-offiec. The land is saudy loam, with some adobe soil. It is partly rolling hills and some sınall valleys. It will produce fifteen saeks of wheat and twenty of barley per aere on average years. There are half a dozen living springs of pure water seattered over the farm. He keeps fifteen head of eattle, ten horses, fifty hogs, and other animals, upon the farm.
Mr. Rupe has an orchard of one hundred and fifty fruit-trees of all kinds, a vineyard of one bundred vines, and numerous varieties of gooseberries, eurrants, ete. The valley land is nicely adapted to all kinds of vegetables and eorn. The house is on a fine elevation. The hill-sides are dotted with numerous live-oaks, ete. The farm is well feneed in five fields.
In 1855 Mr. Rupe was married to Miss E. A. Mathews, a native of Texas. The fruits of this union were eight children, five of whom are living. Their names are: Robert W., John M., Frederick L., Frank A., and Luta V. Rupe. The names of the deceased are: Susie, James, and Lula.
In 1869 Mr. Rupe made a business visit to his old home in Missouri, where he remained one month-going and returning by the new Union and Central Pacific Railways, then recently completed. In 1880 he paid another visit to Missouri and old friends, and while there was married to Miss M. A. Endicott, and soon after returned to his home in California, to start in life anew.
LUIGI RAGGIO.
LUIGI RAGGIO was born in Italy, November 4, 1818. His early life was spent in cultivating grapes, olives, and general farming. He attended school in the city of Rome for seven years, until he was nineteen years of age, when he eame to Memphis, Tennessee, in 1841. He served as a pilot on the Mississippi river for three years. He went by way of New Orleans, to Vera Cruz in 1846, and passing through Mexico reached San Francisco July 27, 1847. While in Mexico he formed a partnership with an American, went to New York and purchased a schooner and made two trips to Vera Cruz. When General Scott captured that eity, Mr. Raggio followed the army with his merchandise to the city of Mexico. Soon after this he formed a partnership with an Italian, who had a ship at San Blas, and went in it to San Francisco.
He went to Monterey, where he started a saw-mill on the Potrero ranch, and was in that business ten months, until the spring of 1848, when he went to San Luis Obispo, where he opened a store, and also engaged in buying eattle and driving thein to San Francisco. He remained here until 1854, when he went to Fort Miller, at the head of the San Joaquin, where he contracted to furnish meat for the garrison and Indian Reser- vation until 1858.
He then went to Visalia, where he built the " Eagle Hotel," and also established a freight line of two fourteen-inule teams to Stockton, from which place all merchandise was at that time obtained.
He erected the first brick building in Visalia. In 1859 he returned to San Luis Obispo, having sold his possessions in Visalia.
He came to San Benito county in 1865, and engaged in the butehering business. In 1867 he bought his present raneh of sixteen hundred acres, eight miles from Hollister. One hun- dred acres are under cultivation, with a vineyard of seven acres. The balance is pasture for horses and cattle, of which he has one hundred head. Healso keeps ten good horses, besides hogs and other stock.
He married Miss Maria Yinzo Canet, and they have now four boys and two girls. His life has been one of constant activity, and he has seen much of the world and its various resources.
P. E. G. ANZAR.
A native of California and this eounty, is Mr. P. E. C. Anzar, who was born at Sau Juan, February 10, 1851. His parents were Juan and Maria Antona Anzar. His early life was spent partly in school, partly on the farm, until 1868, when he entered Santa Clara College, which he left after hard studying, in 1871, when he eommeneed business as a wholesale butelier iu partner- ship with P. Vaea & Co., residing on the Los Angeles Ranch until 1876, when he returned home and bought the " Aromas raneho," where he is still employed in raising eattle and farming.
LIVERYSALE STABLE
FASHION STABLE
----
FASHION LIVERY STABLE, FOURTH STREET. HOLLISTER.CAL.JAS.I.HODGES, PROPR
RESIDENCE OF CHARLES A.WOOD, NEAR SAN FELIPE , SAN BENITO CO. CAL.
EDITORIAL ROOM
THE PACIFIC COAST NEWSPAPER AND JOB PRINTING OFFICE, HOLLISTER, CAL.
ADVANCE OFFICE
JOEL REDWAY, PHOTOGRAPHER
00
" SAN BENITO "ADVANCE" OFFICE, HOLLISTER, CAL.SHAW AND BALDWIN, EDITORS.
我.
179
HISTORY OF NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISES.
Wbile in Los Angeles he also engaged in the livery stable bus- iness, and also formed the St. John's Mining Company, in Kern county, which did not prove a success.
Mr. Anzar married, January 22, 1877, Mrs. Wm. M. Breen, a daughter of Angelo Zanetta, of San Juan, proprietor of the Plaza Hotel of that place. He has three children, two his own (Geraldine Olympia and Elizabeth Thrasilla), and one (Mary Breen) a step-daughter.
His farm comprises three thousand seven hundred acres, one thousand of which are under cultivation, and the rest is used as a pasture for his floeks, consisting of one hundred and fifty head of cattle, twenty-five Oregon goats, and forty horses, The cultivated land brings about twenty centals per acre, and eighty cows furnish the milk for the delicious cheese which is shipped from his dairy.
The farm is situated on the railroad; is only thirteen miles distant from navigation; only one- half mile from school, four miles from church, and twelve miles from the county seat.
EDWARD WILCOX.
A pioneer who is certainly entitled to a great deal of dis- tinction aud consideration, is Mr. Edward Wilcox, a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, and son of Benjamin and Mary Wilcox. He was born December 13, 1819, aud followed farm- ing until 1846, at Girard, Pennsylvania, aud in Illinois, in 1833.
In 1846 he enlisted into the army, where he served one year, baving been engaged in several battles during the war with Mexico, but, luckily, without receiving a single wound. He was discharged while at Los Angeles, from whence he proceeded to San Francisco, arriving there July 14, 1847. Like every- body else, he went to find his fortune in the mines, and was engaged in mining at Mormon Island and Coloma, Placer county, where he had good suecess, averaging about thirty-five dollars a day.
To reaeb the mines from San Francisco, the course lay up San Pablo and Suisun bays. and the Sacramento-not thien, as now, a yellow, muddy stream, but a river pellucid and deep- to the landing for Sutter's Fort; and they who mnade the voy- age in sailing vessels, thought Mt. Diablo significantly named, so long as it kept them company and swung its shadow over their path. From Sutter'e the most common route was accross the broad, fertile valley to the foot-hills.
In 1852 be came to this county, where he farmed and raised stock for a while in San Juan valley, until he finally moved to his present nice home, at the edge of San Juan, where he now owns a wheelwright shop and ten aeres of land, on which he raises wheat and barley, and keeps one cow.
His residence is within eight miles of the county seat and railroad; a church and school are only one-half mile distant, and water travel can be reached by an eighteen-mile journey.
Mr. Wilcox, who was one of the first gold-diggers of Cali- fornia, ix unmarried, but has a niece living in his house.
Newspapers of San Benito County.
THE HOLLISTER TELEGRAPH.
THIS journal was established on the 31st of August, 1876, by G. W. Carlton & Co. A few months later Carlton became sole proprietor and remained so till the first of January, 1879, when E. S. Harrison bought a half interest, the firm name being changed to Carlton & Harrison. The paper continued under this firm's control till about January 1, 1881, when the office was sold to Major J. S. Hay, formerly of the Owyhee Avalanche, pub- isbed at Silver City, I. T. The Telegraph was Democratic in politics, and from the start was good paying property to its owners. It had two rivals to contend with, but controlled the lion's share of the business of the town and county.
THE PACIFIC COAST.
The history of the above-named journal, at present the lead- ing paper of Hollister and San Benito county, may be summed up in a few words. It has only been in existence four months, the first number having put in an appearance on the stlı of February, 1881.
Its proprietor and publisher, Major J. S. Hay, came to Hol- lister from Idaho in January (where he had been engaged for several years in publishing the Avalanche at Silver City), and purchased the Telegraph and Enterprise, two weekly papers, neither of them in a very prosperous condition at the time, owing to the injudicious rivalry and warfare that had for some time been kept up between them. The two journals were consolidated, by the new publisher, under the name of the Pacific Coast, and is now issued as a weekly paper devoted to local, political and general news. It is a 32-column paper, has the largest circulation of any journal publisbed in San Benito county, is Democratic in politics, although not intensely partisan, and its energetic publisher seems to he stirring in earnest to build up the varied interests and resources of this section of California.
HOLLISTER ENTERPRISE.
The Hollister Enterprise was established by John McGo- ingle in 1873. The first issue was October 1Stb of that year, and the last was on January 15, 1881, at which time it was merged into the Pacific Coast, now ably edited hy Major J. S. Hay. While under control of its original proprietor, it was the best local paper ever published in the county, and did much to advance the interest of Hollister and vicinity.
SAN BENITO ADVANCE.
The San Benito Advance has just entered upon its tenth volume. The paper is published by enterprising meu, and is a stalwart exponent of the interests of Hollister and the sur- rounding country. Robert Shaw and L. T. Baldwin are its editors and publishers.
180
A REVIEW OF THE SCHOOLS OF SAN BENITO.
Historical Review of the Public Schools of San Benito County from 1852 to 1880 .*
IN the year 1852, San Juan school district was organized, and Patrick Breen, John Jordon, and Mr. -- , were selected as trustees. The district was about as large as the State of Rhode Island, containing all the territory now included in San Benito county.
FIRST TEACHERS IN THE COUNTY.
A private house was donated for the school, and W. B. Har- ris employed as teacher. The second teacher's name was Cooper. The third teacher, A. Martin, has heen teaching in the county ever since. While the school-house was enlarged as necessity required, it was not until 1868 that a tax was voted and a new school-house built. Some idea of the size of the district may be obtained from the fact that men owning property nearly one hundred miles from the school-house were taxed. Tbe present two-story house was huilt at a cost of about $4,000.
Sau Benito district was taken from San Juan district May 4, 1868. E. P. Wright, Jobn Noble, and - Chamberlain, were selected as trustees, and Miss Isabella Gallagher was employed to teach the school. During the year 1869, four districts were organized, viz: Hollister, Pacheco, Jefferson and Fair View.
HOLLISTER DISTRICT.
Hollister district was organized April 12, with trustees as follows: T. S. Hawkins, J. A. Owens, and James Swain. The San Justo Homestead Association donated one thousand dollars towards building a school-house, and afterward paid an indebt- edness of about four hundred dollars more. In August, J. N. Thompson was employed to teach the school, which was kept in the Hollister Mansion until the school-house was finished. The district contained sixty-two census children, only eight of whom were in attendance the first week of school. But as the place was being rapidly settled, the school kept increasing until at the end of a four months' term seventy-two pupils were enrolled, with an average attendance of sixty the last month.
Pacheco district was organized August 5th, with Henry Chase, Edmond Nason, and E. A. Sawyer, trustees. J. W. Wehh was employed to teach the first school, which was kept in an old house belonging to E. A. Sawyer.
Jefferson district was organized August 5th, John Mathews, Wm. Pritchard, and - -, being selected trustees. A. Martin was employed to teach the first school.
Fair View district was organized Novemher 3d, and Miss
Lizzie Hall, who had been teaching a private school in Hollis- ter, was employed to teach the first school, which was kept in a small house helonging to Jobn W. Pepper.
Live Oak district was organized August 2, 1870, with W. W. Stone, John Smith, and - Chambers, as trustees. The present school-house was built partly by subscription and partly hy tax, and J. N. Thompson was employed to teach the school.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE OF MONTEREY.
In September of 1870, the Monterey County Teacher's Insti- tute was held at San Juan, School-Superintendent Alderman presiding. Ahout forty teachers were present. State-Superin- tendent Fitzgerald was present, and assisted in the exercises.
During the year 1871, three new districts were organized, viz .: Santa Ana, February 6th; Tres Pinos, May 4th, and Erie, August 11th. The trustees of Santa Ana were M. Pomeroy, L. H. Cook, and R. Butts. The frame of the school-house was built by subscription, and Miss Mary Merritt was employed to teach the school. The next year a tax of one thousand dollars was voted, and the school-house finished, costing in all about $2,000.
T. J. Conkling, J. R. Furguson, and J. W. Hardwick, were the first trustees of Tres Pinos school, and a Miss Moore, who afterward married Dr. Greenleaf, was the first teacher.
The first trustees of Erie district were A. T. D. Button, H. Chambers, and J. V. Mathis. Mrs. A. C. Miller was employed to teach the first school.
Fair View district was divided May 7, 1872. Lone Tree district being formed ont of the eastern part. W. W. Eng- land, A. S. Murphy, and M. Evans, were the first trustees. Sarah Shepherd was the first teacher.
Union district was organized May 6, 1873, Isaac Lewis, G. Nasb, and - Hawn. trustees. Mary Lathrop was the first teacher.
The Monterey County Teachers' Institute was held at Hollis- ter in November of 1873." There were about fifty teachers present. School-Superintendent S. M. Shearer, presided. State Superintendent H. N. Bolander, and Prof. Allen of the State Normal School, were present and instructed the teachers.
At the time San Benito county was formed (1874), there were twelve school districts, as follows :-
Hollister .- J. N. Thompson, Principal; Mrs. Hattie Williams, First Assistant; Mrs. Mary Miller, Second Assistaut; Miss Mary Simons, Third Assistant,
San Juan .- J. T. Jones, Principal; Mrs. J. T. Jones, Assist- ant.
Erie .- Charles Wainright, Teacher.
Fair View .- J. B. Hickman, Teacher.
Jefferson .- P. C. Millette, Teacher. Live Oak .- W. T. Clay, Teacher.
"Prepared for this History by J. N. Thompson, Superintendent of Schools.
C
181
A REVIEW OF THE SCHOOLS OF SAN BENITO.
Lone Tree .- D. M. Lloyd, Teacher. Paebeco .- Lella Kratzer, Teacher. Santa Ana .- A. Martin, Teacher. San Benito .- A. C. Bloomer, Teacher. Tres Pinos .- D. F. McPhail, Teacher. Union .- Mary Lathrop, Teacher.
FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
At the election following the organization of the county, H. Z. Morris was elected County Superintendent of sebools.
During the year 1874, there were three new districts organ- ized, viz .: Bear Valley, June loth; Gabilan, June 15th, and Yanitos, August 4th.
Bear Valley was taken from Jefferson distriet. Geo. M. Butterfield, J. T. Prewett, and W. R. Bacon were the first trustees. P. Troy taught the first school.
Gabilan was taken from San Juan distriet. The first trustees were Wni. Bingham, J. Twitchell, and F. King. Annie Webber taught the first school.
The first trustees of Yanitos were D. H. Creveling, W. B. Ward, George Hall. S. B. Westerfield was the first teacher employed. During this year Pacheco distriet voted a tax and built a school-bouse. The building cost about $2,000, and is the best arranged school-house in the county.
EXAMINING BOARD.
The Board of Examination consisted of H. Z. Morris, County Superintendent of schools, A. Martin, J. T. Jones, and J. N. Thompson. Six first, nine second, and two third-grade certifi- cates were granted.
During the year 1875, three new distriets were organized, viz .: Bitter Water, Paicines, and Willow Creek, all on May 7th. The first trustees of Bitter Water distriet were D. M. Selleek, T. O'Connor, and John Matthews. H. W. Cate was employed to teach the first school.
The first trustees of Paieines district were W. J. Crow, J. W. Whitton, J. C. Morrison. Miss Celia Auld was employed to teach the first school.
The first trustees of Willow Creek were C. Y. Hammond, G. W. Chick, and J. H. Smith. Miss Julia Hanek was the first teacher.
Board of Examination consisted of Superintendent Morris, A. Martin, R. J. Neal, and J. N. Thompson. Four first, thirteen second, and two third-grade certificates were granted. At the election this year, H. Z. Morris was re-elected County Superintendent of schools.
In 1876, no new districts were formed. The Board of Exam- ination remained the same as the previous year, and granted two first, eight second, and one third-grade certificate.
The beginning of the year 1877 was saddened by the death
of Superintendent Morris, who died the last of January, after an illness of less than one month. The Board of Supervisors appointed Rev. T. S. Burnett Superintendent of schools, Feb- ruary 10, 1877. The Board of Examination this year con- sisted of J. N. Thompson, chairman, R. J. Neal, Mrs. A. E. Harris, W. T. R. Helm. Five first, six second, and five third- grade certificates were granted.
Emmet, which was organized February 10tb, was the only distriet organized this year. The first trustees were G. W. Towle, W. H. Adams, and O. A. Payne. Miss Mary Henion was employed to teach the first school. At the election this year, A. Martin was elected County Superintendent of schools.
During the year 1878, three new districts were organized, viz .: Enterprise, Oak Grove, and Cienega. The Board of Supervisors also divided Bitter district, throwing a part with Priest Valley district, Monterey County.
The trustees of Enterprise district were W. H. Oliver, R. Rucklidge, and S. W. Stockton. The first teacher employed was Maria G. Pierpont.
The first trustees of Oak Grove district were H. Cobn, L. Darby, E. E. Kile. Miss Edith Martin was the first teacher employed.
The first trustees of Cienega were James H. Lawn, W. J. Crow. aud J. H. Jay. Miss Ida Rhinehart was the first teacher employed.
The Board of Examination this year consisted of A. Martin, Superintendent of schools, A. Leggett, R. J. Neal, and J. N. Thompson. Six first, five second, and eight third-grade certifi- cates were granted.
FIRST TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The first San Benito County Teachers' Institute was beld at Hollister in September. About twenty-five teachers were pres- ent. Superintendent A. Martin presided, and Prof. Allen, of the State Normal School, was present and instructed the Insti- tute.
During the year 1879, two new districts were formed, viz .: Junction, May 13th, and Platea, September 23d. The first trustees of Junction were E. P. Wright, V. Brooks, and G. W. Ware. Miss Pierce Wright was the first teacher.
The first trustecs of Platea were U. S. Mathews, Isaac James, and John L. Smith. Geo. E. Root was the first teacher employed. The Board of Examination this year consisted of County Superintendent Martin, S. T. Black, W. H. Housh, J. N. Thompson. Certificates were granted as follows: Four first, seven second, and one third-grade.
SECOND TEACHERS' INSTITUTE,
The second San Benito County Teachers' Institute was held in October, Superintendent Martin presiding. Prof. Allen was
182
EXPLOITS OF VASQUEZ, THE NOTED BANDIT,
present one day, but be had to return to San Jose on account of siek ness.
A school-house, costing about $1,000, was built in Oak Grove district, and paid for by subscription. At the election this year J. N. Thompson was elected County Superintendent of schools.
In the year 1880, the Board of Education and Examination consisted of S. T. Black, president, J. N. Thompson, County Superintendent of schools, A. Martin, W. H. Housh, and Geo. Varcoe. Seven first, and seven second-grade certificates were granted to applicants who had passed the examination, and three first and three second-grade certificates were granted to holders of State certificates.
THIRD TEACHERS' INSTITUTE.
The third San Benito County Teachers' Institute was held at Hollister in October. Profs. Allen and. Childs of the State Normal School, Prof. E. Knowlton of San Francisco, and Prof. Parvin were present, and instructed the Institute. Superintend- ent Thompson presided.
The first graduates of the public schools were Olena Week, Belle Hitchcock, and Ella McCray, who graduated at the Hollister public school, June 3, 1881.
NEW SCHOOL-HOUSES.
Hollister school district voted a tax and built a two-story school-house consisting of four rooms, and costing about $6,000, in the year 1875, and in 1881 voted a tax of $1,800 to build an addition to the old school-house, and to improve the grounds.
In 1875, Union district voted a tax and built a school-liouse, costing about $1,000. Many of the school-houses bave been built by subscription, and I have never learned their cost.
There are now twenty-four entire and three fractional districts in the county, employing thirty-three teachers.
The following table will show number of teachers, children, etc., in tbe county sinco its formation.
STATISTICS OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SAN BENITO COUNTY FOR THE YEARS ENDING JUNE 30TH.
No. of schools In the
No. of teachers Employel.
No. of School Census
No. uniler five years
No. who have at-
tended Public
Average daily at-
Average number
months school was
Average monthly sal-
Total amount of State
and county school
money".
property".
1875
15
8
12
1,456
770
1.037 1.007 1.166
183 624
7 8-10
77 96
19
1,533
16
1,484
717
1,187
011
7 3.10
72 67
19,184 40
32,006 00
1878
18
12
14
1.618
710
1,184
640
7 0.10
07 00
18,563 90 18,536 74
82,360 00
1879
1890
24
12
21
1,538
720
1,105
710
7 8.101
67 31
32,792 00
Tiburcio Vasquez, the Noted Bandit.
THIS noted bandit was born in Monterey county, of Mexi- can parents, iu the year 1837. When only fifteen years of age, he opened a dance-house and saloon at Monterey, and soon afterward, becoming embroiled with certain Americans who frequented his place, he was obliged to fly the town. He afterward claimed that at this time the Americans were wholly in the wrong, beating and abusing his women, and that in taking their part he brought trouble upon himself.
He resisted arrest, and removed to Mendocino county, taking with bim some cattle, probably stolen. Here officers again attempted his arrest, but after a fight he once more escaped. According to his own account, this worthy son then proceeded to his motber's home in Monterey, and asked her blessing, telling her that he was "going to suffer and take chances"-or, in other words, take to the road. The maternal benediction having been duly given, he started out on his law- less course.
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