USA > California > San Benito County > History of San Benito County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, and mines : with biographical sketches of prominent citizens > Part 36
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L. M. LADD.
Maine furnished this county with another practical farmer, whose name is L. M. Ladd. His parents were Eben and Sylvia Ladd, of Starks, Maiue, He was born October 16 1842, and lost his father when eight years old. He was raised a fariner but receivedl good schooling.
Having to look out for himself he concluded that in Cali- fornia he might make his fortune. So, when twenty years old,} he came across the Isthmus, twenty-four days' pleasant trip, but a good deal of sea-sickness, in 1863, to California. Arriving in San Francisco without money, he walked to May- field, Santa Clara county, the place of his original destination where be arrived on the third of March, 1863.
Working his way up and pushing stoutly forward, Mr. Ladd at one time farmed three thousand acres on the Salinas river, Monterey county, and then had the entire control of " The Catrina Grant," a ranch comprising seventeen thousand acres. Coming, in 1868, into this county, he bought his present farm of two hundred and eighty-four acres, one hundred and eighty-four of which is good land, averaging about fifteen sacks per acre, and one hundred acres overflowed pasture land, in which he keeps two thousand sheep, fifty horses and thirty hogs.
REV. G. SORRENTINI,A.M.PASTOR.
....
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH OF SACREDHEARTS.
SALINAS
CITY. MONTEREY CO CAL.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS. MONTEREY CO. CAL.
CASTROVILLE
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SKETCHES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY CITIZENS.
The farm is only one and one-half miles distant from the city of Hollister, is within one-quarter of a mile of the rail- road, and forty miles distant from water communication.
Like most self-made men, Mr. Ladd is a gentleman of liber- ality, who responds to worthy plans and enterprises for the public good. He is quite ambitions, and an excellent father to his three children-Frank, Naomi and Llewellyn-who, if they grow up according to his directions, cannot fail to become good citizens. His worthy wife is a native of Maine. She was a Miss Thursia ML. Baxter until on December 7, 1869, she became Mrs. Ladkdl.
J. 0. 1. STRAUBK.
Among the citizens of this county we also count Mr. J. C. F. Stranbe, who is a native of Saxony, Germany, where he was born in 1830. His parents were J. C. F. Stranbe and Hannah Strauhe, and while at home he learned the butcher's trade.
When still young he left his native land, and adopteil America as his country, living for a uumber of years at Louis- ville, Ky.
In 1853, he started from Louisville, via New York and Pan- ama, for San Francisco, where he, after a pleasant journey of sixty-five days, arrived September 15, 1853. From San Fran- cisco he went to Dutch Flat, where he owned a mine which averaged about eight dollars a day.
In 1863, October 21st, he married Miss Augusta Richter a native of his mother country, with whom he had three chil- dreu: Charles, Paul, and Lily. He lived for a while in Hol- lister, arriving in this county December 6, 1875, and bnying his present fine farm. He now lives within one mile of Hol- lister, where there is a church and school, The railroad runs past within one and one-quarter miles, and boats within forty miles. The county seat is only one mile distant.
Although Mr. Straube owns a fine farm of two hundred acres (one hundred and forty-eight of which are number one, and tho rest overflowed land), which brings him one hundred bushels of barley, or thirty-five bushels of wheat per acre he gives his especial attention to raising splendid horses. He owns thirteen head of excellent work horses and six cows. He also owns an orchard bearing all kinds of fruit of superior quality, which, in deliciousness, equals or excels the products of San Jose, and his house is beautifully situated on the east bank of the San Benito river. Groves of live-oak trees surround his place, and the county road runs along the entire length of his farm.
WILLIAM I. REED.
MR. WILLIAM I. REED, born at Burr Oak, Michigan, Novem- ber 27, 1840, attended the district schools of his native home, and followed farming throughout his life. He left his bome in April, 1860. to make bis fortune in California, where,
after a journey of four months, having hal a very pleasant trip, per wagon-train, riz Salt Lake and the Humboldt Pass. he arrived August 8th, in Santa Clara county; from which he moved afterwards into Alameda county, where he owned the Mission Peak ranch, which is two thousand six hundred and sixty feet above the level of the sea. He attempted to ming, one day, at Nevada City, Int became so disgusted with it that he gavo up all thoughts of continuing it. .
In 1864, Mr. Reed returned home to visit his parents, Jasper " and Mary Reed, and while there, February 22, 1863, married Miss Eliza A. Johnson, of Burr Oak, Michigan, with whom he retraced his steps, vin New York and the Isthmus, to Cali- ifornia, arriving in San Francisco, April 15, 1865, having made the journey in twenty-two days. By this union there were tive children, viz: Ora A., Charlie, Hattie E., Hiram, and Myrtie.
His wife died November 20, 1875, und in November, 1876, his youngest child, Myrtie, while playing with fire which was burning in the stubble-fiell, was burnt to death, her cloth- ing catching fire. In 1877, Mr. Reed married his prosent wife, Miss Alzina Waters, a native of Northumberland county, Canada, who is the mother to his youngest child, Maude May. In business Mr. Reed was, and is, rather prosperous. After selling his ranch in Alameda county, he bought, in 1869, one in Santa Ana valley, and selling out again, he, at last, in 1872, bonght his present fine farm of two hundred anl forty acres, located five miles from county seat, railroad and church, two miles from school, and thirty from water travel. The land- light adobe soil, rolling hills and valley-yields ten bags of wheat, ten bags of barley, or two tons of hay, per acre, and is almost sure to bring a crop every year. He also possesses a fine orchard of one hundred bearing trees, which furuishes all kinds of delicious table fruit. There are eight head of cattle, fifteen hogs, twelve horses, and thirteen colts, on the farm, and his yard is full of shrubs and ornamental trees, roses climbing over the porcbes.
CHARLES A. WOOD.
CHARLES A. WOOD was brought, at the early age of eleveu, by his parents, Davis and Mary Wood, from Illinois to Cali- fornia. They started from Earlville, Illinois, viu New York and Panama, had an enjoyable trip of a month, and arrived at Gilroy, June 1, 1855. When fifteen years of age, hic accom- panied his parents to their next place of removal, which was in Tulare county, where they were engaged in stock-raising for three years. Then, in 1863, they moved to Merced county, where he engaged, of bis own account, in sheep-raising, until 1874. when he sold out, having been quite successful Before selling, he, in 1873, entered this county, which he concluded to make his bome. He is at present engaged in farming and stock-raising, owning a farın of thirty acres, which is located eight miles from county seat, the same distance from railroad,
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thirty miles from water travel, a church being eight mile, and a school one half a mile within his place, and the post office of San Felipe is only two miles distant Ile owns nine horses and a few hogs.
The character of the land is san ly lam, which he devotes to raising fruit and vegetables, having all varieties of table fruit. On the farm are the powerful artesian wells, supplying this whole piner with water Alfalfa flourishes on the ranch ; in fact. all kinds of products grow readily.
Ilis home overlooks Soap valley, and Soap lake can h. plainly wan from the rear of his pretty honw.
Mr Wovi was born in Hlinois, July 8, 1544, wa- married in 1868 to Mis, Marian Lonther, and has six chiblren, viz : Denn E., Laln G . Malal A . (Tara A . Elise M. and Freda E Wood.
EDMUND NASON.
Another of ont enterprising and Honrishing citizens we find in Mr. Elmond Nason, who was born in Eaton, N H . April 29, 1825, being a son of Mr. Joshua and Mrs. Phebe Nason the latter having been a Miss Danforth). This gentleman lived in his native State until he was sixteen years of age, when he started out to make his point in the world. He went to Lowell, Mass., remained there until .Inly, 1852, thence lo New York, whener, after a sojourn of six weeks, he started on his journey to California. As, at that time, the traveling overland was rather a tiresome journey, he went by steamer to the Isth- mns of Panama, and from there, after a stay of two weeks, to San Francisco The voyage was a very pleasant one.
Arriving in San Francisco in September of the same year, lie drifted into Nevada county, where he was occupied with mining, but with indifferent success. After residing for differ- ent periods in the counties of San Francisco, Alameda and Marin, he at last, in ISGS renched this county, which he made huis permanent home, carrying on the business of dairying.
His farm contains about seventy acres of good, strong-soiled land, mostly sown with alfalfa, yielding splendid erops, and linving good, strong-flowing wells reaching a depth of eighty- tive feet. The farm is located abunt 'seven miles from the county seat and railroad, three-fourths of n mile from school, twenty miles from steamboat communication, and seveu miles from church. He keeps, generally, forty,head of horued cattle, several hours and six head of horses on hand. Iu 1847, he mar- ried Miss Mary M. Stilling. a most amiable lady, a native of Ossipee, N. H., who bore him six children, viz .: Francelia Adella, lda Mary, J. Ehuer, Alice P., Mary Emma, and Minnie Nason.
WILLIAM NOBLE.
The residence of Mr. William Noble is situated five miles south from the county seat, on the railroad ; is within one and a half miles of a school, and five miles from church. An excel-
lent view of the Gabilan mountains is obtained from its front veranda, and the trains of the Southern Pacific Railroad run a short distance in front of it. There is a fine rimning stream of water near the barn, which affords plenty of water for herds of stock during the whole year, and one thousand five hundred fert in the renr of the residence is a fine, living spring, which is elevated forty feet above the residence, and is con- Incted to a reservoir, supplying the premises with excellent water There is also a fine orchard connected, containing one hundred young trees, bearing all kinds of table fruits.
The farm contains three hundred and twenty neres, partly adobe, rolling hills and level, sandy loam, averaging fifteen sacks to the nere, and his live stock consists of five heatt of cattle, eight horses, one thousand sheep, and eighty hogs.
Mr. Noble was born August 11, 1849, in Gentry county. Missouri. Married Miss Gussie Holt, June 1, 1870 (she being a native of Cumberland county, Nova Scotia), and hins three children-Arthur C., Minnie M., and Pearl Noble. His parents were John und Sarah Noble.
Mr. Noble pursued the business of farming, exclusively, ever since he was a boy. In 1850 his parents moved to Iowa, and in 1864 came out to California. They journeyed overland by ox-team, his father bringing six oxen and ten horses with him. They took the Platte river route, and had good luck during the whole trip, which lasted six months, when they arrived, October 15, 1864, in Shasta county, California.
The original intention of the family was to locate in Oregon, but as they failed to join a large enough company to venture on such a trip, the country being at that time overrun by hostile Indians, they concluded to make their home in Califor- nia. Since their arrival here Mr. Noble has resided in the following places: Shasta county, Pajaro valley, Gilroy, and, in July. 1867, he came to this county, where the subject of this sketch went to farming for himself.
S. F. WATSON.
MIR. S. F. WATSON, one of the sturdy pioncers of this State and county who have marle the State what it is, owns a farin of three hundred and twenty acres near the town of Tres Pinos. This farin, consisting mostly of sound loam land, yield- ing average erops of about fifteen bags to the acre, is inter- spersed with valleys and hills. and is located six iniles from the county seat, close to the railroad, thirty miles from naviga- tion, one-eight mile from school, and six miles from church.
In earlier times, Mr. Watson was mostly engaged in stock- raising, having at times as many as one thousand five hundred sheep on his pastures. But now he pursues mostly farming, keeping only a few cows, hogs, and four horses on his farm.
The family history of Mr. Watson is quite interesting, and would fill up quite an amount of space if we had much of it at our disposal. Suffice it to say, that he was born in Virginia, March 22, 1834. He followed farming until 1846, when his
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parents, Jacob and Phebe Watson, movel with their family to Independence, Jackson county, Missouri. From there they started to California, where they arrived at Sacramento, Sep- tember 4, 1849. They came by the way of Caron river and Fort Hfall, avoided Salt Lake, had a pleasant trip ; no trouble with Indians, but got short of water on the desert. While the family wasin Sacramento, Mr. Watson mined at Mormon Island in the American river, with good success. From there the family moved to Nicholsville, on the Feather river, and residedl there until 1851, when Mr. S. F. Watson and his parents became tired of roughing it, and coneluded to return to Mis- souri, but on their arrival in Sacramento his mother was taken siek, thus necessitating a delay. In the meanwhile Mr. Wat- son and his chlest brother went to Oregon by steamer; got shipwrecked twiec, and were at last obliged to finish the journey by land. After a short stay in Oregon they returnel overland to Nevada county, where their parents had moved during their absence.
ln 1852 they all moved to Santa Clara county ; remained there until 1854, then to Hollister, and linally, in the same year, ta his present residence, which is beautifully situated on the south bank of the San Benito river. llc has an orchard of one hundred and thirty-five bearing trees, of all kinds of fruits, also a vineyard emtaining some fifteen varieties of grapes, and around his residence the yard is full of flowers, shrubs and trees.
In October, 1865, Mr. Watson married his estimable wife, a Miss Bridget Connor, a native of Ireland, and adopted his orphan nephew, Charles Watson, having no children of his own.
JESSE ROSS.
lu a cosy little home, represented in this history, lives Mr. Jesse Ross, a native of Harrison county, Indiana; born Novem- ber 30, 1832, and is a son of William and Saralr Ross, of that place. Mrs. Mary Ross, formerly Miss Herrington, whom Mr. Ross married iu the year 1867, is a uative of Davis county, Iowa, and Marvin Ross is their only son.
Mr. Ross, after receiving a good common school education, and learning to farm on his father's farm, became a blacksmith, a miner, and a farmer, which shows that he labored hard to obtain all he possesses.
He resided in the States of Indiana and Iowa before coming to California, where he arrived at Placerville, July 25, 1852, having made a journey of eighty-seven days overland, which was brisk traveling as the wagon train did not stop two nights in the same place. The trip was not quite without unpleasant incidents, for at one point the train was stopped by Indians, who, having torn up a bridge, demanded toll of the party before allowing them to proceed. Mr. Ross mined with moderate success for eight years, at Placerville, and in Calaveras county; then in 1860, he went to Sonoma county, where he stayed until November, 1871, when he moved to his present home.
From the time he lived in Sonoma county until now, he farmed and continues to do so. lle owus a farm of eighty-six aeres, mostly sandy loam land, which, however, produces about twenty centals of wheat per acre. On ten acres he generally Now's alfalfa and clover, which, being kept in fine condition (being well irrigated), proluces good erops. His live stock con- >ists of ten horses and two cows; and his house is sur- rounded by a nicely arranged yard and small orchard, bearing good fruit. The farm is well fenced and improved, and is located one mile from the county seat, on the railroad, one mile from school and church, and thirty miles from any ship- ping point.
RICHARD PERRY.
In 1856, this enunty reevived another valuable acquisition in Mr. Richard Perry and wife, formerly a Miss Julia A. Rule, whom he married in 1854. Mr. Perry is a son of Mr. Nathaniel and Sarah Perry, who at the time of his birth lived in Caro- lina county, Maryland. He was born March 22, 1813; heeume when grown up a sailor, and pursned that vocation until January, 1844; then became a collector for a coal merchant in Louisville, Kentneky, where he remained one year. From there he went to Galena, Illinois, where he worked four years in a lead mine, and then in 1849 he resolved to go to California.
He joined, with a team of oxen, a party going overland; upon reaching the Black Hills the party broke up, and Mr. Perry in company with fourother gentlemen kept on to Carson valley, Nevada, where most of the party remained to rest. Mr. Perry and a friend being eager to start for the gold mines, left the party and went to Hangtown, which they reached August 12, 1850, just one month before the rest of the train reached the same place.
Mr. Perry, having been a sailor, a clerk and a miner, after reaching Nevada, pursued mining again in the following locali- ties : Hangtown, American river, Michigan Blulf, and again on American river until 1852, when he determined to give up mining and become a farmer. In order to do this, lie, having had a good success in the mines, went to San Jose, where he farmed until 1856, when he, liking San Benito county better, moved into it and still remains, carrying on the business of farming and dairying.
His farm, which is located seven miles from the county scat, four miles from railroad, thirty miles from shipping point, three-quarters of a mile from school, seven miles from church, and two miles south-west of San Felipe post-offiec, contains seventy aeres sandy loam, and some excellent pasture land. The land will yield from fifteen to twenty sacks of wheat., and thirty saeks of barley. He also eultivates potatoes, corn, all sorts of vegetables, berries, etc. He keeps sixteen head of cattle, nine horses and thirty hogs constantly on hand.
While on the Atlantic coast Mr. Perry owned an interest in three different boats, which proved snecessful investments. Mr. Perry has three daughters, Fannie L., Katie, and Lelia Perry.
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SKETCHES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY CITIZENS.
" H WATERS
(' H WATERS became tired of picking up stone and plowing among stump of a Canada farm and enduring the long, frigiel winters of that locality, wo at the age of twenty. three he decided to seek a more congenial clime, and set out from bis father's farm in Canada West, April 16, ING7, for Cali- fornia, coming ria New York and the Isthinus. He arrived in San Jose, May 13, 1867, and afterwards resided in Salinas and Hollister.
He came to San Benito county in 1869, and began farmiag alul raising of improved horses, of which he has some very superior. The farm consists of two hundred and fifty acres in the home ranch, and a tract of four'and a half acres in the city of Hollister, on which is a good dwelling and barn. On the lots there are eight hundred bearing fruit-trees, and the tract is surrounded by cypress, eucalyptus, and poplar trees, planted alternately as seen in the illustration.
The farm yields fifteen sacks of wheat and thirty-five of barley per acre ou average years. It is part adobe and part sandy loan. It is situated on the south-west bank of the San Benito river, and is partly rolling hills. A few live-oaks adorn the hillsides. An aveane of evergreen trees leads to the resi- dence. On the place is a nice young orehard of fruits, etc.
He keeps forty-five horses and colts, two milch eows, nearly one hundred hogs, and a nice stallion of the Messenger and Morgan stock, named "Royal George," who weighs one thou- sand six hundred pounds. He is a mahogany bay, sixteen and u half hands high, and shows good speed, having a record of three minutes.
Mr. Waters has two steam threshers ; one iu the San Joaquin valley and the other in the Salinas valley. He manages one and his brother the other. Mr. Waters aud L. M. Ladd are farming two thousand acres on the Arroyo Seco, in the Salinas valley. The farm is the property of P. Zabala. The buildings are extensive, consisting of a dwelling-house of five rooms, windmill, tank and tank-huuse, wood-house, blacksmith shop, driving shed, and a barn one hundred feet long and fifty- six feet wide, and a shed one hundred feet long on one side. It stables one hundred horses, of which they use that number. Also room for hay and grain for feed and seed.
Mr. Waters married Miss Annie White, August 7, 1873, who was a native of San Jose, and a Normal school graduate. The children are named Harry and Herbert Waters.
In 1875 Mr. C. H. Waters and family made a visit to his native honie in Canada, going riu the Central Pacific and Union Pacific and Chicago. On his return he and his brother John made arrangements with the Railroad Company for a special train to consist of sixteen or seventeen coaches, to carry sowie two hundred of his neighbors and relatives to California, at a great reduction below the regular rates; the train to fol- low the express without change of cars. They did so start from
Toronto, Canada West. They followed the express, which was ditelted several times, but the special would run up to the wreck and wait until it was repaired, when they would follow again. His parents, three brothers, and four sisters returned with him to California. Upon their arrival in Sacramento their car was side-tracked, the family remaining in the car, while Mr. Waters took his father up to see the then now cap. ital building. While they were gone the car was attached to a freight train and moved off toward San Jose. When Mr. Waters returned to the depot and found his cars gone, he informed the train-master of his mistake, who telegraphed to side-track the cars. They did so, and when Mr. Waters and his father arrived on the passenger traiu, they attached his car to it and went into San José.
R. D. PEASE.
R. D. PEASE has a beautiful residence and farm of two hun- dred and seventy acres, on the road to Santa Ana valley, four utiles from Hollister. From his veranda several fine views can he had of the hills and valley, and Gilroy can be seen quite plainly. Almost any part of the Hollister valley can be seen from his residence. His farm is all under fence, and a living creek runs through the back part of the ranch, making it a fine stock farm as well as for grain. The dwelling is second to none in the county, being nicely arranged inside and out. He also has barns, granaries, windmill, tank-house, and black- smith shop.
The orchard contains about eighty bearing fruit-trees, of all kinds of fruit for table use. Mr. P'ease has begun a new era in farming by summer-fallowing part of his farin every year, thus insuriag a crop every year, having lost only one crop since he caine to the county.
There is a row of roses on either side of the path leading from the road to the house. The yard contains several shrubs and ornamental trees. His residence cost $3,000, and is an ornament to the couaty. A nice picket fence ineloses the house yard. The house has all modern improvements; bath-room and water-pipes all through the house.
R. D. Pease was born in Niagara county, New York, June 26, 1835. When one year old his father moved to Michigan. He worked on his father's farm until sixteen years of age, when he left home and hired out as a farm hand in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and continued working there for five years, when he concluded to try his hand as a miner in the gold mines of California. He left New York, and was forty-two days coming by the Isthmus, and reached San Francisco in December, 1857. He mined at Columbia, and afterwards on the South Yuba and in Klamath county. He followed mining five years with poor success.
He resided near Mission San Jose, Alameda county, seven years, and then moved to his present home, December, 1870.
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CARDEN VIEW OF RESIDENCE
FARM YARD VIEN RESIDENCE OF EUGENE
SHERWOOD.
EL SAUSAL RANCHO. NEAR SALINAS CITY.
MONTEREY
CO CAL.
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SKETCHES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY CITIZENS.
He married Miss Mabel Sherman in 1866, a native of New York. They have one ehill nained Carrie Pease.
Mr. Pcase owned and run a steam thresher in Santa Clara and Alameda counties for nine years, it being one of the first steam threshers in that vicinity.
Mr. Pease has a splendid well of water on his farm; in fact, one of the best in the county, it being free from alkali. He keeps six mileh cows, a few hogy, and cigliteen head of horses.
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