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 37
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W. C. LAND.
W. C. LAND was born in Texas, November 22, 1835. His father was a cattle-raiser. At the age of nineteen, he left home for California with a large drove of cattle, partly his own, nuin- bering two thousand head. He left Clarksville, Texas. May 15, 1854, passing Fort Yuma and making the trip in seven months, and losing but few eattle. He arrived at Los Angeles Decemn- ber 15, 1834. In 1855 he located in San Joaquin county, and began stock-raising on a large scale, and buying and selling cattle, having at times as many as five thousand head. He followed this business for eight years, when he sold his eattle and went into eopper-mining in El Dorado county, and lost all he had aceminulated.
In 1867, he took his family to Austin, Nevada, and engaged in the cattle business withont any capital, and followed it for seven years with success. Hle elcared 857,000 and retired from that business.
He married Miss Maggie Dennis, a native of this State, December 25, 1864. Their children's names are : Annie Lanra, Louis, and Eildie Land.
He came to Hollister in May, 1875, and engaged in loaning tuoncy and dealiug in real estate, having formed what is called College Addition to Hollister. Since 1879 he has been devot- ing his entire time to quiniug in Bodie and Mill ereck. He was one of the first who discovered gold in Mill ereek, in Mono county, twenty miles south of Bodie.
He has five hundred acres of land, one hundredl and seventy- five of which is in San Benito county. He has three hundred and twenty acres of " willow land," which is black sandy loam, located iu San Luis Obispo county, which he rents for fifteen hundred dollars a year. It produces wheat and all kinds of vegetables. It is the home ranch of the " old Osa Grant," upon which are produced such large erops of potatoes, beans, etc. He also has property in San Francisco, and in Bodie and Mill creek.
In 1832 Mr. Land's father emigrated from Mississippi to Red River county, Texas. He located on Blossom prairie, and soon after was obliged to abandon his house and flee to the hack- berry thieket with his family, to protect them from death at the hands of the Indians, who were then very bostile; hut with the assistance of James and Reese Bowie (from wbom the Bowie knife takes its name), who were relatives and friends of theirs, they kept the Indians in cheek. They cleared about twenty
acres and raised hogs and corn enough to outlive the dangerous times in Texas In 1844 his father purchasela farm in Cass county, Texas, on which he produced cotton, and at the same time carried on his stock farin in Red River county. In 1853 he soldl his Cass county farm aud concentrated all his business in Red River county. When W. C. Land left his home for California in 1854, his father was the largest cattle owner in Texas
JOR MALSBURY.
JOR MALSBURY was born in Clermont county, Ohio, June 11, 1833. When he was six years of age his father died, and left the family in destitute circumstances, and the mother was compelled to give lob away to a friend of hers, named Moses B. Riggs, a cousin. Here Mr. Malslmry remained until he was twelve years of age, when he returned to live with his mother until he was eighteen years old. At that time she died. Ile then hired out as a farm laborer, at $12 per month, until lie obtained enough to start for California, which he did January 2, 1853, by the Panama route, and reached San Francisco on the 16th of February.
He followed mining at Placerville, six years, from 1853 to 1859, with good snecess. He then went to Santa Clara to school, determined to make up for the luck of opportunities while young. He afterwards farmed for several years at Ever- green, Santa Clara county,
He came to San Benito county in 1868, and engaged in farin- ing and stock-raising, ou two hundred acres, located five miles from Hollister, in the " Fairview District." The farm is allu- vial soil, with some adobe, and yiells fifteen saeks of wheat per acre, on an average, and thirty of barley. He keeps three milch cows, sixty hogs, and twenty-five head of horses and colts.
He married Miss Henrietta Shaw, June 9, 1859. She was born in Lake county, Ill. They have had six children vix .: Albert J., Sanford W., Wilber, Amy, Cora, and Otis Mals- bury. Wilber was kieked by a horse and died when 17 months old.
Mr. Malsbury has an orchard of one hundred and fifty kinds of fruit-trees, and a vineyard of foreign grapes. Both orchard and vineyard do well. A ercek, at the right of the barn, as seen in the view, affords abundance of water for stock. A fine grove of white oaks surrounds the residence and barn. Santa Ana Peak is plainly seen in the background, raising its head above the range of tbe other mountains. A grand view of the whole valley, including Gilroy, can be had from the residenec and it is appropriately named "Fairview " by Mr. Malshury, who was one of the first farmers in that section.
He has considerable inventive ability, having made some valnable improvements on the Vibrator Thresher. He has a complete thresbing outfit, tbe Separator having been constructed after his own design. Its capacity is 2,000 centals per day.
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SKETCHES OF SAN BENITO COUNTY CITIZENS.
JOHN RUPE
JOHN RUPE, one of the oldest settlers in this action. Was born in Lexington county, Missouri, November I0. 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 remainel until he came to California with the family. overland, with ox- trams, and arrived in Hangtown. August 24, 1849 From there they went to Santa O'ruz ; then tu Gold Run; then to Trinity county ; then to Salmon river, where he mitet ; then to Sent's river, and mined there; then he and his father returil to Santa Cruz county ; thence to San Jose, Santa Clara county, where his father toft him with Mr. L. C. Bostick, and returned to his home in Missouri After remaining some three months in San Jose, Mr Rupe went to mining on the Yuba river, and dit welt, making two thousand dollars in five months, lle 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 he wi nt into the stock business, which he followed for two years. tte then went to San Juan canon, where he was married :0 Miss E. A. Mathews, and resided one year; thence to Visaliu, fulare county ; thence to San Juan; soon after which he pur- chased the farm on which he now resides.
Ite 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, aud two mites from church, school and post-office. The land is sandy toam, with some adobe soil. It is partly rolling hills and some sinall valleys. It will produce fifteen sacks of wheat and twenty of barley per acre on average years. There are half a tozen tiving springs of pure water seattered over the farm. He keeps fifteen head of cattle, teu horses, fifty hoys, 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 hundred vines, and numerous varieties of gooscherries, eurrants, etc. The valley land is nicely adapted to all kinds of vegetables and eoru. The house is on a fine elevation. The hill-sides are dotted with numerous live-oaks, etc. The farm is well fenced in five fields.
In 1855 Mr. Rupe was married to Miss E. A. Mathews, a native oi 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 Lnla.
Iu 18GO Mr. Rupe urade 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 recentty completed. In 1880 he paid another visit to Missouri and old friends, and white there was married to Miss M. A. Endieott, and soon after returned to his home in California, to start in life anew.
Lina Resto was born in Italy, November 4, 1818, His early life was spent in enltivating grapes, olives, and general farming. He attended school in the city of Rome for seven years, untit 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 Juty 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 city, Mr. Raggio followed the army with his merchandise to the city of Mexico, Soon after this lie formed a partnership with an Italian, who had a ship at San Blas, and went in it to San Francisco.
Hle 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 them 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.
Ile then went to Visalia, where he built the " Eagle Hotel," and also established a freight line of two fourteen-mule teams to Stockton, from which place all merchandise was at that time obtained.
He erected the first briek building in Visalia. In 1859 he returned to San Luis Obispo, having sold his possessions in Visatia.
He came to San Benito county in 1865, and engaged in the butchering business. In 1867 he bought his present ranch 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 lindred head. He also 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 mueh of the world and its various resources.
P. R. G. ANZAR.
A native of California and this county, is Mr. P. E. G. Anzar, who was born at San Juan, February 10, 1851. His parents were Juan and Maria Antona Anzar. His early life was spent partly in school, partly on the farm, nntil 1868, when he entered Santa Clara College, which he left after hard studying, in 1871, when he commenced business as a wholesale butcher in partner- ship with P. Vaea & Co., residing on the Los Angeles Ranch until 1876, when he returned home and bought the " Aromas rancho," where he is still employed in raising cattte and farming.
179
HISTORY OF NEWSPAPER ENTERPRISES.
While in Los Angeles he also engaged in the livery stable lits- iness, and also formed the St. John's Mining Company, in Korn county, which did not prove a succes.
Mr. Anzar married, January 22, 1877, Mrs. Win. M. Brorn a daughter of Angelo Zanetta, of San Juan, proprietor of the Plaza Hotel of that place. He has three children, two his own (Gerahline Olympia and Elizabeth Thrusilla,, and one Mary Breen, a step-daughter.
His farm comprises three thousand seven hundred aer, one thousand of which are under cultivation, and the rest is used as a pasture for his lloeks, consisting of one hundred and fifty head of cattle, twenty-five Oregon goats, and forty horses. Thr cultivated land lærings about twenty centals per aere, und righty cows furnish the milk for the delicions 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 WILPOX.
A pioneer who is certainly entitled to a great deal of dis- tinction mul consideration, is Mr. Elward Wilcox, a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, and son of Benjamin and Mary Wilcox. He was born December 13, 1819, and followed farm- ing until 1846, at Girurl, Pennsylvania, and in Illinois, in 1833.
In 1846 he enlisted into the army, where he served one year, having 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 whenec 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 miuing at Mormou Island and Coloma, Placer county, where he had good snecess, averaging about thirty- five dollars a day.
To reach the mines from San Francisco, the course lay up San Pablo and Suisun bays. and the Sacramento-not then, as now, a yellow, muddy stream, but a river pellucid and deep -- to the landing for Sutter's Fort ; and they who made 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's the most common route was accross the broad, fertile valley to the foot-hills.
In 1852 he came to this eonnty, where he farmed and raised stock for a while in San Juan valley, uutil he finally moved to his present nice home, at the edge of San Juan, where he now owns a wheelwright shop and ten acres of land, on which he rnises 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, is unmarried, but has a uiece living in his house.
Newspapers of San Benito County.
This journal was established on the Blet of August, 1876, by G. W. Carlton & Co. A few months later Carlton became sole proprietor and remaine I wo till the firstof Jannary, 1579, when E. S. Harrison haight a half interest, the firm name bring changed to Carlton & Harrison. The paper continuel under this firm's control till about January 1. 1551. when the office was sold to Major J. S Hay, formerly of the Dogles Artlanche, pub- ished at Silver City, I. T. The Telegraph was Democratic in polities, and from the start was good paying property to its owners. It had two rivals to contend with, leert controlled the lion's share of the business of the town and country.
FILE. PACIFIC COAST.
The history of the above-named journal, at present the lead- ing paper of Hollister and San Benito comity, may be suunned up in a few words. It hasonly been in existenre four months, the first number having put in an appearance on the 5th of February, 1881.
Its proprietor and publisher, Major I. S. Hay, came to Hol- lister from Idaho in January (where he had been engaged for several years in publishing the destrache at Silver City), und purchased the Telegraph und Entreprise, two weekly papers, ueither of them in a very prosperous condition at the time, owing to the injudicions 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 Coust, 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 published in San Benito county, is Democratie in politics, although not intensely partisan, and its euergetie publisher seems to be 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 MeGo- ingle in 1873. The first issue was October 18th of that year. and the last was on January 15, 1881, at which time it was merged into the Pacific Coast, now ably edited by 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 men, 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.
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A REVIEW OF THE SCHOOLS OF SAN BENITO.
Historical Review of the Public Schools of San Benito County from 1882 10 1880 .*
IN the year 1852, San Juan school district was organized, An | Patrick Brevn, John london, andI Mr. -. were selected ay trustees. The district was about as large as the State of Rhode Island, containing all the territory now inchute I 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 been 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 meu owuing property uearly one hundred miles from the school-honse were taxed. The present two-story house was built at a cost of about $4,000.
San Benito district was taken from San Juan district May 4, 1868. E. P. Wright, John 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 nud 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 Homesteal Association donated one thousand dollars towards building a school-house, and afterward paid an indebt- exIness 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 au 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. Webb 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, W'm. Pritchard, and - being selected trustees. Martin was employed to teach the first school.
Fair View district was organized November 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 belonging to John 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 hy subscription and partly by tax, and JJ. N. Thompson was employed to teach the school.
TEACHERS' INSTITUTE OF MONTERKY.
In September of 1870, the Monterey County Teacher's Insti- tute was heldl nt San Juan, School-Superintendent Alderman presiding. About forty teachers were present. State-Superin- tendent Fitzgerald was present, and assisted in tho exercises.
During the year 1871, three new districts were organized, viz .: Santa Ana, February 6th; Tres Pinos, May 4th, and Erie, August Ilth. The trustees of Santa Ann were M. Pomeroy, L. II. 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, wcro the first trustees of Tres Pinos school, and a Miss Moore, who afterwanl 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 out 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. Nash, 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 Assistant; 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.
Nº 2 FULLON 7 YEARS OLD OWNED BY W. 8. FORD, SALINAS MONTEREY CO CAL
Nº 1. IMPORTED NORMAN STALLION RIVIER, 5 YEARS OLD
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A REVIEW OF THE SCHOOLS OF SAN BENITO.
Lone Tree .- D. M Lloyd, Teacher Pacheco .- Lella Krater, Teacher. Santa Ana .- A. Martin, Teacher. San Benito .- A. C. Bloomer, Teacher. Tre, Pinos .-- D. F. McPhail, Teacher. I'nion .- Mary Lathrop, Teacher.
FIRST SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.
At the election following the organization of the county, HI. Z. Morris was elected County Superintendent of schools.
During the year 1874, there were three new districts organ- ized, viz .: Brar Valley, June 15th; Gabilan, June 15th, and Yanitos, August 4th.
Bear Valley was taken from Jefferson district. Gov. M. Butterliell, J. T. Prewett, and W. R. Bacou were the first trustees. P. Troy taught the first school.
Gabilan was taken from San Juan district. The first trustees were W'in. Bingham, J. Twitchell, and F. King. Aunic 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 district voted a tax aud built a school-house. 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 Superintendeut of schools, A. Martiu, J. T. Jones, and J. N. Thompson. Six first, nine second, and two third-grade certifi- cates were granted.
During the year 1873, three new districts were organized. viz .: Bitter Water, Paicines, aud Willow Creek, all on May 7th. The first trustees of Bitter Water district were D. M. Selleck, , cut. Superintendent A. Martin presided, and Prof. Allen, of T. O'Counor, and John Matthews. H. W. Cate was employed to teach the first school.
The first trustees of Paicines district were W. J. Crow, J. W. Whitton, J. C. Morrison. Miss Celia Aull was employed to teach the first school.
The first trustees of Willow Creek were C. Y. Hammoud, G. W. Chick, and J. H. Smith. Miss Julia Hanck was the first teacher.
Board of Examination consisted of Superintendent Morris, A. Martiu. R. J. Neal, and J. N. Thompson. Four first, thirteen secoud, and two third-grade certificates were granted. At the election this year, H. Z. Morris was re-elected County Superintendeut of schools.
In 1876, no uew districts were formed. The Board of Exam- inatiou remained the same as the previous year, and granted two first, eight second, and one third-grade certificate.
of Superintendent Morris, who diel the last of January, after an illness of less than one month. The Board of Supervisor- appointed Rev. T. S. Burnett Superintendent of schools, Fch- ruary 10. 1877 The Board of Examination this year con- sistedl of .I. N Thompson, chairman, R J. Neal. Mrx. A. E. Harris, W. T. R. Hehu. Five first, six second, and tive thinl- grade certificates were grantedl
Emmet, which was organized February 10th, was the only listrict 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 district- were organized, siz: 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. 11. Oliver, R. Rucklidge, and S. W. Stockton. The first teacher employed was Maria ( Pierpont.
The first trustees of Oak Grove district were Il Colm, I. Darby, E. E. Kile. Miss Edith Martin was the first teacher employed.
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