USA > California > San Mateo County > History of San Mateo County, California, including its geography, topography, geology, climatography, and description, together with an historical sketch of California; a record of the Mexican grants; the early history and settlement, compiled from the most authentic sources; some of the names of Spanish and American pioneers; legislative history; a record of its cities and towns; biographical sketches of representative men; etc., etc > Part 29
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We have only given in the foregoing chapter a history of a few of the leading dairy farms in San Mateo county. There are others, and their histories can be found in other portions of this work. Dairying, especially along the coast,
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is one of the prime industries of this county. It has steadily grown with its growth, until to-day its proportions have become a matter of which every resi- dent of San Mateo county may feel proud. When the projected railroad is com- pleted along the ocean shore, thus bringing quick shipping facilities to that locality, then it will be that San Francisco will have a supply of milk which will equal, if not exceed that which is now sent to her market on the Southern Pacific railroad.
It is well to state in this connection, that butter and cheese are the products from the dairy farms on the coast side of the mountains, while on the bay side, the milk in cans is immediately shipped to San Francisco.
GRADY & Co's TANNERY, COLMA .- In 1871, the tannery business of J. J. Grady & Co., at Colma, San Mateo county, was first established. From time to time the premises have been enlarged and improvements added, until to-day the firm have all the necessary appliances and machinery for carrying on a general tanning business. Their specialty, however, is in leather for book- binding. These volumes are bound with the manufacture of this establish- ment, and from this circumstance we were reminded that unwittingly mention in the proper place of this concern and its meritorious products had been omitted.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Alexander Moore. This gentleman is one of California's earliest pioneers. His portrait will be found among the first in the history of San Mateo county. He was born December 17, 1826, in Cock county, Tennessee. In 1835 his father, Eli Moore, moved to Jackson county, Missouri, where the subject of this sketch resided until he came to California. It was in Jackson county that he married Adeline Spainhower, February 2, 1847. She was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, July 28, 1822. This amiable wife and most excellent lady has been a faithful companion and helpmate to her husband, and still shares the blessings that the world and a course of unflinching rectitude have brought to them and their children, in their declining years. On the 9th of May, 1847, Mr. Moore, accompanied by his father, his brothers, Thomas and William, and his sisters, Emeline and Elizabeth, started from home in Missouri for Oregon. A company of about fifteen families was formed for the long and tedious journey; John Hopper, of Sonoma county, and Mr. Easton, of this county, being among the number. Soon after reaching Fort Hall they met Fremont and his party, who informed them that peace had been declared between the United States and Mexico, and a portion of the company, includ- ing Mr. Moore's family, took the route for California. They arrived at John- son's ranch on Bear river, October 2, 1847. Captain Weber, hearing of the party's arrival in California, sent to San Francisco for provisions, brought cattle to Stockton, where he was then living, had the town surveyed and plat- ted, and then went forward to meet the emigrants. He met them near Sutter's Fort, and offered Mr. Moore a tract of land one mile square and two village lots if he would settle at Stockton. Mr. Moore accepted this generous offer, as did others of the party. Mr. Moore's father, however, was determined to pro- ceed to the lower country, and used his utmost endeavors to induce Alexander to accompany him, but without avail. When the father left Stockton, his son went with him as far as the San Joaquin river to assist him in crossing the stream. Here the father again tried to induce his son to go with him to the lower country and being again refused, finally agreed to return to Stockton, ostensibly for the purpose of inducing his daughter-in-law to go with his party on their southward journey. This proposition was accepted by Alexander as an easy method of pleasing his father, for he verily believed that his wife
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would remain in Stockton. The father's arguments, however, were successful, for he returned southward, accompanied not only by his daughter-in-law but by all the company they had left behind. They proceeded to Mission San José, in Alameda county, where they camped over night on Coyote creek. The following day they reached San Jose and camped on the old Santa Clara road, near the bridge. Here the party divided, the Moore family, Hopper family, George Hobson and Nick Gann, crossing the mountains to where Lexington is now located. They erected cabins with the intention of remain- ing during the winter, Mr. Moore and his father expecting to erect a mill for Isaac Branham. This was in the latter part of October, 1847, and about the first of November, Alexander went to Santa Cruz, On his return he induced his father to take a look at the locality he had just visited, with a view to mak- ing a permanent settlement if the country suited him. When Mr. Moore, Sr., arrived at Santa Cruz, he was so well pleased with the prospect and climate that he bought a ranch, the first ever conveyed to an American in that section. The family was brought over and camped on the Plaza by the old Mission Church, dating their arrival on the 15th of November, 1847. They soon after moved into an old adobe building owned by José Balcoff, the man from whom they had purchased the land. Sometime during the fall the alcalde gave Mr. Moore, Sr., a piece of land on a portion of which the present court house of Santa Cruz now stands, and directly east of where this building now stands they built the first frame dwelling house in that section, moving into it in January, 1848. Here Eli Moore resided continuously until he died, June 6, 1859. While Alexander Moore was living in the adobe building at Santa Cruz, his eldest son, Eli D., was born, December 12, 1847, being the oldest Califor- nia boy born of American parents of whom we have any record. The first child born in California of white parents was Elizabeth Murphy, a daughter of Martin Murphy, born at Sutter's Fort in the spring of 1844. She afterwards became the wife of Wm. P. Taffe. In the fall of 1848, Mr. Moore went to the mines on the American river, and in the spring of 1849 he mined on the Tuolumne river, in Tuolumne county, where he remained until June of that year. On his return from the mines, he, in company with John Daubenbis, John Ames and Harry Speel, accepted the contract for supplying the timber that was afterwards used in constructing long wharf, at San Francisco. August 5, 1849, assisted by his father, he commenced the building of a saw- mill on the Balcoff ranch, where he remained until 1852, at which time he purchased the land at Santa Cruz where the light house has since been erected. He lived here until he came to Pescadero, March 15, 1853. Northeast from the village of Pescadero and on the east side of Pescadero creek, is located the home where he first settled and where he has since lived, happy in the posses- sion of a lovable and intelligent family, and respected by his neighbors. Thus far have we followed the footsteps of this adventurous and hardy pioneer
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
across the boundless prairies, over the snow clad peaks of the Sierras, into the fertile valleys of California. His wagons were among the first to make a track over these unknown wastes, his cattle were among the first to be driven across the trackless expanse of an almost unexplored and virgin country, and it is with no small degree of pride that we are able to give so full and complete a narrative of Mr. Moore's career, for it is not often that we have it in our power to observe the movements, from boyhood to maturity, of one so worthy to have his actions and the grand results of those actions recorded. Alexander Moore is to-day what he has always been, a man true to himself, true to nature and true to his friends. We leave him and his most worthy wife, with earnest and heartfelt desire that they may both be spared long years of health, peace and happiness. His children are Eli D., born in Santa Cruz, December 12, 1847; Joseph L. M., born at the same place, March 27, 1849; William A., also born at Santa Cruz, July 19, 1851. The following were born at Pescadero: Ida Jane, May 28, 1856; David Eugene, March 26, 1858; Walter Henry, June 14, 1864.
Richard George Sneath. Though not a pioneer, in that more limited and perhaps questionable sense which gives the title only to those who arrived in California before the year 1849, Mr. Sneath came so early in 1850, and has contributed so actively to all the best interests of the young State, that the just record of his career will place him foremost among its honored sons and energetic founders. His father, Richard Sneath, was a native of Maryland, and his mother, Catharine Bangher, was born in the adjoining town of Cham- bersburg, Pennsylvania. Mr. Sneath was born on March 23, 1826, and soon after his family moved to the State of Ohio, where his father laid out an addi- tion to the town of Tiffin. Richard was the oldest of three brothers, and received his education in the common schools of Tiffin. Assisting his father during the summer months, he attended the winter sessions of the school, and when he attained his seventeenth year, the first great trial of his life came in the death of his father, on August 2, 1842. Thus thrown upon his own resources, he at once assumed the business conducted by his father, that of manufacturing agricultural implements, and by his energy and industry carried it on with increasing success until the year 1850, when his brother succeeded him in the manufactory. R. G. Sneath left Tiffin, Ohio, on new- year day, 1850, and after a detention of six weeks on the Isthmus of Panama, during which he suffered an attack of the Panama fever, he safely landed in San Francisco.
In a few days he went, first to Sacramento, and then to Mormon island, where a number of his Tiffin friends were engaged in mining. Here he secured a contract for the erection of a house. Confident of his success in the pursuits of legitimate business, he now returned to Sacramento and became
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the guest of the Buckeye House, in that city. The hostelry was in a dilapi- dated condition, and he took a contract for making necessary repairs. Though not a carpenter, he purchased lumber, hired workmen and finished the con- tract, and netted a handsome profit, which he at once invested in a hay yard. Hiring a lot, he laid in a full supply of hay, to which owners were allowed to admit their animals at two dollars per night. He soon commenced the pur- chase and sale of horses, mules, etc., and the Buckeye hay yard become one of the features of the young city of Sacramento. Despite his failing health, he continued this enterprise, and added to it the industry of painting signs, until he found himself fast becoming a confirmed invalid. Then he disposed of the business, and going to Amador county in September, 1850, he assisted in founding the well known village of Drytown. He soon regained his health, and the following year he bought a quartz mine, and erected, probably, the first stamp mill ever put up in that part of the State. This, however, did not prove a success; and he returned to Sacramento and there established the wholesale grocery house of Sneath, Arnold & Co. In 1852, as the business had extended largely and embraced several branch stores in the various mining districts, Mr. Sneath took up his residence in San Francisco, to conduct the purchases for the firm. The Sacramento fire of November, 1852, brought a heavy loss, and the store had been rebuilt but ten days, and success to again smile upon his efforts, when the floods occasioned a new and serious loss. He then established himself at a place called Hoboken, some miles above Sacra- mento. He returned to Sacramento, re-established himself in the grocery business, and during ten years reaped an abundant harvest of his industry and business ability. In 1862, in connection with his various stores in the interior, he opened a wholesale house on Front street, in San Francisco. During six or seven years he also held a branch house at Portland, Oregon, and while his business received his fullest attention, he soon identified himself with various public enterprises in San Francisco. He became a leading member of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, was elected its president during two years, and as a member of the building committee, actively promoted the work of erecting the magnificent structure belonging to the organization, and located at California and Leidesdorff streets. In 1869 he disposed of his business interests on Front street and in the interior, and purchased an ample estate in Fair Oaks, San Mateo county. In October, 1854, at Tiffin, Ohio, he married Miss Catharine, daughter of John A. Myers, and has a family of three sons and one daughter. After spending a few years in travel, Mr. Sneath became one of the managers of the Anglo Californian bank, but resigned in October, 1876, and became manager of the Merchants Exchange bank. On July 1, 1875, after disposing of his Fair Oaks estate, he purchased about two thousand five hundred acres of grazing land near San Bruno, and it is well known as the Jersey Farm. Mr. Sneath was a member of the San Francisco board of super-
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BIOGRAPHICAL ..
visors from 1856 to 1860. He was a member of the special finance committee, and the chairman of the judiciary committee, and his success in office is best attested by the fact of his repeated re-election. He was among the founders of the Industrial school; and during the civil war was elected treasurer of the United States Sanitary Commission. In every position of life his record has been such as to merit the warm esteem and regard now given to him by his fellow men.
B. V. Weeks. This gentleman, one of the early comers to California, and one of the pioneers of San Mateo county, whose portrait appears in this history, was born in Kennebec county, Maine, October 31, 1832. He received his education in the common schools of his native county. California, with all its wealth of gold and salubrity of climate, induced Mr. Weeks to come to this coast in 1854. He came by the Nicaragua route, and landed in San Francisco January 28th, of that year, locating first in Santa Cruz, where he remained only five or six months, when he came to Searsville, in this county, living here until he took up his permanent residence at Pescadero, in 1858. His home is on the north side of Pescadero creek, near the old ford or crossing. His farm is an historical spot, for it was here, years ago, that Gonzales erected an adobe dwelling, the first building of any kind constructed in Pescadero. This has been the home of Mr. Weeks and family since 1860, and during these years he has become so well known that it would be a work of supererogation on our part as well as presumption, were we to lay before the reader his unblemished character and sterling worth. He married Annie J. Washburn, and they have two children, Edward and George.
John D. Husing. John D. Husing is one of the first early settlers of San Mateo county, and one of its pioneer business men. He was born in Hanover, Germany, February 17, 1833. Emigrating to the United States, he landed in New York May 22, 1847. He was then fourteen years of age, but at once sought and obtained employment as a clerk in a grocery store. He held this position until he left for the East Indies in 1852. We next find him in England, on his return to New York. In the year 1854 he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in San Francisco on the John L. Stephens February 16th. He remained in San Francisco until he came to San Mateo, in 1862. He had previously had business interests in this county, in partnership with his brother, as early as 1859. He disposed of his interest in his San Mateo store to his brother, in 1865. He has visited Germany three times. On his return from the last of these visits in 1867, he opened his present mercantile house at Colma, May 5th, of the same year, and has conducted this business ever since.
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HISTORY OF SAN MATEO OUNTY.
Hon. John Garretson. The subject of this sketch was among the argo- nauts of this section of the State .. His portrait will be found in this volume. He was born in Boundbrook, Somerset county, New Jersey, November 10, 1838, and reared on a farm until he became of age. Most of this time, however, was spent at school. He left home and went to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and was engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store during a period of four years, laying the foundation of a mercantile education, which has since stood him in good stead. After the completion of his engagement in New Brunswick he went to New York City, and followed the same occupation until he came to this State, in 1859. He left New York City in the early spring, crossed the isthmus, and arrived in San Francisco in May of that year. He remained in that city but a few days, coming to Pescadero and assuming the position of clerk in a general merchandising store, owned at that time by Bidwell & Besse. At the end of nine months he purchased Bidwell's interest, the firm name being changed to Besse & Garretson. In 1864 he sold his interest to Besse, and took a trip to the Sandwich Islands to recuperate his health. On his return he re-purchased an interest in Besse's stock, and this partnership continued four or five years, when Mr. Stryker bought Besse's interest, and the firm was changed to Garretson & Stryker. In January, 1873, Mr. Garretson disposed of his interest to James McCormack, and took a trip to the eastern states for his health. When he returned in 1877, he bought out the entire business, and has since been the sole proprietor. Mr. Garretson's business interests are not wholly confined to his store at Pescadero. He is identified with the stage line from San Mateo to Santa Cruz, and owns an equal interest with Andrew Taft, of the former place. To draw a comparison is at all times an odious task, but to say that Mr. Garretson is one of the most highly respected and distinguished citizens of Pescadero or of San Mateo county is but to assert what is acknowledged on every hand. If further proof of this assertion were necessary, it would be sufficient to point out the fact that in 1867, before this township became a part of San Mateo county, he was elec- ted county recorder of Santa Cruz county, and that in 1871, he was elected one of the supervisors of this county, being re-elected in 1873. The people, not content with the honors they had already conferred upon him, selected him to represent them in the state assembly of 1875-6. In 1881, he was appointed a member of the board of supervisors, and November 7, 1882, he was again elected to that office. Mr. Garretson married Ella Durand, June 29, 1866, and they have five children, Alice E., Aletta Marie, John Durand, Ella C, and William Albert.
Judge Edward Francis Head. Judge Head was born in Boston, Massa- chusetts, December 3, 1818. He was educated in his native State, and then
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
studied law with Sprague & Gray, of Boston, graduating from the law depart- ment of Harvard College. He began the practice of law in Boston, and came to this State in 1862, around the Horn, arriving here during March of that year. He practiced law in San Francisco until 1879, when he came to this county. He was elected superior judge, and took his seat January 1, 1880. He has been twice married, his present wife's maiden name being Eliza Clement. His children by his first marriage are Mary, Charles and Arthur F. The issue of his second marriage being Anna and Catharine.
Isaac Steele. The name of Isaac Steele is prominent in the annals of this county, and the State. He has lived in San Mateo for many years as a mem- ber of the well known firm of Steele Bros., the most prominent cheese manu- facturers on the coast. He is now one of the large land owners of the State, and is identified with the Grangers' Bank and the Grangers' Business Asso- ciation, in San Francisco. We deem it a privilege to place his portrait among the representative men of San Mateo county. He was born in Delhi, Dela- ware county, New York, August 14, 1819. He left the Empire state, with his parents, in 1836, and settled at North Amherst, Lorraine county, Ohio. Here he was reared on a farm, mastered the details of the business, and with a prac- tical knowledge of these matters came to California, in 1857, across the Isth- mus of Panama, locating at Two Rocks, Sonoma county. On the 4th of July, 1857, he went to Point Reyes, Marin county, where Steele Bros. commenced the manufacture of butter and cheese, shipping the first consignment of this character to San Francisco ever manufactured on the immediate coast, and which was sold for the first price in that market. He remained at Point Reyes until 1862, at which time he rented the ranch of Messrs. Clark & Coburn, in con- junction with his brothers and Horace Gushee and Charles Wilson. Here was started the extensive business which the Steele Bros. are at present conducting, a full account of which will be found in another part of this work. In the year 1864, they manufactured a cheese for the sanitary fund which weighed two tons, and which was exhibited at the Mechanics' Pavilion in San Francisco. One slice of this famous cheese was sent to President Lincoln, another to Gen- eral Grant, and a third sample to General Steele, a brother of the subject of this sketch. A receipt bearing the date of January 11, 1864, signed by F. F. Low, President of the California Branch of the United States Sanitary Com- mission, now in the possession of Mr Steele, is authority for the statement that the net proceeds from the sale of this monstrous cheese amounted to $2,820. Mr. Steele was one of the founders of the Grangers' Bank, in San Francisco, and at the second election of directors he was chosen a member of the board. He was elected Master of the State Grange, in October, 1877, and held the position one term. He was appointed supervisor, and acted in this capacity until he resigned. He was one of the first directors of the Grangers' Busi-
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HISTORY OF SAN MATEO COUNTY.
ness Association, holding the office up to the year 1883. His present residence is on the coast near New Years Point, where he originally located about twenty- three years ago. He owns an extensive ranch at this point, comprising well cultivated fields and large herds of choice cattle. His barns and dairy houses are large and commodious. Standing in front of his residence, one looks out over a broad plateau of pasture land to the flashing waters of the Pacific, while behind tower the sun-crowned mountains. There is no more pictur- esquely situated home in California, or one where happiness and content is so plainly apparent. Mr. Steele is married, and has three children, F. N., Effie and George H.
Sheldon Purdy Pharis. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in another portion of this volume, is a native of Onondaga county, New York, and was born March 22, 1828. He was educated at Syracuse, and was reared on a farm. He came to California via Panama, arriving in San Fran- cisco February 22, 1853. He went to Dry creek, where he mined a short time, but the prospects were so poor that he left the diggings and came to this county in October, 1853. He located in the mountains near the summit, beyond Woodside. This portion of the county at that time was wild in the extreme, covered as it was by tangled undergrowth and stately redwood trees. Roads, there were none, but trails were numerous. Traveling was dangerous, for beasts of prey were plentiful, and the risk of losing one's self in the moun- tains imminent. Mr. Pharis ventured, and his first day's experience resulted in his losing his way, compelling him to camp in the open air all night. The following morning he found his way to a camp, the owner of a pair of blankets and a draw shave, and from this time forward he remained in the red- woods felling the trees, cutting the bolts, riving shakes and shaving shingles. These shingles, when manufactured, were packed on mules from the deep cañons to the top of the mountain, from where they were hauled to what is now Redwood City, by eight and ten ox teams, and from there they were shipped to San Francisco.
Mr. Pharis introduced this mode of transportation on mules in the county, and successfully prosecuted it for several years, much to his own advantage, as well as of the many shingle makers located throughout this timber belt in those early days.
From this beginning, he is at the date of this history the largest indi- vidual land owner in San Mateo county. In 1860, he went to his present ranch,'in section nineteen, township six south, range four west. From the residence of Mr. Pharis a grand picture opens out. The house is erected on an elevated piece of ground, and to the west the ground sinks away into a deep cañon, on the slope of which is erected a cottage for pleasure seekers. The under brush in this cañon is sparse, but the large redwood and
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