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 34
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Fraulein Schmid found in the refined and accomplished professor Mulder, an impresario; and six months later, a husband, who advanced her position to one of celebrity, leading her onward in a succession of triumphs. In May, 1858, the sixth year of her theatrical career, Madame Fabbri made her debut as a prima donna assoluta, in the Italian opera, as " Abigal," in the opera Nebu- cadinosor, causing a decided furore. At the close of the opera season, Madame Fabbri, in company with her husband, undertook a journey quite remarkable for an artiste. Having arrived in Chile, via Cape Horn, from Europe, and won laurels in Santiago and other cities, she went overland to the Argentine Repub- lic. The crossing of the Cordilleras necessitated the service of twenty persons and forty mules and horses. The various adventures, the serious and often comic occurrences of the trip, the sublime scenery viewed during this wild pilgrimage, made lasting impressions upon the susceptible mind of the young artiste. In ten days they reached Mendoza, and after several 'day's rest they continued their journey through the Pampas to Buenos Ayres. Here travel- ing costumes were laid aside for theatrical robes, and for thirty nights the Teatro Colon had not space to admit the crowds who flocked to hear the new operatic star. This success was particularly flattering, as her arrival was shortly after that of De La Grange and Lagrua, who had the prestige of con- tinental reputation. Montevideo, Rio Janeiro and Pernambuco vied with each other in ovations to Madame Fabbri, and, by express request of the royal family of Brazil, she sang at the royal gala at Pernambuco.
The artiste and her company next sailed for New York, where she appeared in Italian opera. Without an exception, the New York journals conceded that no prima donna ever visited the United States, who so prominently combined
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the musical and dramatic art as Madame Fabbri. As an instance, we quote the musical critic of the New York Times, of April 13, 1860. " Signora Inez Fabbri, the celebrated prima donna, made her first appearance last evening in the opera La Traviata, surpassing the highest expectations of the most san- guine imagination. Madame Fabbri is the best Violetta we have had here so far. This truth we must acknowledge without being unjust towards her distin- guished predecessors. De La Grange was musically accomplished, but cold; Gazzaniga was passionate, though not always rounded. Each one illustrated some part of the role, but Fabbri's genius radiated over the whole, illumining a creation in all its details, carrying us away with frenzied enthusiasm and admiration. One who was delighted with her pert and fiery singing in the first act, and listened again to the deeply affecting dying sounds in the last, whence the solution of a human life has approached, rendered in all the truth of agony and terror, could hardly believe those notes emerged from one and the same throat. The artiste created a furore in the literal sense of the word." But often when fortune smiles most blandly, reverses are not distant. Ten days after these fair moments of an artiste's life, Madame Fabbri lost all her effects, at a conflagration which laid in ashes half the city of Mayaquez. This loss estimated at $40,000, was felt all the more keenly on account of a previous loss, nearly equal in amount, occurring through the failure of a bank in the United States.
The youthful artiste again set her foot on European soil in 1862. The celebra- ted society " Felix Meritis " engaged her, and for twenty evenings she sang in Amsterdam, Hague and Utrecht. Madame Fabri next made her appearance on the royal stage in Berlin, then visited Posen and Riga, and in March, 1863, arrived in her native city, Vienna, and was installed as prima donna in the Royal Opera House. What exultant emotions must have thrilled the soul of the Vienna child, when on her first night she received thirteen recalls! The joy of this magnificent reception was however mingled with sad reflections; for her beloved parents, who would have most highly prized her success, had passed to a higher life while she was far away; and her sole consolation was in the consciousness that she had placed their latter years beyond the reach of pecuniary care.
Her leading parts were then, " Valentine," in Les Huguenots, " Leonora," in Il Trovatore, " Elvira," in Ernani, " Anna," in Don Juan, " Bertha," in Le Prophete, " Alice," in Robert le Diable, and " Agatha," in Der Freischutz.
A Leipsig correspondent for the Theatre Cronick, speaking of her " Eliza- beth " in Tannhauser, says: " Madame Fabbri gave a true impersonation of Elizabeth. Her voice seems to be made for the modern musical drama, in which passion, activity and dramatic refinement are necessary; and she does equal justice to Meyerbeer, Halévy, Verdi and Wagner. Among the special-
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ities are the varied " Leonoras," in Fidelio, La Favorita and Il Trovatore, and especially her " Selika" in L' Africaine. Through her extensive travels in foreign countries and close studies of the customs and habits of different races, Madame Fabbri has been enabled to delineate her Selika true to the Ethiopian nature. Passionate, dramatic vocalism has at present the best effect upon the public, and through it Madame Fabbri has attained her exalted ideal.
In March, 1871, the illustrious artiste, accompanied by her husband, R. Mulder (since deceased), Anna Elzer (now in Italy), and Jacob Müller, the baritone, famed in both hemispheres, accepted an engagement in Italian Opera in Covent Garden, London, and was received with the highest honors, although Patti and Titiens were then singing in that city. At last the ambi- tious lady yielded to her longing for the fields of her earliest successes, and with her company, a second time crossed the Atlantic. Her arrival in New York inspired a still more marked enthusiasm than her appearance ten years before. During her stay in the metropolis, new laurels were added to her renown: and her tour west through the prominent cities was the triumphal march of a queen of song.
In September, 1872, she arrived in San Francisco. Who has forgotten the unparalleled excitement in this city during her first three months performance at the California Theatre ? It was the first time we had heard a refined and artistic blending of the Italian and German schools of vocalization. Our souls were filled with sadness as she depicted the mad scene in Lucia, and the death scene in Trariata; and we were alive with merriment in her inimitable delinea- tions of the Merry Wires of Windsor. In conclusion, we can truly say that Madame Inez Fabbri is distinguished no less for her kind heart and genial sympathies than for her dramatic genius and artistic culture, and during the five years of her residence in San Francisco, she won the highest esteem and admiration of the citizens there. This appreciation is shared by her husband, Mr. Jacob Müller, whose reputation as a baritone is unequaled on this coast.
We are happy to state, that Madame Fabbri will remain permanently among us, having purchased a beautiful home in the town of San Mateo, and we may reasonably hope that the artistic charms of the distinguished prima donna may not be hidden by her local seclusion, but that again her voice may delight us as it was wont in the years that have gone.
Hon. J. P. Ames. The following narrative of the life of one of Califor- nia's earliest pioneers will be found worthy of perusal, replete as it is with incidents of a busy life. Mr. Ames was born in England, on January 23, 1829. He came to the United States with his parents when but six months old, and the family settled in New York City. They moved to Hartford, Connecticut, and in Dutchess county, New York, the subject of our memoir received his primary education at the common schools, and his academic learning at a
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seminary in that county. After finishing his education, he went to New York City, and was one of the men who came to this coast in the historic Stephen- son's regiment in 1847. To give the reader a better knowledge of the move- ments of Mr. Ames while with this regiment, we refer them to its history. Suffice it to say, that he was honorably discharged at Monterey, in September, 1848. We next find him in the mines at Mokelumne Hill, Calaveras county, and in this place, and other mining regions of California, he remained until 1856, when he went to Half Moon Bay, San Mateo county. We believe of all the men that we have had the privilege of writing about in California, those who came in Stephenson's regiment possess the most interest. They were all bold, resolute men, men who let no trifles hinder them from achieving the purposes and aims of life which they had mapped out. At the very ouset of Mr. Ames' coming to Half Moon Bay, his public career commenced. He was first elected supervisor, in 1860, and this office, with the exception of a few years, he continuously held until 1881. In 1875 he was appointed by Gover- nor Booth to settle the Yosemite claims, and so faithfully and well did he perform this duty, that he was selected by the republican party and elected to represent the people of his county in the legislature, in the winter of 1876-7. He was appointed warden of the State Prison at San Quentin by Governor Perkins. We believe, therefore we say, that no man has ever had charge of this institution that has managed it with more economy, and we know no one has made the improvements, which will result in so great a profit to the state, as those made by Mr. Ames. The jute factory has in the past year saved to the farmers of this state money enough to endow Judge Ames with a princely fortune. In 1867 he erected a landing, the first on the coast in this county, which for all time to come will bear his name.
Thomas Johnston. The subject of this sketch was born in Scotland, in the year 1816. His parents emigrated to America two years later and settled at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where his father died. In 1832 he, in company with his mother, removed to Gallia county, Ohio, where he resided until 1849, when he concluded to try his fortune with the hundreds of others rushing to the Pacific coast in quest of gold. Crossing the plains, he arrived in Cali- fornia in the autumn of the same year. After meeting with good success, he returned to his old home in Ohio in 1852, where he spent the winter. The following spring he again set his face westward, taking a drove of eight hundred head of cattle from the "states," which he drove through to Half Moon Bay, where he settled in October, 1853. In 1868 he opened a grocery store, where he still does business. Mr. Johnston was married at Half Moon Bay, in 1863, to Glorian Griffing, by whom he has two children, a son and daughter.
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Alexander Kerr. Was born in Australia in 1845. In 1850, his parents emigrated to California, bringing him into California life at the early age of five years, and at a time when everything was at the hightest pitch of excite- ment. His parents settled at San Jose, Santa Clara county, where they still reside. Mr. Kerr was educated in San Jose, where he resided until 1869, when he removed to San Mateo county, settling at Half Moon Bay. He has . served as constable in township No. 4 for the past five years, which position he now holds. He was married in 1876 to Miss Miramontez, only daugh- ter of Rudolpho Miramontez.
Patrick Deeney. Born in Ireland in 1831. He came to America in 1851, landing at New York, where he remained one year. Coming to California in 1852, he engaged in mining near Sonora, Tuolumne county, following that occupation eleven years, during which time he made trips to Fraser river, Vir- ginia City and Aurora, while the excitement was at its height in those places. He was interested in mining property at Table Mountain, which became involved in litigation, and becoming disgusted with the business sold out his interest and removed to San Mateo county in 1863, where he now resides, owning a good farm of one hundred and ten acres in township No. 4, being part of the Denniston ranch, situated four miles north of the town of Half Moon Bay.
Rudolpho Miramontez. Was born at the old Presidio (now a part of San Francisco), in the year 1820. At the age of fourteen years he joined the army, where he served under the then existing government of Mexico for a number of years. In 1840, he took up his residence at Half Moon Bay, sur- rounded by wild animals, and still wilder men, who made it extremely dangerous for a lone man, though he still continued to reside there, on the grant of land which had been made to his father by Governor Alvarado. The rest of the fami- ly afterwards settled on the grant, which has been divided into many pieces, and the town of Half Moon Bay is located on a part of it. Mr. Miramontez still owns his portion, consisting of two hundred and seventy-seven acres, where he has fitted up a home in which plenty seems to abound. He was married while comparatively a young man, and has one son and one daughter now living. The father of Mr. Miramontez was born in Spain, and his mother, who is still living, was born of Mexican parents at the San Antonio Mission, nearly a century ago.
W. H. Clark. The subject of this sketch was born June 8, 1840, in the state of Massachusetts, where he was educated. At the age of seventeen, with the aspirations of youth, he came west, settled in Nevada county, Cali- fornia, and engaged in mining there for two years. In 1859 he removed to
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Sierra county, where he became interested in the mines and also in the hotel business. In 1866 he came to San Mateo county, and turned his attention to farming a short time, then went into the employ of the Spring Valley Water Company. Obtaining control of the San Mateo and Half Moon Bay toll road, he opened a public house on the road in a pleasant and picturesque spot, where he ministers to the wants of the traveling public as only a genial and hospitable host can.
Jacob Downing. Better known as " Major Downing," was born in Colum- bia county, New York, in 1823. Left there in December, 1851, and came to California by way of the Isthmus, landing at San Francisco during the following spring. His first business undertaking was making shingles in the redwoods of San Antonio. In 1853 he came to Half Moon Bay, and began the manufacture of wagons and carriages, being the first attempt at that indus- try in the western portion of San Mateo county. Two years after he sold his shop and purchased one thousand three hundred and twenty-five acres of land on Tunitos creek, and turned his attention to stock raising and agriculture. In 1871, he divided the ranch, letting his brother have six hundred acres, or the western part, retaining seven hundred and twenty-five acres, on which he has made comfortable improvements. Mr. Downing has demonstrated the fact that fruit will grow and mature to perfection on the western slope of the county, as the writer was shown some very fine apples, plums, quinces and crab apples. The apples were ripe, and were of as fine flavor as can be pro- duced in the state. Mr. Downing was married in January, 1868, to Miss S. E. Clapp, who was a native of Poughkeepsie, New York.
Murty Gargan. Was born in county Cavan, Ireland, .in the year 1825. He came to America in 1851, landing at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he remained three years, then removed to California, and settled at Shaw's Flat, Tuolumne county, where he was for some time superintendent of the Northern Light Placer Mine and Flume Company. After quite an extensive experience in mining operations, Mr. Gargan concluded to try farming, and in 1867 he moved to San Mateo county, where he purchased a farm of 250 acres in town- ship No. 4, where he now resides. He was married, in 1858, to Catharine Cahill, and has a family of five children, one son and four daughters.
George F. Wyman. Was born in the State of New York in the year 1818, and resided there until 1835, when he shipped on the Commodore Rodgers for- a whaling voyage bound for the Pacific. After experiencing a rough voyage, the vessel was wrecked off the coast at Monterey, having on board twelve thou- sand pounds of oil, that being the amount of their captures on the trip. After landing at Monterey, Mr. Wyman made his way to the interior, where
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he spent his time alternately between the town of Monterey, and as a vaquero among the Mexicans until 1840, when the Americans were driven out of the Spanish possessions. He then went north to Sutter's settlement, near where Sacramento now stands, and entered Sutter's employ as hunter and trapper, also helping to build the fort at that place, which was erected in 1842. In 1844, he, in company with E. Merritt, Swift and Ford, organized a party to go to Sonoma, electing Ford as captain, with the intention of capturing the country around Sonoma and having the whole of it to themselves. Prior to this time Fremont had gone north towards Oregon, and Major Gillespie afterward arrived from the southern country with orders for Fremont in regard to future movements. Mr. Wyman was detailed to act as guide for Gillespie, which he did as far north as where Chico now stands. He then returned to the fort and waited until Fremont's command came back. In the meantime Captain Ford had moved into Sonoma and captured the Mission and its gar- rison, including General Vallejo. The " bear flag " was floating over the place when Fremont arrived, nearly a week after. The capture of San Rafael followed soon after, and Captain Ford's company being disbanded, Mr. Wyman went to Sutter's fort again. He says from the time he first went to that country their troubles with the Indians were of frequent occurrence, and many were killed or captured, after which peace would be declared, which generally proved lasting with that particular tribe, but other tribes would not profit by the exam- ple of their neighbors, and a lesson of the same kind had to be administered to each tribe. Mr. Wyman saw the first gold discovered in 1848, which was found by the little children of Peter Weimar, though they gave the specimens to Marshall who received the honor of the discovery. The subject of our sketch was mrrried in 1846, to America Kelsey, who had arrived in California two years previous. Mr. Wyman took up his residence in San José in 1848, removed to Santa Cruz in 1850, where he resided until 1853, thence to San Mateo county, settling at Pescadero, and remaining there until 1868, when he removed to Half Moon Bay. Mrs. Wyman is a lady with a remarkable history. Born in Morgan county, Mo., in 1832, her parents emigrated to Oregon in 1843, in company with many others, composing a train of one hundred and twenty-five wagons, which had to be deserted three hundred miles east of their destination, the rest of their journey being accomplished with pack animals. The following year they continued their journey to California in the same man- ner, arriving at Sutter's Fort in August, 1844. Mrs. Wyman and her mother were the first white women at Stockton, where the family were all taken with small pox, of which her father died. The complete history of this lady would be quite interesting. She is now a member of the San Joaquin Pioneer Society. The writer was shown a clock which was brought to California in 1848 by Captain Fisher, and presented to Mrs. Wyman; being the first clock known in the state. She is not favorably impressed with the present state of things, and
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would like to see the old times of thirty-five years ago, when beans and beef alone made the bill of fare.
Antonio Miramontez. Mr. Miramontez was born near Searsville in this county, in 1847, and has resided in and around this place ever since. His father was a native of Spain and came to this coast many years ago. The subject of our sketch married Manuella, the only living child of that old pioneer, John Copinger. They now reside in Woodside, and are possessed of a beautiful home. Clara, Christopher, Charlotte, Louisa and Charley are their children.
Thomas Shine. Is an Irishman, and was born December 11, 1845. He landed in the United States in 1852, settling in Brooklyn, New York. He left Brooklyn and went to New York City, from which place he sailed for this state, January 5, 1856, via Nicaragua, arriving in San Francisco in February of that year, and went direct to the mines, locating at Oroville, where he remained about five weeks, returning to San Francisco about March 1st, following. He then came to Searsville, where he began the manufacture of shingles on the Mountain Home ranch. He has spent one winter in the mines and one in San Francisco since he first located here, and the balance of the time he has resided in this county. He is now road overseer, and a large portion of his time is occupied in attending to the duties of that position. He also owns a farm. He married Mary Boyd, and Annie E., Mary E., William H., Emma M., Edward V., Laura F., George E., are their children.
T. R. Goodspeed, M. D. The reminiscences of the early pioneers on the Pacific coast must ever possess a peculiar interest for the Californian. Green in their memory will ever remain the trials and incidents of early life in this land of golden promise. These pioneers of civilization constitute no ordinary class of adventurer's. Resolute, ambitious and enduring, looking into the great and possible future of this western slope, and possessing the sagacious mind to . grasp true conclusions, and the indomitable will to execute just means to attain desired ends, these heroic pioneers, by their subsequent _career, have proved that they were equal to the great mission assigned them, that of carry- ing the real essence of American civilization from their eastern homes, and planting it upon the shores of another ocean. Among the many who have shown their fitness for the tasks assigned them, none merit this tribute more fully than the subject of this sketch. He was born in China, Maine, on May 30, 1831. His parents, during the same year, moved to Pittston, in the same state, where they now reside. He received his education at the public schools and academies of that state, and, during his minority, he made teaching his profession. At the age of twenty years he commenced the study of medicine
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under the celebrated Dr. C. N. Whitmore, of Gardiner, Maine, and graduated from Bowdoin Medical College in 1854, where he received his degree of M. D. He then went to Wisconsin, where he practiced his profession some three years, when he returned east, and remained until 1859, when he came to Cali- fornia via the Isthmus of Panama. On arriving in San Francisco he adopted the usual custom of going to the mines. After trying his fortune there for a time, he concluded that mining was a too uncertain business, and went, in the spring of 1860, to Pescadero, at that time in Santa Cruz county, but since set off to San Mateo county. At that time Pescadero and the surrounding country was sparsely settled, so in connection with the practice of medicine he taught the public school there some two years. In 1862 he went into the mercantile business at Pescadero, and followed the same most of the time until 1872, at which time he sold out his business there and moved to San Mateo, in the same county, where he made the practice of medicine his business. When the county of San Mateo built a county hospital, he was appointed physician to take charge of the same, which position he held for four years. In 1875 he was appointed post master at San Mateo, which office he now holds. In 1882 the republican party selected him from among his compeers, and nominated him to represent San Francisco and San Mateo counties, as joint state senator. But like all other candidates of that party that year, he was defeated. In 1883 he was appointed surgeon of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, which posi- tion he now holds. He was married in Gardiner, Maine, to L. P. Woodcock, and by the union he has two children; Edward and Ella.
Lemuel T. Murray. Who resides near San Mateo, is one of California's pioneers, having arrived in this state early in 1852. He was born Sep- tember 18, 1829, in Chittenden county, Vermont, where he was educated, and where he lived until he came to this state via the Panama route, landing in San Francisco, April 29, 1852. On May 1, 1852, he passed through Sacra- mento on his way to the mines at Auburn, Placer county, where he remained until the following year, mining and cutting timber, engaging in the latter work during the winter of 1852-3. In the spring of 1853 he worked a farnı on the Cosumnes river. A year afterwards he returned to San Francisco and engaged in the dairy business. In 1856 he returned to the east, and in com- pany with his brother, bought a band of cattle and sheep in Missouri, which they drove across the plains in 1857. They purchased land south of San Mateo in 1862, and started a dairy ranch. His ranch is furnished with fine barns and sheds for storing hay, the main barn being one hundred and twenty- eight by sixty feet, capable of holding one hundred head of cattle and five hundred tons of hay. Besides this he has all the other necessary buildings and the latest improved appliances for carrying on this business. His herd of cows number one hundred and eighty head, the product of which is shipped to San
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