USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 29
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
this wide-spreading canopy, it was that Secundino recounted to us the exploits of his more youthful days. At his mansion in its palmiest days, the stage changed horses, long before the line of the county road had been diverted; here was he in the habit of dispensing an open hospitality; at his board the guests were many, on his estate the hunters were not a few, when such game as bear, panther, and deer were thick in the jungle. Secundino Robles to-day is a fine-looking old gentleman standing over six feet in height, with well-cut features, and noble presence, while his dark-eyed wife is a fit com- panion for his robust old age, notwithstanding the family of nine-and-twenty children she has given to the world. His acres are not as many as in the days when he was bounded by Rafael Soto to the north and Mariano Cas- tro (who had no actual domicile here), to the south, yet we trust that suffi- cient may long remain to him to keep the wolf from the door.
To John W. Whisman is the honor of being the first American settler in Fremont township. This worthy pioneer was a native of Wythe county, Virginia, and after enduring the many hardships consequent on crossing the plains at so early a date, settled about half a mile from where an inn was afterwards built and named the Fremont House, in 1847, not far from Mountain View. In the following year, 1848, his cousin, John Whisman, arrived on the scene, and located on the ground, a portion of which is now occupied by the depot of the Southern Pacific Railroad at Mountain View Station. To save confusion the last-named settler in after years became familiarly know as " Old John." These and their families and one Creigh- ton, who dwelt near them, were without doubt the first pioneer settlers of the township. The first death that had deprived the small community of one of its number, was that of Alpha Whisman, in 1848. In the next year, however, 1849, there was an undoubted accession to the population, for we learn of the birth of Joseph Palmer Whisman; the double marriage of Andrew Whisman to Serelda Whisman, and David Campbell to Mary Whisman in September 1849; while, at about the same time, M. W. Dixon, himself a son-in-law of Mr. Whisman, arrived and took up his residence in the section. In November, 1849, James Lynn and Washington Moody, his son-in-law, lived and kept the Fremont House who bought it from the origi- nal proprietor named Harlan, who settled there about 1848. This establish- ment stood where Dan Murphy now resides on the property of John Sul- livan.
Up to the end of 1849 it will be observed that the township was but sparsely settled; indeed we cannot find that any other settlers than these already named came into this portion of the valley. In the Fall of 1850, however, a better start was made. Martin Murphy, who had come to the State as long ago as 1844, but whose family had settled in other portions of the county, came down from the Sacramento district, acquired the Pastoria
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de las Borregas of Mariano Castro, and in the month of September of that year commenced the erection of the house he now occupies. The original portion of the residence was brought out in pieces round Cape Horn from Boston and put up where it now stands, about half a mile from the railroad depot at Murphy's. At this same time there came Edward Dale, and a month later, in November, Barnes Holloway and two ministers of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, named C. Yaeger and Wesley Gallimore. These, in partnership with Dale, rented land from Mariano Castro, but each farmed a portion on his own account. About this period a man named Frost settled on the Hollenbeck farm, while soon after the ground to the back of that tract was taken up by William Wright, who still resides on it. During the Winter of 1850-51, Abner Bryant came from Gilroy, where he had resided for some years, and located close to Dale and the others, at what is now Mountain View Station. At this periol the upper portion of the township was without a permanent resident, except the Spanish families. True, there was working in the redwoods and teaming, " Uncle Jim " Otter- son, but it is doubtful if he had a fixed abode within what are now the township lines. This we do know, for he says so himself, that early in 1851 he settled on what is now the Stanford ranch, and thinking it to be Govern- ment land he afterwards disposed of it to David Adams who in turn sold it to Delavan Hoag, when the property became known as the Hoag Place. This old pioneer was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, May 5, 1805, and is now a resident of San Mateo county. In the Spring of 1851, Milton A. Lewis, from Missouri, settled on the farm now occupied by John W. Boulware near Mayfield, while, the period is made memorable by the establishment of the first school in the township. The number of children had so rapidly increased that it was'deemed desirable to open some place wherein instruc- tion might be given to those desiring it. To this end a sum of money was subscribed, a cabin erected on the site of the present railroad warehouse, and the charge given to Rev. W. Gallimore, who had promised to undertake the labors provided twenty-five pupils were forthcoming. But this was not the only benefit accruing from this scheme. On the completion of the school building, regular services were inaugurated, the pastors being Messrs. Yaeger and Gallimore, while it was arranged that once a month the edifice should be handed over to the Methodist and Baptist Bodies, the first clergy- men alternating being Revs. Messrs. Bailey, now residing near Santa Clara, and Ricketts, of the Baptists. In the year 1851, there also settled near Mountain View, E. Jenkins, B. C. Bubb, W. H. Bubb, and William McClel- lan who located on land now the property of S. P. Emerson.
With the new year the march of immigration continued. Early in 1852, Nathan Hon arrived and bought out Abner Bryant, but some time after was removed from the ground he occupied, it not being Government land,
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
when he left for Gilroy, Bryant proceeding to Salinas. Messrs. Blair, Mead- ows, Clark, Joel Levin, and Blazer too came about this period, while William Ware settled on the land now owned by B. C. Bubb. I. N. Graham took up the ground on which he now lives; Richard Johnson also came, and earlier in the year an Englishman named Curtis pitched his tent on what is now the property of Frank Sleeper. There also located near Ware's place a man named Neville, and Jacob Boone. In the Fall of the year, Richard Johnson disposed of his traet to a new arrival named Thompson, who after occupying it for three or four years sold out to S. P. Emerson, who up to that time had his home on the Ynigo Ranch. In the month of August G. E. Shore arrived; the next month E. F. Springer took up his residence, married a daughter of Mr. Shore in the next month, since when the two families have resided near Mountain View ; there also settled in that section in the month of December, G. H. Briggs. To the upperportion of the township there came John W. Boulware, who went on the place described as having been located by Milton A. Lewis in 1851. On arrival he found Silas Harmon farming forty acres, or thereabouts, on what is now Mr. Seal's property. Mr. Boulware remained in this part of the township until December, 1852, when he moved to Mountain View, bought the unexpired portion of a lease from Rev. C. Yaeger, and there resided until 1854, when he removed to the Calaveras valley, Milpitas township, but returned to Fremont township in 1861. In December, 1852, A. J. Pitman also located not far from Mayfield, near the San Francisquito creek.
It is always interesting in a work of the nature of a local history not only to note the arrivals of the earlier settlers, but to trace their whereabouts at the time of writing. We do not usually make this a portion of the scheme mapped out for our guidance ; but while in conversation with Edward Dale, the question was hazarded as to his knowledge of what had become of the foregoing pioneers. He informed us that the Rev. C. Yaeger was now in charge of a circuit in what is known as the Mussel Slough country; Rev. W. Galli- more resides on his farm in Santa Clara township, adjoining the Ynigo Ranch; Blair, Clark, and Blazer removed some years ago to the Russian River val- ley ; Meadows died on his farm in or about 1853 or '54; Johnson is a resi- dent of Pacheco, Contra Costa county; Curtis moved to Monterey, where he still resides; Mcclellan died in 1861 or thereabouts; Frost is now in Arizona Territory ; Neville died in 1879; and Boone is a resident of Amador county.
During the Fall of 1852, the first fencing was done by Messrs. Dale, Hol- loway, and Yaeger, those then existing being only on the margin of water- courses, where they had been left by each recurring flood. The initial inclosure was commenced about where now stands the prosperous little village of Mountain View Station, though it is just possible that the Spaniards may have put up some kind of an inclosure to protect the little patches of water- melons and corn which they cultivated. In this year was erected the first
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store in the township by Richard Carr, who employed Jacob Shomway to conduct it, in what is now Old Mountain View; while the upper portion of the section was supplied by William Paul from a trading-post he had estab- lished on the San Mateo side of the San Francisquito creek at the embarca- dero of Ravenswood.
The year 1853 we find was one of considerable moment, for the first town was started; but it is not our intention here to recount its rise and progress; that will be dealt with in the history of Mountain View. Another note- worthy event, which will be found recorded elsewhere, was the construction by James Otterson, at what is now Mayfield, of the famous "Unele Jim's Cabin," a house of entertainment which in the olden times had a wide celeb- rity. Of the settlers who arrived at this epoch we have been only able to trace the names of Jonathan Richardson, Joseph Barton, George H. Grant, D. B. Bailey, George Charleston, George W. La Pierre, S. P. Taylor, O. Crit- tenden, C. J. Fuller, and David Adams; while, in June of that year there resided on the Dunn place in Mayfield, now owned by Peter P. Coutts, one John Fine, and a man named Little on what is now ex-Governor Stanford's home farin; Kishener resided about a quarter of a mile from Mayfield on the county road, and Sandy Wilson had squatted on the Palo Alto traet under the erroneous impression that it was Government land. About this time the Weilheimer Brothers opened a store in Mountain View, as did also a Hun- garian called Ernest, who went by the name of " Doc;" while it was in this year that the cemetery at Mountain View, the only one in the township, was laid out on land donated for the purpose by Mariano Castro, a gift which speaks volumes for the liberality of that Spanish gentleman.
As year gave place to year the tidal wave of immigration, after beating against the precipitous sides of the Rocky Mountains and the alinost impass- able barriers of the Sierra Nevada, found its endless way into the valleys of the Golden State. Of the hundreds who came to the fertile vale of Santa Clara in the year 1854, there were a few destined to find homes within the limits of Fremont township, among them being Delavan Hoag, Mitchell Dubbs, and George De Witt Gleason. In 1854, E. O. Crosby purchased that tract of land now owned by Edward Barron, gave to it the pleasant name of Mayfield Farm, which in turn gave the title to the post-office on its estab- lishment in 1855, and still later to the thrifty little town which to-day bears that appellation. We note that in 1855 Nathaniel Eaton and M. Spedding cast their lot in this district; while in the following year, 1856, that ancient Seot, William Paul, finding the opposition of Fuller too much for his little store at Ravenswood, purchased the stock and good-will of the latter, removed his own little establishment, and planted in what is now Mayfield Besides Mr. Paul, there also found a dwelling-place in that year, W. W .. Brown, and S. D. Hosmer.
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
In the following years, immigration was heavy, and however willingly we would give the names of each successive settler, we find it impossible to do so, hence we mention only a few-not because there are none others equally as worthy of public mention, but because we have not the requisite space. In 1857, there arrived in Fremont township that worthy pioneer, Judge Joseph S. Wallis. Coming to the State at a very early date, he, like everybody else, took a turn at the mines, but not finding there that suc- cess which he desired, he returned to San Francisco, entered upon the study and practice of law, and finally settled in Mayfield in the above year. Not only has Judge Wallis been a warm supporter of the public enterprises of that village, but he has always taken an active part in all matters appertaining to the township in which he has made his home. Among the new-comers in this year were, Joseph Ponce, Robert Brown and Henry Ringstorff, the owner of the landing of that name, a history of whose establishment there we have failed to procure, though several attempts to that end have been made. In 1858, we find these two energetic citizens, Walter Henderson, the first station agent on the Southern Pacific road at Mayfield, and Cornelius Van Buren, formerly a public servant in several capacities, but at present General Superintendent of the Ayrshire Farm of Peter Coutts. In 1859, John Snyder, and Theodore F. Grant came, while, in 1860, there arrived genial John Duchesneau, C. B. Davidson, and last, though not least, that pioneer of '47, the Honorable Daniel Frink.
Thus far we have endeavored to bring what may be called the early set- tlement of the township, now under consideration, to perfection-that is, as perfect as may be. Would that it were possible to polish up memory, and rectify chronology; were such a thing feasible, then the difficulty would dwindle into insignificance, and our task be easy; as it is, we have usually had to depend on precarious recollections, foggy dates, and uncorroborated testimony. What we have given to the reader, has been gleaned from what may be termed the "weight of evidence."
MOUNTAIN VIEW .- This peaceful little village is situated about eight miles north from San Jose, and worthily derives its name from the splendid hilly prospect which meets the eye at this point. It stands in the center of a rich farming country, and, at one time promised to be a place of consid- erable importance, but the railroad having given it the go-by, it has been robbed of its importance by its sister hamlet near the track and depot.
In the year 1852, when the county road was altered from its original line, James Campbell erected a stage stand on the site of Mrs. Taylor's hotel, where the coaches changed horses; not long after, a store was opened by Jacob Shomway for Richard Carr, on ground immediately opposite the hotel, where it stood until a few years ago, when it was removed to the back of the
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town, and is at present occupied by Mrs. Sleeper, as a residence. It was thus that Mountain View had its commencement. In 1853, two more stores were erected by Weilheimer Brothers, and a Hungarian, whose name cannot now be recalled, save that he was always called "Doc," while a few residences were constructed.
The lots were originally surveyed by F. Sleeper and Mariano Castro, and laid out with a due regard to streets, but the settlement has been mainly on either side of the San Jose road.
In the year 1859, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was built where it now stands, midway between the two towns, while some years after the present elegant school house was erected. In 1869, S. P. Taylor constructed his hotel, since his death kept by his widow, while, in 1876, the attrac- tive building, known as Enterprise Hall, was built by a local association.
Mountain View Lodge, No. 244 I. O. O. F .- This society was instituted June 2, 1876, with the following Charter Members: Edward E. Burke, Christian Mayers, Richard Harjes, Samuel P. Taylor, Joseph F. Kennedy, James Simpson, the officers officiating on the occasion being: H. J. Tilden, M. W. G. M .; W. B. Lyon, G. Sec., assisted by James A. Lotz, D. D. G. M .; D. K. Swain, D. D. G. M .; C. W. Vandegrift, P. G .; H. C. Mumford, P. G .; John H. Dibble, P. G .: C. V. Thorn, P. G., and C. Curdts, P. G. The officers elected for the first term were: J. F. Kennedy, N. G .; R. Harjes, V. G .; E. E. Burke, Sec .; S. P. Taylor, Treas .; while, on the evening of the institution no less than thirteen candidates were admitted by Initiation. The lodge has at present fifty-five members in good standing, and the offi- cers for the current year are: W. A. Woodis, N. G .; D. Gartelmann, V. G .; S. A. Taylor, P. G., Sec .; M. S. Loncks, Per. Sec .; R. Harjes, P. G., Treas. Half of the building in which the Lodge meets is owned by thein, while the society is in a flourishing condition.
Mountain View House .- This hotel stands on the site of the original building constructed in 1852 by James Campbell as a wayside stopping place for the stage to and from San Jose, and was built by S. P. Taylor in the year 1869, who conducted it till his death, when its affairs fell into the hands of his widow and family. It contains fifteen rooms, besides a capa- cions hall, forty-six by twenty-four feet in dimensions.
Enterprise Hall .- Was erected in the year 1876 by an association com- posed of residents of the town and vicinity. It is twenty-six by sixty feet, fitted with anterooms, and otherwise suited for dances, etc. It was originally built for the Odd Fellows' Society, whose hall occupies the upper story of the building.
MOUNTAIN VIEW STATION. - As its name indicates this village is the
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
depot of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and is entirely the result of that line of communication. It was laid out by Hon. S. O. Houghton, of San José, in lots of one hundred and fifty feet square, while about the same time another town named Bayview was planned by Castro. So far as can be gleaned from the plat of the village, recorded in March, 1865, twelve blocks of six lots each were projected, bounded by thoroughfares which received high-sounding names, that to the north being Front street; to the south, Dana and California streets; to the east, .View street, and to the west, Oak street, the site being intersected from north to south by Franklin, Bryant, Castro and Hope streets, and east to west by Villa and Dana streets.
Prior to the commencement of any town the railroad had a small ticket office, situated in a corner of one of Mr. Dale's fields, superintended by a man named Shirley, who was the first station agent. In 1864, on the abandon- ment of the temporary, building which served as a depot, and the construc- tion of the saloon of Shirley & Haines, which was purchased by the rail- road for a station, the town may be said to have taken its start. This was the first house in Mountain View Station. The next was the hotel, built in 1865 by Daniel Frink and Shirley. It was originally used as a saloon, but afterwards added to until it assumed the proportions which it shows to-day. The third house erected was that of Amos Neff, in the same year, on the site directly opposite the hotel, but the railroad afterwards acquiring the ground it was removed to its present location in 1865.
In the year 1872 the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, organized a congregation and built a neat church building, under charge of Rev. Isaac L. Hopkins, this, with the splendid brick warehouses of Smith & Bubb, erected in 1878, being the only buildings of any prominence in the village. The secret societies are all well representel, the stores appear to drive a thriving trade, while the post-office, removed from the old town, and agency of Wells, Fargo & Co., all appear to have their share of business.
Methodist Episcopal Church, South .- This Church was organized in Oeto- ber, 1872, and the circuit set off under charge of Rev. Isaac L. Hopkins, since when the following Reverend gentlemen have occupied the pulpit: 1873-4, Richard Pratt; 1875, L. C. Renfro; 1876, C. P. Jones ; 1877, Isaac L. Hopkins; 1878, Isaac L. Hopkins; 1879, George Sim; 1880, F. M. Featherston. The church, which has a seating capacity of about two hundred and fifty, was built in 1872, and is in the Mountain View circuit, which also includes Bayview, the congregation in the former place number- ing about one hundred and twenty-five, and eighty or ninety in the latter. The neat little edifice is situated on the confines of Mountain View Station.
Mountain View Lodge, No. 194, F. & A. M .- At a preliminary meeting held October 8, 1868, the following brethren being present: W. Gallimore,
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H. N. Bishop, S. Weilheimer, W. G. Jones, A. J. Hoyt, William Eppeheimer, G. W. Smith, William Bullard, Chris. Mayers, A. F. Beardsley, G. W. Davis, it was determined to petition the Grand Lodge for the establishment of a lodge at Mountain View Station. In due time Dispensation was granted, and the following officers chosen under it: G. W. Smith, W. M. ; G. W. Davis, S. W .; William Eppeheimer, Treas .; A. J. Hoyt, Sec .; William Bul- lard, S. D .; Chris. Mayers, J. D .; W. G. Jones, Tyler. The Charter was conceded December 26, 1869, with the following officers named: G. W. Smith, W. M .; W. Eppeheimer, S, W .; C. Mayers, J. W. The present mem- bership of the lodge numbers seventeen, while they meet in the Masonic Hall at Mountain View Station, on the first Tuesday of each month pre- ceding the full moon. Officers for the current term are: H. McClery, W. M .; W. Whitmore, S. W. ; S. Weilheimer, J. W .; G. E. Shore, Treas .; W. Foss, Sec. : John Graham, S. D. ; E. Young, J. D. ; C. Mayers, Tyler.
Mountain View Lodge, No. 59, A. O. U. I .- The Ancient Order of United Workmen organized their lodge No. 59, October 16, 1878, with the follow- ing Charter Members: William F. Foss, S. G. Isaman, W. Babcock, G. E. Shore, George T. Wagstaff, Walter Henderson, J. M. Paul, A. Alexander, J. P. Ponce, J. W. Coulter, M. Le Deit, N. A. Gilman, Peter Towne, J. L. Mc- Kibben, E. A. Minsch, L. Coblentz. H. D. Robertson, the original officers being : William F. Foss, P. M. W .; G. E. Shore, M. W .; Walter Henderson, G. F .; W. Babcock, O .; S. G. Isaman, Recorder; L. Coblentz, G .; N. A. Gil- man, Financier: G. T. Wagstaff, Receiver; John Paul, I. W .; A. Alexander, O. W .; Trustees, H. D. Robertson, Peter Towne, G. E. Shore. The present membership is thirty-two, who hold their meetings in the Masonic Hall every Saturday evening. The officers for the current term are: N. A. Gilman, M. W .; J. L. Ross, M. D., G. F .; J. C. Smith, O .; G. T. Wagstaff, Recorder; J. R. Stewart, G .; W. F. Frost, Financier; J. A. Hornberger, Receiver; M. Walters, I. W .; R. Hodges, O. W.
Golden Wreuth Lodge, No. 327, I. O. G. T .- The Good Templars instituted their lodge May 14, 1880, the Charter Members being: C. T. Springer. N. A. Gilman, J. J. Mockbee, Miss L. B. Gilman, Miss M. E. Smith, Miss M. F. Smith, John S. Bailey, Joseph E. Graham, A. Crittenden, Miss Annie Cole- man, Alick A. Cook, W. T. Triplett, W. Bracher, George Guth, Henry Huff, W. Smith, A. W. Muncy, E. J. Gillespie, David Jenkins, Frank King, Jerome Bailey, Miss Maggie King, George R. Smith, Frank Gardner, Frank Morton, Miss Grace Shore, Miss Lizzie Springer, John Quirk, D. Murphy, George Sim, T. S. Stealy, the original holders of office being as follows: N. A. Gilman, W. C. T .; Miss Grace Shore, W. R. H. S .; Miss Lizzie Springer, W. L. H. S .; Miss Mary Smith, W. V. T .; Charles Springer, P. W. C. T .; J. S. Bailey, W. Sec .; Miss Martha Smith, Asst. Sec .; A. Crittenden, W. F.
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Sec .; J. S. Mockbee, W. Treas .; Alick A. Cook, W. I. G .; W. T. Triplett, W. O. G .; Miss Lizzie Gilman, W. Marshal ; Miss Maggie King, Asst. Marshal ; Chaplain, Rev. Geo. Sim; E. J. Gillespie, D. D. G. W. C. T. The present membership is thirty-one, and meets every Friday at Congress Hall. The officers for the current term are: W. T. Triplett, W. C. T .; A. Muncy, W. R. H. S .; H. Huff, W. L. H. S .; Miss Lillie Gilman, W. V. T .; N. A. Gilman, P. W. C. T .; D. Jenkins, W. Sec .; Alick A. Cook, W. F. Sec .; J. Mockbee, W. Treas .; W. Smith, W. Marshal; F. King, Asst. Mar .; Miss Cynthia Mockbee, W. I. G .; T. Stealy, W. O. G .; John Bailey, W. Chaplain; E. J. Gillespie, D. D. G. W. C. T.
Mountain View Hotel .- This hostelry was originally built in the year 1865 by Daniel Frink and - Shirley, and was by them conducted for two years, when it was purchased by S. Weilheimer, and rented by him for several years, though he now has it under his own management. It is situ- ated on the corner of Castro and Front streets in close proximity to the rail- road depot, contains thirteen rooms, and will be found worthy the attention of transient guests.
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