USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90
448
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
a small side room for the use of the teachers. Upon the third floor is the main assembly room for lectures, exhibitions, school concerts, etc. It is fifty-seven and a half by sixty and a half feet in dimensions, with high ceil- ing, well-lighted and ventilated, while there are small ante-rooms adjoining. The total cost was upwards of twenty thousand dollars.
On the 21st December San Jose was visited by a terrific storm of wind and rain, which on the following day blew with unabated fury. The waters of the Los Gatos and Guadalupe rose rapidly, overflowing their banks and flooding the low grounds in the western part of the city, while unfinished buildings were demolished, windmills upset, shade trees blown down and much other damage done.
In this year genial Martin Corcoran, a man who has served his country and her people well, about July 6th opened the New York Exchange on the west side of First street near St. John street ; while, in addition, much street work had been perfected, and a system of sewerage introduced; the first of these included all the streets lying between St. John and William streets- seven streets north and south, and from First to Seventh streets inclusive. Many other streets, outside of these boundaries, were also improved. The most important private progress was the commencement by Levy Brothers of a two-story fire-proof block on the south-west corner of First and Santa Clara streets. Simultaneously with this work John Balbach began the erec- tion of a building adjoining the last named, on Santa Clara street, in a like style of architecture; while Mr. Wilcox constructed a brick building on the site of a portion of the Morgan House, on First street; Mr. Knoche built a house of brick on El Dorado street; Dr. Knox built four brick stores, on the west side of First near Santa Clara street, and Calvin Martin, put up three stores adjoining those last mentioned. Indeed we are assured that there never had been a time in the history of the city, when evidences of its pros- perity were so abundant. In the central business portions, as we have seen, a number of substantial fire-proof buildings had been or were being erected, and everywhere in the suburbs stately family residences, and numerous cozy cottages were springing up as if by magic.
In the midst of such remarkable prosperity it is sad to record the death of one who had done so much to build up the city now under notice. Of him the Mercury of November 14, 1867, observes: Dr. Knox was born near Hop- kinsville, Kentucky, October 20, 1820. In infancy, with his parents, he emi- grated to Missouri. He graduated at the medical college of Louisville, Ken- tucky, and practiced medicine in Lincoln county, Missouri, until 1850, when he came to this State across the plains, and settled in Nevada City. There he followed his profession for ten years, engaging at the same time in mining, and in the construction of water ditches. In 1854-5 he represented Nevada county in the State Legislature. His health becoming somewhat impaired,
-
Grays
ABMunter
< AND . . ATIONS.
449
SAN JOSÉ TOWNSHIP.
he abandoned the practice of his profession and visited the Atlantic States, returning after an absence of eighteen months. After one year's further residence in Nevada he located in San Jose, arriving here about four years ago (1863). Dr. Knox was a gentleman of large means, and to him San José is indebted for some of her finest improvements. In 1865 he was elected to the Senate from Santa Clara county for the full term of four years. He discharged his Senatorial duties during the last session of the Legislature with eminent ability. Possessing a mind of extensive culture, richly stored with general knowledge, with a keen perception of justice, and with that fine polish which makes the true gentleman, he was well calculated to adorn any society. In all the walks of life he was the soul of honor and unbend- ing principle. He died November 13, 1867.
1868 .- January 2d of this year, it was voted by the city that Market street should be extended through Market square ; five hundred and forty, or a majority of twenty-two being in favor of the proposition. On the 13th the certificate of incorporation of the Mechanics' Pioneer Silk Factory was filed, the capital stock of the company being one hundred thousand dollars. The trustees were A. Pfister, Davis Devine, Frank Stock, James Hagan, and W. P. Dougherty. And, on January 30, 1868, a certificate of incorporation for a Savings Bank was filed, the incorporators being J. C. Cobb, H. Mayberry, W. Mayberry, W. W. McCoy, H. Hoffman, James Hart, S. A. Clark, L. Archer, H. Shartzer, B. Bryant, S. M. Cutler, J. H. Flickinger, J. J. Bowen. The capital stock was fixed at one hundred thousand dollars. In the month of February Thos. Warnby & Co. opened a match factory on First street, between San Salvador and William street. On March 1, 1868, the Bank of San José opened with a capital stock of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
The result of the charter election, held April 13, 1868, was as follows: Mayor, M. Leavenworth; Marshal, A. B. Hamilton; Treasurer, Chapman Yates; Superintendent of Schools, J. M. Littlefield ; Common Council, John Balbach, Charles Otter, J. R. Hall, with three others holding over.
Among the first duties ordered by the in-coming Council was the taking of a census, which was handed in by the Census Marshal early in July of this year. At that time the population of the city of San Jose, within the corporate limits, was six thousand one hundred and eleven, with two thou- sand one hundred and six children under fifteen years of age.
On August 10th Professor S. K. Hallam opened his academy in the Arm- ory Hall, while about the same time George E. Houghton leased the San José Institute and Commercial College.
The building furor had not abated a whit in 1868. The brick stable on the south side of Santa Clara street, now occupied by Tom C. Barry, was built by Martin Murphy. Pfister built a large brick store on the corner of 29
450
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Santa Clara and Second streets; Charles Otter erected a brick house on the south-west corner of First and St. John streets; Louis Krumb erected his brewery buildings on Second street, at a cost of twenty thousand dollars; Mr. Stock erected a brick store on El Dorado street, while other buildings were rising up in quick succession.
In the month of February, 1868, a franchise was granted to S. A. Bishop, Charles Silent, Daniel Murphy, D. B. Moody and others, to construct a horse- railroad between San Jose and Santa Clara. Murphy and Moody declined to avail themselves of the franchise. S. A. Bishop, John H. Moore, Charles Silent, Hiram Shartzer, B. Bryant, and D. W. Burnett, organized and were elected Directors, with S. A. Bishop as President. Tracklaying was com- menced on the first of August and completed from First street, San Jose, to Main street, Santa Clara, when cars commenced to ply, November 1, 1868, three months after the first ties and rails were laid. In 1869, the road was extended to the Coyote creek bridge, and afterwards across the bridge to East San José.
On Wednesday, October 21, 1868, this district was visited by the severest shock of earthquake of modern times. It occurred at eight o'clock in the inorning while a thick fog hung over the city. An eye-witness describing its effects remarks: " Buildings and trees seemed to pitch about like ships in a storm at sea. Fire walls and chimneys were thrown down in all parts of the city. The heavy brick cornice of Murphy's building, at the corner of Market and El Dorado streets, fell to the ground. The Presbyterian church has sustained an immense damage. The brick turrets are all down; and large portions of the steeple were precipitated through the roof to the floor, crushing the organ, causing great damage to the gallery and fixtures below. The walls of the steeple are almost a total wreck. They will have to be taken down. Five thousand dollars would not make good the damage done to the church. The large water-tank over the roof of Moody's flour-mill fell through the roof, carrying destruction in its course. Their wooden store- house a hundred feet in length, filled with grain, is a total wreck, and badly mixed. Two large chimneys of the San Jose Institute were thrown down, one of thein crushing through into the rooms blow. A portion of the rear
wall of Welch's livery stable fell. Otter's unfinished block, at the corner of First and St. John streets, sustained very serious damage. There is not a brick building in the city that is not more or less injured. Brick walls are everywhere wrenched and cracked, and many of them ready to fall. Another such a shock would precipitate many of our brick buildings to the ground. The brick cornice of the Masonic Hall building will have to be taken down; and the entire building in its present condition is decidedly unsafe for further occupancy. A large quantity of crockery and glassware was broken. The destruction to plate-glass windows is very great, and
451
SAN JOSÉ TOWNSHIP.
much havoc is done to plastering generally. The new Court House stood the shock admirably. Some little cracking of walls and crumbling of plaster decorations is all the damage done to the building."
1869 .- In the month of January of this year the San José railroad was extended to the Fifteen-mile House, which point it reached on the 11th; the lot of land belonging to the Methodist Episcopal church at the corner of Santa Clara and Second streets, was sold for the sum of sixteen thousand dollars, the church building being moved to the west side of Second street, between Santa Clara and St. John streets, where it was burned-the act of an incen- diary, it is thought-on the morning of February 22, 1869. The destruction of the building was complete, together with all of its furniture, the loss being about eighteen thousand dollars, upon which there was an insurance of ten thousand dollars. On the day after, General Naglee's distillery was destroyed, as we have mentioned elsewhere. In the month of January, a lot on the east side of Second street, having twenty feet front and fifty varas in depth, was purchased by the city for an engine house, at a cost of sixteen hundred dol- lars; and on the 31st of January a Sunday-school for Chinese was opened with sixty-two pupils.
San Jose was visited by a severe flood on the night of Tuesday, February 8th, when the Los Gatos and Guadalupe rivers overflowed their banks, flood- ing the lands adjacent thereto. The high grade of the horse-railroad track lammed the water back south of Santa Clara street, inundating the houses and yards, and causing considerable damage. The water broke over the track, flooding the low grounds between the Convent and Guadalupe river, in some places to the depth of four feet. About a hundred feet of the railroad track was swept away, while the rain fell in such torrents that the city ditch was inadequate to carry away the water, and the main por- tion of the city, between Third and Seventh streets, was under water to the depth of several inches. No such flood had been known since the settlement of the place by Americans.
March 9th, there was filed in the office of the Secretary of State, the certifi- cate of incorporation of the San Jose Wool Manufacturing Company, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, the trustees being. T. E. Beans, J. H. Flickenger, Daniel Murphy, S. O. Houghton, and R. F. Peckham; and on the 13th, the railroad reached Gilroy. In the month of April a drive was made, at a cost of four hundred and thirty-five dollars, around Washing- ton square, which added greatly to its beauty; while, at the charter election held April 12, 1869, the following corporate officers were chosen: Mayor, M. Leavenworth; Common Council, D. T. Adams, D. C. Bailey, D. J. Porter, D. C. Vestal, J. Balbach, Charles Otter; Treasurer, H. O. Weller: Clerk, John T. Colahan; Marshal, Wm. Sexton. In the following month, the 4th, the banking firm of MeLaughlin & Ryland commenced business on Santa Clara
452
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
street, between First and Second streets; and the House-carpenter's Eight- hour League was organized with the following officers: A. C. Stowe, Pres- ident; A. B. Hamilton, Vice-President; S. W. de Lacy, Secretary; D. L. Shead, Treasurer; E. A. Van Dalson, Sergeant-at-Arms., The San José Home- stead Association, for the sale of lands in Polhemus' Addition, was established about this time, as was also the East San José Homestead Association.
It may be remembered that in the month of February of the year now under notice, the Methodist Episcopal church was destroyed by fire; on July 18th a new frame building which cost twenty-one thousand six hundred and sixty-five dollars, and three cents, was dedicated by Bishop Kingsley. It is that beautiful edifice which now stands on Second street. On August 16, 1869, there died in San José, Louis Prevost, described as one of the best hearted of men, as innocent as a child, yet one of the most energetic of Cali- fornia's pioneers. He was a native of France and settled in San Francisco in 1850.
We are informed that in the year 1869, no town in the St-te, except San Francisco, could boast of as excellent hotel accommodation as San José; and in all, save dimensions, it was doubtful if the Auzerais House was inferior to any. The New York Exchange, with the prince of landlords, was doing an immense business; the Morgan House, the oldest established in the city, was kept on temperance principles by Mr. Wilcox; while, in addition to these, there were the United States, National, What Cheer House, Wisconsin House, San José Hotel, and one or two more, all of which were in a flourish- ing condition. As a manufacturing town it was also making headway.
Aside from the large woolen manufactory then completed, the interests of San José in that direction were considerable. A large amount of superior work was turned out of her half-a-dozen carriage and wagon shops; her foun- dries were equal to the best in the State; the best of harness work, made from San José tanned leather, was to be found in the establishments of Messing, Stern, and others; there were three breweries, and a couple of distilleries running, to supply the thirsty with moisture; while, in addition, there were the lesser enterprises of the manufacture of candy, pottery, crackers, cutlery, etc., each having its significance in making up the sum of business pros- perity.
In this year, there were, in the city of San José, one thousand, five hundred and forty-two scholars, between the ages of five and fifteen years, and nine hundred and sixty-five under the age of five years. In the month of December, the Common Council took steps towards the improvement of St. James square; while another important fact was the arrival of the first through train from Sacramento, on September 6th. In the month of August H. M. Newhall erected the brick building on the north-east corner of Santa Clara and Market streets, the ground costing twenty thousand, and the erection
453
SAN JOSÉ TOWNSHIP.
fifty thousand dollars. Besides this, the Catholic frame church was erected in this year. It was a handsome building, fifty-four by one hundred and cight feet, with thirty-eight fect in the clear, of the Corinthian style of architec- ture. It was destroyed by fire, in 1875.
1870 .- On the first day of this year, Messrs. Pomeroy and Colahan issued the San Jose City Directory and Business Guide of Santa Clara County, a useful volume, for the houses had all been numbered by this time, and found a ready appreciation. In the month of February, the seventh day, at a meeting of the Common Council, the following proceedings were had :-
Councilman Bailey offered resolutions tendering to the State, as a site for the Normal School, cither Washington or St. James square, or ten acres of land adjacent to the city, and, on motion, the same was lost, by the follow- ing vote-Ayes, Bailey, and Otter; Noes, Adams, Balbach, Porter, and Vestal. The following motion was then offered, and adopted: "WHEREAS, the Mayor and Common Council of the city of San Jose donated Market street square to the State of California, for the purpose of locating the State Normal School thereon; and whereas, it has been understood that members of the Legislative State Normal School Committee have expressed a belief that Market street square is too small for the requirements of the school; Therefore, be it Resolved, by the Mayor and Common Council of the city of San José, that St James square, and Washington square be, and hereby is, donated for the State, from which to select a site for said school." On March 11th, the final vote of the Legislature on the permanent location of the State Normal School gave a majority of eight votes to San José, forty-seven being in favor of that city, and thirty-nine for Napa. Market square was chosen as the site, as the annexed proceedings of the Common Council will explain :-
A communication from the Commissioners to Locate the Normal School was read, and, on motion, ordered spread upon the minutes: "San Francisco, April 25, 1870 .- At a meeting of the Commissioners to Locate the State Normal School, held at the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruc- tion, on Monday, April 25, 1870; present, His Excellency Governor H. H. Haight, State Superintendent O. P. Fitzgerald, and W. T. Luckey, Principal of the State Normal School. After examination of the Act to establish and locate the State Normal School, and discussion, the following resolution was passed, viz .: Resolved, That it being apparent upon inspection of the law author- izing the location of the Normal School, that the Commissioners are confined to three squares offered by the city of San Jose, and that the selection of the Sullivan tract is unauthorized, the Commissioners hereby select Washington square, as the most suitable one of the sites offered by the city. O. P. FITZ- GERALD, Secretary." A more complete history of this Institution will be found elsewhere in this work.
454
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
On the 1st of April there were forty-two thousand nine hundred and thirteen dollars and forty cents in the City Treasury; of which thirty-one thousand five hundred and forty-eight dollars and twenty-seven cents, belonged to the Common School Fund. The Legislature passed a law on this date, for the government of the Fire Department of the city. The following were the officers elected at the charter election held, April 12, 1870: Mayor, Adolph Pfister; Common Council, J. J. Denny, A. P. Hulse, F. Lewis- D. T. Adams, D. C. Bailey, D. J. Porter, holding over; Clerk, J. T. Colahan-
Early in the month of May, the San Jose Starch Manufactory was estab- lished about two miles from town on the Alviso road, where it was operated by the owners, Johnson, La Grange & Co. July 25, 1870, the stockholders of the Santa Clara Valley Railroad and Transportation Company elected the following directors : S. O. Houghton, John G. Bray, G. P. Pierce, A. E. Pome- roy, T. Lenzen, A. Pfister, C. Peebels, V. D. Moody, and Martin Corcoran. On May 17th, H. S. Foote and D. M. Adams issued the Daily Independent, at that time the only daily paper in the county, as it was the first to receive telegraphic dispatches from the East concurrently with the San Francisco papers. In the month of December, it was sold to Norman Porter, and, in 1871, was merged in the Guide. July 21st, goods manufactured at the Woolen Mills were first put on the market, while, among the improvements that had been effected in the city, we may mention the building of two splendid theaters; the introduction of mountain spring water, under eighty feet pressure ; the San José Woolen Mills; the Hebrew Synagogue; the Ger- man Methodist church; new Catholic church; the dwelling-house of Mr. Clark, that cost seventy-five thousand dollars; the extension of the horse- railroad to the eastern limits of the town; a splendid fire-engine house ; and about half-a-dozen new business blocks.
August 18th, Brohaska's Opera House, on the north side of Santa Clara street, between Second and Third streets, was opened with the play of " Lon- don Assurance," Miss M. E. Gordon (Mrs. John T. Raymond) in the role of " Lady Gay Spanker," and Mr. Raymond as "Mark Meddle." An address was delivered, before the rising of the curtain, by Miss Gordon, in the presence of a large, select, and fashionable audience. On the 23d, the Jewish Synagogue was dedicated by Doctors Cohn, of San Francisco, and Lowenthal of San José ; and on the 31st, two wooden buildings, situated opposite the Auzerais House, on Santa Clara street, were destroyed by fire. On Septem- ber 10th, the corner-stone of the University of the Pacific was laid with much ceremony, the orator of the day being Hon. Thomas H. Laine, the first graduate of the college, and was followed by Dr. Sinex, who gave a brief history of the institution.
The census taken this year shows the population of San Jose township to have been twelve thousand five hundred and fifty-two.
455
SAN JOSÉ TOWNSHIP.
November 26th, we have to record the burning of the residence of Mrs. S. J. Hensley, on First street, and nearly all of its valuable contents, at a loss of not less than sixty thousand dollars. The house itself was made at the East, at an early day in the history of San Jose, taken apart and shipped to this country, where it was occupied by the late Major Hensley, until his death.
In this year was completed the Music Hall, on the east side of First street, occupying the site of the historic Mansion House; the jail was in the course of construction; Washington Hose Company, No. 1, was organized; and the sidewalk, on the north side of Santa Clara street, between Market and First, was widened to sixteen feet, laid with brick, covered with asphaltum, and curbed with granite.
1871 .- January 28th, judgment was given in the case of Leroy versus a large number of settlers in the valley. The suit was brought in the United States Court through Leroy, an alien; but the real parties interested, were, mainly, citizens of the county. A decision adverse to the settlers would have been ruinous to the prosperity of the county, while, it would have wrecked hun- dreds of families, and operated to have unsettled confidence in land titles in the district. February 4th, the community was startled by the death of one of its oldest and most esteemed citizens-John G. Bray, President of the Bank of San Jose. He died, at his home in Santa Clara, of paralysis of the heart. Mr. Bray had been a resident of the county since 1852, during all of which time he had been engaged in active business-was senior partner of the commission firm of Bray & Brothers, of San Francisco, and was also Direc- tor of several corporations. He was chosen President of the Bank of San José, at the first organization of that institution, which position he held up to the time of his decease. Mr. Bray was a fine type of the true gentleman. He was a whole-souled, pure-minded, manly man-one whose very presence shed an aroma of gentleness blended with manly dignity, and all the graces of a noble character. February 21st, a branch of the Home Insurance Com- pany was established in this city, when over fifty-six thousand dollars' worth of stock was subscribed in a short time. At a subsequent meeting the follow- ing gentlemen were elected a Board of Directors: T. Ellard Beans, Dr. W. S. McMurtry, A. Pfister, Josiah Belden, J. S. Carter, Jackson Lewis, N. Hayes, and E. Skerritt.
On April 3d, the following communication from Mayor Pfister was received :-
" To the Honorable the Common Council of the city of San Jose-
" Gentlemen: In accordance with the proposals which I made to you on receipt of the first installment of my salary as Mayor, I have the honor to inform you that there is now at your disposal the sum of six hundred dol- lars, the amount of salary which I have received for the year just ended-for the
456
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
purpose of establishing a Public City Library. It is my desire that in the establishing of such a library, care should be taken to keep it free from sectarianism, and to make it in fact as well as in name, a public library. A. PFISTER."
" Yours respectfully,
A proposal of the Young Men's Christian Association to take charge of such library was referred to a committee, and, as will hereafter appear, was duly effected. The charter election for 1871, was held on April 10th, with the follow- ing result: Mayor, A. Pfister; Common Council, S. N. Johnson, Louis Krumb, Robert Page, and A. P. Hulse, J. J. Denny, Jackson Lewis, holding over; Marshal, William Sexton; Clerk, J. T. Colahan; Treasurer, Chapman Yates. In the month of June of this year, charge of the San Jose Institute and Business College was assumed by Freeman Gates, after an absence of three years.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.