USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 65
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time of that great excitement. Captain Fisher in all his intercourse with the emigrant proved himself an invaluable friend, while his name is indelibly connected with the early history of San José in which chapter his name will be found linked with many a good and noteworthy action. He died April 5, 1850. Married, in 1834, Señorita Liberata Cesaña, a native of Lower California by whom he had a family consisting of Miry C., now Mrs. D. Murphy; Thomas M .; Cyprino William (deceased); Uloga Frico.
Thomas Fisher. Born in Mexico October 29, 1842. His father, Will- iam Fisher, a native of Massachusetts, when quite young went to Mexico, and coming to California in 1846 with his family settled in Burnett town- ship, Santa Clara county, in the Spring of that year. Here the subject of our sketch received his education, and has since resided, owning about seven hundred and eighty acres of land. Married, November, 1861, Anna, daughter of Captain Hanks, a fellow-voyager from Mexico, by whom he has living: Isabel, born February 13, 1864; Fanny, born April 3, 1868; Thomas, born May 4, 1870; Daniel, born February 18, 1872; Charles, born May 29, 1874; Everett, born October 11, 1878.
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F. Fisher. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the youngest son of William and Liberata Cesaña Fisher (who were among the very earliest settlers in California) and was born in Burnett township, Santa Clara county, August 30, 1850, where he has continuously resided save during the years he attended school. In 1861 he entered the Santa Clara College, and was otherwise educated in the public schools of San José. In 1868 he returnel to Burnett and commenced working on the farm of Dan. Murphy; in 1872 he moved on to the ranch which he 'now occupies, and which he has owned since 1859. It comprises three thousand seven hundred acres adapted to agriculture and stock-raising. Married, in San José April 8, 1872, Gertrude Hanks, a native of California, by whom he has: Robert D., born December 20, 1872; Laura and Chester.
N. C. Fowler. Born in Hendricks county, Indiana, November 22, 1835. When five years of age he was taken by his parents to Atchison county, Missouri. In 1832 he crossed the plains to California with his father, Will- iam Fowler, and located in Yolo county, where the subject of this sketch engaged in stock-raising until he came to Santa Clara county in November 1879, and located on his present ranch comprising one hundred and sixty acres situated on the Los Huecos Grant. Married, January 15, 1877, and has an only child, Nelson C., born December 1, 1879.
Erwin Frost, Jr. Born in Briggsville, Wisconsin, June 19, 1851. In the year 1855, he came with his parents, by way of the plains, to Cali- fornia, arriving in the month of September. The subject of our sketch received his education in the common schools of Santa Clara county, and in the year 1871, commenced farming on his own account, in San José town- ship. After remaining there five years, he moved to Burnett township, and took up one hundred acres of what he supposed to be Government land, but which afterwards proved to be the property of General Naglee, therefore, in 1878, he moved to the Coyote station, where he acquired seventeen acres of ground, and erected a house thereon, which he still owns. In the last-mentioned year he was appointed, by General Naglee, agent for the large property of Naglee & MeDermott, comprising about thirty-five thousand acres. In 1879, he moved his family on to the grant in Packwood valley, where he at present resides. Was elected Con- stable of the township, November 5, 1878, and now holds the office. Mar- ried, in San José township, August 21, 1871, Minnie Stoll, and has: Erwin E., born in Oak Grove; George O., born in Oak Grove; Arthur C., born in Burnett; Burt Lee, born in Burnett.
Martin Hobin. Born in Rock Island county, Illinois, June 6, 1855, where he resided until he came to California, in 1862. Making the journey
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to the Pacific coast by way of Panama, he came direct to Santa Clara county, and settled on a farm near San Jose. In 1869 he left that district and came to the place on which he now resides, in Burnett township, near the Eighteen-mile House, where he owns one hundred and twelve acres of land. Married Mary Foye, and has one child, William HI.
John C. Kirby. Is a native of County Waterford, Ireland. In the year 1850 he sailed in the bark Rosanna, for Panama, and there resided one year, when he sailed for California, in the steamship Washington. During the voyage, a gentleman, noticing the modesty of our subject, offered to educate him. On their arrival in San Francisco, July 12, 1851, he attached himself to his benefactor, and with him remained four years. On the expir- ation of that term Mr. Kirby started on his own account. After mining in El Dorado and Nevada counties, he came to Santa Clara valley, in Sep- tember, 1855, and engaged with Dan. Murphy, for whom he worked about four years. After this, was variously employed until he had accumu- lated sufficient money with which to purchase a home. This he found on the two hundred and eleven acres where he now resides, consisting of fine, well improved land. Married, October 3, 1865, Catherine Keenan, by whom he has seven children: Mollie, born August 6, 1866; Susan, born February 25, 1868; Patrick H., born November 10, 1870; Nellie, born Feb- ruary 2, 1872; Timothy, born April 12, 1874; Maggie, born June 5, 1876 ; John, born March 7. 1879.
Clinton Munson, M. D. Was born in Cape Girardeau county, Mis- souri, August 10, 1846, and there resided until he attained the age of six- teen years, when he moved to St. Louis, and entered the Missouri Medical College (Allopathic school), whence he graduated in 1867. Doctor Munson now commenced the practice of his profession, which, continuing for but a short time, he entered the Homeopathic Medical School at Chicago, and graduated therefrom in 1869. In June of that year he came to California, and after practising for eighteen months in Oakland, Alameda county, he settled in Gilroy, Santa Clara county, where he followed his profession, until failing health compelled him to relinquish the discharge of these duties. In the year. 1876 he embarked in sheep-raising, but not finding this to his mind he returned to Oakland in September, 1878, resumed his practice, and there remained until June, 1879, when health again failing him he became interested in the Madrone Mineral Springs, where he now resides. An account of this resort will be found on page 40 of this work. Dr. Munson married, January 20, 1873, Abbie M. Dyer, a native of Maine,, by whom he has Gertrude Marion, born January 15, 1874, and Herrick Clinton, born December 12, 1880.
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Jehial M. Owen. Born in Hinesburgh, Chittenden county, Vermont, January 30, 1830, and there dwelt until he grew to man's estate, being reared a farmer. On December 1, 1851, he started for California, via the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived in San Francisco January 10, 1852. Soon after he proceeded to Sacramento; thence to the mines on the Yuba, near Goodyear Bar; he afterwards engaged as Clerk in Whitcomb's store, and then returned to Sacramento, where he worked on a farm. In May, 1853, he came to Santa Clara county and township, and was employed in hauling lumber from the redwoods-the first business undertaken on his own account since his arrival in the State. A year later he located in Gilroy township, and was there engaged in the like occupation for the Bodfish Mills. In 1856 he embarkel in dairying in Gilroy, which he continued until 1834, when he came to his present ranch in Burnett township, where he resides, near Coyote station. The farin consists of three hundred acres. Married, May 6, 1866, Enma Cift, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and has: George N., Allen B., William H.
Jacob Scheller. Born in Homburg, Bavaria, October 22, 1836, and was there educated to the blacksmith's trade. He then served one year in the army, and afterwards worked at his calling until 1863, when he came to the United States, arriving in San Francisco March 9th of that year. In less than a week he located on the place where he now resides in Pack- wood valley, on the Weber Rancho, for which he is agent. In 1875 Mr. S. revisited his friends in Germany. On his return he twice narrowly escaped death. He, at first, planned to return on the Deutchland, which was wrecked off the Coast of England. He then made arrangements to come on the Mosel, which was to sail December 11, 1875. Mr. S. arrived at the Bremen wharf just as the last truck-load of baggage was going aboard. Seeing his trunk, he asked permission to take a box of cigars from it, and then hurried to his stateroom, to put them away. He had hardly gone below when the workingmen, in removing a heavy case from the truck, dropped it on the stone pier. At once there was a fearful explosion. Some two hundred were instantly killed, not one of those on the wharf escaping. The case contained an infernal machine, set to go off in eight days, which had been shipped to realize the insurance on a large lot of worthless cases, shipped as merchandise. Mr. S., however, was uninjured, and arrived safely by the next steamer. He attended the Centennial Exposition before return- ing to Santa Clara county. Married, June 1, 1872, Dora Munro, a native of Canada.
Orvis Stevens .- Born in Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 11th of November, 1830. At the age of twenty-one years he came to California via
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Panama. Soon after his arrival, in the year 1852, he proceeded to the mines at St. Joc's Bar, Yuba river, near Downieville, and there remained one year ; he then went to Camptonville, from there to Sacramento, thence to the mines at Minnesota. Sierra county; two years thereafter he removed to Eureka South, Nevada county, and conducted a dairy for one year ; we next find Mr. Stevens stock-raising in Solano county, near Rio Vista; at the end of a twelvemonth he procee Jed to Forrest City, Sierra county; eighteen months after, he paid a visit to the Eastern States; in three months he returned and proceeded to Chips' Flat, Sierra county ; where he for several years carried on the butcher business, and finally came to Burnett township, Santa Clara county, in 1868. Here Mr. Stevens engaged in farming until 1875, when he rented the "Twelve-mile House," where he has a store, a blacksmith's shop, a hotel, and a post-office. Is a School Trustee. Married, in Sierra county, December 7, 1866, Lonisa Leonard, by whom he has five children, viz .: Charles, born, March 3, 1868; Frank, born, May 27, 1869; Burt, born, August 12, 1873; James, born, March 31, 1874; Warren, born, November 4, 1877.
William Tennant .- The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in our work, was born in London, England, June 15, 1830, and is descended from good old Scotch stock. He is the eldest son of William and Dorinda Tennant, the former of whom came to California in 1849-his family con- ing out with our subject. Having received his early education in the world's metropolis, he afterward learned the trade of a piano-forte maker, which he followed until 1851, when he sailed in the ship Prince Charlie, by way of Cape Horn, for California, arriving in San Francisco in the latter part of that year. He almost immediately commenced tuning pianos in that city, being the only one of that occupation in the State. Early in 1852, he was called to Alviso to tune the piano of Governor Burnett, and afterwards performed the like duty at the Santa Clara and San José colleges, and returned to the city, but being enchanted with the valley, he returned in a short time, rented the ground on which the Twenty-one-mile House stands, and commenced keeping that station, in the Spring of 1852, where he has since resided. He now farms twelve hundred acres of the finest land in the county. Mr. Ten- nant is reckoned among the most successful agriculturalists in Santa Clara county, while it is said of him that he has never been known to fail in any undertaking. He was for some years one of the Directors of the Bank of Gilroy, and is now a stockholder in the Bank of San José, and also in the Home Mutual Insurance Company, as he is also a Director of the Santa Clara and San Mateo Agricultural Society, while it is a matter of fact that he has ever been willing to put forth a helping hand to his less fortunate fellows. During a trip to Europe, in 1873, his house was sacked by the
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noted desperado, Tiburcio Vasquez and his band, who carried off booty, in the shape of jewelry and articles of vertu, to the value of eight hundred dollars. Mr. Tennant was appointed Postmaster at Tennants, April 5, 1871, and still holds the position. He married at San Jose, April 22, 1866, Margaret Mc- Allister, and has four living children, viz .: Mary Ann R., Isabella M., Emily C., and Sarah E.
L. L. Tourtillott (Deceased). Born in Penobscot county, Maine, June 30, 1836. When a mere child he was taken to Lee county, Illinois, where he was educated and engaged in farming. In 1859 he crossed the plains to California, arrived at Placerville in 1860, where he was engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise store until the middle of December, when he came to Santa Clara county, and engaged in lumbering in the redwoods at Lexing- ton until 1864. Thence he proceeded to San José where he resided until June, 1865, at which date he purchased the place where his widow now resides. The property is situated in San Felipe valley and comprises three hundred and twenty acres. He died October 27, 1876, having lived on the ranch contin- uously since its purchase, save two years which was passed in San José. He married, February 21, 1864, Mrs. Jane A. Gould, a native of Ohio, who has by her first husband: George A., born May 17, 1833; Frank H., born August 29, 1855; and by her second: Howard H., born March 8, 1866; Milton A., born June 18, 1867; Ernest E., born December 7, 1869; True T., born September 18, 1871; Walter W., born May 16, 1872.
G. W. Wilson. Born in San José, Santa Clara county, California, June 30, 1853, and was educated at Santa Clara College. Mr. Wilson has been a farmer nearly all his life; he now owns about seven hundred acres of land in Burnett township, where he raises a large quantity of grain, and rears some very excellent stock. He has the reputation of leing a first-class, practical farmer. Married, February 1, 1876, Constantia Smith, a native of this county, by whom he has two children, viz: U. C., born November 2, 1876; Eliza A. born September 22, 1878.
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THE NEW YORK WWWTLI LIBRARY
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FREMONT TOWNSHIP.
Doctor Bowling Bailey. Was born on the Kentucky and Tennessee line, April 1, 1831. February 12, 1850, he started with a mule team across the plains for California and arrived at Nevada City, September 27th of the same year. Mr. Bailey of course tried his chance at the mines and with good success. He came to Santa Clara county in June, 1853, and settled in Fremont township. Here he entered into the live-stock trade, driving his cattle to San Francisco and there disposing of them. This occupation he followed until 1859 when he commenced farming, which industry he has since prosecuted. He owns three hundred acres at his ranch near Mountain View, and two hundred and eighty more near Santa Clara. In the year 1859 he was elected to the House of Assembly, on the Democratic ticket, with a total vote of thirteen hundred and forty-nine; has been a School Trustee during most of the time which he has resided in the district. Married, November 3, 1858, Margaret Harmon, a native of New Jersey, by whom he has Mary B., born August 22, 1859; John S., born August 26, 1860. Mar- ried, secondly. September 27, 1877, W. G. Jones.
Edward Barron. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of the south of Ireland, where he was born June 24, 1831. Coming to the United States in 1847 he made New York his home until November, 1851, when he started for California ria Panama, and arrived January 1, 1852. Not long after landing in San Francisco he commenced dealing in live-stock and so continued until 1860 when he retired with an ample fortune. After paying a short visit to the Eastern States in 1861, Mr. Barron returned to California to find that the Comstock Lode, Virginia City, Nevada, had been discovered, he thereupon formed a connection with some others interested in the principal mines, and commenced their development, an association he maintained until the year 1876, he being in these years the owner of a quartz mill and ledge himself, and President of such well-known mines as the Gould & Curry, Consolidated Virginia, and California, and this, too, at a time when they were paying divi- dends of over two millions of dollars per month. In 1876 Mr. Barron resigned these offices and retired from an active participation in business affairs. He then set out on a one year's tour in Europe; returned in 1877 37
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
for a few months; again crossed the Atlantic, and finally came back to Cali- fornia in April, 1878, when he established his residence at Mayfield. Here Mr. Barron has constructed one of the most attractive homes in Santa Clara county. Its grounds are highly embellished with large groves of orna- mental trees, the approach is along a well protected avenue, the building is encircled by parterres of richly-hued flowers, while the tout ensemble con- veys the idea of rare opulence and patrician retirement. He married, November, 1851, Maria Cleary, by whom he has two children: George E., and William R., both at school in England.
Frank P. Beverly. Was born at Mountain View, Santa Clara county, California, January 13, 1855, where he received his education, save a few months at an educational establishment at San José. Has been a farmer all his life, is at present Justice of the Peace of Fremont township, appointed May 14, 1881, by Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara county (vice R. B. Frink, resigned), and is agent for the following insurance companies: Liver- pool, London and Globe; American Central; Royal, Norwich, Union and Lancashire; Imperial, London, Northern and Queen; Ætna; California; Phoenix; New York Life; Hamburg, Bremen Fire Insurance Company, and is also agent for A. S. Hallidie's wire works in San Francisco. Married Carrie R. Hartwick, a native of New Jersey, on March 23, 1880.
John Wesley Boulware. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Estill county, Kentucky, at Red River Iron Works, June 5, 1830, where he resided until he attained the age of fifteen years, when he accompanied his parents to Jackson county, Missouri, there receiving his education, first, in the common schools and afterwards one term in Pleasant Hill Academy, Cass county. His scholastic training ended, Mr. Boulware entered the lumber trade, and continued in it until he started for California. May 4, 1852, he commenced the weary journey across the plains with ox-teams and a herd of cattle, in company with Lindsey Lewis, his father-in-law, and arrived in Santa Clara county October 2d of the same year, locating on the precise spot on which he now resides, but did not settle there then, for after two months he removed to Mountain View; at the end of two years he proceeded to Calaveras valley where he farmed until 1861, and then came to his present place where he has since dwelt. He is one of the many successful farmers of the Santa Clara valley, while as a proof of his sterling worth, it is sufficient to remark that besides being a School Trustee for many years he was elected in 1872 to serve four years on the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara county. Married. in Jackson county, Missouri, January 1, 1852, Louisa Lewis, and has: J. A., born April 24, 1853; M. A., born February 22, 1856; Permelia R., born January 31, 1858; and Louisa Jane, Doin October 5, 1860.
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Benjamin T. Bubb. Born in Washington county, Missouri, February 15, 1838. At the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to Cali- fornia and arrived by way of the plains, at Fremont, on the Sacramento river, August 25, 1858. Thence, in March, 1851, they moved to Downie- ville, Sierra county; from there, in July of the same year, they came to Santa Clara county, arriving in October, and after stopping in Santa Clara, pro- ceeded to Fremont township and settled on a ranch one mile south-west from his present residence. In 1864 he located on the ranch where he now lives, where he has one hundred and sixty-eight acres in a high state of cultivation. Married, June 28, 1871, Sarah J. Smith, by whom he has four children, viz .: Charles R., born June 3, 1872; William F., born Feb- ruary 8, 1874; Alice G., born January 21, 1876; George R., born October 30, 1877.
William Henry Bubb. Born in Washington county, Missouri, Decem- ber 26, 1836. In the year 1850 he came to California with his parents across the plains, arriving at Placerville, September 26th, and from there to Fremont, on the Sacramento river, where they tarried three months ; thence they moved to Buena Vista, Nevada county, afterwards to Downieville, Yuba county, and finally to Santa Clara county, locating at Mountain View in September, 1851. Mr. Bubb followed the business of stock-raising in con- junction with his father until 1855, and in 1857 went to Fresno and Tulare counties, started on his own account and there continued until 1865, when he sold out and returned to the Santa Clara valley. Mr. Bubb is an exten- sive farmer in the district, and besides owning a hundred and fifty acres and a dwelling-house, possesses a half-interest in the large warehouses at the Mountain View depot. Married, October 16, 1867, at Mountain View, Susan Farrar, and has three children, viz .: Laura J., born June 2, 1870; Louisa, born November 27, 1871; Susan, born March 30, 1874.
F. W. Covey. Born in Sacramento, California, September 22, 1856, and when an infant removed to San Francisco, where he received his educa- tion. He then entered into the business of rearing thoroughbred horses, which he continued in that city until the year 1878, when he came to the magnificent stock farm of ex-Governor Leland Stanford, as foreman.
Lambert Dornberger. Born in Alsace, France, now Germany. April 3, 1828, where he was educated. In July, 1850, he landed in New York City and there resided until 1852 when he came to California via Panama, arriving in San Francisco December 6th of that year. He was engaged, until 1854 working at his calling; he then came to Fremont township_ Santa Clara county, and August 17, 1854, located about one mile from May-
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field, there residing until 1857. He then engaged in stock-raising on the borders of San Mateo county, until November 2, 1869, when he settled where he now resides near Mayfield. Married, September 10, 1861, Anna Kleinclaus a native of France, and has Eugene A., born September 12, 1862; Gustave L., born August 22, 1863; Albert L. and Victor (twins), born Sep- tember 4, 1865; Anna J., born September 8, 1868; George, born February 24, 1870; Edward, born January 21, 1878.
John C. Duchesneau. Was born in Saint Francis, Bellechase county, Canada, January 27, 1832, where he resided until seventeen years of age and received his education in a French-Canadian school. In the year 1849 he went to Boston, Massachusetts, there learning the trade of a blacksmith, and living until 1852, when he moved to Worcester, in the same State, there remaining for a short period; he next transferred his residence to Rhode Island where he engaged in moulding bricks. On January 27, 1853, the sub- ject of this sketch started for California and arrived in San Francisco June 10th, of the same year. On landing in that city Mr. Duchesneau com- menced brick-making which he continued until the Fall, when he proceeded to Spanishtown, San Mateo county, and worked at his trade for six months, then returning to San Francisco; thence being employed in different localities chiefly at the mines on the Yuba river, Sacramento, American river, Vir- ginia Flat, Iowa Hill and Amador county, where we find in the year 1856 he opened a butcher's shop. Disposing of this business in 1857, he moved about from place to place until 1859 when he went to Oregon, but staying there only eighteen months came back to California and settled on the site now occupied by the town of Mayfield in November, 1860, where he opened and conducted a blacksmith's shop for fifteen years. In 1875 he transferred his residence to Humboldt county, coming back to Mayfield in May, 1880. Married, October 8, 1860, Maria Dolan, native of Ireland, by whom he has two children, viz .: Walford C., born November 22, 1863; Rosa Zoe, born September 6, 1867.
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