USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 70
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Julius Martin. The subject of this sketch, among the earliest of the argonauts of the Pacific coast, was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, January 2, 1804. He resided in his native State until the year 1837, save two years passed in Port Gibson. In the year 1825 he entered the German- town Academy, where he acquired a sound knowledge of the classics, prepar- ing himself for West Point. Afterwards he visited the prominent localities of the Southern States, and finally engaged in trading. In the year 1837 he moved to Missouri, and there resided until 1843. In the meantime that well-known pioneer, Joseph Childs, of Napa, had come to California in 1841, and being delighted with the beauty of the country and its genial climate, returned to Missouri in the following year, and gave the most glowing descriptions to his former acquaintances. Among these was Julius Martin. He at once determined, with his wife and three little girls, to accompany Childs on his return. This party, consisting of thirty male adults in all, besides six females (including Martin's children), left Independence in May, 1843. They journeyed slowly for some ninety miles, when they struck the Kaw river, and there found a large emigration for Oregon, with ninety-five wagons, and about twelve hundred men, women and children. There they found Peter H. Burnett, first Governor of California; J. W. Nesmith, some time in Congress from Oregon; Samuel J. Hensley, Major Redding, and many others, whose names are " familiar in our mouths as household words." The whole party remained on the Kaw three days, then, crossing the stream, journeyed onwards. At the south fork of the Platte they all met, but were four days in crossing its turbulent waters. All went well, and at last Fort Laramie was reached. A few miles west of this point they met the cele-
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brated mountaineer, Joe. Walker, on his way to the fort with furs. Here he was engaged by the party for California as guide, and, true to his word, he afterwards overtook them at Independence Rock. From Fort Bridger this latter party diverged to the south in search of game. They encamped at the head of Bear river, where they found elk and other luxuries, and at Fort Hall, those bound for Oregon bade adieu to their friends for California. Twenty-seven miles west of Fort Hall, on Snake river, our friends for this country turned to the south. Majors Hensley and Redding, Joe. Childs, and a few others, proceeded in advance, with pack-animals, with the view of reaching Sutter's Fort, there to procure provisions and return to the train. They scaled the Sierra Nevada successfully, and were soon welcomed by
the noble-hearted Sutter. Meanwhile, the small party, with their six wagons, were journeying down by the Humboldt, then called the St. Mary's river. They encamped at the sink of the Humboldt for eight days, but no return party appeared. Snow had fallen to such a depth on the mountain that Major Hensley could not possibly get back. So Joe. Walker led the little party due south, and made Walker's (then Mono-now known as Owen's) lake. Here they burnt their wagons, and buried castings, saws. and other articles, which they designed for a flour and saw-mill in California. Provisions were very scarce. Making pack-saddles, they journeyed neces- 'sarily with speed. They had to kill one mnule for subsistence; traveled through Walker's Pass, and ultimately reached Four creeks, at the site of the present town of Visalia. Thence, by every point of the compass, hunt- ing for game, and at length reached Sobrianos, on the Salinas, near the Mission of Soledad. In the month of December, 1843, Mr. Martin and his party arrived safely at San Ysidro (Old Gilroy). Here he remained until 1850, when he moved to his present residence, about a mile from the new town of Gilroy, where he has since resided. Some twenty years ago he was deprived of his sight. Here let us repeat the picture of this worthy man, which, though drawn seventeen years ago, is still a faithful portrait: "Never more, oh, never more can he behold the beauty of this earth on which he has dwelt so long, nor the blue, blue firmament above, with all its shining glories. Sitting by his side, as I have frequently, listening with delight to his many reminiscences; many a silent tear of affectionate sympathy has fallen upon his warm hearth, when thinking of this terrible affliction, and looking at his 'sightless eye-balls.' Yet, he seems as cheerful as when I knew him long ago, with the keen, piercing eye, whose aim with the rifle had been certain death to very many a buck and grizzly bear. His sense of hearing is very acute, for a leaf could hardly fall on the floor without being heard. His memory is somewhat wonderful, for he instantly recognizes a friendly voice, not heard for many long years. His sense of touch is exquisite, and you would certainly be astonished to see him, totally blind, guiding me, in the dark, as
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though by instinct, around his premises. I recollect, about three years ago, (that would have been in 1861,) his taking me over his extensive ranch, never stumbling, but walking with confidence and unerringly to the differ- ent gates and bars in his fence. A warmer heart than that of Julius Martin never throbbed upon the earth. He is a man of fine education, is an excel- lent linguist, and paces to and fro, repeating, occasionally, with fluency, passages from Virgil, and often from the Greek." Such is this hearty and much respected pioneer; long may he live. Mr. Martin married, December, 1839, Elizabeth MePherson, a native of Roane county. Tennessee, by whom he has: Mary E. now Mrs. P. B. Tully; Arzelia A., now Mrs. A. Lewis; Martha R., now Mrs. F. Oldham; Susan, now Mrs. D. H. Bartlett; Georgie, now Mrs. James F. Johnson ; Julia F., now Mrs. Charles Horn- back.
Samuel T. Moore. Born in Dade county, Missouri, March 10, 1849 In the year 1853, he crossed the plains, with his parents, and first located at Gold Hill, El Dorado county, California, but, in 1858, they moved to Sonoma county, where the subject of this sketch was educated, and grew to man's estate. After completing his scholastic training at the Cumberland College, he engaged in school teaching, in Sonoma and Merced counties, for five years; then he embarked in merchandising, in San Benito county, from 1873, to 1878, in which latter year he came to Santa Clara county, and purchased the farm, of one hundred and eighty acres, on which he now resides. Mar- ried, June 17, 1873, Elizabeth Dryden, a native of Missouri, by whom he has : Oscar, born August 12, 1874; Lucille, born June 21, 1876; Fannie, born April 23, 1880.
H. C. Morey, M. D. Born in Oneida county, New York, August 15, 1829, but, at the tender age of four years, he accompanied his parents to Huron county, Ohio, where they located. When thirteen years old, he went to Fulton county, Illinois, where, in 1849, he commenced the study of medi- cine, and practiced during 1851, attending his first lectures in 1852, at the Rush Medical College, Chicago. In the Spring of 1854, he graduated and commenced practicing in Geneseo, Illinois. For the benefit of his health, Doctor Morey came to California, in the Spring of 1857, but shortly thereafter proceeded to Oregon, and finally, in 1859, went to Rock Island, Illinois. In the year 1861, however, the doctor once more crossed the plains for the Pacific slopes, arriving at Knight's Landing, Yolo county, and there practiced until August, 1867, when he came to Gilroy, where he has been keeping a drug-store, and following his profession ever since. Married, April 2, 1856, Malicia A. Hobbs, a native of Maine.
John Murphy. Judge Murphy was born in the north of Ireland, July
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10, 1835. Early in the year 1846, he came to the United States, and set- tling in Boston, there attended school until 1854, with the exception of about eighteen months, when he worked in a foundry. January 29th, of that year. he set sail, from Boston to California, ria the Nicaragua route, and arrived in San Francisco, March 4th. Mr. Murphy at once went to Trinity county, where he mined for a year, but giving that occupation up, he com- merced, first the reading, and afterwards the practice of law in that section. In 1860, he was elected District Attorney for Trinity county, and it was during this, his first term of public office, that he was called upon to assume the more potent functions of County Judge, which position he held from January 1. 1864, to January 1, 1868. The Judge was an ardent Union advo- cate, and as such, took the stump for Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, but the excessive fatigue and exposure of that campaign, so told upon his constitu- tion, that he has never since entirely regained his wonted strength. In 1868, when his judicial responsibilities, on the County Bench, had expired, Mr. Murphy was compelled to seek fresh vigor in a mikler climate, to Santa Barbara therefore he proceeded, and remained a year, when, finding himself sufficiently recovered to engage in business, he embarked in sheep-raising, in Monterey county, but deeming the occupation uncongenial, he disposed of his stock, and sought for a new arena. This he found in Gilroy, where he purchased The Gilroy Advocate, in 1870, and conducted it as an Independent sheet, but finding this employment too confining, at the end of three years, he disposed of the paper to H. Coffin, and remained at his home in the city of Gilroy, until 1879, when he removed to San Benito county, where he owns a stock ranch, but, though still conducting this enterprise, Mr. Murphy is domiciled in the town of Gilroy. He married, October 15, 1872, Sarah Hanna, a native of Illinois, and has two children: William P., born August 29, 1875 ; Henry B., born January 1, 1879.
Since the above was written, Mr. Murphy has sustained the greatest of human bereavements, in the death of his wife, a notice of which is here given, as appeared in the Gilroy Advocate, of April 30, 1881: Sarah Murphy, whose premature death occurred at carly dawn, on Friday, the 22d instant, was the oldest daughter of William and Rebekah Hanna, was born near Kirkwood, Warren county, Illinois, August 28, 1851, and was consequently twenty-nine years, seven months and twenty-five days ohl, at the time of her death. Her ancestors, on both paternal and maternal sides, were of the highest social and patriotic standing. On her paternal side, they fought in the battles that made a free and mighty Republic. Her maternal grandfather, the late Hon. Samuel Cresswell, was Adjutant General under General Jackson, in the war of 1812, and later in life, he, for many years, represented, with distinguished ability, his distriet in the State Senate of Ohio. Her father, the Hon. Will- iam Hanna, venerable in years, unsullied in honor, lives in this city. Her
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mother died nine years ago. Her parents left Illinois, and settled in this State and county, in January, 1860, where she has since resided. She was married to Hon. Judge John Murphy on the 15th of October, 1872, by whom she bore three children, one girl and two boys. The girl died when eleven months and seventeen days old; the two boys, respectively five and two years old, survive her. The immense concourse of mourners, that wet her bier with tears, attested more cogently than words the spontaneous and unaffected grief of her neighbors and friends. Her well-stored common-sense, practical mind, her unvarying amiability of disposition, her proverbial sweetness of temper, her boundless benevolence and charity of heart, the stainless purity of her life, from childhood to girlhood and womanhood, at. her own fireside, among her friends, anywhere, everywhere, was natural and unaffected. She loved everything and everybody that was pure and good, and had hatred only for impurity and sin. Surely a just and merciful God will have mercy on such a being. In all things she was natural and sincere. She loved her husband with the most sincere and unalloyed of human affection; she loved him as the pure and good wife loves her husband; she loved him as the father of her children; the love was mutual.
"Like the wild, water fowls, in mutual love, Each upon each dependent, did they move; But now, grief-stricken, a poor lonely man, Unattended and alone he roams."
As a daughter she was dutiful, affectionate, and obedient; as a wife she was perfect; as a mother her affection and her care were boundless and unceasing ; as a sister her love was ceaseless and perpetual ; as a friend and neighbor she was kind and sincere. She now rests from her cares, and sleeps the sleep of the just. Her virtues are more lasting than monuments of mar- ble or gold. Soft be the zephyrs that chant sad requiems o'er her mound. Peace to her ashes; rest eternal to her soul.
David H. Neel. Born in Madison county, Kentucky, February 5, 1806, In 1812, his parents moved to Anderson county, where he was educated and followed farming, both stock and agricultural, until he attained the age of twenty years, when he went to Ray county, Missouri, and there engaged in the like pursuit until 1850. In that year he started for California, but remaining eighteen months in Salt Lake City, he did not arrive in San Mateo county, where he settled, until October, 1852. Here he resided until 1859, when he became a resident of Santa Clara county, and located on a tract of land one mile north-west from his present home. In 1865 he moved to his present farm comprising one hundred and sixty acres. Mar- ried, January 18, 1839, Avarilla Caspar, a native of Richland county, Ohio, who was born March 23, 1820. The following are the names of their chil-
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dren: Anastasia L., Malaira L., William C., Winfield W. W. C., Emigratus, Cyrus Napoleon, Rebecca Jane, Thomas Benton, Rocann Richardson, Stir- ling C.
George Niggle. Born in Switzerland, May 14, 1834. In the year 1856 he emigrated to New York, arriving in that city in September. Soon after touching the shores of the United States he went to Milwaukee where he was variously employed; thence he proceeded to Chicago being there engaged in a bakery; in 1857 he was working at the same trade in St. Louis, Missouri, and three months after became baker in the Planter's Hotel, Leavenworth, Kansas. In 1858, Mr. Niggle came to California by steamer from New York, remaining, however, for two months at Panama, being employed on the steamer Golden Age. In the Spring of 1858 he came to Santa Clara county, and after being a short time engaged at his trade in Santa Clara and San José, came to Gilroy and was cook in the Exchange Hotel for one year. From 1859 until 1863, he conducted a restaurant and bakery in that city, but selling out in the latter he visited Europe and the scenes of his childhood. In 1864 he returned to San Francisco; engaged in the hotel business, and in 1876 came back to Gilroy where he conducted a hotel until 1874. In 1876, he took charge of the San Felipe Hotel, where he has a store and conducts the post-office. Married, February 14, 1864, Lena Jeger, a native of Switzerland, and has: John, born in San Francisco, December 30, 1865 ; Mary, born in Gilroy, April 17, 1868.
A. W. Oliver. Born in Bath, Sagadahoe county, Maine, June 11, 1835. Having received his early training in that town, at the age of twenty-one years he entered Bowdoin College, Brunswick, and four years later graduated. His collegiate course concluded, Mr. Oliver engaged in school teaching for one year, when, his health failing, he took two voyages at sea, and then came to California, arriving in San Francisco in June, 1860. He then pro- ceeded to Nevada, where he served one term as reporter and correspondent in the Legislature and afterwards proceeded to the Humboldt mines and worked for sometime; served one term as Probate Judge of Humboldt county, then returning to California located at Napa, and taught school there for three terms. The subject of our sketch next proceeded to San Diego where he lived for four years, on the expiry of which he transferred his residence to Gilroy and took charge of the public schools of that town as Superintend- ent. It is a pleasure to record that under his management these institutions are in a flourishing condition. Married, June 11, 1867, Caroline F. Bur- rows, a native of New York, and graduate of the Normal School of that State at Albany, by whom he has: Herbert B., born September 17, 1870, and died November 3, 1871 ; Ernest W., born April 5, 1873; Augustus 1., born November 16, 1874; Arthur D., born March 4, 1876; and Roland B .. born December 8, 1879.
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John George Otto. Born in Frankfort, Germany, June 15, 1826, where he resided and was educated until 1849, when he emigrated to the United States, first settling in New York City. Here he worked at his trade for five years, and after engaged in the hotel business which he continued until September, 1877, when he started for California. On arrival he remained five months in San Francisco, at the expiration of which, he made the home for which he sought in Gilroy, having arrived there, February 20, 1878. Mr. Otto is the present Mayor of Gilroy, to which office he was elected, May 8, 1880. Married, October 10, 1853, Dora Beck, a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and has no family.
S. M. Ousley (Deceased). Was born in the State of Kentucky, February 18, 1813. In the year 1835 he settled in Clay county, Missouri, and engaged in farming. January 11, 1837, he married Electa Rockwell, a native of Ontario county, New York. In 1839 he removed with his family to Andrew county, Missouri, where he resided until 1852. By this time the wonderful stories of the new Dorado had found their way into every city and village east of the Rocky Mountains, and every place added its number to the emigrant trains which were continually leaving for California. Mr. Ousley with his wife and seven children joined one of these trains, and after suffering all the hardships of so long a journey, arrived at Salt Lake. There he stopped during the Winter, and in the following Spring continued his journey, arriving at Deer Creek, near Placerville, in July, 1853. The next March he left this place and settled in Gilroy, Santa Clara county. The land titles being doubtful, he simply located his home and turned his cattle upon the open pastures, with the understanding that he would buy when the titles were made clear. This did not happen during his life-time. October 1, 1855, he was killed by the falling of a bucket while working in a well on Mr. Angney's farm. It is but just and right that the woman, who, by this affliction, was left the sole provider for a large family-six daughters and three sons-should be honorably mentioned in this place. Left as she was in a strange land with her almost helpless children, her farm unpurchased, did she despair ? No, no! It is when under the rod that the noblest traits, of woman shine forth. Thus, this woman went on from year to year, carry- ing her burden alone, watching carefully the moral as well as the physical train- ing of her children ; every year adding a little to the estate. She has paid for her farm of six hundred and thirty acres, erected good buildings, gathered around her the comforts of life, and now sits in the midst of her grown-up family like a true mother in Israel-loved and honored by all.
John Paine. Born in Ireland, July 4, 1833. In the year 1844 he emi- grated to the United States and located in Westchester county, New York,
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where he was employed on the farm of E. K. Collins, of the well-known Steamboat Navigation Company. For the first three years his pay was very small, ranging between two and a half and eight dollars per month. Mr. Paine next was engaged as a clerk to a Mr. Marshall for three years and a half, at the end of which he returned home, his father being ill at Valley Falls Rhode Island, There he remained and was variously employed until in 1858, he removed to Warren county, Illinois, and worked on the ranch of Samuel Hanna & Son. On November 22, 1859, he started in company with William Hanna and family vice the Isthmus of Panama to California, and arrived in San Francisco January 8, 1860. The next day found him in Gilroy, and soon after engaged at work on the Uvas ercek. Mr. Hanna now opening a store our subject was put in charge thereof and so continued until July 7th, when he conumenced threshing with horse-power on the Ber- reyessa ranch, and afterwards took the round of the other farms. In the Fall of that year he engaged in transporting lumber, in partnership with Tom Gaines, with three yoke of oxen they had purchased from Hanna Bros .. from the Hanna mill at the head of Murphy's canon. This enterprise he con- tinued until January, 1864, when he and his brother Mike started a hotel- now known as the Hilldale property. In 1867 they moved to Gilroy where they conducted a feed store until April 1, 1868, when they embarked in the livery business, and in the Fall of 1876 purchased his brothers' interest. He owns also the stage line to the Gilroy Hot Springs, Los Baños, and Fire- baugh's. Mr. Paine asserts that he owes a debt of deep gratitude to Will- iam Hanna and Captain Adams for many favors received at their hands. He married, February 9, 1864, O. V. Cottle, a native of Missouri, and has: William A., Michael John, and Maria H.
James F. Phegley. Born in New Madrid county, Missouri, November 7, 1838. As the age of twelve years he accompanied his parents to Pemis- cot county, Missouri, where he resided for a number of years; thence pro- ceeding to Dyer county, Tennessee, being educated at Areada, Missouri. His parents now returning to New Madrid county, he joined them and there resided until he started for California, arriving in San Francisco April 1, 1870. The next day he came to Santa Clara county, and on the fifteenth day of that month purchased a tract of land near the Eighteen-mile House which he occupied until 1876, at which time he transferred his residence to Gilroy for the purpose of giving his family the benefit of the schools there. After remaining in the town three years he moved to the Hanna ranch. Mr. Phegley owns two hundred and forty-four aeres of land at the Eighteen- mile House. Married, September 26, 1860, Mary Catharine Hancock, a native of New Madrid county, Missouri, and has five children, viz .: Stella, born September 2, 1861; William M., born February 24, 1863; Anna M.,
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born April 2, 1865; David F., born July 30, 1869; natives of Missouri; Norah May, born May 29, 1875; native of California.
Darius M. Pyle. Born in Vermillion county, Indiana, April 20, 1851. In 1852, his father came to California, and, in 1855, the subject of our sketch, and his mother and eldest sister, arrived in San Francisco, by way of the Isthinus of Panama, and at once proceeded to Sutterville, Yolo county, where Mr. Pyle, Sr., was conducting a ferry-boat. In 1858, they took up their residence near Silveyville, Solano county, Mr. Pyle remembering dis- tinctly the first load of lumber that was taken to commence the building of the present town of Dixon. Here the elder Mr. Pyle engaged in farming, while our subject received his education at the University of the Pacific, Santa Clara county. In the year 1869 his parents had moved to Santa Clara, and commenced ranching. At the end of his curriculum of two years and a half D. M. Pyle joined them for one season. He then, in 1872, was engaged in a tin shop, in Santa Clara, and afterwards taught for four years, being the Principal of the Alviso school, and, at the same time Clerk of the Board of Trustees, and Assessor of the town of Santa Clara. At the expir- ation of that time, in 1876, he embarked in the dairy business, at Gilroy, where he at present resides. Married, December 24, 1871, Mary Rea, and has: Elmo E., and Mary Aldean.
Samuel Rea. The subject of this sketch is the third son of James and Hannah Rea, and was born in Gallia county, Ohio, May 4, 1830. When but five years of age he accompanied his parents to Hancock county, and later, to Macon county, Illinois, where he was educated and reared a farmer. On February 19, 1852, he left for California via Panama, and arrived in San Francisco, July 26th of that year. He at once proceeded to the mines near Downieville, Sierra county, where he remained until 1855, when he paid his first visit to the Santa Clara valley. Thence he proceeded to Yreka, Siski- you county, and there resided until 1859, in which year he once more came to Santa Clara county, and worked for four years with his brother, Thomas Rea. In the Fall of 1863 he located on his present farm of five hundred acres, where he has since resided. In 1879, he was elected Supervisor for the Sev- enth Supervisoral District of the county, an office he now holds. Mr. Rea owes his success in life entirely to his own unaided efforts, and is now one of the thrifty farmers of Gilroy township, that locality of truly excellent agri- culturists. He married, May 30, 1869, Frances M. Dowell, a native of Cape Vincent, New York, and has two daughters, Florence V., and Lillian Etta.
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