USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 72
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Frederick Wallitz. Was born in Germany, February 12, 1835. In 1856 he arrived in the United States, and landing in New York, at once proceeded to California where he arrived January 13, 1857, and there worked at his trade of baker for some time. From 1860 he resided in Calaveras county for some years, then returning to San Francisco followed his call- ing until 1877, in the Fall of which year he settled in Santa Clara county, upon the farm he now occupies on Bolfish creek about six miles from Gilroy.
Alexander Watson. Was born in Scotland, October 6, 1834, and when an infant came with his parents to the United States, locating first in South Carolina. A year later they moved to Staten Island; thence to Herkimer county, New York, where the subject of our sketch began his educa- tion, and was reared a farmer. Mr. Watson commenced the cares of a soli- tary existence when most people now-a-days are toiling over a spelling-book. At the early age of thirteen years he was launched on the world. He was first employed on the farm of one Harris Lewis, of West Schuyler, Herkimer county. He next went to Utica, New York, where he was six years and seven months in the fancy-dyeing business; in 1857 he left Utica and pro- ceeded to Auburn where he obtained employment as a baker and afterwards .at his own trade; in 1858, after traveling through the Middle States, in the Summer he opened a dye shop in Rome, New York, and January 20, 1859, he started for California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. On arrival Mr. Watson went to the mines, and was engaged in various ways. In 1860 he was employed as cook for the workmen then getting out the stone for the Masonic Temple in San Francisco. In that year he came to Santa Clara county where he was employed as a dairyman for several years; in the Fall of 1868 he purchased an interest in the farm he now owns, which, however, was divided in 1871, Mr. Watson retaining as his share the portion he now occupies. Married, December 3, 1868, Lavinia Bryan, a native of California and has: Ellen, born January 22, 1872; Martha, born February 4, 1874; Alexander, born October 30, 1876.
Hon. Christian Wentz. Was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, August 13, 1822. Emigrated to the United States with his parents in 1833, and resided in the vicinity of Port Deposit, Cecil county, Maryland, up to January 10, 1849, when he sailed from Baltimore in the ship Greyhound, which arrived in San Francisco June 3, 1849. Immediately after arriving Mr. Wentz went to the mines by way of Stockton to what is now called Jamestown, Tuolumne county, and returned to San Francisco during the Fall, where he remained until the Spring of 1850 when he returned to the mines, going to the Yuba river in the neighborhood of Fos- ter's Bar. Meeting with indifferent success he returned to San Francisco, and
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stayed there until the latter part of November, when he came to Santa Clara county and engaged in farming in the neighborhood of Santa Clara and San Jose. In April, 1855, he married Eliz E., daughter of Eller J. K. Rule, and moved to Gilroy township in December of the following year where he has since been ocenpied in dairying and stock-raising. Mr. Wentz was elected a Justice of the Peace for Gilroy township in 1861. He was also one of the company of fifty who purchased the Rancho Justo in 1868 from Colonel W. W. Hollister and laid it out into homesteads and the town of Hollister, now the county seat of San Benito county. Was Deputy Assessor from 1872 to 1876, and also in 18SO-81; and was elected to the House of Assembly as one of the three representatives from Santa Clara county, in the Twenty-fourth Session of the Legislature of California.
L. A. Whitehurst. Born in Princess Ann county, Virginia, June +, 1834. When six years of age he moved with his parents to St. Louis, Missouri, and there resided four years; thence they moved to Lexington. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California and proceeded to Bidwell's Bar, Butte county, and mined, but meeting with little success, returned to Missouri in the Winter of 1851-2. Remaining in that State until 1859, Mr. Whitehurst once more returned to the Pacific coast and crossing the plains arrived at Sacramento September 22d of that year. At the end of two months he removed to Santa Clara county, and after a short stay in San José located on the Santa Cruz Toll-road not far from Lexington, and engaged in lumbering. After remaining here for ten years, in the Winter of 1869 he went back for a visit to the Eastern States; returning, however, in the following March he took up his residence in Gilroy, where he still lives. Mr. Whitehurst has been engaged in the lumber business ever since he first started at Lexington. In 1875 he became connected with the Bank of Gilroy, and is now its President, while privately, and publicly as well, Mr. Whitehurst is respected by the entire community of which he is a member. Married, January 31, 1860, Hattie A. Logan, a native of Missouri, and has a family of seven children.
Albert Willson. Was born in Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire. Here he passed the greater part of his life until he came to California. Six of his youthful years were passed in learning and working at the trade of brick-mason, in Randolph, Massachusetts. He received his schooling at the Academy at West Brattleborough, Vermont. On January 9, 1852, he started across the Isthmus for California, and arrived at Shaw's Flat, Tuolumne county, February 15th, where he prosecuted mining for four years, at the expiration of which he was married and removed to Santa Clara county, and first took up his residence at the old Soap house which stood west a
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
short distance from the dwelling he now occupies, to which he moved in 1857. Mr. Willson owns five hundred and thirty-five acres, and is engaged in dairying and farming. Married, March 12, 1856, Miss E. J. Hildebrand, a native of Indiana, and has: Carlon R., born July 5, 1857; Frederick W., born November 16, 1860; Charles S., born October 5, 1867.
Horace Willson. The subject of this sketch was born in Marlborough, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, February 18, 1822. When an infant his parents moved to Keene, in the same county, where Mr. Willson was edu- cated in the academy of that place. On leaving school he learned the brick- layer's trade, and worked at building and contracting for nearly twenty years. On November 9, 1853, he started via Nicaragua for California, arriv- ing in San Francisco December 31 of that year, and on the day following came to Santa Clara county, arriving in Gilroy township on the 5th. For the first three months he resided with his brother, D. Willson. in San Ysidro, or Old Gilroy, and then purchased his present homestead. To Mr. Willson is the honor due of making the first brick in that section of the county, which he perfected in the year 1854. In the year 1859 he constructed his present magnificent b.ick mansion, the building of which he personally superintended throughout. The edifice is thirty by forty feet, two stories high, with an "L" twenty by thirty-six feet. It is situated in the center of the almost classic little town of San Ysidro, where it is an ornament and credit to the county anl proprietor alike. Contiguous to it are the well-arranged farming offices, while the grounds are laid out with much taste, a fine arbor covering the pathway from the public road to the entrance. Besides this homestead he has a stock-raising range of several thousand acres in extent, in which business he has been engaged ever since 1854. It is a pleasing duty to here record that Mrs. Lavinia Willson, the mother of our subject, accompanied her son to California in the year 1853 and still survives. She was born September 8, 1797. Married Charles Willson in 1817, who died May 3, 1845. Mrs. Willson resides in Old Gilroy not far from her son, where she is surrounded in her old age by all the com- forts that thoughtful children and grandchildren can afford, and though born in the last century, we, with all others, trust that time may still further wing his flight 'ere she be called to cross the dark river. Horace Willson married, May 2, 1846, in Brattleborough, Windham county, Vermont, Eunice E. Chickering, a native of New Hampshire, who was born March 30, 1828. Their children are: Charley, born October 20, 1847, died February 14, 1867; Dan., born September 8, 1849, died August 24, 1857; Frank, born July 20, 1851; Edwin, born July 20, 1855 ; Lyman, born March 19, 1858; Amanda May, born February 4, 1860; Ida Eliza, born April 18, 1863; Lucy Anna and Luly A. (twins), born July 16, 1865; Mary Jane, born December 4, 1866.
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Mr. Willson is a member of the Horticultural Society, and represents this portion of the county. In 1860 both Mr. and Mrs. Willson united with the Presbyterian church and are still connected with it. He has never aspired to any political office during his residence in the county.
Peter Bonnett Wilmarth. Born in New York City, July 24, 1846, where he was educated. When eighteen years of age he came to California, arriving in San Francisco May 1, 1865. He at once proceeded to Monterey where he took up his residence. Ten years later we find him in the employ of Mackay & Fair in Nevada, and two years after at Gilroy acting as clerk in the Williams House. In the Spring of 1880 he took a short trip to New York, and returning engaged in business at the Gihoy Hot Springs, where he is a general favorite with all frequenters of that fashionable resort. Married, October 29, 1880, Carrie M. Harrison, a native of Gilroy, Santa Clara county, California.
J. S. Wolsey. Born in Lake county, Ohio, December 30, 1838. He arrived in San Francisco October 13, 1870, and in the following month became a resident of Santa Clara county and a citizen of Gilroy. On arrival Mr. Wolsey first engaged in the business of a gunsmith, but afterwards become Superintendent of the Gilroy Gas-works, a position he now holds. In August, 1875, he built his present machine shop. Married, May 1, 1865, . Martha Goodwill, a native of Ohio, by whom he has six children, viz .: Henry, born September 23, 1866; Vernon, born October 5, 18G8; Mary, born February 27, 1871; Elmer, born October 5, 1874; Carry, born March 17, 1878, and Eunice, born January 23, 1881.
David Wood. A native of Montgomery, county, New York, first saw the light on May 14, 1817. When an infant he was moved by his father, Uriah D. Wood, to Cattaraugus county, in the same State, where he resided and received his education until 1842, when he emigrated to Ottawa, La Salle county, Illinois, and was there engaged upon a farm. While at his plow the world was startled with the news of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia. The plowshare was at once laid aside for the pickaxe, the plow- reins for those of the prairie-schooner, and, crossing the plains, with all its attendant hardships, Mr. Wood found himself in Sacramento on August 23. 1849. To the mines: to the mines! was the wild slogan of every one; thither the subject of this sketch, therefore, also proceeded with the rest, but at the end of two months, finding that there were other ways of getting gold besides the digging for it, he proceeded to San Diego, purchased a drove of horses and mules, drove them along the coast, and on gaining his destination established a pack-train for supplying the mining camps with provisions. His health failing, Mr. Wood sold out of the concern at the end of three
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
months and returned to Illinois, and there stayed until 1853; but such were the attractions of this State, that we find him once more on the boundless plains, en route to the Pacific coast, his former experience having gained him the position of captain of the train. On the 19th August of the year last mentioned, he once more found himself in Sacramento, and, moving from thence in that Fall, came to Santa Clara county, arriving in Gilroy town- ship Christmas Day, 1853. Having paid a second visit to Illinois, in the year 1855, Mr. Wood returned with his family, this time by water, and took up his residence in Gilroy township, where he has since been, save for twelve years, during which he had his abode in Tulare and Merced counties. Married, September 8, 1842, Mary Mills, of New York, and has: Charles A., Nelson H. (deceased), David M., James T., George R., Frank A., Martha, William W., and Mary.
Uriah Wood. The subject of this narrative was born in Cattarangus county, New York, September 5, 1829. At the age of eleven years his parents took him to Whiteside county, Illinois; from there to Bureau and La Salle counties, in the same State; in the last named he received his edu- eation and resided until 1852. In this year he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia, arriving at Hangtown (now Placerville) in September of that year. Shortly after reaching the State, he proceeded to Calaveras county, there passing the Winter of 1852-3. In the following Spring he went to Spanish Flat, and mined until the Fall of the year, when he made Sacra- mento his residence until March, 1854. He then came direct to Santa Clara county, located on a squatters' claim in Gilroy township, until 1857, at which time he disposed of his affairs and embarked in the stock business. In 1860 Mr. Wood took up his abode in the San Joaquin valley, where he owned a ranch of nearly five thousand acres, two thousand being under cultivation ; he had something over four thousand sheep upon this traet. In 1866 he acquired the farm near San Felipe, on which he now resides, comprising two hundred and seventy-four acres, where he has a comfortable home and fine land. Thus doth perseverance overcome difficulty. When our subject first arrived in the county his available capital was a little more than three hundred dollars; for some time he drove a team in the redwoods ; he after- wards settled on a elaim two miles north-west of Gilroy; and so, round by round, has he climbed the ladder of life, until to-day he is one of the leading citizens in the district in which he resides. Mr. Wood is also largely interested in three banks-the Bank of Hollister, Salinas City Bank, and the Grangers Bank of California, and other corporations. Married, December 18, 1862, Phoebe L. Smith, a native of Ohio, and has: Chester W., born August 21, 1864; Walter H., born December 5, 1866; Ralph W., born October 31, 1870 ; Louis E., born July 27, 1875.
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BIOGRAPHIES-GILROY TOWNSHIP.
David Zuck. This worthy pioneer, who has given two sons to the Leg- islature of California, was born in Ross county, Ohio, January 30, ISOS, where he was educated, and resided, until February, 1835, at which time he moved to Marion county, and for five years engaged in farming. Thence he proceeded to Caledonia, in the same county, and combined a mercantile and tailoring business. Two years after, he embarked in hotel-keeping, seceding from the first-named, and continued it until his determination to proceed to California was arrived at. Early in the ever memorable year of 1849 Mr. Zuck entered into a contract with General George Rowe to accompany a party across the plains to the Pacific. They were fitted out at St. Joseph, Missouri, and a start effected April 12th of that year. All went well with our travelers until the Platte river was reached, on June Ist, when a raid was made upon them by Indians, and two of their oxen stolen. After a chase of five miles the depredators were overhauled and called upon to surrender, when a skirmish ensued. One of the party, Dr. Fisher, had his horse shot under him, and another, Ben Toppin, was wounded by an arrow piercing his thigh. Four of the red skins were made to bite the dust. The remainder of the journey was made without further mishap, and Mr. Zuck believes that even the misadventure that happened might have been avoided. On October 26, 1849, the subject of our narrative arrived at the mines on the Yuba river, and there remained until January 28, 1850, when he moved higher up the stream, to Bullard's Bar; but had poor success. In December, 1850, he worked as a farm-laborer on the Horn Cut, and four months later purchased a ranch. Hitherto he had had no financial success; now he essaved practical farming. Purchasing two hundred acres of land in partnership with R. F. Piat, he located abont fourteen miles from Marys- ville, on the Horn Cut, and there took up his residence. Mr. Zuck now determined to visit the East. He therefore sailed from San Francisco, December 5, 1851, in the steamer Golden Gate, on her first voyage, and arrived in New Nork on New Year's morning, 1852. Having recrossed the plains, he arrived on his farm, near Marysville, on September 17th, of that year, whence he removed to Santa Clara county, November 7, 1853, and on the following day located on the property he occupies, now comprising eight hundred and forty acres, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Married, April 11, 1833, Maria Eliza Linton, a native of Ohio, who died May 10, 1881, by whom he has; Mary Ann, born March 25, 1834; John, born November 5, 1835, died March 22, 1867; [The Hon. John Zuck was elected to the House of Assem- bly of the State of California, on the Republican ticket, September 4. 1861, when he polled one thousand seven hundred and sixty-seven votes, being forty-five more than the Hon. Charles Maclay, Republican, and one hundred thirty-one more than Hon. J. Brown, Republican. He died full of promise,
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and much regretted.] Harriett, born May 10, 1838; William H., born Novem- ber 16, 1841, who died December 27, 1863; James C .; born January 14. 1844; [The Hon. James C. Zuck is the confrère of the Hon. G. F. Baker, in the present Senate of the State of California.] Albion Theo., born May 30, 1846, who died April 29, 1870.
The Honorable James C. Zuck. The subject of this biography, the son of David and Maria L. Zuck, was born, in Marion county, Ohio, January 14, 1844. In the year 1852, his father determined to eross the plains, face their many hardships, and proceed to the Pacific shores, therefore arrange- ments were made, farewells said, the prairie schooner freighted, and, under command of the captain, W. W. Hollister, the course was shaped for the land of gold. In the Fall of that year, the party arrived in Marysville, but the mindful father, having in view the education of his children, not findling academic facilities in that vicinity, after a little, proceeded to Santa Clara county, where these were to be had, and located in Gilroy township, in the month of October, 1853. In the year 1862, the gentleman, whose career we have now under notice, entered the University of the Pacific, then situated in the town of Santa Clara, and graduate, A. M. (Artium Magister), in the class of 1867. His curriculum ended, he studied for four months in a law office, in San Jose, and, in the Fall of that year, established the first legal office in Gilroy, when it was composed of but a few houses, and the site of the town an open field, wild and uncultivated. At this period, Mr. Zuck, in company with F. S. Rogers, entered largely into real estate transactions, and taking into partnership Mr. Hoover, the firm became Zuck, Rogers & Hoover, who staked off the town of Gilroy, planned its streets, and purchasing a parcel of ground here and a tract there, divided it into lots, and disposed of them as occasion offered; indeed, the town site has been purchased by these enterprising gentlemen over and over again, while Mr. Zuck has made ont the deeds for nearly every piece of property there. In the years from 1868 to 1871, Gilroy took its principal start, when such were the number of opera- tions in land, that Mr. Zuck drew out from ten to a dozen transfers per diem. When the railroad was completed, however, the building enterprises ceased, and the town assumed the quietude which it to-day bears. On January 6, 1874, the subject of our memoir was elected President of the Bank of Gilroy, which position he held for five years; he then resumed the practice of his profession, and in the Fall of 1879, was elected to the State Senate. Appointed Consul at Tien Tsing, North China, May 20, 1881. Married firstly, February 26, 1868, Mary L. Hayden, who died October 1, 1872, by whom he has one daughter, named Nellie; and secondly, Jennie P. Dorland, a native of Canada, and has by this union two children, viz .: Ralph J .; and Marguerite.
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Jours, sincerely Ino. Fr. Baker.
NE LIBRARY
1X 2 ID . 1 .3.
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BIOGRAPHIES-MILPITAS TOWNSHIP.
MILPITAS TOWNSHIP.
Samuel Freeman Ayer. Whose portrait appears in these pages, was born January 23, 1840. His parents, James and Elizabeth Ayer, at that time were residents of the town of Sackville in the British province of New Brunswick. His father was ar extensive manufacturer, carrying on the business of a tannery, a harness factory, a shoe factory, and at the same time devoting considerable attention to agriculture. Samuel lived with his par- ents until he was fourteen years of age, attending school and assisting his father in the different branches of his diversified business. At that time, at his own request, he was indentured as an apprentice to a gentleman who was carrying on a large carriage factory in the town of Sackville. He soon became a most valuable assistant to the proprietor. His indentures ran for seven years, at the end of which time he would have been twenty-one years of age, but at the expiration of six years he made up his mind that he wanted to come to California, and the gentleman to whom he was appren- ticed, in consideration of his valuable assistance, cancelled his indentures and in 1860, being then twenty years of age, he started for the Pacific coast. He came by way of the Isthmus, arriving in San Francisco in May of that year. He did not remain long in the city but at once made his way into the interior. He first located at the town of Santa Clara where he worked a few months in the shop of John Dickson, but receiving an advantageous offer from Abraham Weller, of Milpitas, he removed to that place. He was employed in Mr. Weller's shop until the Spring of 1861 when he leased the shops and set up business on his own account. A thorough knowledge of his business coupled with industry and square dealing, insured his success. He married in 1862, his wife being Miss America E. Evans, the accomplished daughter of Josiah Evans, one of the pioneers of the State, and a gentleman widely known and highly respected. In 1863 he abandoned his lease of the old shops and built new ones of his own which he conducted successfully until 1868. At this time he purchased a tract of land containing one hun- dred and fifty acres, situated a mile east of Milpitas toward the foot-hills. He then gave up his shops and engaged in agriculture, a business in which he has been eminently successful and which he still follows. He lives on this place with his family which now consists of his wife and eight children. Of his children, six are girls and two are boys, the oldest being a boy aged eighteen years, and the youngest a girl aged four years. Soon after
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
his location in Milpitas, Mr. Ayer's sound sense and practical ideas on all questions affecting the welfare of the community caused his opinions to be greatly sought and respected. He was frequently solicited to become a can- didate for some one of the important offices of the county, but would consent to accept nothing but the position of School Trustee of his district. Taking a lively interest in everything connected with the matter of common schools, he accepted a place on the School Board of his district in 1866, and has held it ever since. The efficiency of the Milpitas schools, is, in a great measure, owing to his liberal and enlightened ideas on the subject of common school education. In 1875 the Supervisoral districts of Santa Clara county were reorganized, a district being formed from the townships of Fremont, Alviso and Milpitas. An election for Supervisors was to be held in February, 1876, Mr. Ayer was urged to become a candidate, and, after earnest solicitation, con- sented. The district was Democratic by a large majority and Mr. Ayer was a Republican. The Democrats nominated Thomas Stealey, a resident of Mountain View, a very popular man. At this election Mr. Ayer received two hundred and forty-five votes and Mr. Stealey two hundred and thirty- nine, Milpitas casting her entire vote except eleven for Mr. Ayer. In 1879 another election for Supervisors was held and Mr. Ayer again became a candidate, his opponent being John Carrick, of Milpitas township. The result was that Mr. Ayer received four hundred and three votes, and Mr. Carrick one hundred and seventy-two. The effect of this last election indicates that Mr. Ayer has very satisfactorily discharged the difficult duties of this usually thankless office. Mr. Ayer is still in the prime of life, being only forty-one years of age, is in robust health and full of energy. As a public officer he has originated and carried to a successful termination some of the most beneficial measures of our county government. As a farmer he has always been in the front rank of progress, and as a citizen he is esteemed and respected by all.
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