USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 73
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Wilson S. Bower. Born in Carroll county, Ohio, February 13, 1842. In the year 1865 he left his native State for Montana; thence to Idaho, from there to Salt Lake, next to Arizona by way of the Colorado river; afterwards to Kern county, California; next to Santa Cruz where he was employed at various occupations for five years; then to Mexico and South America; back to New York and Ohio, proceeded to Texas, Indian Terri- tory, Nebraska, and finally settled on the South Calaveras ridge, Milpitas township, Santa Clara county, California, where he has fixed his home but has not taken unto himself a " better-half."
David S. Boyce. Born in Huntingdon county, Canada, August 18, 1838, and there resided for the first fifteen years of his life, when he moved to
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Toronto and engaged in the carriage and wagonmaker's trade. At the end of about two years he went to the State of New York, worked at his trade for eight months and then started for California by way of the Isthmus, arriving in San Francisco in 1857. After making a short stay at Scarsville, San Mateo county, he proceeded to the mines at Columbia, Tuolumne county ;. thence to Murphy's Camp in Calaveras county; then to Saw Mill Flat, Tuo- lume county, where he remained all Winter; in the Spring he went to Redwood City, San Mateo county; in the following Fall to Spanishtown, and finally came to this county and worked for Mr. Aver until 1864, when he was variously employed most of the time, until he built his present shop in Milpitas, where his business is conducted under the firm name of Boyce & Topham. Married, February 22, 1869, Sarah Cottle, and has: Sarah E., born December 4, 1871; Helen S., born July 18, 1873; Clara, born Feb- ruary IS, 1879; Edward P., born December 20, 1880.
John Carrick. Was born in Haddingtonshire, Scotland, September 21, 1821, and emigrated to the United States in 1844, first living in Maine and Massachusetts. After sailing round the Cape of Good Hope to Australia, he came to this State in 1850. Three months after his arrival in San Fran- cisco he proceeded to the mines in Mariposa county for a short time and had good success; he then came to Santa Clara county, obtaining employment in the New Almaden mines; at the end of one year he moved to San Jose and commenced working at his trade being the first baker in that city, having also furnished the yeast whereby the first beer was brewed there. Here he continued in business until 1857, when he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land from Joseph Stevens in Calaveras valley; he now owns four hundred acres, and two hundred head of stock. Mr. Carrick was one of the first who established a school in the district, and has been a School Trustee for several years. Married, in Australia, Mary McMaster, a native of Argyleshire, Scotland, and has had six children as following: Julia, in Australia, now Mrs. Collyer, Alexander J., Marion Jane (deceased), Isabel L., Alice C., now Mrs. W. French, Annie M.
Charles Clark. Born in Delaware county, Ohio, April 27, 1819, where he lived until he came to California in 1852. He soon after located on the farm on which he now resides. After first coming to Santa Clara county, however, he built a house about a mile north of Milpitas and ocen- pied it for two years; he next dwelt for five years in Contra Costa county; and thence returned and bought the property as above stated, where he has some of the finest Durham stock, several head being especially imported into the county. Married, in Delaware county, Ohio, September 20, 1842, and has: Philander, born in Ohio, September 17, 1845; Phoebe A., born in Wis- consin, March 17, 1851; Lucy M., born in California, July 3, 1854.
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Philander Clark. Born in Ohio, December 17, 1845, and when quite young came with his parents to California. In 1852 he went to school in San Francisco, after which he entered the store of T. W. Spring in San Jose for one year. On the expiration of that term he came to Milpitas, engaged with E. W. Darling with whom he remained eight years, when he finally purchased the business of that gentleman. Mr. Clark is also Post- master, and manager of the Western Union Telegraph Agency. Married, April 29, 1868, Sarah Maple, a native of Staten Island, New York, and has: Charles, born March 9, 1869; Arthur, born February 11, 1871; Eva, born October 12, 1873.
E. W. Darling. Born in Messesquoi county, Province of Quebec, December 28, 1834. At sixteen years of age he went to West Cambridge, Massachusetts, and there remained four years, then went to Boston and engaged in the manufactory of whalebone for some years. In 1859 he came to California; was in Downieville, Sierra county, one year; next went to Tehama county and engaged in the stock business for seven years. In 1867 removed to Santa Clara county, purchased seven hundred acres of land on the San Ysidro grant, south of Gilroy, stocked it with two hundred cows, and followed the dairy business one year when he removed to Milpitas, entering the mercantile business with Calvin Valpey, Jr., and remained in the same until 1879. In 1876 he built the Milpitas Grain Warehouse and took the Agency of the Central Pacific Railroad Company, also Wells, Fargo & Co., and at the present time is attending to the business of these companies as well as being in the wholesale trade of hay and grain. Mar- ried, in December, 1856, Abbie, the daughter of Deacon Nathaniel Churchill of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, at Boston, Massachusetts, by whom there has been one son born who died in infancy. His father was a fine musician, who had a violin made at Verona, Italy, which is an heir-loom and now in the possession of our subject, it being one hundred and seventy-one years old.
Hiram Pomeroy. Born in Knox county, Indiana, January 11, 1822, whence he went to Sullivan county when quite young. At ten years of age he accompanied his parents to St. Joseph county, and after two years to Marshall county where he settled when there were but a very few white residents in that locality. After residing among the Indians there and farm- ing for nineteen years, he started for California via the Isthmus of Panama, in 1853. On arrival he started for the mines on Jamison creek, Plumas county, but remaining there only one Summer, he came to San José, where he left his family and departed for Tuolumne county, where he mined for six months. With only a small sum made in this venture he returned to San José, joined D. Meyers in a two-hundred-acre farm, put in a crop, but a dry
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year ensuing, experienced a total loss. Mr. Porreroy then removed with his family to Gilroy, worked in a dairy for a year and a half, paid his debts like a man, and came to the Calaveras valley, Milpitas township, in 1857, pur- chased a pre-emption claim of one hundred and sixty acres and planted a vineyard and orchard, which he sold some six years since to the Spring Valley Water Company. Married, April 13, 1847, Harriet Taylor, a native of New York. They have no children.
John Sinnott. Born in County Wexford, Ireland. In the year 1800 he emigrated to Canada, in which country he farmed until 1851 when he emigrated to California, coming via the Isthmus of Panama, which was crossed on mules, and arrived in San Francisco June 19, 1851. Mr. Sinnott came direct to Santa Clara county, and settled in Fremont township near Mountain View ; in 1856 he removed to Milpitas township, bought an undi- vided interest in a tract of land supposed to comprise three hundred acres but on measurement was found to contain but two hundred; to this he has since added until he at present owns a property of five hundred and seventy- five acres, all of which is well improved, and under the immediate manage- ment of his sons, Thomas J. and Patrick Sinnott. Married, in Quebec, Can- ada, Elizabeth Bulger, and has five children living-two sons and three daughters: Thomas J., Patrick, Catharine, Mary, and Ellen Sinnott. The sons though tempted by public preferment have ever turned their backs upon the avenues of political honors and pursued the even tenor of their ways in the more profitable and peaceful pursuits of agriculture. One of the daugh- ters is now a Sister of Notre Dame, having joined that order twenty-three years ago. Another daughter is married to John Murphy, of San Leandro, while the other sister, Miss Ellen, the light of her own home and the favorite of all who know her, lives with her brothers and parents at the old homestead.
Robert Walsh. Born in Canada, July 22, 1832. In the Fall of the year 1853, he arrived in San Francisco, and coming direct to Santa Clara county, located himself for eight months in San Jose township. He then passed about half a year at the mines at Columbia, Tuolumne county : next he proceeded to Alameda county, and there resided about eight months; thence he went to Milpitas township, Santa Clara county, and acquired the farm on which he now resides, comprising one hundred and eighty-three acres, with as much more in the hills. Married, November S, 1868, C. Ken- nedy, by whom he has: Mary E., born May 16, 1870; Thomas, born Decem- ber 24, 1871; Cecilia V., born December 8, 1873; Katie, born December 24, 1875; Anne L., born April 18, 1878; Agnes, born April 14, 1879.
Abraham Weller. Born in Somerset county, New Jersey, November 25, 1821. When quite young, he went with his parents to Livingston county,
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New York, lived on a farm until he was eighteen, then commenced life on his own account, as a blacksmith-a trade he followed until he came to this State, in 1850. After a few days' stay in San Francisco, he left for Coloma, near Folsom, where he mined for two years; he then came to Milpitas town- ship, and started a blacksmith's shop, at the same time purchasing a squat- ter's claim to a ranch, from John Tyghe, part of his present farm. At the end of six years he sold his shop to T. J. Marcher. Mr. Weller, at present, owns two hundred acres of land. Married, January 26, 1863, Ellen Carpen- ter, who died August 5, 1880. By this union there is one child: Henry C .. born March 1, 1864.
Joseph R. Weller. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Warren county, New Jersey, October 10, 1819. When he was at the age of five years, his father emigrated to the Genesee valley, New York, and there, in Temple Hill Academy, he received his early education, under the tutorship of Professor Horatio N. Robinson. He afterwards taught in the public schools, and attended the Ithaca Academy, and while a student there, was elected by the Board of Supervisors of Livingston county to go to the State Normal School at Albany. Graduating there, in 1846, he was immediately engaged by Colonel W. W. Wadsworth, as an associate with Henry Willey to take charge of an Agricultural College, which he was commencing to establish in the Genesee valley, a position he occupied until Mr. Wadsworth's health failed, and the college was discontinued. In the Spring of 1849, he went to Staten Island and taught a private seminary (under the proprietorship of Professor H. M. Bachm) until May, 1850, when, under the influence of the prevailing California fever, he left New York, on the brig John, French, for the far-off land of gold. After a stormy passage of thirty-three days the mouth of the Chagres river was reached, when, with six companions, they traveled, by way of rowing their own boat, to the town of Cruces. Thence over the old Boliver trail, on pack-mules, to Panama, where, with several thousand others, six weeks were passed awaiting a steamer to convey them to San Francisco. At length the almost unendurable suspense was ended by the arrival of the ship Columbus from her first trip to San Francisco. As soon as repairs could be made, he secured passage, and arrived in San Francisco, August 7, 1850. He soon went to the mines at Coloma, El Dorado county. At the end of a month he returned to San Francisco, ill with Panama fever. In the following Spring, still suffering from the effects of the fever, he came to Santa Clara county, and located on the Charles Weber Ranch, twenty miles from San José, where he remained until his health was fully restored. We next find Mr. Weller employed on the Laguna Ranch for one month; he then proceeded to the mines in Mariposa county, with Thomas Douglas, taking with them two loads of produce.
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On his return to San Jose, after an absence of seven weeks, he acquired fifty acres of land from James Murphy, farmed it for two years, and then, May 1, 1853, came to Milpitas township, settling where he now resides. In 1861 he was married to Mrs. Marion W. Battey, nee Hart, a native of Mad- ison county, New York, by whom he has two daughters, Marion E., and May L. Weller. In 1855 Mr. Weller organized the Milpitas school district, being appointed a Trustee, which position he still holds. He filled the office of Justice of the Peace, from 1856 to 1878. In 1853 he received the nom- ination for the Assembly, and, in 1855, was candidate for County Clerk. In 1878 he was elected to represent the county in the Constitutional Con- vention. In politics, Mr. Weller is a Republican, with progressive tenden- cies and decided character, truly a sympathizer with the working classes, and an active agent in all liberal movements for true advancement. His duties in life have not been in their nature brilliant or prominent, but they have been such as to require the most solid and useful of the civic virtues, courage, integrity, justice, and steady, indomitable energy. Possessed of a genial disposition, and a firm Christian faith, he acts by his own honest con- victions in the fear of God, and is ever ready to assist all that is good and repress all that is wrong, or that hinders the general prosperity of his fel- low-men.
Dudley Wells. Born in Monroe county, Michigan, September 24, 1829. He crossed the plains to California in company with A. French and N. R. Har- ris arriving October 10, 1852. Soon after he proceeded to Corte Madera, Marin county. At the end of eight months he removed to Negro Hill, El Dorado county, where he resided until November 28, 1853, when he came to Santa Clara county, and settled in Calaveras valley, Milpitas township, taking up the ground on which he now lives. About six years ago he disposed of his property to the Spring Valley Water Company, who purchased the valley, but he still rents from that corporation. Mr. Wells has been a School Trus- tee, and Roadmaster of the district for several years. Married, in 1856, Parthena C. Ogan, a native of Missouri, who died October 18, 1875, by whom he had Martha A. and Mary J. (twins), born August S, 1858; Leona born December 26, 1867. Married, secondly, October 1, 1877, Martha Brown, and has one child, Maurice M., born January 5, 1880.
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REDWOOD TOWNSHIP.
John Goldsworthy. The subject of this sketch was born in the county of Cornwall, England, February 14, 1816. When fifteen years of age he commenced working in the copper and tin mines, where he continued to find constant employment until the year 1841, when he emigrated to the United States and settled in the State of Wisconsin, where he soon became actively engaged in mining, in which business he was continuously and successfully employed until the year 1852. On entering the mining fields of Wisconsin, he soon discovered that the knowledge acquired during his employment in the deep mines of Cornwall, was likely to be of great benefit to him in this country, and his superior knowledge of constructing pumps and timbering soon caused his services to be sought after by others engaged in the same business, and wherever employed his skill in constructing suitable pumps, with which to drain the mines, soon secured for him the good-will and pat- ronage of his employers. Indeed, so successful was he in the Wisconsin Lead mines, that when he left there for California, December, 1852, he was the owner of a good farm well improved and stocked. On arriving in Califor- nia, January 16, 1853, he immediately struck out for the mines, having been compelled to foot it most of the way from Sacramento to Sonora, the stage company refusing to carry passengers, owing to the bad condition of the roads, which were in such a deplorable condition that nothing but the mails could be transported over them. On arriving at Sonora he found provisions of every kind and description scarce and high. Flour fifty cents per pound, and everything else in proportion, and even at the existing high prices they were very difficult to get. He immediately commenced gold mining on Wood's creek, near the then flourishing town of Sonora, where he continued one year. Here his knowledge previously acquired was again sought after by his associates and the construction of suitable pumps, with which to re- move the water from the deep diggings of that section, occupied much of his time at advanced wages. From Sonora he went to Valecita, where he had been called to take a situation as timberman in a mine, for which services he received a good salary. From Valecita he when to Carson's Camp, where he soon after met one of the greatest misfortunes of his life, the loss of a beloved brother, who was instantly killed by the caving of a gravel bank. Here Mr. Goldsworthy remained two years. From thence he went to the middle fork of the American River, where he was employed in tim-
·
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bering the drifting claims then being worked under the banks of that stream. After being profitably employed at this business for some time he returned to Wood's creek, where he purchased a mining claim and continued to work the same; on March 14, 1857, he was offered a position in the New Almaden Quicksilver mine in this county. The position that he secured at this mine afforded him a good salary, and having the promise from the owners of a permanent situation, he sent to Wisconsin for his family (wife and eight children, two of whom being his brother's children), who arrived here in the Fall of 1857. He remained in the employ of the Almaden Mining Company nine years. In 1864 he purchased a ranch of one hundred and twenty acres near Los Gatos, anl cultivated the soil for five years. He then went to San Luis Obispo county, where he remained about six months, mining for quicksilver, when he returned to his family at Los Gatos. Soon after com- ing back from San Luis Obispo county, he went to the St. John's Quicksilver mine near Vallejo, where he was engaged as foreman of the mine and work- ers, which position he retained three years and a half, having given entire satisfaction to his employers; he was then appointed Superintendent of the North Almaden Quicksilver mine, near San Jose, having received the appointment from the lamented Captain Adams. Mr. Goldsworthy is in pos- session of numerous testimonials from many distinguished mining operators of California and elsewhere, all of which testify to his skill and great ability in con lueting mining operations. Married, January 16, 1840, in the Church of England, Urslia Elwards.
Henry Hutton. Born in New York City, August 27, 1813. After working with his father, who was a butcher, until he was sixteen years of age, he served his time at the carpenter's trade. at which he remained for six years, then drove a team for two years, and finally became ticket-taker at the Bowery Theater, New York, being at the same time a Deputy Sheriff where he remained until 1842. We now find Mr. Hutton in the position of Superintendent of paupers on Blackwell Island, where, after a year's ser- vice, he was transferred as steward for the children on Randall Island. At the end of a year he commenced a butcher business in New York City, which he continued for two years. In December, 1849, he started for California riu Panama, and arrived in San Francisco, April 16, 1850. On reaching this city he started for Merced county, and went to work mining, which he fol- lowed for nearly one year, then returning to New York. After a short stay of three weeks in that city he returned to California arriving in July, 1851. He first went to Benicia and acted as agent for John B. Steinberger and Rufus Rowe, to supply the Pacific Mail Steamship Company with beef, remaining with them one year; he then formed the acquaintance of one Ryder, in company with whom he commenced wharf-building, an occupation he prosecuted until
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the Fall of 1853; once more he returned to New York but at the end of six monchs brought his family to California, and arrived in May, 1854. After speculating in cattle for two years he embarked in a retail butcher business in San Francisco, for five years, then went into the oil business for two years; started another butcher shop, which he carried on for two years more ; next worked at the carpenter's trade until 1859, when he bought a ranch of two hundred and twenty-seven acres in Redwood township, on which he has since and now resides. Married, March 4, 1835, Elenor Foster, by whom he has now living : Ann Eliza Hutton, born in New York, 1837 ; Warner Hutton, born in New York, 1839; Sarah Ellen Hutton, born in New York, 1841; I. A. Hutton, born in New York, 1842; Laura Hutton, born in San Fran- cisco, 1856; Hiram Hutton, born in San Francisco, 1859.
Ira J. Lovell. Born in Logan county, Kentucky, November 6, 1811. When quite small, he moved with his parents to Muhlenburgh county, and there resided until 1839. He was married January 14, 1836, to Ann L. Campbell, of Muhlenburgh county, by whom he had eleven children. In 1839, he moved to Hopkins county, Kentucky, where he followed farming, until the Fall of 1850, when he moved to Saline county, Missouri. He remained there until the Spring of 1852, then started across the plains for California, arriv- ing at Santa Clara in the Fall of that year. In the Fall of 1853, he located on his present farm, of two hundred and thirty-five acres, in Redwood town- ship. The following are the names of his children now living: William M., born in Muhlenburgh county, Kentucky; James M., born in Muhlenburgh county, Kentucky ; Mary E., born in Hopkins county, Kentucky; John A., born in Hopkins county, Kentucky; Joseph W., bom in Hopkins county, Kentucky; Hugh W., born in Hopkins county, Kentucky; S. Maggie, born in Humboldt county, Nevada; Ella L., born in Santa Clara county, Cali- fornia.
John Weldon Lyndon. Born at Alburgh Springs, Grand Isle county, Vermont, February 18, 1836, and there resided until 1846. From this place he moved to Whitfield, Coos county, New Hampshire, and remained there until he came to California, arriving in San Francisco, via Panama, October 24, 1859. On the following day he came to Santa Clara county, and after being variously employed for some months, entered the store of B. Josephs, at Lexington, where he remained clerking for three years. Mr. Lyndon now started in business on his own account, and thus continued until 1868, when selling out, he took a trip to the Eastern States. At the end of a few months he returned to this county, settled at Los Gatos, and bought what was known as the "Ten-mile House," from H. D. McCobb, but conducting the hotel for only a few months, he disposed of it to Morgan Covell. Four years
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later, however, Mr. Lyndon repurchased this establishment, from Jacob Rich, the then owner, and now conducts it as the Los Gatos Hotel. On his return from the Eastern States, the subject of this sketch, also opened a store of general merchandise, at Los Gatos, which he still manages. Mr. Lyndon was elected Trustee, for the Los Gatos school district, in May, 1878.
John F. Mason. The subject of this sketch was born in Jefferson county, New York, November 20, 1822, where he received his schooling, and at the age of eighteen years, commenced to learn the trade of cabinet-maker. In 1843, he went to Troy, in the same State, and shortly after removed to Bos- ton, Massachusetts, where he was employed till the Fall of 1845, at which time he proceeded to Lowell, Massachusetts, and there worked until the year 1850, when he started for California, ria Panama, and arrived in San Fran- cisco, May 20th, of that year. On arrival, he almost immediately left for the mines at Foster's Bar, about fifty miles north of Marysville, but at the end of two months, he departed with two companions, for Wilson's creek. This goal, however, they did not reach, for perceiving an opening at a place called Strawberry valley, the comrades there opened a trading post, which Mr. Mason was interested in only a short time. Disposing of his interest to his partners, he established a pony express between Sacramento and that place, thence through Onion valley to Nelson's creek, and conducted it until the Fall, when he sold out and bought a share in a restaurant in Marysville, but finally parted with that in a few months. As is well remembered, the Win- ter of 1850-51, was a mild one, Mr. Mason therefore determined to try his Inek once more at the mines, consequently he proceeded to Poorman's creek, near Nelson's creek, and labored there until the following Spring, when he transferred his location to Canon creek, and stopped there until the next Fall. We next find him on the Yuba river, and in the latter part of 1851, at San Francisco. By that time, Mr. Mason had, to a certain extent, wearied of California, and determined to turn his steps towards the East. He packed his blankets, started for the wharf, but on his way encountered an old friend who had worked with him in by-gone days, at home, and who was then in business in San Francisco. He asked Mason to remain and take charge of his business, while he visited the Eastern States. Our subject consented and remained accordingly. In 1852, the friend returning, Mr. Mason started a painting and mastic business (the latter being the first of the kind established in California), and conducted it for three years in San Francisco, with a branch at Sacramento. In 1855, he sold his business, proceeded to Iowa Hill, and once more tempted fortune at the mines, which proving no success, he came to Santa Clara county, in 1856, rented a farm and made money. In 1859, he purchased one hundred and sixty-two acres, at Los Gatos, for which he paid seven dollars an acre, it being then covered with timber and
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