USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 74
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
underbrush, but by dint of perseverance and hard work, Mr. Mason has made it one of the very finest ranches in that section of the county. As a criterion of what he has done, we will here mention that, in 1871, he sold forty acres of this property, at fifty dollars per acre; in 1880, he disposed of eighty-two acres, at eighty dollars per acre, while he retains forty aeres as a homestead, which, with its improvements, are worth five hundred dollars per acre. Married, in Lowell, in 1847, Elizabeth A. Foss, of Leeds, Kennebec county, Maine, and has four children living, viz .: Frank E., born May 2, 1856; John F., Jr., born June 17, 1858; Eunice F., born July 9, ISCO; Eliz- abeth A., born April 24, 1865.
John Messersmith. Born in Fayette county, Indiana, April 12, 1824, where he attended the common schools of the district, and worked on his father's farm until 1848, when he took charge of the premises, and managed the property until 1858. He then moved to Marion county, in the same State, and, purchasing a farm, remained on it until 1870, when he came to California, and, after residing a month in Santa Clara, bought his present ranch of two hundred and ninety-two acres, in Redwood township. Married, October 23, 1845, Irena Powell, a native of Fayette county, Indiana, who was born June 12 1825. The following are the dates of birth, and names, of their children: John G., born August 17, 1846; Esther A., born May 12, 1848; William H., born May 23, 1850, died August 17, 1850; Surah E. born August 10, 1852; Mary E., born September 27, 1853; Julia M., born November 21, 1855; Martha J., born March 24, 1859; Harriet R., born March 17, 1862; Mancher W., born May 5, 1864, died August 29, 1864; Iva Ellia, born April 15, 1865; Ulysses S. G., born November 1, 1868.
Reuben McCoy. Born in Green county East Tennessee; February 4, 1825, where he resided for the first eleven years of his life; then his parents moved to Jackson county, Missouri, where the subject of this sketch was educated, and reared upon a farm. Mr. McCoy left this place and went to Platte county, and in company with his uncle and several others started for California, on April 13, 1850, across the plains, with ox-teams, arriving via Salt Lake at New Fort Kearny, May 10th; passed Fort Laramie, June 7th, reaching Salt Lake July 7th ; on the 13th they continued their journey, and arrived at Placerville, August 29, 1850, where he commenced mining, there remaining fourteen months, at the end of which time he came to the Santa Clara valley, settling on his present ranch of three hundred and five acres in Redwood township, putting in a crop, and paying for his first seed-wheat ten cents per pound; for barley, eight cents. Married, December 12, 1866, Ellen D. England a native of Missouri, by whom he has John Alfred, Wil- liam Orville, George Sterling, Laura Elizabeth, and Arthur Howard.
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BIOGRAPHIES-REDWOOD TOWNSHIP.
Jonathan Parr (Deceased). The subject of this sketch, whose por- trait will be found in this work, was born in Staffordshire, Englund. When about twenty-six years of age he emigrated to the United States, and on his arrival at New York, at once proceeded to the then " far west," and settled in Lee county, Iowa. In this beautiful and fertile region he remained until 1846, when he determined to go to Oregon with his family, and perma- nently settle in that Territory. With this determination he joined a large caravan bound for the distant shores of the Pacific, but, like many others changed his mind while traversing the plains, and diverged for California. A portion of the time he, with his wife and three children traveled with the unfortunate Donner party, but abandoned it before its members encountered the fearful sufferings which afterwards befel them. Parr and his family reached California in safety, in November, 1846, and stopped for a short time in Livermore valley. Thence, moved to the Mission of Santa Clara, where he remained but a short time also. He then went to the Guadalupe, about a mile and a quarter from the Mission and settled on what is now the magnificent and valuable place called "Laurel Wood Farm." Here he engaged in stock-rais- ing, in which vocation he was successful. In three or four years, however, he found the range for his stock becoming very much cireumseribed in con- sequence of farmers occupying the land for agricultural purposes. Parr, therefore sold his place, and removed to a spot about four miles east of the New Almaden mines, and there continued to raise stock. Farmers were not long in settling in that portion of Santa Clara county also; and in 1856 Parr sold out and purchased three thousand acres of lan l from Sebastian and José Hernandez Peralta, a very valuable tract lying on either side of the Los Gatos, six miles south of Santa Clara, and about seven miles south of San Jose. In this delightful portion of Santa Clara county Jonathan Parr (chiefly engaged in raising stock) resided until his death which occurred September 11, 1867. He sleeps beside his wife, who had preceded him, about thirteen months, to her last resting place, in the beautiful, quiet cem- etery of Santa Clara. Three sons and three daughters survive their parents, and yet live on the rancho. Two-thirds of the three thousand acres are now in a high state of cultivation. The rancho is finely timbered, principally with majestic oaks, and is also well watered. Parr, " the fine old English gentleman, one of the olden time," had invested considerable amounts of money in real estate, in Santa Clara, San Francisco, and probably elsewhere. He was a man highly esteemed during life for his genial disposition, and his death was much regretted. His wife died August 6, 1866.
Charles H. Parr (Deceased). Was born in Lee county, Iowa, October 2, 1843. In 1846 his parents started by way of the plains, with ox-teams to California, the first stoppage in this State being made in the Livermore
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
valley, Alameda county, remaining there but a short time; they afterwards located on the Laurel Wood Farm, near Santa Clara, where residing until 1853, they removed into Alma len township. In 1856 his father, Jonathan Parr, purchased a farm on Los Gatos creek, in Redwood township, who, dying September 11, 1867, his estate was divided, the subject of this sketch receiving as his share four hundred and forty-one acres of the property, upon which his widow now resides. Mr. Parr, who died January 13, 1877, married April 27, 1865, Mary A. Kenny, a native of Arkansas, who was born June 7, 1847, by whom there are two children, viz .: Charles Edward, born De- cember 17, 1866; Maud Emily, born January 18, 1870.
Edward N. Parr. Born on the Laurel Wood Farm, near Santa Clara, March 27, 1852. When but two years old he accompanied his parents to Almaden township, residing there until 1856, when they moved into Redwood township upon a ranch they had purchased about three miles from Los Gatos, upon the creek of that name. His father dying September 11, 1867, the property was divided, the subject of this sketch receiving the portion on which he now resides, amounting to four hundred and forty-four acres. Married, September 11, 1872, Virginia Johnson, who was born in San José, January 9, 1853, and have a family of three children, viz .: Elward Lester, born August 25, 1873; Edna Lulu, born December 25, 1877; Charles Earl, born December 5, 1879.
John J. Roberts. Born October 6, 1824, on Leuter Island (afterwards a portion of Leuter county, Missouri). When quite young his parents moved to Illinois, where he was reared and educated. At the age of seven- teen he left home and engaged in trading on the Mississippi river for five years. In the year 1846, on the outbreak of the Mexican war, he volun- teered in the First Illinois Regiment, Company A, and was assigned to the Center Division of General Wool's corps, John J. Warden, Colonel, and James D. Morgan, Captain. In 1847 he received his honorable discharge with a record of his regiment of which he had reason to be proud. On return- ing home he engaged in mercantile business, until the discovery of gold in California. In 1849 he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Mont- gomery Bar, Feather river, Butte county, September 13th, of that year, where he remained one year. In 1850, in company with J. S. Turner, he built the first house erected in American valley, Plumas county. In 1852 he returned to his former camping ground on the Feather river, and in the Fall of the year he came to Santa Clara county, and was married, December 22, 1852, to Martha, daughter of Judge Hugh R. Colter of Wisconsin. In 1853 he went to Half Moon Bay, then in San Francisco county, but at present in San Mateo, where he resided four years and then moved to the mouth of San Fran-
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BIOGRAPHIES-REDWOOD TOWNSHIP.
cisquito crock, San Mateo county, where he engaged in farming eight years. He then returned to Santa Clara county, and settled on his present farm of one hundred and fourteen acres, situated alcut a mile north of Los Gatos. The following are the names and dates of birth of his children: Lizzie A., born May 1, 1854, died November 11, 1878; Mina C., born October 30, 1855, died November 30, 1866; Ella M., Forn October 10, 1858, died April 19, 1878; Salva A., born November 15, 1800; Douglas J., born July 10, 1863; Lou., Lorn November 25, 1865; Hugh R., Tom October 11, 1868; Mattie H., Lorn September 10, 1871; Cail J., Lom May 26, 1874; Sumner V., born May 2, 1877.
William H. Rogers. Born in Wayne county, New York, January 11, 1830, where he received his early education. In 1844 he accompanied his parents to Detroit, Michigan, and after attending school at Ann Arbor for a short time, he went to work in the Detroit City Flour Mill, and there continued until March, 1852. In the Fall of 1849 he obtained the first premium for flour at the Michigan State Fair, against thirty-six com- petitors. In March, 1852, he started across the plains for California; located at Placerville, El Dorado county, in June, 1853; worked in the mines until the Summer of 1855, and, in that year, in company with some others, built the Mountain Flour Mills on Weber crock, two miles from Placerville- one of the earliest flour mills in the State-and conducted it until 1860 when he disposed of his interest. In 18CI Mr. Rogers was appointed Post- master at Placerville, which position he resigned in September, 1863, on being elected Sheriff of El Dorado county, and held this office for three years. He then moved to Los Gatos, Santa Clara county, where, entering into partnership with some others, he jurelased the Forbes Mill, and estab- lished what is known as the Los Gatos Manufacturing Company, of which he is still a prominent member. In February, 1866. Mr. Rogers was elected Supervisor of the Sixth District, and served until March, 1880. Married, March 21, 1850, Louisa A. Greeley, by whom he has had four children. Those living are: Mary L., born March 29, 1851 ; William E., born Novem- ber 30, 1855; and Oscar G., born January 11, 1867.
Robert Walker. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Canada West, September 15, 1841, and there resided for the first twenty years of his life. In the year 1862 he immigrated to California; tarried two months in San Francisco, and then proceeded to British Columbia, where he mined until 1865. In that year he came to Santa Clara county, settled in Redwood township for two years; then moved to Monterey county, and farmed near Salinas until 1871, when he returned to Redwood township, Santa Clara county, and settled on his farm of four hundred
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and fifteen acres, all under first-class improvement. Married, November 10, 1870, E. J. Parr, and has three children, viz .: Leslie, born May 13, 1873 ; Myrtle, born May 12, 1875; Vivian, born September 7, 1878.
Harvey Wilcox. Born in Onondaga county, New York, March 30, 1822, and is the third son of Lomai and Hannah Wilcox. When he was fourteen years of age he lost his father, and, three years later, leaving home to commence life's battle, he proceeded to Joliet, Illinois, and there learned the trade of jeweler. In 1844 Mr. Wilcox was in Southern Iowa, near Des Moines river, engaged in the manufacture of steel ploughs-among the first to be made in that district-which were bartered for produce and trans- mitted to New Orleans in flat-bottomed boats. A large percentage of this commodity was sold to the United States Government during the Mexican war. Closing out his business in Iowa he returned to Joliet, and worked at his tra:le for some years. In 1849 he traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California, arriving at San Francisco in February, 1850. Proceed- ing at once to the mines on the North Yuba, near Downieville, Sierra county, he labored in the mines for a year with moderate success. He returned to Illinois. The year 1856 found Mr. Wilcox once more in Cali- fornia and at his old camping-ground at the mines. At the end of seven- teen months he removed to Solano county, and engaged in the sheep business for two years, abandoning which he embarked in mercantile pursuits in Silveyville and Maine Prairie, and was one of the party to assist in the founding of the flourishing town of Dixon in that county, where he also engaged in merchandising until 1869, when he turned his exclusive atten- tion to sheep-raising. In the year 1875 he came to Santa Clara county and made his abode on the Alameda, and there remained until he took up a residence on the hill-side, just south of the village of_Los Gatos, a posi- tion commanding an extensive view of the valley. Married, in October, 1844, Harriet S. Demmard, a native of Worcester county Massachusetts, and has two sons : Charles F., born July 6, 1852; Harry E., born June 12, 1861.
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BIOGRAPHIES-SANTA CLARA TOWNSHIP.
SANTA CLARA TOWNSHIP.
James M. Billings. Was born in Penobscot county, Maine, May 27, 1824, where he was educated and resided, until he started, by way of Cape Horn, in the ship Goldhunter, for California. September 6, 1849, he arrived in San Francisco, but after a short stay left for the mines on Tuol- umne river, in the county of that name. While here, the company with which Mr. Billings was, sent to Stockton and purchased a diving-bell, but, after trying it in both the San Joaquin and Tuolumne rivers, it proved a failure; they next diverted the stream, last named, by means of a dam, but by its breaking the watergate they lost all. Billings then commenced making lumber with whip-saws for a mining company, but this breaking up, he was once more on his beam-ends; but to be idle was to lose the oppor- tunity, he therefore started an express from and to various points in Mariposa and Tuolumne counties, which he continued for two years; then ran a stage during one Summer, from Stockton to Coulterville; he next embarked in ranching and keeping a public house in San Joaquin county, on the road to the mines; and finally came to Santa Clara county and township, in Decem- ber, 1854, and commenced farming some five miles from the town. At the end of about seven years, he moved into Santa Clara, and for a few years followed a horticultural business. Mr. Billings was a Justice of the Peace for Santa Clara township, having been elected in 1863, and served in that capacity for six years, being also a Notary Public, when he was instru- mental in procuring title, from the United States Government, to the present town site of Santa Clara. In 1871, was appointed Postmaster, a position he still holds, and in 1872, purchased, of James G. Barney, the vari- ety store, in the Post-office Building, which he disposed of four years after. He connected himself with the Order of Odd Fellows, in June, 1845, and has been a contributing member from that date, with the exception of about three years. He was one of the few to whose efforts are due the erection of the Odd Fellows' Building-one of the best in the town. In all public enterprises he has been a peer to the best. Married, June 29, 1859, A. A. Billings, by whom he has four children, viz .: Grace E., born. JJune 26, 1863; Florence L., born January 15, 1868: Mattie B., born December 14, 1870; William E., born May 1, 1872.
John R. Billings. Born in Washington county, Maine, March 16, 1836, where he resided until he came to California, in November, 1853. After 42
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
working at blacksmithing for three weeks, on first arrival in San Fran- cisco, he moved to Columbia, Tuolumne county, and commenced mining, and there resided until 1860, being interested, during that time, in a saw and quartz mill. In the Fall of that year, he came to Santa Clara county, and bought the place on which he now resides, from his brother-in-law, James M. Billings. Married, at Santa Clara, September 28, 1864, Aimee L. Tomp- kins, and has two children : Aimce L., born July 21, 1865; William, born July 7, 1867.
Rev. John E. Braly (Deceased). This reverend gentleman was born in Rowan county, North Carolina, January 27, 1805. When an infant, he accompanied his parents to Tennessee, and there resided until the year 1815, when they moved to Missouri, living in Cape Girardeau county for a space; they then transferred their domicile to Crawford county, in the same State; there dwelt until 1847, when the subject of our sketch started for Oregon, by way of the plains. 3 Here Mr. Braly rented land and engaged in farming, until 1849, when he removed to California, settling in Fremont, Yolo county, being then employed in conducting a public house. In the year 1850, he came to Santa Clara county, settled in the township of that name, on a farm of one hundred and sixty acies, near Lawrence's Station, on the line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, where he died. The Reverend Mr. Braly com- meneed į reaching when he was about twenty-one years of age, and so con- tinued his spiritual teachings until his death. In denomination he was of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, being, it is thought, the first of that sect in the State. He died respected by a large circle of friends. He married, in Crawford county, Missouri, September 21, 1830, Susan Hyde, still a resi- dent of this county, by whom there were seven children, viz .: Sarah A., Mrs. Dr. Ben Cory, born August 3, 1831; J. C., now in Oregon, born February 9, 1833; John H., a Professor in the State Normal School, born January 24, 1835; Margaret E., born May 24, 1837; Frank C., born May 13, 1839, died September 2, 1862; Susan J., born March 1, 1844; E. A., the present man- ager of the homestead, boin November 11, 1846, who married, at San Jose, December 4, 1877, Millie Blythe, and has one child: Edith, born July 28, 1879.
E. H. Davies. Was born in Sidney, Kennebec county, Maine, June 6, 1825. He worked on the farm on which he was born until he was nine- teen years of age. He then struck out to shift for himself. First going to Boston and hiring out with Messrs. Fuller & Son, bell-hangers, No. 17 Devon- shire street. This gave Mr. Davies a great opportunity of seeing all parts of the city, and also seeing the interior of the finest dwellings and hotels. In 1845 he returned to Maine, and went into manufacturing fancy sleighs
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BIOGRAPHIES-SANTA CLARA TOWNSHIP.
and buggies. At this he worked until 1850, when he went to Kenosha, Wisconsin, and worked in his brother's machine shop for one year. The year 1851 found him in Chicago at work in the extensive machine shop of Messrs. H. H. Scovell & Sons, situated on Canal street. In 1852 he returned to Maine, and went into his old business, that of carriage-making. In 1853 he took passage on board the ship Plymouth Rock, of Boston, bound for Melbourne, Australia. After arriving in Australia he went forthwith to the gold diggings, first locating at the Melvor, next at the Bendigo, and lastly at the famous Ballarat diggings. After about one year's tarry in Australia, the startling news that fabulous gold diggings had been discovered in South America, on the Amazon river, was received; he at once shipped on board the ship Sul Susa, bound for Callao, South America. On arriving at Callao he found he was " sokl," so he took up his quarters in Lima for a few weeks, and then shipped on board the steamer Santiago, bound for Panama; here he got employment making specie boxes. After a short stay in Panama he shipped on board the steamer John L. Stephens, bound for San Francisco, California, arriving there in 1854. He went directly to the mines in Tuol- umne county, but shortly returned to San Francisco; and in the Fall of that year he ran the first threshing-machine ever built in California. In 1855 he located in Santa Clara, managing a small shop for L. A. Gould, the artesian- well borer, for one year. In 1856 he started the Santa Clara Machine Shop, situated on Main street, which he conducted for fourteen years, by hand, wind and steam. In 1867 he closed up the Santa Clara Machine Shop, married a Mrs. Barney, after which he went to Massachusetts and purchased one of the most complete outfits for a first-class machine shop that has ever been shipped to this coast. In 1868 he built the present Davies' Machine Shop, which is forty by sixty-six feet, three stories high, and located on the corner of Jackson and Liberty streets. This shop has never been closed, except three months, while Mr. Davies visited the Cen- tennial. Mr. Davies has been somewhat of a traveler; he has been over the Isthmus twice, across the continent four times, and has traveled the entire circumference of the earth once.
Col. Peter J. Davis (Deceased). Was born in North Carolina, in the year 1798. When twenty-three years of age he immigrated into Tennessee, and was appointed Colonel of a regiment of volunteers, called out for service in the expulsion of the Cherokee Indians from that State to Red river, Arkansas. In 1842 he moved to Carl county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. During the Mexican campaign he served as a volunteer under Colonel Price, and at its close returning to Missouri, started across the plains to California, April 17, 1848, he being one of the explorers of the route known as Lassen's Cut-off. His comrades on the occasion were Andy Ken-
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
nedy, David and John Plommonds, a family named Martin, and another called Brown, all of whom endured many hardships and severe trials from want of food, etc., adding another to the long list of misadventures with which the path to the Pacific coast was strewed. The party arrived at Feather river in October, 1848, and our subject embarked in mining opera- tions, being at the same time associated with Mr. Winters in the Coloma saw-mills, in the tail-race of which gold was first discovered. The Colonel remained on the Feather river until June, 1850, when he came to Santa Clara county and engaged in stock-raising and farming. In the year 1856 he located a stock ranch near Benson's Ferry, San Joaquin county, and there resided until his removal to Humboldt county, where he died in 1873. He married, August, 1817, Phoebe F. Hunter, by whom he had twelve children, three of whom survive their parents. Mrs. Davis died in July, 1849, on the Feather river. The Colonel married, secondly, Mrs. Elvira Huntley.
Schuyler B. Davis. Was born in North Carolina, December 24, 1824, where he received his education and was reared a farmer. In 1836 he com- menced a three years' course at the Estabrook College, which completed, he engaged in teaming between Knoxville and Augusta, Georgia; at the end of two years and a half he took charge of a toll-road for his father, and in 1842 emigrated to Missouri and embarked in farming. In 185, he sold a num- ber of beef cattle to Samuels & Haynes, Liverpool packers, and in 1846 entered in a like business for the government of the United States, to be used in the Mexican campaign, and which at the instigation of Colonel Price he superintended the driving of to Santa Fe, whence he returned home. How- ever, in 1850, he once more crossed the plains to California, and came direct to Santa Clara where he arrived September Sth of that year. In 1851 he returned to the Eastern States, having sailed for Panama from San Fran- cisco September 2d, but was shipwrecked off Cape St. Lucas, whence they were towed into Acapulco, and thence to the city of Mexico by mule-train, then by stage to Vera Cruz and afterwards shipped to New Orleans, arriving at home November 6th. Early in 1852 he commenced his journey back to California, accompanied by his wife and child; they arrived at Placerville July 17th, and continued their way to Santa Clara. In August, 1856, he took possession of the farm on which he now resides. Married, September 2, 1846, Lucinda F., daughter of Colonel John Beaty, of Chariton county, Missouri, and has: Sarah E., now Mrs. Baker; Emma. H., and Charles C.
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