USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 76
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Samuel Morrison. Born in Carroll county, New Hampshire, Septem- ber 27, 1822; at the age of ten years he went to Boston, Massachusetts, where he received his education and resided four years, then returning for a like period to his home. At the end of this terin he came back to Boston, entered a store and there remained until January 26, 1849, the date of his sailing for California ria the Straits of Magellan. On July 6th of the same year he landed in San Francisco, but after a few days went to the mines at Mormon Island, Sacramento county; some weeks later he moved to Mur- derer's Bar on the middle fork of the American river, where he remained until November ; he then proceeded to Drytown, Amador county, where he passed the Winter; in the Spring following he mined in different portions of that county ; and in June left the district for the Santa Clara valley, arriv- ing in San Jose July 1, 1850. Ten days later he settled in Santa Clara township, located one hundred and sixty acres of land, and farmed it for about eighteen years. Mr. Morrison still owns a portion of this original tract. He next moved into the town of Santa Clara, erecting the gas-works
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there in the year 1871, and conducted them for five years, when he dis- posed of his interest to the San José Gas Company. Has been collector for the San Jose Water Company for nine years; served as County Supervisor in 1855-56; as Justice of the Peace in the years 1860, 1867, and 1873; and carries on the business of a gas-fitter. Married, in Boston, Massachusetts, November 25, 1845, Lucy A. Higgins, by whom he has two children : Sally S., born March 24, 1860; Samuel H., born March 3, 1866.
William Morrison. Born in Dearborn county, Indiana, February 18, 1820. He received his education and was reared in Marion county, in the same State; at the age of eighteen years moved to Iowa, and there remained, farming, until 1849, when he came to California by way of the p'ains, with ox-teams, arriving October 6th. He first essayed mining at Placerville, El Dorado county, there making as much as two hun fred dollars per day with a rocker, and combined with that enterprise the business of a butcher. In 1850 he settled near Centreville, Alameda county, and there, in company with his brother-in-law, the well-known William Tyson, farmed extensively until 1875, when he purchased his present ranch in Santa Clara county, on which he has erected a comfortable residence, containing all modern improve- ments. Mr. Morrison owns one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land, on which he has laid out a forty-acre orchard of apricots, prunes, and almonds. Married in San Francisco, November 24, 1864, and has four children, viz. : Allen E., born December 20, 1866; Grace, born December 29, 1868; Edith and Ida (twins), born April 16, 1875.
Hon. Rush McComas. Born in Cabell county, Virginia, January 13, 1830. In 1841 went to Platte county, Missouri, with his parents, where he worked on a farm until seventeen years of age, when he was employed in a country store. In 1853 was elected Assessor of the county, but resigned the office to embark in the mercantile business, and was for several years extensively engaged in the purchase and shipment of hemp and other products to the St. Louis and New Orleans markets. In 1857-58 tried his hand at steamboat- ing on the Missouri river, but not finding it remunerative, returned to his business in the town of Parkville, Missouri, where he was doing well when the civil war came on and swept away the labor of years. Came to Cali- fornia November 1, 1861; he landed in San Francisco from the Panama steamer, and came direct to Santa Clara county. In 1864 settled on the farm on which he now resides, comprising eighty-eight acres, where he culti- vates fruits, hay, and vegetables, and engages in dairying. Mr. McComas is Secretary and Business Manager of the Santa Clara Cheese Factory, situ- ated not far from his residence. In 1877 he was elected as one of the Mem- bers to represent this county in the Twenty-second Session of the Legislature,
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and in 1878 was elected one of the Delegates to the Constitutional Conven- tion, and in 1879 was again elected Member of the Assembly, Twenty-third Session. Is a Republican in polities. Married, August 3, 1853, Ann E. Swope, and they have had eight children, all living: William B., born June 19, 1854; Cora, born November 17, 1856; Ella, born February 24, 1859; Harriet, born July 6, 1861; Anna, born March 16, 1864; Katy, born March 29, 1866; Ellen, born January 10, 1868; Henry, born September 25, 1871.
Cary Peebels. The father and mother of Cary Peebels were natives of Virginia, but in 1800, about the time that the wonderful agricultural resources of Kentucky began to develop themselves, they packed up their househokl goods and made part of the tide of emigration that had begun to flow into what was then the far West. They settled near the site of the present city of Lexington, and here, on the 12th day of April, 1808, the subject of this sketch was born. When he was eight years of age, his father moved to St. Louis, Missouri. Here he established and conducted the first hotel ever kept in that city by an American. The guests who frequented his house were such men as Hon. Thomas H. Benton, Bennett Riley (afterwards General Riley, and Military Governor of California in 1849), Major Ramsey, David Barton, L. W. Boggs (afterwards Governor of Missouri), General Atkinson, and others of a national reputation. In 1817, or when Cary was nine years old, the first steamboat that ever came up the Mississippi river put in an appearance, and although then but a mere child, Mr. Peebels remembers dis- tinctly the commotion and rejoicing that this event excited. The name of the boat was General Pike, and although hundreds of better boats have tied up at the wharfs of that city, noue have ever created the interest that this one occasioned. Mr. Peebels, with his father, rode on the Pike on her trial trip to Bloody Island. In 1818, Mr. Pecbels' parents moved to what was then called Boone's Lick settlement, but is now known as the town of Franklin. His father opened a hotel and conducted it until 1819, when he died. The hotel was then continued by Mr. Peebel's mother. It was during this year (1819) that the first steamboat ventured up the Missouri river for Council Bluffs. Her name was the Missouri Packet, and the people of that town, in their excitement over the event, gave a grand barbecue dinner to the officers of the boat and of the army. The result was that too much wine was put on board, and the boat was run on a snag and sunk, becom- ing a total loss. While at St. Louis his father's house was situated on the bank of the river where the shore end of the ferry to Bloody Island was lo- cated, and, during his residence there, many of the duels were fought that gave the Island its name. Most of these encounters were witnessed by the boy Cary, who, when parties would cross the ferry with hostile intent, would climb the bluffs and have a plain view of the encounter. He witnessed the
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famous meeting in which Tom Benton shot Lucas. When the latter was shot, he was brought to Mr. Peebels' house and Cary stayed with him several hours. He also saw the duel in which Major Ramsey was killed. Mr. Peebels' house being close to the ferry nearly all the men wounded on Bloody Island were brought there. In 1829, Mr. Peebels then being about 21 years of age, the Indians became very troublesome. They made frequent attacks on the frontier settlements, killing the settlers and running off stock, burn- ing dwellings and committing all sorts of depredations. A regiment was formed to make an expedition against the savages and punish them for their outrages. Judge Redman, who afterwards became a noted character in Santa Clara county, was Colonel of this regiment. Mr. Peebels enlisted in the regiment, and had three weeks of about as hard marching as troops were ever called upon to do; but, with all their traveling, the Indians were too fast for them and they never got a shot at a redskin during all the time they were out. At this time Judge Redman was a physician, practicing medi- eine in Franklin, and was noted among all the settlements for the enormous doses of calomel he was in the habit of inflicting on his patients. In this year Mr. Peebels was employed in the store of E. M. Ryland, an uncle of Hon. C. T. Ryland, now of San Jose. While working for Mr. Ryland he was sent to Lexington in 1830 with a stock of goods. These he sold out with- out much trouble. About this time Mr. Ryland was appointed Receiver of Public Moneys, and retired from business. Mr. Peebels then moved to Rocheport, Missouri, and from 1832 to 1844, was Postmaster of that town. In 1836 he came to the conclusion to load a flat-boat with produce of differ- ent kinds and make a trip to New Orleans. At this time the Mississippi river was running over its banks, and Mr. Peebels and his men being green at this kind of navigation, often found themselves in the woods, or floating over somebody's plantation, instead of the river channel. He finally reached New Orleans in safety and managed to dispose of his cargo, and by trading round made a thousand dollars on the trip. In April, 1838, he was made a Free Mason. After his journey to New Orleans he returned to Missouri, and continued in the general merchandise business, besides packing pork and bacon for the New Orleans trade. He also built and run a horse ferry-boat across the Missouri river. The man who built this ferry assisted in building the first steamboat on the Ohio river. In 1843 he was married to Miss Teresa Cavanaugh, of New York. The circumstances attending this wed- ding are rather romantic. He had been in the habit of buying goods in Philadelphia, and in 1843 went East for that purpose. He made the journey by way of the Lakes, intending to reach Philadelphia via New York. He stayed a few days in the latter place and then started for the Quaker City. He happened to be about two seconds too late to take the ferry-boat. He reached the wharf just as the boat was pushing off. He was thus forced to
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remain another day in New York. As he returned to his hotel he met an old acquaintance who insisted on his coming to his residence. Mr. Peebels went with him, and, on arriving at the house, was introduced to Miss Cava- naugh. It was a plain case of love at first sight. He purchased thirty thousand dollars' worth of goods, shipped them, married Miss Cavanaugh and started for home, all within nineteen days. The ceremony was performed by Bishop, now Cardinal McClosky. The union was a most happy one, but his wife died three years afterwards, in 1846, leaving one child. The death of his wife was a severe blow to Mr. Peebels. He broke up his business in Rocheport and moved to Lexington, Missouri, where his child also died. At Lexington he engaged in the business of dealing in family groceries, which business he followed until he came to California. In 1848 he was elected Mayor of the city of Lexington, and held that position until the resigned it in 1849, to cross the plains. In the latter year, in April, Mr. Peebels formed a copartnership with E. W. and T. Pomeroy, for the purpose of loading a train with merchandise and supplies for the mines in California. Their outfit cost them eighty thousand dollars. There were forty-three wagons and three carriages, besides five hundred and sixty head of cattle. In addi- tion to the goods in this train, Mr. Peebels and his partners shippe l a quan- tity of merchandise by water, from New York, expecting to meet it in San Francisco. The trip from Missouri to Salt Lake was made without trouble and without any special incident. At Salt Lake City Mr. Peebels applied to and obtained from Brigham Young permission to sell goods in that city. He improvised a store-room from wagon-boxes and covers, and was soon driving a brisk trade. Shortly after noon an officer came riding up to his establish- ment and ordered him to close up. This officer called himself a Marshal, and was dressed with all the magnificence that gold lace, tinsel and epau- lettes could confer. Mr. Peebels told him that he had obtained permission from Brigham Young to sell goods in any place in the city. The officer replied with a threat that if he didn't close up and move away, he would con- fiscate his entire stock. After the departure of the Marshal, Mr. Peebels sent a messenger to Mr. Young, informing him of the occurrence and ask- ing him what he should do. Brigham returned answer that if the so-called Marshal came round again, to tell him to "go to h -. " The next morn- ing the officer, donned in the loudest kind of regimentals, put in an appear- ance, and pompously demanded to know why his orders had not been obeyed. Mr. Peebels replied: "Since you were here I have interviewed Brigham Young about the matter, and he instructed me, in case you came round again put- ting on style, to tell you to go to h -. " On hearing this the Marshal turne 1 his horse's head and rode off without uttering a word. Whether he went to the place he was so politely requested to visit is unknown, but it is certain that he never again troubled Mr. Peebels. Here Mr. Peebels succeeded
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in disposing of all his interest in the train, and on horseback, accompanied by one man and a boy, he started for California to meet, at San Francisco the goods which he had shipped from New York. When he started from Salt Lake he carried with him about four thousand dollars in gold coin made at Brigham Young's mint. This was the first money turned out of this mint and Mr. Peebels stood by and saw it made. He arrived at Sacramento in September, 1849, without experiencing any difficulty or encountering and danger. He was now in California, having been only a trifle over four months on the road. His journey from Missouri to Salt Lake occupied three months, and from Salt Lake to Sacramento a little more than a month From Sacramento he went down to San Francisco, but as his goods had not yet arrived, he was compelled to make the journey a second time. On his second visit he went down on the steamer Senator. The Senator was the first steamboat run on the Sacramento, and on her first trip she carried Mr. Peebels from Sacramento to San Francisco. His goods arrived in due time and he took them to Sacramento, storing them in a canvas house. In a short time after he had his goods under shelter the big flood came. Mr. Peebels was sleeping in the same house with his merchandise. The first inti- mation he hal that the flood was on him was about twelve o'clock at night, when the water had raised so as to reach him while lying in his bunk. . The dampness awoke him and he sprang out of bed and was some- what astonished to find himself waist deep in water, with the bundles, boxes and bales of goods floating about promiscuously. He attempted to secure his property so as to prevent its sailing away, but after working several hours in the water he found it was an impossible task. About three o'clock in the morning a man came along in a canoe. Mr. Peebels hailed him and asked him what he would take for the boat, which was a common dugout. The man replied that his price was one hundred and fifty dollars. The canoe was purchased at this modest sum, and by its assistance Mr. Peebels succeeded in reaching a hotel. His loss by the flood was about four thou- sand dollars. But this was not the worst of it. His exposure and exertions brought on an attack of typhoid fever which laid him up for twelve weeks. Arrangements for taking care of the sick were very limited in Sacramento at that time, and it is a wonder that he ever recovered. But he pulled through and came out as strong as ever, and went to work with renewed energy. The Messrs. Pomeroy remained at Salt Lake City selling out their goods, until November 15, 1849, when they undertook to come to California by what was then known as the Southern route, ria Los Angeles. In a snow-storm on the mountains they lost thirty-four wagons and four hundred head of oxen, and finally reached Sacramento City March 25, 1850. The business of general merchants was continued under the name of Pomeroy & Peebels until the Winter of 1850-51, when the Pomeroys left the country.
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Mr. Peebels then joined the firm of Lee & Hamtin under the style of Peebels, Lee & Co., who embarked in mining operations in Grass Valley, in which our subject lost largely and dissolved partnership. In this year Mr. Peebels made his first visit to Santa Clara valley, and was so much pleased with the country that he purchased one hundred and twenty-six acres of ground of John Hoppe, paying therefor seven dollars per acre. This is a part of what is now known as the " Peebels Farm." He had never been a farmer, and at that time never expected to become one. In this year, also, Mr. Peebels was elected Alderman of Sacramento, and served on the Board until he resigned to go to San Francisco. In the Spring of 1852 he went to San Francisco and engaged in the produce business in company with William Campbell, a brother of Thomas Campbell, now of San Jos. In 1853 the partnership between Peebels & Campbell was dissolved, and the former went into business with John G. Bray, who afterwards removed to Santa Clara, and who was the first President of the Bank of San Jose. The new firm went under the style of Peebels & Bray. In 1854 he married again, his second wife being an English widow lady named Mrs. Holt. From this union there was one daughter, Kate, born in 1857, and who is still living . with her parents. In July of 1855, Mr. Peebels retired from the mercantile business, selling out his interest to W. A. Bray, a brother to John G. He then came to this county and located on his farm, about half-way between Santa Clara and Alviso. Mr. Peebles was in San Francisco several times during the Vigilante troubles, and was a law and order man, although he had no sympathy with the ruffians whose extermination or emigration the Vigilantes were so anxious to accomplish. He was walking down Long Wharf the day that Whittaker and Mckenzie were hung from the windows on Battery street. Two young men were walking in front of him talking very excitedly about the execution. One of them remarked, " Yes, and we will hang every d-d scoundrel in the city." Mr. Peebels stepped up to him, and tapping him on the shoulder, said, " Don't do that, my friend, don't do that." The man turned fiercely and demanded the reason that Mr. Pecbels interfered in the course of the committee. He replied, laughingly, that he was engaged in the produce business and had a large amount of wheat on hand; that if all the scoundrels in the community were hung there would be no market for his grain, and the price would go down. The men laughed heart- ily at Peebels' conceit, although they were ready to lynch him a second previously. It was a day of such intense feeling that Mr. Pecbels might have been hanged or shot before he had an opportunity for explanat on. In the year 1855 Mr. Wadsworth proposed to Mr. Pechels to ship two thou- sand bags of wheat, to make a start, to load a small ship for New York, stating that it would be the opening of the market for the staple in that city, or, in Europe, if the experiment proved that wheat could be shipped to so
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great a distance. He subscribed one thousand bags of that grain which had been raised on his farm, while a Mr. McComb, added a like quantity to pro- ceed in the same vessel, the balance of the full cargo being made up by grain merchants. The return was that the wheat was in good order, the proof being that it netted one dollar and eighty-seven cents per cental. This was the commencement of the wheat shipment from California. Will the reader ponder what that trade amounts to at this date. When Mr. Peebels went on to his farm in 1855, he had four hundred acres of land. Of this he had bought one hundred and twenty-six acres of John Hoppe, in 1851, and from other persons he purchased enough to make up the remainder. At that time there was not a fence between Santa Clara and Alviso, except a little strip on Ferrington's place. He started in to make permanent improvements. He built fences, and introduced new sys- tens of tillage. He started early in fruit, and his experiments have been of great value to the fruit-growers of this valley. He was the second person in the valley to commence the raising of strawberries, and it might be said that he was the first to cultivate them as a permanent crop. Mr. J. H. Kennedy went into the business first, on the Stockton rancho, setting out a field from plants brought here by Mr. Shelton. Mr. Kennedy, however, dis- continued the business when strawberries brought less than fifty cents per pound, but Mr. Peebels stuck to it, and has not only made it profitable to himself, but to the whole county. He took great pains with other fruit, one of his first acts being to set out an orchard of choice apples, pears, and quinces. In fact, he is one of the pioneer fruit-growers of Santa Clara val- ley. In 1857-8, Mr. Peebels was a member of the Board of Supervisors of this county, and this, with the exception of being road overseer, and, from 1869 to 1872, President of the Board of Trustees of the town of Santa Clara, is the only office he has ever held in this county. Taking such an interest as he did in everything pertaining to the development of the agri- cultural resources of the county, it is natural that he should be identified with the organization of the Agricultural Society. He was one of the pro- jectors of that association, and his efforts materially aided in the raising of funds to purchase the grounds on the Alameda. It was owing, also, to his promptitude, that these grounds were preserved to the use of the society. In January, 1862, the regular officers of the society were elected. Charles Younger had a bill against the society for five hundred dollars, for services as Secretary. He brought suit, and the officers allowed judgment to go by default. At this time Mr. Peebels was unable to drive to town, on account of the big flood that had overrun the banks of the streams, and cut off com- munication between the city and his farm. One of the officers of the society learned of the judgment, and notified Mr. Peebels of the fact, and also that the Sheriff was about to levy on the fair-grounds to satisfy the
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same. Mr. Peebels immediately walked to town through the mud and water and notified the members of the society to meet and see if some- thing could not be done to save their property. A meeting was held in response to his call, a new set of officers were elected, with Mr. Peebels as President. He went to work, with the assistance of other members, and succeeded in raising the money and satisfying the judgment. It was during the time that this matter was pending that he met with the accident that resulted in the loss of one of his legs. He was on his way to attend a meeting of the Board and was driving a colt which he was breaking. Arriving at Liek's Mills, the animal commenced to act badly, and finally, after quite a struggle with the animal, Mr. Peebels jumped from the buggy anl received a blow from the colt's heels, which fractured his leg, and resulted in its amputation. Since Mr. Peebels went on to his farm he has actively engagel in no regular business. He has however, taken a lively interest in every enterprise tending to develop the resources of the county, and has given much time, an l no inconsi lerable amount of money, in forwarding such movements. He was one of the original projectors of the narrow-gange railroad to Alviso, and for several years labored earnestly to induce the citizens to subscribe money enough to build and control the road. Not succeeding in this, he gave his co-operation to the present company of which he is a Director. When Mr. Peebels came to his farm to reside, he foun l that there was no gool bacon or hams to be had, therefore, having been a pork-packer on the Missouri river, he con- cluded to make the experiment of packing pork, anl making bacon, lard, and hams, at which he succeeded, and gained a reputition, in a short time, which enabled him to sell all that he could cure, he doing a thriving business at the time he became a cripple. He claims to have laid out most of the fair-grounds of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society, and superin- tended the setting out and cultivating nearly all the trees now growing on the locality. In 1869 he sold off all his farm but the original one hundred and twenty-six aeres he purchased of Hoppe. This land cost him seven dol- lars per acre, in 1859, and he received for it, in 1869, the average rate of one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. After this sale he removed to the town of Santa Clara, where he has since resided. His second wife died in Santa Clara, in 1877. Mr. Peebels married, thir lly, September, 1877, Mrs. Elizabeth M. James, a native of New Hampshire, the ceremony taking place in the city of Santa Clara.
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