USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 79
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Lemuel J. Chipman. The present County Superintendent of Schools, was born in Taylorsville, Plumas county. California, February 11, 1853. He received his early education in the public schools of San Jose, whither he came in 1864, and afterwards, in March, 1873, graduated at the State Normal School. In this year he taught a Spring term in Yuba county, but leaving, returned to Santa Clara county and took charge of the Ever- green School. In 1874 he entered the Santa Clara College, and during that time was elected Superintendent of Schools for the City of San José, a posi- tion he filled for two terms, but resigned after being elected for a third term, to accept the Principalship of the Fourth Ward School. At the end of one term he was transferred to the Empire Street School in a like office, and while holding this situation was elected County Superintendent of Schools, entering upon the duties of that office, March 4, 1878, and has since held the sway of that department. From the time of his election, until the adoption of the New Constitution, Mr. Chipman was a member of the State Board of Education. Married, December 7, 1876, Emma Toy, a native of San Francisco, and has one child, Florence, born September 24, 1880.
S. A. Clark. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, June 4, 1823, and resided in North Hampton, in the same State, from 1827 until about 1833, when he went to live in New York City. At the age of sixteen years he proceeded to the State of Mississippi; and when of age returned to the metropolis and dwelt there until he started for California. Arriving in San Francisco in the month of August, 1850, he came direct to the Santa Clara valley, and obtained employment as book-keeper to the firm of Hoppe, Hawkins & Co., but remaining with them only a few months, he entered the establishment
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of Bassham & Wilson as book-keeper, taking charge of the post-office at the same time. In January, 1853, Mr. Clark embarked in business on his own account, in the first place on Market street, but subsequently he moved to the position on Santa Clara street, about where Spring's store now stands. This business he sold in October, when he was elected County Recorder for the terms including 1853 to 1857. The Fall of the year 1857 he opened his grocery store under the style of Brownshield & Clark; but buying out the interest of his partner at the end of twelve months, he conducted it in his own name until February, 1873, when he sold out to Sage & Gardner. In 1875, he opened the grocery store now existing at No. 372 First street. No man stands fairer in the community in point of mercantile honor-none more esteemed as a citizen than S. A. Clark, while the house of which he is the head enjoys a large trade, and the full confidence of the community.
James A. Clayton. Was born in England, October 20, 1831, and came to the United States with his parents, in 1839, who settled in the lead mines in Iowa county, Wisconsin, in 1840. In company with his brother, Joel Clay- ton, he crossed the plains to California, and arrived August 3, 1850. He passed a few days at the mines, and on the 25th of the same month, took up his residence in Santa Clara, where he was employed as clerk to his brother, Charles Clayton, who had been a resident of the valley since 1848. Here our subject sojourned until February, 1851, when he returned to the mines, and worked there until November, at which period he went to Australia, and tried his luck at the diggings there. In August, 1852, he came back to Cal- ifornia, and, for a space, resided in Stockton, San Joaquin county, but again returned to Santa Clara, being engaged in clerking until his settling in San José, in January, 1856. He now purchased a photograph gallery, located where Fisher's store now stands, on Santa Clara street, and afterwards moved to Spring's Corner. This concern Mr. Clayton owned about thirteen years. In 1861, he was elected County Clerk, and re-elected in 1863. In 1867, he established a real-estate office, and has continued in that business until the present time. He married in 1860, and has a family of six chil- dren.
Martin Corcoran. The following narrative of the life of one of Cali- fornia's earliest pioneers will be found worthy of perusal, replete as it is with incident by flood and field. Martin Corcoran was born December 8, 1824, at Fox Island, Gut of Cancer, Nova Scotia, but when eighteen months old accompanied his parents to Boston, Massachusetts, and locating at Wareham, there our subject received his education, and afterwards, until sixteen years old, worked in the nail factories of the town ; the Aveland Iron Works, near Baltimore, Maryland, and the Duncannon Iron Works in Pennsylvania;
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then returning to Wareham. On October 2, 1842, he shipped on the bark Levant and sailed for the Pacific coast, cruising for two years on the coast of Peru and Chile, as well as among the South Sea Islands. In June, 1844, he touched at the Sandwich Islands, where the U. S. sloop-of-war Levant was lying, which, being short of her complement, Corcoran joined her and sailed to San Francisco, arriving there in the latter part of July of that year. From there they sailed to Valparaiso and Callao, thence to the Sand- wich Islands; afterwards to Acapulco, and in 1846 to Mazatlan, where, hearing the rumor of war between the United States and Mexico, they returned to San Francisco; thence to Monterey, and back to Mazatlan, where they found the U. S. men-of-war Independence and Warren. Joining these, the port of Mazatlan was captured by six hundred men, landed from the vessels, the Mexican ship Americadel being cut-out as well. Here Cor- coran was transferred to the Warren, and in her came back to San Fran- cisco, after touching at Monterey. At this time the Alcalde of San Fran- cisco was Lieutenant Bartlett. This officer finding that beef was scarce, about Christmas, 1846, sent out an expedition into the country to procure that commodity. Among the party was our subject. They first proceeded to the rancho of José la Cruz Sinchez, near the Seventeen-mile House on the old San Francisco and San Jose road, and there remained one night and a greater portion of the next day, Sanchez promising that the required cattle would be forthcoming. In the meantime the horses on which the foragers had been mounted were driven off, and while in search of them and the cattle as well, they perceived a mounted band to appear in sight. On being ques- tioned as to who these were, Sanchez replied that they were friends coming to aid him in finding the cattle wanted. On their arrival it proved that such was not their errand, for they forthwith surrounded the party of Americans, captured them at pistols' point, and took them over the mount- ain to Half Moon Bay, where Francisco Sanchez, brother of their host and captain of a company of Californians, had a rancho. Bartlett, Corcoran, Richard Watkins (now a Judge in Mono county), William Leavens, and three others, were detained for a month, moving from place to place (for the Californians were on the outlook to capture San Jose), and were finally given up to their countrymen on January 8, 1847. Our subject and his comrades being set free at once proceeded to the embarcadero at Alviso, where they took passage in the second cutter of the U. S. steamer Savannah for San Francisco. On landing Corcoran dipped his hand into a barrel of pork that was in the forwardI part of the boat and extracted therefrom a twenty-pound piece, which he carried away with him. Where is now the corner of Kearny and Washington streets in San Fran- cisco at that period there stool a sentry. On hearing a footstep approach he sang out_the challenge, " Who goes there ?" "Friend," was the reply;
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" Advance, friend, and give the countersign." "I don't know what the countersign is, but I've got twenty pounds of pork !" This was too good news for the guardian of the military precincts; he replied, "Come in !" and that night had a hearty supper. Not long after this adventure Corco- ran rejoined the Warren, and proceeding in her to Monterey, there was transferred to the store-ship Erie, Captain Watson, and in her sailed to Callao; thence they took home the remains of Commodore Dallas (a brother of Vice-President Dallas), who had died on board the Savannah in that port June 3, 1844, and arrived in Brooklyn Navy Yard June 3, 1848, when he was paid off from the navy after a service of four years and three days. He immediately proceeded to Fall River, Bristol county, Massachusetts; to visit his mother, and after three weeks sailed in a sloop to Norfolk, Virginia; thence up the river to Richmond; from there along the Kanawha canal to Dover Mills, where his brother was employed in a nail factory. It had been the intention of our subject to ship in an East Indiaman, but, being per- suaded by his brother, he gave up the idea and engaged in these mills, where he was employed about six months. While at this place he first heard of the discovery of gold in California, and amid the consequent excitement, and the knowledge that he had been there, a company named the Pacific Mining and Trading Company, C. H. West, President, and Judge Shafer (now of San Joaquin), Secretary, was formed, in December, 1848, in which he took a share. The ship Mary Anna was purchased in New York, loaded with houses, mining implements, and provisions, and got ready for sea ; Corcoran, though still retaining his interest, shipped as third mate, and on March 24, 1849, sailed from Hampton Roals, with a human freight of one hundred and thirty-seven souls, besides the officers andlcrew, arriving in San Francisco harbor October 13, 1849, shortly after which the company was disbanded, and the ship and cargo sold. Corcoran here met a former shipmate, named Glass, who owned a schooner called the Susan W., which our subject and five others chartered, and loaded for Stockton. When really to put to sea, the captain came on board, provided with a jug of whisky, to which he had evidently been paying affectionate attention, for in getting out his craft, he ran her " athwart hawse" of a large vessel. On seeing this, our subject at once took charge, sent the skipper below, and navigated her to where the little town of New York now is, at the mouth of the San Joaquin river. Their destina- tion was reached without further adventure. At Stockton, ox-teams were chartered, and a start made for the Tuolumne river, the company, compris- ing Martin Corcoran, Thomas Wiley, Enroughty, Hilton, Smith, and George Crossmore, arriving at Hawkins' Bar, November 10, 1849. After passing one day in observing those who had come before washing the gold, our subject and his chums set to work, for themselves, on a claim they had taken up, with but poor success. Here Corcoran remained two
-
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weeks, when he went to Chinese Camp, between Hawkins' Bar and Wood creek, and there sunk holes, and with but little better luck. After a month's stay here, he removed to the crossing of Sullivan's creek, which led to Cur- tis' creek, and there built a cabin. On the first of these he mined three weeks with a change of fortune, but the stream rising he was forced to leave. The floods subsiding, however, he commenced operations on Curtis' creek, about two miles from his former ground, and working there for two weeks, had good returns. It may be mentioned that two miles and a half above this spot, was the famous Sailor's Claim, where as much as two pounds' weight of gold-dust were taken out per day, by the three sailors who owned it. While camping on Sullivan's creek, our subject, with an American named Harvey Briggs, went hunting in the vicinity of Chinese Camp, where deer were plentiful. On their way back, the latter seeing a stone which pleased him, pieked it up and thrust it into his hip pocket. They had not proceeded mueh farther when the sharp crack of a rifle was heard, Corcoran remarked that the fellow who discharged the piece was not far off. "By Jove, no!" his companion replied, "and he has hit me!" Corcoran examined the supposed locality of the wound, but could find no evidence thereof; his friend, however, still persisting, he was undressed, when it was found that the pebble placed in his pocket had been struck, happily leaving the skin only much contused. After a keen search, he who had fired the shot was no where to be found. In the Spring of 1850, the mines not "panning out" as successfully as he had anticipated, our hero, with Smith, left for San Francisco, and, at Wood's creek, purchased a team of three yoke of oxen, for which they gave six hundred dollars, with which they pushed for Stockton, intending to enter into the freighting business. Coreoran, a sailor, and Smith, a printer, naturally did not know much about driving cattle-before they hal traveled seven miles their entire team got mired. The former remarked to his comrade that " the port ox was on the starboard side, and got foul of the rigging;" they were consequently unyoked "to make all clear." Leaving their wagon in the mud and the oxen at large, our trav- elers made their way to a roadside inn, called the "Green Springs" kept by one Tanner, and there disposed of their property-the oxen at large, and the wagon in the mud-for eight hundred dollars, the copartnership of Corcoran and Smith having had enough of teaming. Thence our subject started on foot for Stockton, but he had not gone far when he found that his brand-new boots, for which he had paid two ounces-thirty-two dollars-both belonged to one foot, they were therefore discarded; and trudging the rest of the jour- ney, made his entry into Stockton, on his feet certainly, but with no other covering to them than that which nature had bestowed. Here he found a mess of pork and beans was two dollars, and the price of a night's lolging a like sum-the floor being the bed, and the covering one's own. At Stockton
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Corcoran and Smith determined to enter into a packing business, the former, as a sailor, considering that being able to "lash" well, was an instinctive desideratum for the trade. Animals were purchased, loaded with hard- bread, which was then worth fifty cents per pound, and a start for the mines at Chinese Camp made. At night it was usual to unload the beasts; during their first night out, at Blue Tent, outside of French Camp, their mules dis- appeared, but were afterwards discovered on the plains, from the top of a tree. On the third day out, a party coming from the mines was met, who put in a claim for one of the animals, but, notwithstanding hard words, he was retained, and made the rest of the journey, Corcoran and his cavalcade arriv- ing in Chinese Camp, one month after he hal left the mines. Finding that the miners were leaving here for other diggings, and that there would be no sale for his bread, he stored it in a log cabin, and contracted to transport a number of them to Murphy's Camp, a distance of five and twenty miles, or thereabouts, for five hundred dollars. This labor performed, he returned to Chinese Camp, and transferrel his bread to Wool's creek, where he stored it. At this period, Smith started to Stockton with the animals for more goods, and in the meantime, Corcoran hired a don- key and peddled the bread through the mines at Wool's, Sullivan's and Curtis' creeks. The mules that started for Stockton he has never seen since; Smith he saw many years after. Corcoran now returned to San Francisco. In his wanderings he found one day a ship,' long-boat on the beach, and shortly after purchased it, and with Tanner an.l another man put a deck on her, and otherwise rendering her seaworthy, named her the George S. Lowns, after the captain of the ship in which he hal come to California, and started in the freighting business, between San Francisco and Stockton. In this craft he made two trips to Stockton, an l one to Benicia with clap- boards for Doctor Semple, delivering which they loaded with pork for Sacra- mento. On this voyage our subject met with a narrow escape of death at the hands of a man on board a schooner, who was inclined to test his marks- manship at the expense of those on board the George S. Lowns. Returning from this cruise he left the craft tied to the long wharf, trade being dull and large vessels engaging on the route ;- he has not seen her since. Remaining in San Francisco abont ten days, he shipped as chief mate on board of the Glenmore, bound for Panama, got her really for sea, but did not proceed in her. This was in the latter part of 1850. Corcoran now embarked in the business of stevedore for a short time, anl afterwards worked for William Middleton in driving piles around the old Niantic-on Clay Street, above Sansome-and afterwards on a portion of the lot where the post-office now stands. In the Winter of 1850-51 he was salesman for the Clay Street Bakery where he remained about six months, when he entered into partner- ship in that business with John Hawkins, starting the Public Bakery on
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Jackson street, above Dupont. The May fire of 1851, burned out his former employers. While the fire was approaching them Corcoran went to them, purchased the batch of bread they then had in their oven, and knowing well where all their customers resided, served those that were not burned out, and (the other firm not starting again) kept their trade, making from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars clear profit per day. In the fire of the follow- ing June, our subject lost his all. While it was raging, however, his partner went to the Happy valley, rented a bakery, and the next morning custom- ers that remained, were served as usual. The bakery on Jackson street was rebuilt at once; a month after John Hawkins sold out his interest in the concern to his brother Robert, and the business continued. Some time after, Corcoran becoming interested in a ranch in the Masamore Martinez, went thither to put in a crop of wheat; in his absence his partner had disposed of the bakery, and both left for Sonora, but not proceeding further than Stock- ton, they there purchased an oven and started the New York Bakery on the levee in that city. At the end of two months, the enterprise was sold at a great profit, and the partnership between Robert Hawkins and our subject dissolved. Corcoran now returned to San Francisco, and started in the Wood, Coal and Hay business with John Hawkins, on Dupont street, between Washington and Jackson streets, where he stayed until 1852. In this year he, with Captain Thorne, John Hawkins, Hall & Crandell, and Eastin and Milligan purchased the stern-wheel steamer, Jenny Lind, fitted her up, and put her on the San Jose route, Thorne being captain, Hawkins, clerk, and Corcoran, mate and pilot. In this boat he remained about a year, mak- ing a good deal of money, freight being then eight dollars per ton from Alviso, and passage money, the same from San José. These parties then pur- chased the steamboat Charles M. Weber, and refitted and rechristened her the Guadalupe. In 1853 the Jenny Lind, after being on the route for * a time, blew up April 11, 1853. She was then taken to San Francisco, repaired and replaced on the route, and here our subject stayed, until she was sold to Morehouse and Unele Bill Frost, of Santa Clara. While on board the Jenny Lind, the following circumstance, which has been related to us by an eye-witness took place : On the third trip from San Francisco, after she had been repaired, when off Redwood City, San Mateo county, and two hours and a half out, going full speed racing with the Express, opposition boat, rough weather, wind from north-west, and hour 12:30 p. m., a lady on coming from the cabin and walking forward, in order to pass a man who was sitting on some piled lumber near the rail, stepped aside so as not to interfere with his comfort, when one of the planks tilted over and precipitated her over the low rail into the water. On this followed the ringing of bells, the shouts of affrighted passengers, and the stopping of the engines. The unfortunate female was by this time being swiftly carried astern ;- the skipper lost his
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head, and in a dazed condition observed to Corcoran, who as pilot was at his post at the wheel: "Oh, Martin, what shall I do?" Ere the words were uttered our subject was overboard, irrespective of wind or tide, of boots and clothes, and struck boldly out to rescue the female in distress. Thanks to the then prevailing fashion her crinoline kept her partially afloat, and in a short time Corcoran was by her side. By this time the steamer had forged ahead some five hundred yards. While the scene above was being enacted, Captain Huntingdon (afterwards mate of the Sierra Nevada), and a Missourian lowered the only boat belonging to the vessel- a skiff capable of carrying three persons-with the intention of saving them from their perilous condition. Now, Corcoran, from his early experiences, and aided by many a talk with "old salts " in his cruises, had learned what to do when called upon to save life at sea. When he got up to the sinking lady he naturally caught her, but finding that the grip of a sinking female was too much for his gallant nature, he incontinently "ducked" her; then get- ting an advantageous hold, and boldly swimming, sustained her above water. The Captain, however, was " all adrift," he could neither give proper orders nor superintend the steering and backing of the steamer as should have been done; this duty was therefore successfully undertaken by William H. Travis (now of San Jose), the engineer. Now Huntingdon remembering the crank- iness of the skiff was urgent in his desires that Corcoran should "keep cool;" the reply he received was, " All right, Captain, this is a cool place over here !" He then observed: "But how are we to get her (the half-drowned lady) in?" This was a puzzler. Corcoran at once took charge of the situation ; directed that the boat should be held steady, and while the woman was being passed to the opposite side, round the bow, he with his weight on the contrary side would keep the skiff on an even keel. In this way was the lady saved, and finally taken on board the Jenny Lind, wet, dreary, but thankfully happy. As for our subject, after being towed astern of the boat, he was received on the deck of the steamer with the most lively appreciation of his gallantry, but there was not a dry garment on board to fit him-for be it remembered his shoulders were then as broad as they are now. Two months after the foregoing incident he saved the life of a young man in the Steamboat slough, under very similar circumstances. About this time a combination was formed with all the other routes when Corcoran was attached to the Gauda- lupe, but afterwards took charge of the San Jose, late Jenny Lind, then plying between San Francisco and Union City, Alameda county, where, not paying, she was transferred to the Napa route, when our subject severed his con- nection with her. Subsequently the California Steam Navigation Company was formed and all the boats put under one management; he then rejoined the Gaudalupe, and remained in her five or six months. In 1854 Corcoran & Emmerson opened a hotel in Alviso called " The Republic," formerly kept
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by Jean Baptiste; at the end of two months Emmerson went to San Fran- cisco to purchase some goods, but has not yet returned. At the end of seven months the Captain removed to San Jose, and with Adamn Holloway opened the MeLellan Hotel under the name of the Franklin House it being situated at the north-west corner of First and Santa Clara streets, where Fiest's store now is. At the expiration of three months his partner sold out, and he was joined by W. H. Travis. In 1856 he disposed of the business to Mc- Lellan and returning to Alviso, acquired Rathbone's Saloon and there remained until 1858. On the breaking out of the Frazer river excitement, he left his family in Alviso and in company with Captain W. H. and Henry Lubbock went. to British Columbia, taking with them a scow for traversing that stream, which they transferred to Esquimalt, Vancouver's Island by means of the tug Martin White, a daring piece of navigation. From the last port they proceeded up the river; thence to Port Douglas, Lillieworth lake, loaded with flour, mules and oxen; thence to Fort Hope; plied on the Frazer about a year carrying passengers for from twenty-five down to onedol- lar per head, freight having at one time ranged as high as one hundred and twenty-five dollars per ton. In the Winter of 1858-9 he went to San Fran- cisco, had new boilers put into the boat, and returned for five months or thereabouts to the Frazer, at which time he proceeded to Alviso and purchased the Union Hotel there, and conducting it until 1863, came in that year to San Jose as agent for the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad Company. At the end of two years in that employ he proceeded to Lake county, and commenced hauling borax and sulphur with fifteen teams, from Borax lake and Sulphur bank to Napa in company with C. D. Cheeney. After a twelvemonth he returned to San Jose, and was agent of the steamer Cora for four months. He then opened the New York Exchange in 1866 and con- ducted it for four years and a half. September 4, 1867, was elected Tax Collector; September 1, 1869, and September 6, 1871, was elected County Treasurer. On the expiration of his term of office he purchased the Cam- eron House in Santa Clara and held it four years, when he sold out, came to San José and opened a livery stable for eight months, then sold it, after which he was variously engaged until July 19, 1880, he became agent at San José for the South Pacific Coast Railroad Company.
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