USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California : including its geography, geology, topography, climatography and description > Part 80
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James H. Cornthwait. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, November 2, 1826, and there was reared a gardener. In the month of August, 1851, he arrived in California and came direct to Santa Clara county, settling with .J. H. Ogier on the place now occupied by that gentleman. Here our subject resided until 1859, when selling out he moved to his present farm containing eighty-seven acres, where he raises all kinds of fruit and asparagus. Mar- ried in Baltimore, July 16, 1857.
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Andrew J. Cory, A. M., M. D. The subject of this sketch was born in Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, December 25, 1832. He received his educa- tion in his native county, and after gra luating from the High school, took his degree in the State University at Oxford, Miami University, in 1855. He then commenced a course of studies in the Ohio Medical College at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and left there full of honor in 1860. In that year he sailed from the city of New York to California, and landed in San Francisco, June 13, 1860, and coming direct to San José, he has since continuously prac- ticed his profession. During the nine years, commencing 1861 and ending in 1871, he has had charge of the County Hospital, while for eight years he has been County Coroner, as will be gathered from the Table at the end of this work. Dr. Cory married, October 23, 1861, Albertenia, daughter of John French, an old pioneer, a native of Wisconsin, and has : Ben Brodie, born 1863 ;>Janie, born 1865; Bertie, born 1872, died 1878. The Doctor's office is at room 16 Commercial Bank Building, San Jose.
Benjamin Cory, M. D. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, the first medical practitioner to locate in Santa Clara county, was born in Oxford, Butler county, Ohio, November 17, 1822, and completed his education at the Miami University of that place, from which he graduated in 1842. After the completion of his academic course, he entered upon the study of medicine with his father, then a physician in Oxford; subsequently attended two courses of lectures in the Medical College of Ohio, at Cincinnati, and finally took his degree of M. D., in the Spring of 1845, when, entering into partner- ship with his father, at Oxford, he there practiced his profession until the early part of 1847. At this period the Territory of Oregon was attracting considerable attention. The Doctor determined to emigrate, having that place in view as his future home, accordingly, in company with James Smith, and Joseph Wadleigh, he proceeded by the rivers to St. Joseph, Mis- souri, where they procured an ox-team and wagon, and uniting with a party from Illinois, started on their long, arduous and dangerous journey. Their des- tination had not been half-way reached, however, when there was a split in the camp, one portion of the band desired to rest on the Sabbath, the other voting for travel. It was thus divided, our subject finishing the expedition in the company of Captain Hawes, without further incident than those com- mon to the pioneer journeyings of those days. In the month of October, 1847, Dr. Cory arrived in Oregon City, where he opened an office, but, after a month, he proceeded to the coast, took passage in the brig Henry, Captain Kilburn, and arrived in San Francisco, November 17, 1847-the anniver- sary of his twenty-fifth birthday. From the fact of there being already two practicing physicians in the place-Doctors Townsend and Fourgean
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-the subject of our memoir, remaining but two weeks in Yerba Buena, resolved to locate at the Pueblo de San José. To this end he secured pas- sage in a launch which made the trip to the embarcadero at Alviso, but failing to make connection with the eumbrous log-wheeled vehicle, of Mex- ican manufacture, that took the place of a stage coach in those days, he was compelled to pass a supperless and sleepless night on the craft which had brought him thither. The following morning, however, he chartered a broncho from a chance Mexican, for which he paid a dollar and a half-his last remaining treasure-and arrived in San Jose on or about December 1, 1847, with no money, but a good supply of books, surgical instruments and drugs. He put up in the first instance, at Peter Davidson's, but the price, one dollar per day, being beyond his limit, he changed his lodging to the hotel then kept by Mr. Z. Jones, where the necessaries of life were obtained at a much reduced rate. On the discovery of gold, the Doctor, accompanied by Z. Jones, were the first to leave for the mines. They started for Mor- mon Island, and reached the place by way of Benicia. They there pur- chased a small sack of the dust, and returned to San Jose in eight days. He once more, however, sallied forth to the mines, on this occasion with Robert Neligh, taking with him an ox-team. On arriving at the Carquinez Straits, where Martinez now stands, they found there assembled so immense a concourse of people waiting to be ferried over this barrier to their pro- gress, that their party was detained eleven days ere their turn came to be transferred, in Dr. Semple's boat to Dr. Semple's town of Benicia, then on the direct route to the Golden District. From this expedition the Doctor returned in the month of November, having secured about four thousand dollars of the precious metal. He was elected to the Lower House of the first Legislature convened in this State. In the year 1850 he was elected one of the Common Council of the city of San Jose. on which Board he served four years, and, in 1872, was appointed by Governor Newton Booth a Trustee of the State Normal School, which office he still holds, besides which he now holds the office of County Physician. With the exception of the two visits to the mines, Dr. Cory has been a continuous resident of San José since his first arrival in the county, while during these years he has become so well known, both in his private and professional capacity, that it would be a work of supererogation on our part, as well as presumption, were we to lay before the reader his unblemished character and sterling worth. Married, March 16, 1853, Sarah Ann, daughter of the Rev. John E. Braly, by whom he has eight children living.
Royal Cottle. This gentleman, whose excellent likeness will be found elsewhere in this volume, was born in St. Charles county, Missouri, March 27, 1810. Here he received his education and followed the life of a farmer 45
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until the year 1832, when he went to Burlington, Iowa, and there resided until 1847. Crossing the plains with a party numbering one hundred emi- grants under -- Palmer in that year, he reached Oregon and there engaged in his own particular calling, and having at the same time an interest in a small grist and saw-mill. Mr. Cottle remained in that Territory until the discov- ery of gold in California, when he repaired thither and built and opened a store in Sacramento in partnership with John S. David. They paid seven hundred dollars per thousand feet for lumber, and ten dollars a day wages to workmen. In a short time our subject disposed of his share in the business to his partner and went to Oregon in the Fall of 1849. The next Spring (1850) found him in the mines once more. He remained until Fall then hied himself to Oregon where he dwelt until 1857, in which year he brought his family to San José, Santa Clara county; but after a short time moved with them to Gilroy. Thence Mr. Cottle proceeded to San Benito county, acquired a stock ranch, and there resided until 1858, in which year he came to his present place at The Willows, near San Jose, where he owns one hundred and ten acres of valuable land, sixty-five acres being an orchard. In the year 1853, Mr. Cottle was elected to the Oregon Legislature. Married, firstly, in Iowa, October 12, 1841, to Sarah Parker, who died December 18, 1848, by whom there are : Franklin, born October 5, 1842; Charles, born September 15, 1845; Sarah C., born December 15, 1848; and secondly, in Oregon, November 11, 1852, to Mary Bryant and has had four children : Annette, born October 2, 1853; Alice, born March 6, 1855; Azella Relief, born January 2, 1855, died March 21, 18C3 ; Royal, born November 13, 1858.
Rev. John Daniel (Deceased). Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1807. In carly life he resided in Maysville, Kentucky, and New Allany, Indiana, in which latter place he joined the Methodist Conference in 1832, and after supplying different pulpits throughout that State for twenty years he emigrated to California, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived at San Francisco in the Winter of 1852, coming as a missionary. The reverend gentlemen was present at the first Methodist Episcopal Conference held on this coast at San Francisco in the year 1853, while his first charge in this State was as Presiding Elder of the Marysville District. Mr. Daniel then took the church at Santa Clara, and afterwards that at San Jose, when he retired for a year taking a superanuated relation. At the end of that period he had pastoral care of the Seamen's Bethel in San Francisco, and being once more superanuated he retired to Santa Clara for five years. Return- ing, however, to his sacred calling we find Mr. Daniel serving the churches at Woodbridge, San Joaquin county; Monterey, Fairfield, Solano county; Alameda, San José and Berreyessa, Santa Clara county ; after which he set- tled in East San Jose, and there died October 18, 1880, full of years and honor.
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Married, January 26, 1830, Hilda R. West, who was born in Wayne county, Pennsylvania, March 5, 1811.
Stephen W. de Lacy. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, May 3, 1843, where he learned the trades of ship carpentering and steam engi- neering. Removing to New York in the year 1863, he remained but a short time, when he sailed, via the Isthmus of Panama, to California, and arrived in San Francisco July 3, 1863. Coming immediately to the Santa Clara valley, he first settled in Almaden township, but at the end of two years removed into the city of San Jose, and commenced business as a contractor and builder, and continued at this for several years. In 1870 he connected himself with journalism. Since that period he has had consider- able experience in the art. His initial work was on the San Jose Inde. pendent, after which he and his brother, Hugh A. de Lacy, started the Weekly Reporter. Withdrawing from this periodical he, in 1872, joined the Pioche Record, a newspaper published in Proche, Lincoln county, Nevada, and was its city editor for nearly a year. In 1873 he returned to San Jose and assumed the city editorship of the Daily Evening Patriot, then under the control of F. B. Murdoch; when that journal became merged in the Herald Mr. de Lacy's position continued. In 1879 he resigned this position to begin the publication of the Daily Morning Times. His perseverance and enterprise, added to a rare perception and keen appreciation of the wants of the reading public, render him peculiarly adapted for the rôle he has filled and is now filling. As the Times is now in the third year of its exist- ence, and firmly established, it is probable that Mr. de Lacy will spend the remainder of his life in conducting that journal. Mr. de Lacy married, September 10, 1875, Clara J., daughter of J. W. Haskell, and has three children: Edith Viola, Walter Haskell, and Stephen Percival de Lacy.
D. M. Delmas. The subject of this brief narrative, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in France, April 14, 1844, and ten years later joined his father, who had emigrated to California in 1849, and was then located in San Jose, Santa Clara county. Mr. Delmas' Alma Mater is the famous Santa Clara College, where he matriculated in 1858, and received the degrees of Artium Baccalaureus in 1862, and Artium Magister in 1863 carrying off the highest honors of his class. In July of this year Mr. Del- mas commenced the study of law in the office of S. W. Holladay, in San Francisco, and a few months later proceeded to Yale University, whence he graduated in the Law Department in 1865. In September of that year he was admitted to the Supreme Court of Connecticut, but shortly thereafter, returning to San Jose, he was called to the Bar of the Supreme Court of
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California in February, 1866, entering into partnership in that Spring with Mayor B. D. Murphy. In 1867 Mr. Delmas was elected District Attorney of Santa Clara county, and discharged the duties of that office for two years. In 1872 he took a year's rest, at his home in San José, from his hitherto incessant labors, and in 1873 became a partner in the law firm of Moore & Laine, where he remained till the month of January, 1876, when he opened legal chambers of his own, and has since practiced his profession without associates. In 1879 he made a trip to Europe for recreation, return- ing in April, 1880. His offices are in Paul Block, rooms Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, a magnificent pile of buildings situated on First street, San José, which he owns himself, and which he has named after his son Paul. These offices contain his library, of over three thousand volumes, the largest and most complete private law library in the State. To draw a comparison is at all times an invidious task, but to say that Mr. Delmas is one of the most dis- tinguished lawyers of the day is but to assert what is acknowledged on every hand. Proof, if proof were necessary to confirm the assertion, is to be found in the number of intricate cases in which he has been retained, not only in the city of his residence but in the courts abroad. Combining with a clear intellect the rare gift of eloquence, Mr. Delmas has placed himself at the head of his profession. In the many difficult cases in which he has appeared, he has brought a large knowledge of law to aid him in the unraveling of knotty points, while, privately, we may add that he is an impartial friend, warm of heart and kindly in disposition, ever courteous to all, friend and foe alike, while he is an undoubted ornament to the Bar of California. He married, April 7, 1869, Pauline, daughter of J. P. Hoge, a native of Galena, Illinois, and has four children: Delphine, Paul, Antoinette, and Josephine.
Henry W. Edwards. Born in Chicago, Illinois, March 1, 1842. In 1850 he crossed the plains with his father, Henry Edwards, who after remaining at Placerville for a short time, embarked in mining on the Amer- ican river, in 1851. In the following year he commenced a butchering busi- · ness in Marysville and Sacramento, which he continued until 1853, in the Winter of which year he came to Santa Clara county. In the city of San José his father entered into the management of the " Farmers' Home," a hotel he conducted until 1855, when he commenced farming and continued until his death in 1872. In 1863 the subject of our sketch went to Virginia City, Nevada, opened the Eureka Hotel, and became interested in mining, but meeting with reverses, returned to the Santa Clara valley in 1864. He labored for monthly wages for a time and then rented the property he now owns. In 1870 he purchased a portion of the ranch, and the remainder in 1871, the entire tract comprising two hundred and thirty acres. Married,
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December 11, 1867, Alice Hall, a native of Missouri, who was reared in Cal- ifornia, by whom he has: Cora M., born August 15, 1869; Wilber J., born November 6, 1873.
Alexander Combs Erkson. The subject of this notice was born in Delaware county, New York, March 7, 1811, where he attended school and resided until sixteen years of age. At eighteen he was teaching a school in his native county, an occupation he pursued in New Jersey whither he had moved. Returning, however, to Delhi, in the county of his birth, he entered a mercantile house and there remained until 1847, when he removed to Keosanqua, Van Buren county, Iowa, arriving there May Ist of that year, and thereafter became engaged in running a steam flouring and a steam saw- inill. On the 26th of May, 1849, a company was formed at Kanesville, Iowa, under the name of the " Badger Company," having for its object the mutual safety of its members while emigrating to California. At this meet- ing A. C. Erkson was Chairman and O. C. Wilder, of Wisconsin, Secretary. A Constitution and By-laws were drafted by five of its members, Mr. Erk- son being Chairman of the committee. The following were elected officers: L. Cornwell, Colonel ; Elias Hand, Lieutenant Colonel; Henry C. Skinner, Quartermaster; A. C. Erkson Recording Secretary. Following we here re- cord the names of the entire company that they may be preserved for future reference : S. H. Tryon, S. L. Wallace, Justus Wells, Dennis Tryon, A. B. Dumont, Devillo Hakes, Jesse Tryon, Sr. and Jr., Carlon Tryon, Robt. Osborn, Price Kindreck, John Osborn, Nattey Osborn, John M. Taylor, Henry Cornwell, Abram Folek, Sr. and Jr., John Folck, Burr Bassett, Elias Cole, S. Northrup. N. B. Hand, I. P. Lyon, Elias Hand, Arvillo Hand, E. P. Hand, Lewis Parkhurst, Joseph Giess, J. B. Atwater J. S. Cochran, L. Clark, F. W. Merritt, J. B. Galloway, A. Vedder, W. Tabor, A. Ohlson, Win. Daggett, S. Donham, Joseph Baldwin, D. Brinkhoof, H. C. Skinner, John F. French, Silas Helmer, Charles Moody, L. Ward, Volney Moody, R. G. Moody, Joseph Valier, L. Cornwell, John Spring, Richard Fuller, O. C. Wilder, J. L. Clark A. C. St. John, Wm. Souther, John Coad, John Simon, William Phillips, Charles McCabe, Ashel Bennett, D. I. Dilly, Elihu Bennett, Daniel Wheeler; A. P. Morey, A. Benson, Francis Bedford, Caleb Nordyke, Joseph Day, Win. Abbott, Rochard Statswell, Andrew Sluman, C. A. Hugh, Jarvis Whitman, C. D. and Geo. Buck, A. Westover, J. D. Tucker, Wm. L. Potts, Wm. Latta. Wm. Goodwin, Stephen Betts, Wesley and James Harrow, Harmon Corwin, Dorson Baldwin, G. M. and S. S. Williams, J. R. Coffin, Wm. K. Underhill, Daniel R. Funk, G. W. Worden, G. W. Harrington. A portion of this asso- ciation left Council Bluffs, Tuesday, May 29, 1849, and the remainder on the 30th, on the 31st they camped together on the west bank of the Elk Horn river, and on the evening of June 3d, a meeting was called when S. H.
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Tryon, for himself and others, requested permission to withdraw from the com- pany and be allowed to proceed in advance. On the 4th, nine of the wagons started on ahead; on the 6th, nine more followed, and without doubt jo.ned their companions who had left two days previously. At the crossing of the Elk Horn river, twenty-seven miles from the upper ferry of the Missouri, the remaining portion of the company overtook some Mormons who had with them six wagons. They were in number seven men, eight women and six children. At their request they were granted the privilege of joining the company and remain with them until Salt Lake City was attained, whither they were proceeding. On June 28th the party now under notice were at Scott's Bluff's, on the Platte river; at Fort Laramie another division of the company took place; in Angust Mr. Erkson and a portion of the company arrived at Salt Lake City and camped on the banks of the Jordan. Here they were advised by the+Mormons to remain six weeks until the weather became cooler, then to proceed by the southern route, which counsel was fol- lowed. Now they found themselves short of funds, therefore the subject of our sketch and his companions set to work for the Mormons, whereby they earned sufficient to keep them in provisions for present and future use. Here they tarried until October 1st, when one hundred and four wagons with two ox-carts took up their line of march for the rendezvous at Hobble creek, taking with them Captain Hunt, a Mormon, who had already ma le the journey to California as guide, paying him one thousand dollars for his ser- vices. Matters proceeded quietly until the 1st November when a large pro- portion of the train becoming dissatisfied with the route traveled proposed to move in a direct western course, and thus reach California by a shorter road. Mr. Erkson at first did not intend to accompany these, but through the intercessions of his wife and friends, he consented to join them. At the end of two days they came on an elevated plateau where the mountains formed a cul de sac, and here pitched their camp and named the place " Mount Misery;" scouts were sent out who reported the discovery of an opening in the hills, on which a large proportion of the party pushed on, many of them to find an untimely death in their fastnesses. Others of the company followed the mountain chain until they came on Captain Hunt's trail, by which they entered California. But cur duty lies not so much with the doings of the Badger company, as it does with the subject of this sketch. He retraced his steps from Mount Misery; on the 10th Novem- ber took up the trail directed by the old guide; and, on December 26th, reached the Mohave river, where provisions were found that had been pro- cured by an advance guard of young men sent ahead for that purpose. Pursuing their journey they arrived at the Chino Rancho of Colonel Williams, where they remained one week; thence to the Mission San Gabriel where a stay of six weeks was made to recuperate their jaded cattle; arriv-
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ing at Los Angeles, they left it March 15, 1850; in due time the San Fer- nando Mission was attained, and at last the Kern river, which after crossing on a raft, they traveled to Visalia, and the Aqua Frio mines. Here Mr. Erkson tarried a year, but his mining operations proving unsuccessful, he sought for other employment, and fortunately meeting William Phillips, a fellow-traveler from Iowa, he was recommen led to go to Stockton, purchase goods, and sell them to the miners. Mr. Erkson replied that he hal no money. "Then get trusted for them," was the answer. A day was set apart when he should accompany his frien 1, who promised to assist him in pro- euring the necessary stock in tra le, but owing to unforeseen circumstances, he was a day too late. Phillips had started on the previous day. Our sub- ject therefore followed, encountered him with his store of merchandise, and, in accordance with his suggestions, pursued his journey to Stockton. Here he commencedl operations. On it being ascertained the team he drove was his own, and that he had a wife and family, he was toldl he coukl have all the goods he wanted. Mr. Erkson followed this business until he came to Santa Clara county, taking up his residence in Alviso township, April 1, 1851, on the farm now owned by Mrs. Fenton, he having purchased the land when on a visit in the previous January. In the year 1864 he disposed of the farm, and moved to San Francisco, and thence to San Jose, in June, 1869, where he now resides, at No. 522 Second street. Married, in Delhi, New York, April 19, 1833, Caroline, daughter of William Millard, who accompan- ied her husband across the plains and with him endured the hardships attend- ant upon their journey. They have no children.
Bernard S. Fox. Born in County Dublin, Ireland, May 16, 1816, where he learned the tra le of nurseryman. In 1848 he came to the United States, landing in New York in November, and in December was engaged in the nursery business in Massachusetts, where he remained nearly five years. At the end of this time he was sent to California, by Commo lore Stockton and S. W. Aspenwall, to superintend a nursery on the Stockton Ranch. Here he remained two years, and then purchasing four acres of that tract, com- menced on his own accourt, the business of a nurseryman. At the expira- tion of two years more he moved to the location he now occupies, about three miles from San Jose, where he owns one hundred and twenty-six acres, and rents for nursery purposes, one hundred and fifty more. Mr. Fox is the pioneer nurseryman of Santa Clara county, and the oldest living in the State. In the year 1864 he was absent seven months, on a visit to Europe, and in 1872 was on a tour in the Eastern States. With these exceptions, Mr. Fox has lived continuously in California since his advenc in the State. Since writing the above we have to record the demise of Mr. Fox, who died July 20, 1881.
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Christian D. Gladewitz. Born in the Province of Brandenberg, Ger- many, December 24, 1833, where he learned the trade of gardener, and worked at it until 1855, in which year he came to the United States, and settled in Detroit, Michigan. Here he followed his avocation until 1862, in which year he arrived in California. He came at once to Santa Clara county, and was for the first eighteen months on land rented from Albert King, but his crop proving a total failure, he went out and worked for hire until his debts were paid. He was then appointed, by the Mayor and Common Council of the city of San Jose, Superintendent of the Oak Hill Cemetery, a position he held for thirteen years, during which he labored to make the place the attractive spot it now is. He then took up his residence on his present farm, where he has eighty-six acres of land. Married, at San Jose, August 31, 1875, Mrs. Eliza Dethloff, a native of Germany.
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