History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 116

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 116

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Hugh Macdonald was the fourth oldest of twelve children and began his education in the schools of Canada. He farmed in the Livermore Valley for seven years, then spent two years at Santa Maria, and later removed to the Santa Cruz Mountains, where he worked in the redwood country for two seasons. He then took up a ranch in the mountains at the head of Kings Creek and lived there for eight years. His marriage in San Jose, December 31, 1881, united him with Miss Marcella Moultrie, born near Santa Clara, and she is the daughter of Riley Moultrie, who was a member of the Donner party. The father was a rancher at Santa Clara and later at Saratoga, and he died in San Jose, being survived by his widow, who is now ninety-one years old. Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald are the parents of two sons, Harland B. and Jerome E., both in the Imperial Valley, and there is one grandchild.

In 1900 Mr. Macdonald removed to his present home on the Saratoga Springs Road, which consists of thirty-nine acres. He cleared the land and set out the trees, and this highly improved orchard now yields him a handsome profit each year. He also has valuable property in the Imperial Valley. For thirteen years he was the trusted and efficient em- ployee of the San Jose Water Company and pur- chased his land from them. He is a stanch Demo- crat and has served the Castle Rock district as a school trustee. In 1899 Mr. Macdonald went to Nome, Alaska, and engaged in mining at Council City until 1904, during which time he spent two winters in the frozen North. During his long resi- dence here he has seen much of the development of this section of the state and Santa Clara County and his mental and moral characteristics are such as have won for him the esteem and confidence of all who know him.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

CAPTAIN RICHARD BAILEY HARPER .- The name of Captain Richard Bailey Harper is one that is well known to the citizens of Santa Clara County, since he has been a resident of this county continuous- ly for fifty-seven years. Captain Harper has been as- sociated throughout his entire residence in the West with the mining interests of the coast. Born at Red- ruth in Cornwall, England, June 3, 1847, he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Bailey) Harper; his father, William Harper, was a mechanical engineer and fol- lowed his profession all over England, Scotland and Waes; later in life he was sent to Spain in this line of work, and passed away there. When Richard B. Har- per was sixteen years of age he embarked for the United States, and in November, 1863, he came on a sailing vessel around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile, thence on a steamer to Panama, then on the Golden Gate to San Francisco, arriving in March, 1864, locat- ing at Grass Valley, where he worked in the mines for a little over a year; then for two years worked in the Comstock gold and silver mines at Virginia City, Nev .; during the year of 1865 he came to Santa Clara County where he was engaged in the New Almaden mines for three years; then in the New Idria mines. He was solicited and returned to his former position in the Almaden mines and remained there for about three years. By this time, his experience in the man- agement of mines, had become varied, and he was en- gaged as foreman in the Mariposa gold mines for ten months: thence going to Grass Valley for about one year and he was then employed as foreman of the gold mines in Virginia City, Nev .; then was, for a time, foreman of the Silver Wave Mining Company at White Pines, Nev .; then for a year and a half was in charge of the Troy mines, in Nye County, Nev .. owned and operated by an English company. Re- turning to San Jose about this time, he was the fortu- nate discoverer of the North Almaden quicksilver mines in Santa Clara County, and it was here that he built his first quicksilver furnace. In 1872 the com- pany was incorporated under the name of the North Almaden Quicksilver Mining Company, and their pro- duction, at one time, amounted to ten tons per day. The company maintained an office in San Francisco, but the headquarters were at the mines, Captain Har- per being general manager and trustee of the com- pany. The ground on which the mines were located was leased, and on the expiration of the lease, they were unable to secure a renewal, and in 1876, the com- pany was dissolved. Captain Harper then removed to Sinaloa, Mexico, taking charge of the silver mines of the Alacan Mining Company of San Francisco. Upon his return to the United States, he was recommended to the British government, and was designated as "Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines." His territory was confined to British Columbia, and he was thus engaged for two years. He was instrumental in erect- ing the first gold mine smelter in Cariboo. Upon severing his relations with the English government, he returned to San Jose, and took charge of the Mari- posa County mines; also the Red Cloud mines, in which capacity he worked for two years; then for six years, he travelled in Mexico for an English com- pany, as mine inspector, traveling from Mexico City to the northern boundary; he then purchased the New Almaden mines in Mexico for an American company, and erected the first continuous quicksilver furnace in Mexico; he was with this company for two years. Upon his return to San Jose, he purchased the Santa

Teresa quicksilver mines for a company in Boston, Mass .; also purchasing what was known as the "Old Chapman" mine, operating both of these mines for three years; he again returned to Mexico, this time purchasing a mine in the state of Chihuahua, and for almost a year he operated this mine. He was obliged, on account of the revolution and unsettled conditions, to abandon his project, and was fortunate enough to escape unharmed, although he encountered many hardships, and was obliged many times to fight for his life. He has large and valuable interests in Chihuahua, but is unable to look after them on ac- count of the conditions there. In all Captain Harper has made sixty-eight trips to Mexico and return. Still following the line of work he was best fitted for, in 1907, he became a mine examiner, and was actively engaged as a mine inspector for seven years, and be- cause of his varied experience in all manner of mines, he is considered one of the experts on mining in the United States. He has held the position of examiner of mines not only for the British government, but for the American government, and now, although ad- vanced in years, is consulted when something unusual comes up. He has personally inspected every mine of consequence, from British Columbia to Peru, Bo- livia, and Chile, South America. He was referred to as the junior expert, and for years travelled with George Hearst, the father of William R. Hearst, who was known as the senior adviser. When questions of valuation of mining property came up, the junior ex- pert was always consulted, and his advice often de- cided the case. Since 1914, he has been obliged to seek a rest from his active duties, but is often called in consultation, regarding valuations and productive- ness of mining properties. At one time he was the owner of large real estate interests in Santa Clara County, but now his interests are centered in mining property; he owns twenty acres of mineral land near Almaden and is also interested in mines in Mariposa County, Cal.

Capt. Harper's first marriage on February 22, 1877, united him with Miss Emma Farnsworth, a native of San Jose, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Farns- worth, whose father removed to California as early as 1852 and farmed at Evergreen. Mrs. Harper was edu- cated in the public schools of San Jose, later attend- ing the State Normal School. Three children were born to Captain and Mrs. Harper; William, a mining engineer employed in Yuma, Ariz .; Marie, deceased in 1917, and Emma, who entered a convent in San Fran- cisco. There are four grandchildren, the children of William Harper-William, Jr., Richard, Emma and Margaret. Mrs. Harper passed away in 1886. The second marriage in 1907 of Captain Harper united him with Mrs. Philomena Glubetich, a native of Dal- matia, her people being pioneers of California in 1870; she passed away October 2, 1921. Politically Captain Harper is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has a large acquaintance with prominent men of national fame and was a close friend of Senator John P. Jones, George Hearst, Irv- ing and Henry Scott, Mike and Charles De Young, Senators Fair and Stanford and David McKinley; also was a close friend of many castern men of prominence and national repute. He speaks the Spanish language fluently. Fraternally he is a Mason, Eagle and an Odd Fellow. Looking back on a highly useful life. he is able to review his career with the satisfaction which very properly comes of the knowledge that no

R.B. Harper

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

taint or blemish has attached to his name, that honor and integrity have characterized all his transactions, that an unselfish spirit has actuated him in his per- sonal dealings with his fellowmen, and that in all ways he has done what he could to make the world a little better as the result of a well-planned and well- spent life.

SAM B. LOWE .- A member of one of the honored pioneer families of California, Sam B. Lowe is widely and favorably known in San Jose, where he is now serving as financial clerk on the board of supervisors of Santa Clara County and is discharging the duties of this position conscientiously and efficiently. He was born May 28, 1872, a son of Waldo H. and Eliza J. (Whiteman) Lowe, the former of whom was born in Newburyport, Mass., while the latter was a native of Missouri. She arrived in California at an early period in the development of the state, coming to Santa Clara County with the Pyle-Whiteman party in 1846. She died in 1919 at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Lowe was a brother of Ralph and James R. Lowe, the family having come to California via Panama in the early '50s. Waldo Lowe died in 1879. His father was named James R. Lowe, and his mother was before her marriage Mary Tuckwell. J. R. Lowe was born in Chesterfield, England, in 1808 and was educated as a landscape gardener and horti- culturist. It was his fame from his native land that led him to come to America and he executed some very fine pieces of landscape gardening in the East. In 1852 he came to California and with his family located in San Jose and engaged as a landscape gar- dener and was the means of bringing here and propa- gating many valuable plants and trees, a work to which he was devoted up to the time of his death in 1874. He was at one time a member of the city council. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo H. Lowe became the parents of four children, all residents of Santa Clara County: Sherburne W., a rancher of Cupertino; Sam B., of this review; Waldo H., Jr., connected with the Bank of San Jose, and Mary R. O'Keefe, also of Cupertino.

After completing his high school course at San Jose, Sam B. Lowe was for a short time a student at Pacific University and when eighteen years of age started out in life independently, working at odd jobs while still pursuing his studies. Going to Ag- new, in Santa Clara County, he there opened the first general merchandise store in the locality, acting as postmaster of the town at the same time. For thirteen years he successfully conducted his mercan- tile establishment at Agnew and then sold his in- terest to Messrs. Lewis and King, after which he came to San Jose. Two years later he secured a elerical position in the office of the county clerk and has since been identified with various departments of the county. Since 1919 he has been financial clerk of the board of supervisors of Santa Clara County and is well qualified for this position, proving sys- tematic, prompt, and reliable in the discharge of his responsible duties. He also has other interests, being associated with his sister and brothers in the owner- ship and operation of a valuable ranch of eighty acres at Cupertino, devoted to the raising of berries and other products. This was a part of a quarter- section of land that was taken up from the govern- ment by Mr. and Mrs. Lowe.

In San Francisco, Cal., on May 31, 1902, Mr. Lowe was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Wade, a

native of Alviso, and a daughter of Harry G. and Mary Wade. The father, a native of England, came to the United States as a boy and subsequently made his way to California, arriving during the pioneer epoch in its history. In the early days he ran a stage between San Jose and Alviso and he afterward be- came an extensive stock raiser and successful rancher. To Mr. and Mrs. Wade were born three children: George, residing in Alviso; Margaret, the wife of J. P. Higgins, of San Jose; and Annie M., now Mrs. Lowe.

Mr. Lowe gives his political allegiance to the Re- publican party and fraternally he is connected with the Masons, belonging to San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and to San Jose Parlor No. 22, N. S. G. W. He has led an active and useful life, utiliz- ing every opportunity to advance, and his present snecess is entirely attributable to his close applica- tion and laudable ambition. His personal character- istics are those which make for popularity and he has many warm friends in Santa Clara County.

ROBERT SCOTT .- A man of wide experience and famous as one of Santa Clara County's success- ful inventors, the late Robert Scott well deserves an honorable place in the annals of the Golden State. He was born in London, Ontario, Canada, on July 29, 1840, the son of William Scott, a brick and stone mason, a native of Edinburgh, who, migrating to Canada, became one of the pioneer settlers in West- minster. As early as 1863 Robert Scott came out to California and traveled through the state doing stone and brick mason work; and he helped to build the old Palace Hotel and also the Hot Springs Hotel at Paso Robles, and after that he went to work at the Almaden mines.

The old adobe furnaces were not giving satisfac- tory service, and this circumstance led our subject to study the needs of the miner; and in time he in- vented and patented the Scott furnace for cinnabar mines, a contrivance which, once it was installed at Almaden, became a great success. Since that time, he has installed many of these furnaces, for quicksilver extraction, in California, Oregon, Nevada and Mexico; and he even made a trip to Spain to install one there. He was also negotiating with the Chinese government to install a Scott furnace for it, and had a contract to install one of his furnaces at Marathon, Texas, but his untimely death prevented the carrying-out of the contract.

At San Jose, in 1881, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Sarah Walters, a daughter of Walter Walters, who had married Miss Sarah Scott, and a native of London, Canada. Her father was a native of Eng- land, and her mother a native of New York; and together they migrated to Canada so early that Mrs. Seott was born there. Mr. Walters was a farmer, and he had a large family, among whom Sarah was the youngest. One son, Robert Walter Scott, was born to this worthy couple, and he is now a rancher on the Mt. Hamilton Road. The family have been Presbyterians. Mr. Scott made his home at Alma- den for about twelve years, and then, in 1895, came to San Jose, and built a home at 498 South Eleventh Street. For over sixty years he was a Mason, in which ancient order he had reached the Thirty-sec- ond degree. Mrs. Scott is an active member of the Eastern Star.

On June 22, 1920, Mr. Scott was killed in a dis- tressing automobile accident. He was leaving his

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home with another man, in the latter's car. when a er) and the baby; Floy Hurtt is married and has large truck struck the machine, rendering him un- conscious; and inside of four days he died. His funeral was conducted by the Masonie fraternity. His tragic death was widely deplored by the com- munity, where he was held in high esteem.

JOHN LAFAYETTE MAGEE- Success has crowned the efforts of John Lafayette Magee, who for many years concentrated his labors and atten- tion upon farming. but is now retired from the ac- tive fields of life, while he is enjoying the fruits of his former toil, occupying a pleasant home at 195 Viola Street, San Jose. He was born on a farm near Macon City, Mo., February 12. 1841. a son of Sam- uel Lewis and Mary Jerusha ( March) Magee, both natives of Bourbon County, Ky., removing to Mis- souri about 1835, where the family engaged in farm- ing for a livelihood. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California, remaining till 1851 when he returned home via Panama intending to bring his family to California, but was taken sick and died at Mound City, Ill., on the trip from New Orleans to Iowa.

When John L. was twelve years of age, his mother removed to Davis County, Iowa, and settled on a farm near Bloomfield. There he received his edu- cation, his spare time being in helping his mother on the farm. Although married and farming, in Feb- ruary, 1864, he enlisted for service to his country in Company E, Third Iowa Cavalry, under Captain Spencer, and served in the Army of the Cumberland. He was trained for a short time at Keokuk, Iowa, and was then sent to Benton Barracks at St. Louis. In the spring of 1864, his regiment was sent to Gravelly Spring, Ala., then to Macon, Ga., and at South Selma, Ala., were in an engagement; also were in the battle at Columbus, Ga .. one of the last of the Civil War. In the pursuit of General Price, at the present site of Pleasanton, Kas., they had a battle and Mr. Magee's horse was shot from under him. The battle was fought on a flat piece of prairie with an unobstructed view of both the Federal and Con- federate lines, which resulted in the capture of the Confederate officer, General Marmaduke. The town of Pleasanton, named for General Pleasanton, who was in command of Federal forces, was afterwards built on the site of the battle. After his discharge at Davenport, Iowa, he returned to his home, where he engaged in farming until 1869, when he moved to Saunders County, Nebr., and took up a homestead, also purchased eighty acres in addition. He remained on the farm until 1888, when he sold his property and removed to Valparaiso, the same county, where he established a general merchandise business, which oc- cupied him for eleven years.

In 1899 Mr. Magee removed to California and re- tired from active business life. He has made nine trips across the continent, visiting his old home and renewing old friendships. The first marriage of Mr. Magec occurred January 19, 1863, and united him with Miss Nancy A. Tharp, a daughter of Abner and Sarah Tharp, born and reared in Davis County, Iowa. Her father was a farmer and an early pioneer of Iowa. They were the parents of nine children; Flora L., now Mrs. Hurtt, residing at Huntington Park, Cal., is the mother of four children-Weaver, Roy, Floy and Stanley. The grandson, Weaver Hurtt, has a wife and three children-Merle, Helen and Bruce. Roy Hurtt has a wife and two children- Ty (named after Ty Cobb, the famous baseball play-

two children-Florine and a baby; Stanley Hurtt is married and has one child-Robert; Oliver N. first married Annie Scoville and they had one daughter, Rosalie. His second marriage united him with Miss Nellie Throop and they had five children-Harold, Ethel, who is Mrs. Foreman and has a son, Richard: Elmer, Helen, and Woodrow Wilson, the latter born the day Woodrow Wilson was inaugurated president. Harold Magee is married and has two children. Oliver N. Magee passed away in 1918. Carry Bell is the wife of Charles Allen, a member of the Board of Education of San Jose, and they are the parents of three children-Marie, now Mrs. Woodward, living at Watsonville; Edith, and Charles Sumner. Lewis J. married Miss Price and they have four children- Wallace. Kenneth, Doris and Rosalie, and the family reside in Idaho: Edwin E .. a clothing merchant of Scotts Bluff, Nebr., married Miss Edna Meserve and they were the parents of two children-John Bruce, and Edwin, Jr. By his second marriage he had two children-Martha Elizabeth, and Lloyd George. Mary L. married Mr. Brown of San Jose, and they are the parents of one child, Forest; Abner Bruce passed away at the age of nineteen years. James L. of Long Beach is the father of four children-Mary, deceased, John Paul, Eleanore, and Louise. Anna Helen is now Mrs. Gordon of Los Angeles, Cal. Mr. Magee's first wife died in Valparaiso, Nebr., in 1894.

The second marriage of Mr. Magee occurred at Reno, Nev .. April 29, 1902, and united him with Miss Martha T. Hunter, born in Renfrewshire, Scotland, a daughter of John and Jean (Faulds) Hunter. Her father was a merchant in Scotland. Mrs. Magee came to America when a young woman and settled in San Jose. Fraternally Mr. Magee is a member of the Modern Woodmen, and has been identified with this order since 1890. In national politics, he is a Demo- crat; is also active in G. A. R. circles, being a mem- ber of the Sheridan Dix post of San Jose, and is past commander, having served in 1915. Mrs. Magee is a member of the Ladies of the G. A. R. and the Relief Corps of San Jose. Among the most valued of keep- sakes of the family are the letters written to his first wife during the Civil War. Mr. Magce's years of activity on the farm and in business have told on him and although he had always been strong and hearty in 1915 he was stricken with paralysis but he is able to be around and his mind is alert and he is sur- rounded by his family of whom he is very proud. He has ever manifested the deepest interest in questions of public concern and the three greatest public move- ments he has engaged in during his life and which all won the day are the emancipation of the negro, woman's suffrage and the placing of the Eighteenth Amendment as a part of the Constitution of the United States, making a success of Prohibition, of which he has always been such a staunch supporter.

WILLIAM FRANCIS HOQUE .- No profession is more useful or important than that of relieving the sufferings of mankind, and William F. Hoque has, through his cancer remedies, been able to as- stage the suffering of many since he has taken up the work left by his father, the late Francis Marion Hoque. W. F. Hoque was born in Jackson County, Mo., December 25, 1872. a son of Francis Marion and Melissce (Good) Hoque; the former was born in Clay County, Mo., in 1844, a son of James M. Hoque, a pioneer of Clay County who had migrated

John & Magee

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

from South Carolina in the early '30s. James M. was a man of many resources, investing in govern- ment lands upon which he conducted a large sugar plantation; his individual brand of maple sugar, mar- keted under his own label, being the most note- worthy. He died in 1884, aged eighty-six.

Severe reverses were suffered during the Civil War and the Hoque family moved to Kansas City, where F. M. Hoque established a general merchan- dise business and carried it on until 1875, when he sold out and migrated to California,locating in Santa Clara County near San Jose. Melissee Good Hoque was born and reared in Ray County, Mo., where her parents were highly esteemed. Two of her brothers survived service during the Civil War.

The early records of the Hoque family show French and German ancestry, and the cancer remedy dates back to the old country and the formula has been handed down from generation to generation for over one hundred years, and thousands of cures have been effected by its application. F. M. Hoque es- tablished and maintained his manufactory and busi- ness headquarters in Los Angeles, but always made San Jose his home. His successful practice covered a period of thirty-five years and many thousands are grateful to him for relief from their intense suffer- ings. He was a man of keen intellect and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He died on Feb- ruary 2, 1921. He was an active member of the Masons for over fifty years and held the first manual of the San Jose Chapter; and he was also a member of the Odd Fellows. Mrs. Hoque passed away some time prior to the death of her husband; and they were survived by four sons and one daughter: Wil- liam F .; A. Luster, deceased, is survived by his widow and two sons and a daughter who reside in San Jose. He was a department manager for O. A. Hale & Company up to the time of his death in 1919; James E. resides with his wife and two sons on a ranch at Ceres, Stanislaus County; Annie May is the wife of P. H. Hilderbrand and they reside in San Luis Obispo with their two sons and one daughter; and LeRoy is married and has two boys.

For several years William F. Hoque was the mana- ger for the Hoque Cancer Remedies, which have be- come widely known all over California. He is a keen business man with progressive ideas and very wisely invested his profits in lands in Santa Clara, Madera, and Stanislaus Counties. These properties he has partially improved and sold at comfortable advances. One of his latest investments was in apartment house property in San Jose, when he became interested in the purchase of the Don Felipe Apartment house building. Mr. Hoque is a liberal patron of all pro- gressive local enterprises, is broadminded and well- informed, a typical representative of the wideawake, large hearted pioneer.

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History of Santa Clara County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 116

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846- Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1928

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928