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 161

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

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MRS. MARIA FARRELL .- A woman of strong character and much business ability is Mrs. Maria Farrell, the superintendent of Calvary Cemetery, on Alum Rock Avenue, San Jose. She was born in County Kildare. Ireland, a daughter of William and Mary (Sex) Black, the Sex family being represented in this history in the biography of James Patrick Sex. William Black was an extensive farmer in Ireland, owning 150 acres of land, which was con- sidered a large farm in that country, and here the parents resided until their death.

The next to the youngest of their four children, Maria Black attended the national schools of County Kildare, and in 1888 came to California, locating at San Jose. The following year she was joined by her sister. Julia Black, who has made her home with her ever since. On January 31, 1894, she was mar- ried to Thomas Farrell, the ceremony taking place in San Jose. Mr. Farrell was born in County Lang- ford, Ireland, a son of Patrick and Mary (Farrell) Farrell, but while they had the same family name they were not related by consanguinity. They were tillers of the soil and a fine family. Thomas Far- rell left his home in Ireland to come to America, set- tling first in the vicinity of Boston, Mass., where he engaged in farming until he came to California in 1885, locating in the Laurelwood district of Santa Clara County, where he farmed until March, 1894, when he was appointed superintendent of Calvary Cemetery, a position he filled ably and well until his death, on February 11, 1912, a good man, who was well liked and esteemed by all who knew him, and a popular member of the Hibernians.

After Mr. Farrell's death, Mrs. Farrell was ap- pointed superintendent of Calvary Cemetery in his stead, as it was but natural that the board of trus- tees should turn to her, knowing full well that she was better qualified and more familiar with the work in connection with the work of the cemetery than any one else. She has demonstrated her ability and business acumen in connection with her po- sition to the satisfaction of both the people and the trustees. Mrs. Farrell is a Democrat in national politics, but is inclined to be nonpartisan in local affairs. She is a member of the Young Ladies In- stitute in San Jose, and a woman of much native ability, she is well liked and favorably known.

JOHN LINDSLEY WALLACE .- Now residing at 6 Mayellen Avenue, San Jose, was born at Win- nebago City, Faribault County, Minn., on February 12, 1883. He is the oldest son of the union of John Stower Wallace, a pioneer of Minnesota and Emma Forbes, another early resident of that state. Mrs. Wallace vividly remembers the incidents of the rush to forts and cities for protection following the news of the great New Ulm Indian massacre. A brother, Robert Lee Wallace, now a construction engineer of Los Angeles, is the only other issue from that marriage. By a former marriage J. S. Wallace had a daughter, Bertha L., now Mrs. Farrant Putnam, of San Jose. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wallace trace their ancestors back to pre-Revolutionary days.

John S. Wallace was a prosperous wood, coal and lumber merchant in Minnesota, but having made a couple of visits to California, decided to forego the discomforts of the severe winters and disposing of his business interests, came to California in 1895 to make Santa Clara Valley his permanent home. Be- ing interested in agricultural pursuits he purchased seventy acres of orchard property near Cupertino; and so it happened that although he had commenced his schooling in Minnesota, John L. Wallace com- pleted his elementary schooling in the Lincoln Dis- trict School. This was supplemented by two years' attendance at the San Jose high school, followed by a business college course at the Pacific Coast Business College and further supplemented by a couple of terms in the James Lick Polytechnic High of San Francisco.

Following the school work he labored on his father's ranches until January 1, 1906, when he opened a small automobile repair shop at 255 South Mar- ket Street in partnership with Mr. A. C. Hardy. A year of close attention to business built up such a promising patronage that larger quarters were nec- essary and with the assistance of his father the prop- erty at the northwest corner of Market and St. James streets was purchased and a large building erected especially planned for the requirements of the automobile business. This at that time was the largest and best garage in California. At this time Mr. Hardy retired and Mr. Wallace's brother took his place, the business then being run under the name of Wallace Bros., until their interests were sold in 1914. They were early day agents for the following cars, namely: Rambler, Regal, Hupmo- bile, Oakland, Chandler and Hudson. As an item of interest it might be stated that their garage was a relay point for the first transcontinental and around the world automobile races.

Subsequent to the automobile business Mr. Wal- lace and his brother took up the development of a large tract of land in Arizona; he returning in 1916 to become general ranch development superinten- dent of The Lewis Company, which connection he continued until July, 1920. At this time he re- signed to enter the employ of Wallace & Bush, con- struction engineers. Upon the removal of their office to Los Angeles Mr. Wallace entered the em- ployment of the Rice-Greisen Company, brokers.

At Franklin, Sacramento County, on October 7, 1907, Mr. Wallace was married to Miss Helen G. Holman, a native of California and the daughter of pioneer settlers; her mother coming to California via ox emigrant train in the early fifties and her father by boat from Chile where he was born, the

Henry H. Builon,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

son of a Scotch building contractor. Seven chil- dren have come to Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, five of whom are still living. Vivian Marie died at the age of three and Mabel Virginia, when five. The others . are, Olive Corrine, Raymond Kenneth, Laverne, Hugh Lindsley and Floyd Holman. Mr. Wallace belongs to Lodge No. 522, B. P. O. Elks, and has always registered as a Republican.

HENRY HEBER BURTON-Everything stir- ring, forceful and vital that is contained in the mean- ing of the word pioneer finds its exemplification in the life history of Henry Heber Burton. There is no phase of western development with which he is not familiar and his memory forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present. For many years he was prominently iden- tified with cattle and ranching interests in the West, but is now living retired in San Jose at the age of seventy-eight years, enjoying a well-earned rest. He was born November 2, 1843, on the Pacific brig Heber, of Baltimore, while the family were en route from Australia to Oregon, just as the vessel was crossing the equator, this being in the vicinity of the Marquesas Islands. At Honolulu, the ship com- pleted its voyage and while the parents were await- ing the arrrival of a schooner to convey them to their destination in Oregon the babe was christened by the American consul, being . named Henry in honor of the captain and Heber for the brig.

His father, John James Burton, was a native of London, England, and when a lad of nine years went with his mother to Australia. The paternal grandfather, James Burton, was a sea captain. He was captured by the French and held as a prisoner of war for seven years, being liberated after the battle of Waterloo. He again took up his sea- faring life, which he continued to follow until his demise, which occurred in Cuba as the result of an attack of yellow fever. The great-grandfather in the maternal line, Mr. Linnor, was also a native of England and was conscripted by the British govern- ment and forced into military service. He was sent to America to fight the Continental troops in the Revolutionary War, but at Philadelphia, Pa., de- serted the British Iorces and espoused the cause of the colonists. He enlisted in General Greene's army, with which he remained for seven years, or until Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown, Va., on Oc- tober 17, 1781. He also defended American interests in the War of 1812 and after its close he deemed it safe to return to England, which he had been obliged to leave without the opportunity of bidding farewell to his wife and family, who were residing in Lanca- shire. It was not until 1816 that he again had the opportunity of seeing the shores of his native land and he died shortly after rejoining his family.

Owing to the favorable reports of America handed down to posterity by Mr. Linnor, John J. Burton de- cided to visit this country. In New Zealand he had married Margaret WV. Watson, and they went to Australia, and it was while they were making the trip from that country to Oregon that the subject of this review was born. In March, 1844, their ship, which was commanded by Captain Couch, crossed the Columbia River bar, and it took three weeks to get up the river before a landing was made at the present site of Portland. The father selected North

Yamhill, in Yamhill County, as his place of resi- dence, there taking up a donation claim of 640 acres in 1844 and locating the boundaries of his land by stepping it off. He was the first to locate in that region and this section became a landmark, the other settlers who followed in his wake using his land as the starting-point from which to measure their claims. Many years afterward when the government surveyors came to Oregon it was found that in lo- cating his land he had only exceeded the correct measurements by fourteen acres, and they afterward used this section as the point from which all other claims were surveyed. At that early period the only settlement of any size in the state was Oregon City, which had been founded by the Hudson Bay Company, of which Dr. John McLoughlin, who be- came known as "The Father of Oregon," was the head, the legal tender at that time being a bushel of wheat. Mr. Burton engaged in stockraising in Yamhill County until 1848, when he left his family on his claim and made his way to California, locat- ing on the north fork of the American River. There he engaged in placer mining, in which he was very successful, the miners in those days taking out about $100 a day. Having accumulated a good-sized stake, he returned to his family at the end of seven months. During his absence four or five other set- tlers had located in the community and Mr. Burton began the erection of a home, for which he pur- chased a small stove, paying for this luxury the sum of eighty dollars, as it had to be shipped there by way of Cape Horn. He also bought a wagon and devoted his energies to the cultivation and improve- ment of his land, which he at length converted into a valuable and highly productive property. He en- dured all of the hardships, trials and privations of those early days and was numbered among the pion- eer builders of the state. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Burton were eight sons and seven daughters.

Henry Heber Burton, the third child and the eldest son in the family, was nine years of age when he attended his first school, in a log cabin which was open for but three months each year, in the winter season, and in order to reach the school he was obliged to walk two and a half miles. During the summer he drove an ox team and assisted his father with the farm work. Mr. Burton remained at home until his twentieth year, when he went to the Orofino district of Idaho, working in the placer mines there until September, 1864. He reached home in October of that year, in time to cast his first ballot for Abraham Lincoln. The Civil War was then in progress and on the 1st of December, 1864, he enlisted in Company B., First Oregon In- fantry, under Capt. Ephraim Palmer and Colonel Curry. He was kept under heavy drill at Fort Hos- kins, in Linn County, Ore., for a time and was then ordered to Vancouver, Wash., expecting to be sent cast in the spring of 1865, but his regiment went in- stead to Idaho and Utah, where it was split up into companies, which were used in fighting the Indians. Mr. Burton's company was first stationed at old Fort Hall, near the present location of Pocatello, Idaho, and detachments ordered to various locations, guarding emigrants from depredations by the In- dians. He received his discharge at Vancouver, Wash., on December 4, 1865, after a year's service.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Returning home, Mr. Burton engaged in farming for a year and then attended school at Forest Grove, Ore., for nine months, after which he went to Eastern Oregon, in Umatilla County, where he became identified with the sheep business driving in 1,000 head, and when he sold out his interests four years later and went to Texas he had about 3,000 head. He first went by team to Denver and from there took the Pecos route to Texas, being for a distance of ninety miles without water while going from the Pecos River to the head waters of the Concho River. From Concho he proceeded to Houston, Texas, but the cattle in that section did not meet his requirements and he went north to Austin, where he purchased a thousand head, driv- ing the herd north through Indian Territory, follow- ing the Chism trail to Caldwell, Kans., and passing through that state. struck the Arkansas River at Great Bend. He continued along the Arkansas River to Colorado and spent the winter on the state line which divides Colorado from Kansas. Later he engaged in speculating, buying and shipping cattle to Chicago from Colorado, Kansas and Texas, and for three years was thus occupied. In the panic caused by Jay Cook in 1873 he suffered severe fin- ancial losses and was obliged to again build up his business. Going to Missouri, he engaged in buying and selling cattle, hogs and sheep in small quan- tities, shipping them to Chicago, and gradually re- trieved his losses. He then purchased 1,000 head of sheep in Macon County, Mo., driving them into Colorado, where he had formerly wintered his cat- tle. At the end of two years he sold his sheep and drove overland to Fort Worth, Texas. There he con- ducted a livery stable and wagon yard until the death of his wife, in 1877, when he rented the wagon yard and was on the police force for two years.

Subsequently Mr. Burton disposed of his interests at Fort Worth and returned to Yamhill County, Ore., where he farmed four years, at the end of which period he sold his property there and went to Portland. He became connected with the North- ern Express Company of that city and for twenty- eight years remained in their employ, doing faithful and efficient work. He then came to California, reaching Gilroy in January, 1912, but at the end of a year purchased a small ranch at Old Gilroy, upon which he made his home until December 12, 1918. He then sold the property and took up his residence in San Jose, where he has since lived retired.

Mr. Burton has been married twice. His first wife was Miss Lizzie Scott, whom he wedded in Macon County, Mo., in August, 1873. She was born near Peoria. Ill., and as a child removed with her parents, Solomon and Martha (Davis) Scott, to Macon County, Mo .. where she grew to woman- hood. Following her demise he was married at Bar- num, Texas, to Mrs. Mary F. Davis, who by a pre- vious union had become the mother of five children: William, Leona, Etta, Harold and John. She was born in Pike County, Mo., a daughter of Franklin and Nancy Robb, who were of Scotch descent and became residents of Adams County, Ill. Three sons of Mr. and Mrs. Robb defended the Union dur- ing the Civil War. while two others were soldiers in the Confederate Army. After reaching mature ycars Mrs. Burton removed to Fannin County,

Texas, where she was married to the subject of this review. On December 13, 1918, she suffered a para- lytic stroke and on February 14, 1920, she passed ' away. Mr. Burton's son, Harry Elmer Burton, born in Yamhill County, Ore., June 10, 1881, is now assist- ant superintendent of the San Jose branch of the Peninsular Railroad. He was married at Gilroy to Miss Bertha Fine and they have become the parents of four children: Harold Heber, Raymond Dwight, Elmer De Forest and Adda Frances. One grandson, Harry Davis, participated in the World War, serv- ing in the Marines, and two nephews, Walter B. Anthony serving in the Aviation Corps, and Harry Williams was in the Infantry.

Mr. Burton is a stanch supporter of the prin- ciples and candidates of the Republican party, with which he has been identified since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He is a valued member of Sheridan-Dix Post No. 7, G. A. R., of San Jose, and is now serving as its commander. His has been an eventful life of varied experiences, and his course has been characterized by integrity and honor in every relation, commanding for him the respect and goodwill of all with whom he has been associated.

JAMES WILSON .- An estimable pioneer of the Santa Clara Valley, James Wilson has spent nearly fifty-six years of his life here, coming to California with his parents, William and Mary (Scott) Wilson, both natives of England, in 1866. They made the journey by way of Cape Horn in a sailing vessel, it requiring six months to complete the journey to San Francisco, and soon after landing there the family came to Santa Clara County, where the father secured employment in the New Almaden mines. While employed at his labor he lost his life by a cave-in; the mother also met an accidental death through a fall, and when she died, left four boys to mourn her loss, James, William, Joseph, now dead. and Robert, born in California, and the three live in Santa Clara County.

James Wilson was the oldest of the family and was born in Yorkshire, England. April 13. 1859. He at- tended school a short time in his own country and finished his school days in the public schools at Almaden. His first work was on a ranch; after that he went to Oregon, hoping to take up Government land, but did not like the climate, but meanwhile he made seven trips on a coastwise steamer between San Francisco and Portland, Ore., as a fireman. During the time he was in Oregon the first rail was laid for the Oregon Short Line railroad; also the Oregon City locks were built. Another frontier experience was his participation in the Modoc War. He was making a trip on horseback from Albany, Ore., where he made headquarters for two years, to Goose Lake, Cal., and he and his companion were surrounded by Indians; they had to protect them- selves, and so joined the settlers and remained in the fight until the Redmen were subdued and the chief- tains captured. Mr. Wilson received two bullets in his left leg during the encounter. After he left the sea he worked again on a ranch here, then was em- ployed as hoisting engineeer, helping in the construc- tion of the State Asylum at Agnew, also at the building of the San Jose State Normal School. Later he became a teamster and hauled all the sand rock from the quarry at Almaden to the railroad in San

James Wilson

Phillippa Wilson

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

San Jose that was used in building the Union League Club building in San Francisco.

It had always been Mr. Wilson's plan to have a ranch of his own and in 1906 he was able to buy a place on MeClellan and Regnart roads, and to this he has added until he now has fifty-one acres of fine orchard, prunes, apricots, peaches and a vineyard, having set out the trees and vines with his own hands and carefully tended them until now he has one of the best producing ranches in the county. He is a thorough and competent orchardist, studying the best methods of getting the most out of his land: and has put all of the improvements seen on the place after his own ideas of comfort and convenience. He is a charter member of the California Prune and Apricot Association; is always ready to assist every worthy cause for the betterment of local conditions; supports vigorously the good roads movement and other transportation facilities: believes in maintaining the schools to their highest efficency and is counted a man always to be relied upon at all times as a good citizen, friend and neighbor. In 1922, Mr. Wil- son added to his holdings twenty acres of land ad- joining his home place, set to prunes and apricots, and considered one of the best ten-year-old orchards in the county. This gives Mr. Wilson seventy-one acres in a body, excepting the right-of-way for the railroad.

The marriage of James Wilson, on May 1, 1884, united him with Miss Phillippa Tucker, who came from her native country, England, to California when she was a child. They became the parents of three children: Thomas, Mary and Richard, all born, reared, educated and living in Santa Clara County, Mrs. Wil- son and her husband shared their joys and sorrows together during the many years they were spared to each other, and her passing on January 9, 1914, was a severe loss to family and friends. Mr. Wilson has taken two girls into his home to rear and educate. In politics he is a Democrat in national affairs, and fra- ternally is a member of the Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World. Besides his ranching interests he is also a stockholder in the Cerro Gordo Gold Hill Mining Company. It has been his privi- lege to witness the great transformation in Santa Clara County, and in fact the entire state, since his first settlement here fifty-six years ago. A loyal citi- zen, no one can say that James Wilson has ever shirked a duty and he has a host of friends through- out the entire county.

MATTHIAS KNOEPPEL. - Faithfulness and reliability have been the factors in the life of Mat- thias Knoeppel which have finally resulted in his present responsible position of trust. He was born at Trier in Rhine Province, Germany, February 13. 1864, the son of Bernard and Maria (Linn) Knoep- pel, farmers in their native land. Matthias was edu- cated in the public schools of Germany, with no chance of a college education, his spare time being spent in helping with the work on the farm, being the eldest of a family of four. Thus he was em- ployed until he was old enough to enter the army of his country and for three years, from the time he was twenty until twenty-three he served in the German army. In 1888 he came to the United States and for two years he worked in the rolling mills of Pittsburgh, Pa., then went to Chicago and worked in the stockyards for a year and a half. In 1891 he came to California, settling in the Santa Clara Val-

ley, and for fifteen years was with the Santa Clara Valley Lumber Company, meanwhile residing on North Seventeenth Street continuously. He then was employed as superintendent of the Glenwood Lumber Company's yards on North Third Street, San Jose, and has continued with them up to this time. In September, 1905, he purchased a two-and-a- half-acre place on Jackson Avenue on which he con- structed a comfortable and commodious residence.

Mr. Knoeppel's marriage occurred in Pittsburgh, Pa., June 18, 1890, and united him with Miss Louisa Barth, also a native of Germany born in Wurtem- burg, whose people also were farmers. She came to the United States in 1887 alone and worked in Pittsburgh until her marriage. They are the parents of four children, Matthias Jr., Lewis, Mary and Emma. Matthias Jr. married a Miss Ruby Eley and they have a son, Ross. Mary is now Mrs. Law- rence Henericks. Politically Mr. Knoeppel is a Republican. He takes great pride in beautifying his home place and the family enjoys the products of a fine home garden.

FRANK E. CHAPIN .- An experienced, conscien- tious and far-seeing railroad man who is able to make the rare and proud boast that during years of varied administration, he has never had a railroad strike to contend with, is Frank E. Chapin, the gen- eral manager of the Peninsular and the San Jose railroads. Fortunate at the very beginning of his career in first seeing the light in California, he was born in Tuolumne County on January 28. 1857. the son of Edward R. Chapin, who married Miss Ann Keech. They both crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and settled for a while in Tuolumne County, where Mr. Chapin established himself as a mining engineer. and when he removed to San Francisco in 1864. he soon made a name for himself as a building con- tractor. He died in 1869, highly esteemed for his progressive methods and his unfailing integrity; and his devoted widow has since passed away, beloved by all who knew her womanly virtues.

Frank profited from his public school and business college training, and in 1874 entered the service of the old Market Street railway system. Removing to Stanislaus County, he was employed by the La Grange Hydraulic Ditch Mining Company for four years, and when he came back he joined the Cali- fornia Street Railroad Company in 1879 as a con- ductor and also a grip-man. In time he was made starter and then assistant superintendent, which of- fice he held from 1882 to 1904; and in that year he came to San Jose as general manager of the San Jose and Los Gatos Interurban Railroad. This was incorporated into the Peninsular Railroad and then the company purchased all the city lines of San Jose and incorporated them under the name of the San Jose Railroad. Now Mr. Chapin is general mana- ger of both corporations, and an honored member of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, of the Rotary Club, and of the Commercial Club.

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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 161

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