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 171

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 171

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The youngest of the family, William E., attended the local schools, and finally matriculated at Santa Clara College; but just as he was about to graduate, he had to give up his college course on account of a broken leg. Then he worked for the Farmers Union for eight months, and after that was in the real estate office of Jas. \V. Rea & Company. Then, forming a partnership with Jas. W. Rea, he was for several years a member of the firm of Foley & Rea, widely known for their operations in realty. At first, Mr. Foley studied law privately, and in 1914 he was admit- ted to practice in the California courts. He was asso- ciated with Ed Rea in the practice of law for two years, and he then established himself in private prac-

1106

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

tice, which has grown rapidly and become notable in the history of the Santa Clara Bar. In national polit- ical affairs a Democrat, Mr. Foley has done good work as secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee for the past six years.

On October 22, 1910, Mr. Foley was married to Miss Alma Brelle, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., who was reared in Humboldt County, and their union has been blessed with two sons, James William and Wil- liam John. Mr. Foley is a charter member of the Commercial Club.

CHARLES O. SMITH .- A prominent representa- tive of most important industrial interests in Santa Clara County whose marked business ability and strength of character have made him well qualified for the position he holds and contributed to render him af- fluent and independent, is Charles O. Smith, of the Smith Manufacturing Company of San Jose. He was born in Truro, Nova Scotia, on November 12, 1878, the son of John S. Smith, whose native town was Went- worth, Nova Scotia. He was a piano maker and he mar- ried Temperance E. Fillmore, who was born at Am- herst, N. S. They were of Scotch and English descent, their ancestors early coming to New England; but being United Empire Loyalists, they removed to Nova Scotia and naturally helped to build up that prosperous country. In 1888, however, John S. Smith came into the States and brought his family out to California and Los Angeles; and a year later they migrated north to New Westminster and Chilliwack, British Columbia, where he engaged in manufactur- ing until 1900, when he returned to California and settled at San Jose. In 1903 he commenced to manu- facture supplies for orchardists and canneries, on West Santa Clara Street, and understanding both the science and art of manufacturing, he turned out only excellent machinery and appliances. His business grew steadily, and from time to time he had to en- large his plant. His son, C. O. Smith, joined him, and he continued in business until he retired in 1921, when our subject took over his important interests.

The eldest in the family of one son and seven daughters, C. O. Smith, from a lad, assisted his father in manufacturing, meanwhile himself attend- ing the schools of his locality. In 1900, he came to San Jose with his father, when they started their factory; but in 1906, when the mining boom struck Nevada, he determined to join the gold- seekers at Tonopah, afterwards going to Globe, Ariz., and thence to Sonora, Mexico, where he was with a land development company for three years. In 1912, he returned to California and became sales manager for the Patterson Ranch Company, owners of the Pat- terson Irrigated Farms, and he saw, as well as aided in the building up of Patterson, now a garden spot in the San Joaquin Valley. He continued in charge of their sales department until 1915, when he re- signed, to again enter into business with his father, in the Smith Manufacturing Company, started in 1903. Beginning with a capital of $200, they manufactured machinery for packers, canners and fruit growers, and as the business grew gradually, step by step, they cn- larged it from time to time, until in 1916 they pur- chased their present location, 170 feet front on Stock- ton Street, at the corner of Alameda, where they have three large buildings, giving 51,000 square feet of floor space. The shops are well arranged. There is

a large wood-working department, a machine shop, a metal shop, a foundry, a pattern shop and a boiler- shop, and plans are under way to add some 19,600 square feet of floor space within the year 1922. Each shop and department is equipped with the latest ma- chinery and devices for the manufacture of their dif- ferent lines of products, 70 per cent of which is shipped outside of and beyond the valley, to domestic and foreign trade. Their goods are shipped to the Orient, South America, South Africa, Australia and the Pacific Islands, as well as to Europe.

As has been stated, Charles O. Smith in 1921 pur- chased his father's interest; but a year later, wishing still further to enlarge the enterprise, he formed the Smith Manufacturing Company, Inc., with a capital stock of $500,000, and he is the president and man- ager. Under his able direction the business has grown to be one of the largest in California. At San Jose, in October, 1905, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Julia S. Paige, a daughter of Elgin W. Paige, a pioneer rancher in this county. They have been blessed with three children: Alice Dione, Oliver Paige and Lois.

DAVID GARROD .- A well educated gentleman who spent about a quarter of a century as an educa- tor is David Garrod, a native of England, born at Halstead, Essex, November 14, 1846, a son of Rich- ard and Emma (Staines) Garrod of Halstead. The father was with "Courtaulds," a manufacturer of silk crepe of that place, for fifty-four years. David Gar- rod, the eldest of a family of eight children, was educated at Trinity Training School, at Halstead, after which he entered Battersea College, London, where he was graduated with honors, winning a Queen's scholarship, after which he became principal of schools. He was married in Petmarsh, England, August 20, 1878, to Miss Sophia Ann Creffield, born at the family home "Brookehouse," Petmarsh, Es- sex, England, the place being still in the possession of a member of the family. She was the second child of eight children born to Thomas and Jennina (Sycamore) Creffield, farmers, who spent their entire lives in their native place. Sophia Ann was educated at Trinity Training School, Halstead, then passed the examination in London and received a teacher's cer- tificate after which she followed the profession of teaching until her marriage.

Mr. Garrod served as principal of schools in dif- ferent parts of England and Wales until 1892. His health becoming seriously impaired, he was advised to seek a milder climate. Arriving in Santa Clara County, Cal., in May, 1892, Mr. Garrod located on the San Jose-Los Gatos Road, in the Cambrian school district until the fall of 1893, when the members of the family purchased the present ranch, four and one- half miles northwest of Saratoga. Here he and his son, Ralph W., have set out orchards and improved it until they have a splendid full bearing orchard of a variety of fruits, principally prunes. He has built a comfortable residence on a knoll overlooking the southern portion of the Santa Clara Valley. Mr. and Mrs. Garrod have three children: Ralph Vince, who is managing the Garrod ranch and orchards, is pres- ident of the state division of the Farmers Educa- tional and Co-operative Union of America, who, by his union with Emma Stolte has three children-

1107

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Louise Sophia, Vince Stolte and Richard Ralph; Mary Creffield, a graduate of San Jose State Normal, is the wife of Henry Pfeffer, an orchardist, at Castle Rock Ridge on the Twenty-seven Mile scenic drive, and they have two children-Rose Mary and Dorothy. The youngest child, Harold, is in the importing department of the Santa Fe Railroad Company, with headquarters in San Francisco; he married Hazel Collins of Santa Cruz and has two children-Olga and Harold David.

Mr. Garrod took a prominent part in and was secretary of the Men's Village Club in Horringer, and was a member of the Odd Fellows at Benwick, Cambridgeshire. Mr. and Mrs. Garrod are mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, and Mr. Garrod was for fifteen years organist at Horringer and Ickworth.

WILLIAM DENNIS TAYLOR .- A man who left an enviable record as a progressive and enter- prising native son was the late William Dennis Taylor, who was born on the Summit, Santa Cruz Mountains, January 18, 1864, the adopted son of James and Margaret (Higgins) Taylor, born in Prov- idence, R. I., and New Jersey, respectively. Wil- liam Dennis Taylor's father was William Dennis, and his mother was Ann Tillman, early settlers of the Santa Cruz Mountain region, but the mother died when William Dennis was born, leaving this infant son and an older son. John, who resides in Oakland. William Dennis was adopted by James Taylor and his good wife, who reared the boy with tender care and showered their affections on him as if he were their own child, and William Dennis in turn loved them as a father and mother and would never leave them. James Taylor was born January 19, 1825, the son of James and Margaret (Ellen) Taylor, natives of Ireland and Scotland. When six- teen years of age James left home and began life for himself. In 1852 he started for California, leaving New York, February 2, on the clipper ship Kate Hayes, commanded by Capt. Moran, and sailed around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco, July 3. He followed different occupations in that city until 1856, when he purchased a small farm in The Willows, near San Jose. In 1857 he sold it and located in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where he owned three different ranches before he purchased the place the Taylor family still own. He moved on this ranch in 1864, and with the aid of his family he set out orchards and vineyards. In 1854 he mar- ried Margaret Higgins, who was born and reared in New Jersey. She crossed the plains in an ox-team train in 1845, consuming seven months en route. James Taylor and his wife were highly esteemed and his passing away in 1889 was a distinct loss to his family and to the community; his widow survived him until March 30, 1898.

William Dennis received a good education in the public schools and aided in cleaning and improving the orchards. On the death of his parents he inher- ited the Taylor ranch and engaged in orcharding.

He was married in San Jose, April 6, 1891, to Miss Anna Marie Biller, who was born in Kongsvinger, Norway, a daughter of Anders and Anna (Johansen) Biller, the father being a watchmaker and jeweler, and both spent their days in the native land. Of their seven children, six came to the United States.

Mrs. Taylor received her education in the excellent schools of Norway. She came to Wisconsin in 1887 and there became acquainted with Mrs. Nielsen, from Wrights, Santa Clara County, Cal., and she accompanied Mrs. Nielsen to her home, and it was there she met William Dennis Taylor.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Taylor con- tinued in horticultural work, and in time came to have splendid orchards. Deeply interested in having good educational advantages for the children, Mr. Taylor served acceptably as trustee and clerk of the Summit school district for many years. In 1912 his health failed to such an extent he turned the manage- ment of the ranch over to his son, William A., and located in East San Jose. He passed away March 25, 1919. He was a member of Ridgeley Lodge No. 294, I. O. O. F., at Los Gatos. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were the parents of four children: William A., is operating the home ranch; Clarence J., resides in Alameda; Carl E., resides in San Jose; Ida Margaret, is with the California Prune and Apricot Growers Association in San Jose. Mrs. Taylor continues to make her home in San Jose and there, surounded by friends, is looking after the interests left by her hus- band. She is a member of the Swedish Mission Church in San Jose, as well as the Ladies' Aid, and like her late husband she is a Republican.

F. H. HOLMES .- A successful, influential busi- ness man and rancher is F. H. Holmes of Morrill Road, two miles to the northeast of Berryessa. He is a native son and was born in San Francisco, March 15, 1865. His father, A. Holmes, a native of Maine, came to California and married Emily C. Foye, also a native of Maine. A. Holmes was the first princi- pal of the State Normal at San Francisco. Going to Rio Vista to farm when a boy, Frank H. Holmes started his big collection of birds and skins. In 1886, he moved to San Jose to farm his uncle's ranch which consisted of 160 acres which he developed to prunes and apricots. He was married to Hattie Lake in 1890 in San Jose, a native of the Golden State and the daughter of an Argonaut. His mother is still living in Palo Alto at the age of eighty-two. In 1899 Mr. Holmes owned his first automobile, a Stanley Steamer, one of the very first in the valley. It was in this machine he made the first trip into Yosemite Valley, the first machine in and out under its own power. In 1905 he started to manufacture Sunset automobiles in San Francisco. Being burnt out by the 1906 fire he moved his factory to San Jose, the latter being sold in 1912. In 1892 he started in the fruit packing business, increasing his business each year until in 1917 he packed out as many as 160 car- loads of fruit from the packing house during a sea- son. Though leading a busy life as a rancher, mann- facturer and packer, he devoted much of his time to collecting birds and to fishing. being a great lover of outdoor sports.

His two sons, William Roy and Ellis Holmes were born in 1892 and 1894, respectively. William Roy went first to Berryessa grammar school, then to San Jose high school and was graduated from the Uni- versity of California in 1906 with a degree in pom- ology. Ellis Holmes went first to Berryessa school, then to Lick Polytechnic in San Francisco and later spent a year in Santa Clara College, finishing off his

1108

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

course of study in the agricultural school of the Uni- versity of California at Davis. Now he and his brother are the owners of a ranch of 160 acres near Fresno, 120 acres of which is being set to table and raisin grapes, while forty acres are in fig trees, all being sixteen years old. The brothers alternate in assuming the executive or superintendents offices. They also manage the orange grove at Terra Bella in Tulare County, owned by their uncle and father, con- sisting of fifty acres in Navel and Valencia oranges eight years old. They are also silent partners of the W. J. Benson Company auto distributors of the Stephens automobile for Northern California, Ne- vada and the Islands. Both are Elks, William Roy Holmes belonging to San Jose Lodge No. 522 and Ellis Holmes to Fresno Lodge No. 437. William Roy is also a Mason.

JOHN W. DINSMORE, D.D., LL. D .- A promi- nent minister of the Presbyterian Church and one of the most distinguished alumni of Washington and Jefferson College, Rev. John W. Dinsmore, D. D., LL. D., died at Los Gatos, April 2, 1922. Dr. Dins- more was born on the Dinsmore farm in Canton township, Pa., (now the residence of the sixth genera- tion of the Dinsmore family), March 13, 1839, a son of William and Rebecca (Anderson) Dinsmore. He re- ceived his academic education at Crosscreek Academy, was graduated from Washington College in the class of 1859, and from the Western Theological Seminary in Allegheny in 1862. He was licensed by the pres- bytery of Washington, April 25,, 1861, and ordained June 28, 1863, by the presbytery of Winnebago. He was stated supply at Cambria, Wis., for one year; pastor at Prairie-du-sac, Wis., 1864-1870; Bloomington, I11., 1870-1891; San Jose, Cal., 1891- 1901, and retired from the active pastorate in 1901. Dr. Dinsmore was moderator of the synod of Illinois, 1883; synod of California, 1904; a member of ten Presbyterian general assemblies; chairman of the gen- eral assembly special committee on judicial commis- sions, which framed the constitutional articles provid- ing for the supreme court of the Presbyterian Church in U. S. A .; was chairman of the permanent judicial committee; organized the effort, in conjunction with Archibishop Riordan of the Catholic Church and bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and se- cured the passage of the law exempting churches of all denominations in California from taxation; was an original member of the board of aid for colleges and academies of the Presbyterian Church, and member of the executive committee; director of McCormick Theological Seminary of Chicago; director of San Francisco Theological Seminary; and member of the board of visitors to U. S. Naval Academy and U. S. Military Academy. He had written much for the press, and was the author of the well known work "The Scotch Irish in America," a valuable historical work, the researches of whose author added materi- ally to the knowledge of this important part of our population.

Dr. Dinsmore came of the stock of the carly set- tlers of Western Pennsylvania. His great-grand- father, James Dinsmore, and his brother, Robert, came from Peach Bottom, Pennsylvania, and settled at Millers Run in Allegheny County, in 1774. There James Dinsmore took out a patent for 300 acres of

land, which farm, after various changes of ownership, has now for the third time come into the possession of the Dinsmore connection, being the farm on which the Maud mine of the McClane Mining Company is now located.

Dr. Dinsmore was married to Miss Adeline Vance, a daughter of Isaac Vance, December 22, 1852. She was born on the farm which is now the site of Marshalsea, in Allegheny County. To this union were born six children, four of whom are still living: William V. and Paul A. Dinsmore, of Oakland, Cal .; Dudley F. Dinsmore of San Jose, Cal., and Mrs. Mar- garet Dinsmore Bachus, whose present residence is in Alaska. Dr. Dinsmore was twice married, his last marriage being with Miss Alice Blackford, in 1919. Previous to hier marriage Miss Blackford had been a teacher under the care of the Women's Board of Home Missions. Dr. Dinsmore's late home was in Los Gatos, where his wife survives.

Dr. Dinsmore was a man of large mould and vigor- ous personality, a preacher of great power, and a man who always took a foremost place in the assemblies of the church. He was a man of genial personality and a delightful companion. He contributed much to the life and guidance of the Presbyterian Church in the United States, having been chairman of the per- manent judicial commission, and largely instrumental in the formation of that and other agencies of the church, as above noted. He was a leader in the civic reforms of every community in which he had his resi- dence and was a man of courageous speech to defend what he deemed were needed reforms.

EMILY JOSEPHINE COLOMBET. - Promi- nent among the influential and highly-esteemed women of San Jose whose family associations are of especial interest may well be mentioned Mrs. Emily Josephine Colombet, who is living retired at her com- fortable residence at 225 Vine Street. She is the eld- est daughter of the late Wayne Butler Rogers, who had married Miss Sarah Borgrove, and she was born at the Rogers home, on the Rancho de Santa Ter- esa, south of San Jose. She attended the local Oak Grove School, and during the session of 1867-68 was a student at the College of the Pacific; and now she is an honored member of the Emendia Society, the oldest college society on the Pacific Coast. On March 2, 1876, she was married to Charles Thomas Colombet, now deceased, son of the late pioneer, Clemente Colombet. Charles Thomas Colombet, was born at the Mission San Jose on November 23, 1852, and was reared in Santa Clara County, where he attended the University of Santa Clara. He be- came a prominent stock dealer, and used to operate very extensively in California, Nevada and Arizona. Three children were born to the worthy couple. Cle- mentina J., now the wife of F. C. Struven, a merchant of San Francisco, has one daughter, Bernice. Char- lotte is the bookkeeper for Armsby & Co., at their office in San Jose, and Charles Wayne married Miss Florence Campbell, who is a daughter of the late Edward Campbell, an honored pioneer of Santa Clara. In 1916, due to frail health, Charles T. Col- ombet retired from active business and enjoyed the quiet of his San Jose fireside; and on January 27, 1921, he passed to his eternal reward. He was held in high regard by all of his fellow-citizens, and was

1109

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

a member of the Fraternal Aid. Mrs. Colombet, also has been fortunate in enjoying the same complimen- tary esteem from all who have known the Rogers and Colombets. She is among the interesting members of the Pioneer Sons and Daughters; she has done good work in the Trinity Guild of San Jose, of which she is an active member; and she belongs to the Flower Lovers' Club.

One of the most interesting events in the annals of the family occurred on June 11, 1917, when Mrs. Wayne B. Rogers, Mrs. Colombet's mother, celebrat- ed her ninetieth birthday anniversary at the home of her daughter, Mrs. F. J. Brandon, at 1037 South First Street, San Jose. There was no attempt at a formal affair, says the San Jose Mercury Herald of June 17, but scores of friends remembering the sig- nificant date, called upon the beloved little gentle- woman, bearing good wishes and tokens of their af- fection. During the course of the afternoon, she was presented with twenty beautiful bouquets. Two large birthday cakes, also, one lighted with ninety pink candles, the other ornamented in lavender and bear- ing ninety lighted candles, were the center of attrac- tion at the buffet luncheon throughout the day. Mrs. Rogers is a native of Baden, Germany, and came to this country when a baby with her parents and grandparents. The families settled in Ohio, and it was in Bucyrus on April 23, 1849, that Miss Sarah Borgrove plighted her troth to Wayne B. Rogers, a prominent pioneer of Santa Clara County, born in Bucyrus, Ohio, January 31, 1827. His father, Icha- bod Rogers, was born in New York and later re- moved to Bucyrus, Ohio, where he was a miller and farmer. In 1849, he came across the plains to Cali- fornia but remained only a short time, returning to his home in Ohio, where he spent the remainder of his days. His wife, Lucy (Widger) Rogers was also born in New York and passed away in Ohio at the age of ninety-seven years. When she was seventy- five years old she visited California, making the jour- ney alone.

In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Wayne B. Rogers started to California. They were five months en route across the continent in their "prairie schooners," enduring many hardships, and arrived at the Santa Teresa rancho on Christmas Day. 1852. For fifty-eight years Mr. and Mrs. Rogers lived in the same house on the Santa Teresa, and there all but two of their eleven children were born, six of whom are living: Mrs. Emily J. Colombet; Mrs. Amanda C. Brandon; Mrs. Ida R. Connell; Mrs. Lillie M. Odlin; Mrs. Adella S. Lester, and George L. Rogers, all of San Jose. Mr. Rogers was active in aiding the settlers to get deed to their land on the Santa Teresa rancho, and made several trips on horseback to Stockton for that purpose. In 1856 he returned East and bought a drove of horses, intending to bring them across the plains, but on account of the Indian uprising he sold them and came to California by the way of Panama. Mr. Rogers passed away December 6, 1909, other pioneers of the famous old rancho passed on, and on June 11, 1917, at the age of ninety, Mrs. Sarah Rogers was the sole survivor of the early set- tlers on the grant. She was also the oldest member in point of years and membership in the First Metho- dist Church of San Jose. Until a few months be- fore this ninetieth birthday celebration, Mrs. Rogers

enjoyed excellent health and was able to be up and about the house and garden at Mrs. Brandon's home, where she resided; she passed away December 3, 1919. This loveable woman, remarkably young in appearance, considering her age, approached the sunset of life with a grace and gentle dignity that marked her as a philosopher and true disciple of the Great Teacher, who dealt most kindly with her dur- ing the passing of the years.

PATRICK MURPHY .- An old resident of the Santa Cruz Mountain region is Patrick Murphy, a native of Wicklow, Ireland, born October 10, 1854, the youngest of three children born to Edward and Bridget ( Lawler) Murphy. He was brought up on the farm in Ireland, at the same time attending the public schools of his locality. In 1875 he emigrated to Herkimer County, N. Y., being employed at farm work until 1879, when he came to California. After a year spent at Lodi he came to the Santa Cruz Mountains, being employed at logging in the sawmill of Mr. McKoy at Felton for a couple of years, then a short time for Tom Hubbard, after which he was with Hubbard & Carmichael Bros Company, logging and swamping, continuing with them until they closed their mills from the lack of further available timber. Since then he has continued to work for the Carmi- chael brothers on their ranches in the Saratoga dis- trict, except a short time for Mr. Rodvin, the con- tractor. Mr. Murphy now makes his home in Sara- toga; he is a great lover of the great outdoors and enjoys hunting and fishing, and in the early days on holidays he could be often seen with his rod and gun wending his way over mountain and stream, enjoying nature to the fullest. Fraternally, he is a member of the American Foresters at Saratoga.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 171

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