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 22

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 22

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

away his money, behaved more extravagantly than ever, and then one day closed his lips and for fourteen years never spoke to man or woman. Every day during this period he sat on a bench in Madison Square, feeding the birds and petting little children. At last speech and activity came back. He made an- other around-the-world trip, completing it in sixty days, and then settled down to a hum- drum existence in the top story of a New York hotel. While there he defended his po- sition in the following characteristic style : "They say I talk as one out of his head. Why should I not do so? How can a peanut con- vention know about a cocoanut? The pea- nuts composing it have never seen a cocoanut. They don't know what it is. The peanut con- vention considers the cocoanut, deliberates wisely and passes a resolution that the cocoa- nut is a large peanut. And how can a cocoa- nut find out what it is like until it has seen another cocoanut like itself? I am a cocoa- nut." Train died in 1903, at the age of sev- enty-four years.

Henry George, the formulator and exponent of the single-tax theory, wrote "Progress and Poverty" while acting as editor of the San Francisco Post. In abbreviated form the mat- ter was first used as meat for a lecture, and after San Francisco had been favored with the radical views of the great editor, George came to San Jose with his manuscript. Patrick W. Murphy, city editor of the Post, was the busi- ness manager and the lecture was delivered in the San Jose Opera House to a small andi- ence. But the expenses were light and no money was lost. George took the situation good-naturedly, for he was a jovial, big-hearted man, and declared that he was satisfied with the sowing of the seed and would serenely await the verdict of time.

While in San Jose, George was the guest of J. J. Owen, the veteran editor and philoso- pher. On the afternoon preceding the lecture George was in Owen's office. Among other things they discussed the local sensation, which was of absorbing interest to Owen, who was an avowed spiritualist. Strange, unac- countable manifestations had been reported from a small, one-story house on Fourth Street near St. John. Spooks, no less, so it was claimed and generally believed, had repeatedly broken windows, thrown stones against the building and cut up other queer and devilish pranks. The lessee of the house was a well- known citizen (now deceased), who was ut- terly unable to understand why he, of all men, should be singled out for these satanic mani- festations. His standing in the community was high, he had led an upright life and he was not aware that he had any enemies. The spooks-admitting that malignant spirits from

the other world had been at work-had oper- ated at all hours, day and night. George listened to the story, asked a few questions, and then said: "Let's go down to the house and investigate. We may stumble upon a clew. I don't take any stock in this spook business." Owen smiled but did not express any opinion. The historian, who was then doing reportorial work for Owen, accompanied the two editors to the house of mystery. The lessee was not at home, but his daughter was there. She smiled cynically as she bade the trio enter the living room, which fronted on the street. It was noticed on entering that some of the panes in the two front windows were broken. George examined the breaks and then addressed himself to the girl, who sat, sullen and defiant, near the door opening into the kitchen. The door was closed and there was no sound to indicate the presence of any other person in the house. Owen asked if the mother was at home. The girl shook her head. She was rather attractive, with her black hair and eyes, pale cheeks and tip-tilted nose. But her expression registered resentment rather than pleasure, over the coming of the investigators. Her story tallied with that given by her father. The mysteri- ous manifestations had occurred at all hours of the day and night. She had no theory to advance. The stones might have been thrown by evil spirits or by some human enemy cun- ning enough to escape detection.

After the inquisition Owen and George, with this historian at their heels, looked into and examined every room in the house. Nothing of value as a clew having been discovered, the three newspaper men returned to the living room, the girl following them. She resumed her former seat and listened with an amused smile while George and Owen discussed spooks, politics and religion. At last George, changing the subject, said to Owen: "Have you made up your mind?" Owen was about to answer when there came a noise as of the shattering of glass. The investigators, quickly getting to their feet, saw that another pane' had been broken. "Well," ejaculated George, "his spookship is considerate. That show was given for our benefit. Thank you, Spooky. Maybe"-he smiled at the girl, who sat star- ing at the window with her hands concealed in her apron-"Maybe this is a case of hoisting by one's own petard." Walking over to the window, he examined thoroughly pane, sash and floor, then opened the front door and stepped outside. He was gone but a few mo- ments. Returning, he looked at the girl stead- ily, accusingly. She stood the scrutiny half a minute, then cast down her eyes, and fum- bled nervously with her hands, still concealed under her apron. She did not lift her eyes

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while George was speaking. "Miss -- ," he said, gravely, "the stone was thrown from this room, therefore-" He paused and the girl burst out: "It's no use trying to fool you. How did you find it out?" "Easy enough. 'The glass broken by the smash is on the ground outside and not in this room." Then he added. "Why did you do it? You must have had some strong reason." "I had," was the low reply. Her story was soon told. She hated the house and had been trying for months to induce her father to move to another place. Unable to influence him, she had hit upon the device of scaring him into compli- ance. The scheme might have succeeded but for Henry George's astuteness.

The story ended, the girl fell to crying. Her father would never forgive her. She had a mind to run away and never come back. Her life was ruined, and so forth, and so forth. George was kind and sympathetic. His sooth- ing words soon dried her tears. There was a way out of the tangle and he promised to find it before he left town. He was as good as his word. The father was seen and after much persuasion agreed to take another house, and also never to reproach his daughter for what she had done. That ended the matter. The manifestations ceased and Henry George left town in a satisfied frame of mind. He had not made any money in San Jose, but he had had a fine time.

Bret Harte made several visits to San Jose while he was editor of the Overland Monthly. One visit lasted several days. It was shortly after the publication of his first book of poems, "The Lost Galleon." He is remembered as a small, dapper, elegantly clothed person, with black mustachios and "burnsides" and a pock- marked face.

Mark Twain was in San Jose a few days before his lecture. This was in 1866. His controversy with W. Frank Stewart, the earth- quake philosopher, has been referred to in an earlier chapter.

In the Society chapter reference was made to the visits to San Jose of Presidents Mc- Kinley and Roosevelt. Other Presidents who came before them were Hayes, Grant and Har- rison. Hayes was in the middle of his term when he made the overland trip to California. There was not much fuss made over his ar- rival, though a large crowd gathered to listen to his address, made from the balcony of the Auzerais House. He was accompanied by Gen. W. T. Sherman.

President Harrison's visit was a flying one. He alighted from the train at the Market Street depot, was driven rapidly about town and then back to the train. He made one speech, short and to the point, like all his public utterances. 9

The great ovation was given to Gen. U. S. Grant on September 26, 1879. In honor of the event business houses generally were closed, the courts took a half-holiday, and the city was given an attractive gala-day appear- ance. Nearly all the public structures and business blocks were profusely and hand- somely decorated with flags, shields and fes- toonings of red, white and blue, while private dwellings along the line of march were simi- larly arrayed and bedecked. It was estimated at the time that more than 20,000 people, in holiday attire, awaited the coming of the man who had reflected such honor upon his coun- try. Military and civic organizations took part in the parade, the late W. T. Adel acting as grand marshal, with Capt. Ira Moore and A. P. Murgotten as aids. The former resi- dents of Galena, Ill., Grant's old home, were represented by Judge Chas. G. Thomas, G. J. Overshiner, C. O. Rogers, O. C. Wells and C. Bellingall. At the depot Mayor Lawrence Archer delivered the address of welcome. The reception committee consisted of \V. D. Tis- dale, T. Ellard Beans, Rev. M. S. Levy, Capt. C. H. Maddox and J. J. Owen. The torn, tat- tered and faded battle flag carried by D. C. Vestal, as color-bearer of Phil Sheridan Post, excited much comment, and its history would not be out of place here. It belonged in 1864 to the Twenty-first Regiment, South Carolina Colored Volunteers, commanded by Col. A. G. Bennett, afterwards of San Jose, and was the first Union flag raised in Charleston after that city's surrender to and occupation by the Union forces. Five color-bearers were shot down while carrying it, and every hole in it was made by a Confederate bullet.

General Grant and party, which included Mrs. Grant and Ulysses S. Grant, Jr., received a pleasant surprise when the procession ap- proached the Court House. Upon the steps and platform were congregated some 500 chil- dren, each one tastefully arrayed in white with red and blue ornamentations and bearing a small flag and a bouquet of flowers. The gen- eral's carriage was driven to the edge of the sidewalk and halted. Then the children, un- der the direction of Professor Elwood, struck up the National anthem, "America," singing the four stanzas with such spirit and feeling as made the welkin ring. At the close three cheers were given to General Grant and then came a shower of bouquets thrown at the car- riage. After the procession had disbanded the general was driven to the Fair Grounds on the Alameda, where a running horse race, against time, had been arranged for his benefit. In the evening a banquet was given at the Auzerais House. Mayor Archer presided and Col. J. P. Jackson of San Francisco made the

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response for General Grant. The following were present :

Ladies-Mrs. U. S. Grant, Mrs. Mayor Bry- ant of San Francisco, Mrs. Mayor Archer, Mrs. S. O. Houghton, Mrs. T. Ellard Beans, Mrs. B. D. Murphy, Mrs. C. H. Maddox, Mrs. H. W. Seale, Mrs. Knox-Goodrich, Mrs. Ira Moore, Mrs. G. R. Baker, Mrs. F. E. Spencer, Mrs. J. J. Owen, Mrs. Gov. Irwin, Mrs. Cole- man Younger, Mrs. J. A. Moultrie, Mrs. J. W. Cook, Mrs. W. T. Adel, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. A. L. Rhodes, Mrs. J. H. Moore.

Gentlemen-L. Archer, W. D. Tisdale, W. L. Tisdale, T. E. Beans, E. McLaughlin, C. T. Ryland, J. M. Braley, E. McLanghlin, H. H. Hoffmann, H. B. Alvord, C. T. Parks. W. Erk- son, J. J. Burt, L. G. Nesmith, John T. Ma- lone, H. L. Cutter, C. C. Stephens, Martin Murphy, T. W. Spring, D. C. Vestal, W. S. Thorne, A. McMahon, W. L. Coombs, L. Fin- igan, H. M. Leonard, J. P. Pierce, M. Byrne, Ira Moore, R. F. Peckham, J. W. Cook, W. F. Ellis. W. M. Lovell, S. O. Houghton, C. H. Maddox, S. W. Boring, S. A. Clark, Levi Good- rich, J. H. Flickinger, L. Lion, D. Belden, B. D. Murphy, P. W. Murphy. E. C. Singletary, E. P. Reed, James A. Clayton, D. C. Bailey, S. F. Leib, Geo. L. Woods, G. F. Baker, A. E. Pomeroy, H. W. Seale, J. J. Sontheimer, J. J. Owen, Miles Hills, N. R. Harris, N. B. Ed- wards, J. N. Hammond, J. R. Lowe, S. A. Barker, C. G. Thomas, J. S. Seely, C. X. Hobbs, B. B. Thayer, L. J. Hanchett, J. P. Sargent, C. E. White, W. S. Clark, Wilson Hays, J. B. Randol, W. T. Adel, A. Whitton, Coleman Younger, M. J. Ashmore, Jesse D. Carr, J. C. Zuck. F. E. Spencer, C. C. Hayward. A. W. Saxe, A. L. Rhodes, Geo. Rutherford, J. T. Murphy and C. G. Harrison.

San Francisco-U. S. Grant, A. J. Bryant, J. H. Smith, W. W. Dodge, A. M. Scott, M. L. McDonald, J. P. Jackson. E. Danforth, M. D. Bornck, H. Brickwedel, John Wise and Henry Pierce.

Lecturers from over the sea who came to San Jose were T. P. O'Connor, Michael Davitt and Timothy Healey, Irish patriots. From the East came Robert G. Ingersoll, Henry Ward Beecher, Theodore Tilton, Col. E. Z. C. Jnd- son, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Dr. Mary Walker, Anna Howard Shaw, Anna Dickinson Mrs. Mary A. Livermore, Dr. Mary Walker and Oscar Wilde. The lectures of Beecher and Ingersoll were not far apart, but their speaking styles were as far apart as the poles. Beecher was ornate, flowery and serious. He was eloquent in a lofty way and his voice was a volume of musical sound. But he never thrilled an audience as Ingersoll thrilled it. Ingersoll possessed a personal mag- netism more seductive than any speaker who ever visited San Jose. At his first lecture,

given in Music Hall on First Street, the front bench was occupied mainly by ministers of the local Protestant churches, gathered there out of curiosity. Before and after the lecture they called Ingersoll a sophist, one who touched insignificant errors but failed to sound the depths of Christian philosophy as revealed in the pages of the Bible. But that night they were so carried away by the great agnostic's quips and quirks that their langhter, chuckles and unconscious movements broke down the bench upon which they were sitting, thus cre- ating a diversion that greatly amitsed the lec- turer and caused a langhable commotion in other parts of the hall.

Theodore Tilton was stiff, stilted and self- conscious. He had a fine command of lan- gnage, but his mannerisms, his posings and his conceit combined to create an unfavorable impression. He came to San Jose just after the celebrated trial in Brooklyn of the re- nowned Tabernacle preacher, and his notoriety -not his fame as a public speaker-had the effect of drawing to his lecture a very large audience.

Mrs. Stanton produced an altogether differ- ent impression. She was easy, graceful and earnest, spoke without effort and made her points without artifice. Anna Howard Shaw and Anna Dickinson were polished speakers. Miss Dickinson was the more dramatic.

Of the Irish lecturers, Healey and Davitt were serious and impassioned. O'Connor (Tay Pay) was serions and witty by turns, and his talk was therefore more entertaining than that of his fellow-workers in the Irish cause.

In the '80s the annual encampment of the National Grand Army of the Republic was held in California. After the session San Jose was visited by a large number of delegates, the number including Gens. John A. Logan, C. S. Fairchild, and George Stoneman. At the time Stoneman was Governor of California. Before this event Gen. W. S. Hancock had been in San Jose. Of the warriors, Logan, as a speaker, was eloquent, impressive and force- ful. With his long hair, once raven-black but now streaked with gray, his flashing black eyes and handsome features, he made a picture that was pleasing to look upon. General Hancock was not an orator. He was over six feet in height, ponderons and heavy, and moved slowly, as if he found it an effort to lift .his feet. He spoke haltingly, but made a good impression on account of his transparent hon- esty and unaffected manner.

In later days came Josh Billings, Opie Read, James Whitcomb Riley, Bill Nye, Geo. W. Cable, Geo. Alfred Townsend, Jack London, Joaquin Miller, Mrs. Mary Austen, King Kala- kaua, of the Hawaiian Islands, Gen. John C. Fremont, William J. Bryan, Booker Wash-

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ington, Thomas B. Reed, and several other notables whose names cannot be recalled. Bryan's first visit to San Jose was made in 1897, the year after he was defeated for the presidency by William Mckinley. There was quite a demonstration when he arrived with James G. Maguire, congressman from the San Francisco district. He spoke at the Fair Grounds before a large audience and after- wards held a reception at the Hotel Vendome.

General Fremont visited San Jose a few years before his death. He was the guest of the Santa Clara County Pioneers, and after sightseeing in San Jose the General and his wife were taken to the Big Trees in Santa Cruz County, where an old-fashioned enter- tainment was provided.

One whose career was one series of sensa- tional adventures and whose reputation dur- ing the '50s and '60s was world-wide, stayed in San Jose for several weeks in 1868. The man was Col. E. Z. C. Judson ( Ned Buntline), who was the originator in the United States of the dime novel. He was also the pioneer in the writing of lurid fiction. He was a grad- uate of the Annapolis Naval Academy and was commissioned midshipman for bravery in res- cuing a boat's crew from drowning in New York harbor. While in the navy he fought seven duels. His fellow-middies refused to as- sociate themselves with him because he had been a common sailor. To enforce their re- spect he challenged all of them, thirteen in number, to mortal combat. Only seven agreed to fight, and he worsted them all in quick suc- cession without receiving a scratch himself. One of his opponents was afterwards an ad- miral in the navy. He was an active partici- pant in the Florida (Indian) and Mexican wars, and in the Civil War was the colonel of a regiment of mountaineers. He was a crack shot and in the '70s, in a trial of skill with Buffalo Bill, Texas Jack and a number of In- dian chiefs, he easily proved his superiority.

He began to write fiction in the early '40s. In 1848 he started a paper in New York in order to further the cause of Know-Nothing- ism, of which he was an ardent and reckless supporter. In that same year he was sentenced to one year's confinement in prison as one of the leaders in the Astor House riots when the adherents of Edwin Forrest, the great Ameri- can tragedian, attempted to mob W. C. Mac- ready, the English tragedian, as a reprisal for

insults heaped upon Forrest by Macready's English friends while Forrest was filling a London engagement. He was one of the pio- neers in waging war against the publication and circulation of immoral literature. In 1852, long before Anthony Comstock was in the field, he made complaint against an offending publisher. The place was raided by the police and tons of objectionable literature were seized and burned in City Hall Park.

Ned Buntline's first serial story appeared in 1857. and for over twenty years bear and In- dian stories, war and sea romances, local nov- els-in fact every variety of sensational fiction -flowed in constant stream from his pen. In 1868 he came to California as a temperance lecturer. He had been a hard drinker, but had reformed. During his stay in San Jose he de- livered one of his lectures under the auspices of the local Good Templar lodge. Of the com- mittee of introduction only one member is now living (1922), the veteran lawyer, J. C. Black, who afterwards served as district attor- ney and was special prosecutor in several nota- ble criminal cases.

After leaving San Jose Buntline started east- ward, but laid over several months in Laramie, Wyo., in order to obtain material for a new series of wild west stories. Here he met Buf- falo Bill, who had just completed a contract to supply buffalo meat for the tracklayers of the Kansas Pacific Railway, and whose repu- tation then was mainly local. The two men became fast friends and a short time after their meeting Buntline sent the first Buffalo Bill romance to a New York story paper. Other stories quickly followed, and within a year Buffalo Bill became the most talked-of person- age in America. Not content with newspaper exploitation, Buntline wrote a play called "Buffalo Bill, the King of Scouts," and induced Bill to appear in the titular role. The first per- formance was given in a Western city. Other plays starring Buffalo Bill were written, a company was formed, Wild Bill and Texas Jack becoming members, and a tour of the country was made, San Jose being visited in 1877. After parting with Buffalo Bill, Bunt- line resumed his temperance crusade, but still kept up his story-writing. A large portion of the money he earned was spent in improving his country place in Westchester County, New York. He married late in life and died in 1886.

CHAPTER XI.

Santa Clara County During the Civil War-Many Companies Formed- Confederate Sympathizers Take to Robbery-The Fight on the New Almaden Road-Excitement Over the Death of Abraham Lincoln.

Santa Clara County was loyal during the Civil War, which opened in 1861. It furnished both money and men to the Union cause. Many thousands of dollars were contributed and placed at the disposal of the Sanitary Com- mission, and more volunteer soldiers were ten- dered than were required. The majority of the volunteers were either retained in the state or sent to Arizona and New Mexico. There was no draft ever ordered in California to secure her proportion of troops, while there was always a reserve of volunteers, organized under the state laws, more than sufficient for any emergency that might arise. California was far from the center of government, with a long line of exposed seacoast which, in case of foreign complications, was subject to attack. For this reason it was necessary that the great bulk of the population should remain at home for self-protection. Many men went to San Francisco and other cities, not being able to enlist at home on account of the filling of the quota. Some enlisted in the California Bat- talion. Two San Joseans, W. H. Lawrence and George W. Lee, joined the battalion and were prisoners in Andersonville. Mr. Lawrence is still a resident of the city. Mr. Lee removed to Santa Cruz in 1919. Other members from Santa Clara County were Abe Withrow and Warren Wood of Santa Clara, and James Hacket of San Jose.

Of those who enlisted in San Jose, there is record of the following :

San Jose Volunteers, afterwards Company C. First Regiment, Infantry. Organized in San Jose, June 21, 1861, as follows: H. A. Gorley, captain ; John Martin, first lieutenant; D. C. Vestal, second lieutenant ; S. C. Thomas, third lieutenant: M. Pulaski, first sergeant; J. H. Murphy, second sergeant: Edgar Pomeroy, third sergeant; T. J. Cuiston, third sergeant ; John Mulholland, first corporal; W. M. Owen, second corporal; David Downer, third cor- poral ; Randolph Leavenworth, fourth corporal. The celebration of the Fourth of July in that year was marred by a painful accident where- by Gorley, Martin and Ed Morton were injured while firing a national salute. The company was reorganized as veterans at Las Cruces, N. M., November 29, 1864. During the war there were many desperate engagements with Indians. Lieutenant Vestal, with his com-

pany, assisted in the capture of the notorious Showalter and his band. The company, while in the desert, marched over 2,000 miles.

Second Regiment, Infantry-Organized No- vember 29, 1861. The Santa Clara County men in this regiment were generally credited to Mayfield. T. C. Winchell was adjutant ; Mont- gomery Maze (afterwards a searcher of rec- ords in San Jose), was second lieutenant of Company A and C. P. Fairfield was first lieu- tenant of Company I.

Third Regiment, Infantry-Organized in 1861. Served in Utah and Colorado. J. C. Merrill was captain of Company B. There were Santa Clara County men in Companies D, E and G. William J. Colahan, deceased, was in Company G.

Eighth Regiment, Infantry -- Company C was organized in San Jose in 1864. After be- ing mustered in, the regiment was stationed at Fort Point, California.

First Battalion of Mountaineers-Organized in 1862. Served in the mountain campaigns against the hostile Indians in California and Nevada. George W. Owsley was captain of Company B.

First Cavalry Regiment-Company E organ- ized in August, 1861. Served in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. Engaged against the Kiowa, Comanche, Navajo and Apache In- dians. There were also Santa Clara men in Companies I and L of this regiment.

First Battalion of Native Cavalry-Company A was organized in 1863 by Captain J. R. Pico. Served in California and Arizona. The bat- talion was composed mainly of native Cali- fornians.

In addition to the foregoing troops, the fol- lowing organizations were held for state service :

First Regiment, Cavalry-Company E: H. M. Leonard, captain ; E. Vandyne, first lieuten- ant; D. J. Burnett, second lieutenant; H. C. Morrell, Jr., third lieutenant. Sixty men in the company, all armed.

Company I, Burnett Light Horse Guard-J. R. Hall, captain ; P. Henry, first lieutenant ; J. Chrisman, senior second lieutenant ; A. J. Fow- ler, junior second lieutenant. Fifty men in the company, all armed.

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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 22

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