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 35
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192
HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
C. Richmond, Mrs. Jay Elder, Mrs. M. E. Faull, Mrs. Charles R. Wayland, Mrs. Arthur Field, Mrs. T. H. Reed, Mrs. W. L. Woodrow, Mrs. W. P. Dougherty, Mrs. W. A. Water- house and Mrs. W. W. Campbell. In the schools Miss Mary Helen Post was in charge of the work at the Normal, Mrs. Mary Smith, Washington School, and Miss Elizabeth Mc- Swain at the high school.
Thousands of dollars went from San Jose for Armenian and Serbian Relief. During two in- tensive drives for the suffering and starving people across the sea the local response amounted to more than $38,000.00.
When the appealing needs of the Armenians became urgent, a meeting at the Y. W. C. A., on March 11, 1918, started the first big drive. Judge F. B. Brown led this campaign and J. D. Crummey took the treasurership. The amount apportioned locally was $12,000 with $3000 to come from the county outside of San Jose. The one fact of this relief fund being adminis- tered by a New York man who paid all ex- pense so that every cent collected might go to Armenia was a feature of the drive. The en- tire quota was met under the efficient leader- ship of Judge Brown and Mr. Crummey aided by the following executive committee, Cap- tains and assistants at headquarters :
Executive committee : Judge F. B. Brown, Mrs. W. A. Alexander, Rev. R. S. Emrich, Rev. E. A. King, Hon. H. Jones and Mrs. D. A. Beattie. At headquarters : Mrs. Flickinger, Mrs. Hull and Miss Bishop who represented Mr. Crummey. Captains: Mrs. F. M. Eley, Mrs. D. W. Gilchrist, Mrs. J. W. Lewis, Mrs. M. V. McCurdy, Mrs. Charles Crothers, Mrs. A. T. Hermann, Mrs. E. A. Wilcox, Mrs. L. Richards, E. V. Busch, A. G. Wilkins and George N. Herbert.
James Beatty, manager of the Liberty Thea- ter, presented the committee through George N. Herbert's team with 200 theater tickets for each month of the year, a gift that supported 10 children for the entire period. The crest of giving came on Saturday, March 6, 1918, with a response of $4,222.00 San Jose's entire Armenian subscription during this "Judge Brown drive" took care of 1598 children, 1000 men and 1000 women in the destitute country that looked to California for help and did not look in vain.
The second drive for allied relief, headed by Charles M. O'Brien, chairman, and carried out with the machinery of the War Work Council, began January 14, 1919. With a quota of $22,000, asked over $23,000 was given. The armistice silenced the guns and out of that silence the cry for help came. From the be- ginning the Joffre Club, Club La France, the San Jose branch of civil and military relief
under the direction of Mrs. Victor Cauhape sent hundreds of dollars and tons and tons of supplies, while societies and individuals adopted French orphans.
The county members of the War Work Council did their part nobly during the war. They were:
Alviso-Geo. E. Nicholson, chairman ; W. F. Robideaux, D. B. Wade, W. F. Zankors, A. Standish, J. M. Fords, Geo. T. Gallagher, H. J. Richards, committeemen.
Cupertino-W. B. Calvert, chairman ; John Ludy, Paul Goodhue, Chas. Lowe, Dr. A. M. Coleman, Anton Pichetti, C. L. Rich, vice- chairman. Committeemen-G. A. Blair, C. D Bambauer, W. A. Buick, Grant Barton, A. McDonald, I. A. Ball, F. A. Ball, Paul Coolidge, M. L. Dow, K. A. Friedrich, C. R. Forge, E. H. Freeman, J. Frost, Paul Jones, W. Jellyman, H. H. Mosher, E. J. Parrish, W. Pasly, Jas. Patterson, E. N. Pettit, F. M. Pfei- fer, Chas. Rostand, F. A. Taft, O. B. Woods, C. E. Warren.
Campbell-J. C. Ainsley, chairman; W. Eckles, J. E. Weisendanger, W. T. Hobson, John F. Duncan, Geo. L. Parso, Earl Knapp, vice-chairmen ; J. L. Hagelin, Hiram Hutton, A. C. Keesling, W. H. Lloyd, Geo. Payne, S. G. Rodeck, Harry H. Smith, C. H. Whitman, H. E. Brandenberg, B. O. Curry, Dr. C. M. Cooper, William Coupland, E. A. Colby, Frank Dunucan, C. E. Hanger.
Evergreen-J. P. Shambeau, chairman ; com- mitteemen-Albert A. Anderson, Peter Ben- nett, A. H. Burk, R. H. Beck, H. L. Coates, W. L. Edwards, John A. Fair, I. Gover, Fred Hassler, Henry I. Hart, M. J. Haley, John S. Hensell, J. O. Hansen, Henry Krehe, W. A. Kammerer, Clem A. Kettman, Frank H. Kampfen, Theo. Klein, A. L. Leal, Fred May, Fred Martin, N. Macher, L. Monferino, A. R. McClay, August Nelson, F. W. Osterman, Manuel Pereira, Wm. Provan, Francis Smith, Michael Tierney, Fred Weld, E. B. Williams.
Gilroy-E. D. Crawford, chairman ; commit- teemen-John Abincino, A. S. Baldwin, Dan Burr, A. W. Cox, H. Carl, Percy Dexter, C. H. Emlen, W. G. Fitzgerald, H. Hecker. H. S. Hersman, Chas. Lester, Tracy Learned, A. A. Martin, R. M. Martin, Fay McQuilkin, H. E. Robinson, Win. Sawyer, G. A. Wentz.
Los Gatos-J. D. Farwell, chairman ; J. A. Case, J. W. Crider, L. E. Johns, H. L. Lloyd, Ed Howes, J. C. Walker, C. F. Hamsher, Z. S. Riggo, C. H. Squire, Dr. H. E. Smith, J. B. Stewart.
Morgan Hill-C. F. Drewry, chairman ; John Acton, Wm. H. Adams, J. C. Ahern, Robt. Britton, B. Bosqui, Chas. Beck. D. H. Bechis. Luther Cunningham, F. V. Edwards, E. F.
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Eastman, R. H. Patchell, Irwin E. Payne, 11. A. Pepen, C. P. Simpson.
Burnett-Peter Raggio, chairman; P. H. Kirby, P. A. Walsh, E. L. Norton.
Encinal-Frank Stevens, chairman ; H. A. Peppin, Burt Stevens, Peter Ramelli.
Llagas-T. A. Hester, chairman; W. H. Adams, Harry Wright, C. P. Simpson.
Machado-R. K. Patchell, chairman ; Rob- ert Britton, D. W. Strickenberg.
San Martin-R. S. Robinson, chairman ; Chas. Beck, H. Robinson, M. T. Gwinn.
Uvas-Giles Bradley, chairman ; Ben Bos- qui, Ed Eastman.
Milpitas-E. P. Giacomazzi, chairman; G. A. Abell, Lawrena Barker, A. L. Crabb, Law- rence Hansen, Dr. R. J. Smith, A. M. Silva, Jr.
Mountain View-W. L. Camp, chairman ; Dr. C. E. Adams, F. B. Abbott, W. F. Bubb, A. M. Crittenden, Geo. Chickorich, C. H. Clark, H. G. Childs, H. G. Copeland, L. Drake, T. J. Evans, Edwin Earl, Hans Ehlers, M. Farrell, Chas. A. Gray, Fred P. Hauck, W. F. Hyde, B. W. Hollman, Barney Job, A. Jurian, Frank Jackson, W. N. Jess, P. Klein, J. E. Johnson, Jas. Logue, Chas. N. Lake, F. Mar- cov, J. S. Mockbee, Chas. E. Marcum, P. D. Newman, F. S. Oliver, Geo. S. Parkinson, A. S. Robinson, H. A. Rengstroff, P. M. Smith, Geo. Swall, Guy Shoup, J. J. Taylor, L. H. Watson, O. W. Whaley, R. O. Winnegar, S. A. Winnegar, Chas. W. Wright, Win. P. Wright, R. H. Walker.
Berryessa-Harry Curry, chairman; Albert Foster, Floyd Lundy, W. E. Moore, Joe Rod- rigues, J. W. Smith.
Eagle-L. F. Graham, chairman : C. A. Bor- chers, James T. Murphy, John P. Vennum.
Orchard-J. J. O'Brien, chairman ; W. B. Clark, Frank A. Leis, Richard McCarthy.
Mt. Hamilton-Dr. Wm. W. Campbell, chairman : Dr. R. C. Aitken, Mr. Beach, R. H. Tucker, J. Hoover, Dr. J. H. Moore, E. H. Robinson, Lester Hubbard, Paul Gerber, F. Knobloch.
Palo Alto -- G. R. Parkinson, chairman ; B. G. Allen, W. H. Adams, J. R. Andrus, L. E. Bas- sett, Jas. Basye, W. J. Biehl, L. S. Bean, Ira G. Betts, J. H. Borden, M. A. Buchan, L. L. Bur- lingame, J. D. Byxbee, Jr., Geo. F. Brown, Geo. J. Carey, Ed Cashel, A. M. Cathcart, C. E. Childs, A. B. Clark, B. W. Crandall, H. F. Congdon, C. P. Cooley, W. A. Cooper, D. C. Craig, William Transton, J. L. Dixon, J. Dud- field. I. J. Dollingo, Rev. David Evans, O. M. Easterday, Chas. Ellett, Alfred Engle, J. F. Farrell, R. S. Faxson, Mrs. Fred Fowler, Mrs. Marion H. Fowler, James Frazer, Dr. D. Chas. Gardner, C. H. Gilbert, Rev. J. M. Gleason, J. E. Greene, R. L. Green, N. W. Gleaser, F. W. Heckett, V. V. Harrier, Theo. J. Hoover, T. 13
Hopkins, Rev. Walter lays, E. A. Hettinger, J. E. Hesston, C. A. Huston, W. O. Horabin, A. M. Hackett, J. Jury, F. K. Kasson, W. H. Kelly, Miss Mary I. Lockey, Kee Leung, P. M. Lansdale, Egerton Lakin, J. B. Larkin, G. Laumeister, George Lillie, R. N. Malone, Miss Maud Manaton, C. D. Marx, W. R. Menden- hall, G. E. Mercer, F. J. M. Miles, J. P. Mit- chell, W. E. Miller, H. J. Moule, A. L. Murry, A. K. Macoon, J. E. McDowell, W. H. Nichols, Louis Olsen, E. T. Pennock, Prof. G. F. Pierce, Capt. S. M. Parker, G. C. Price, W. W. Price, J. F. Pryor, Robt. C. Ray, O. O. Rhodes, Roger M. Roberts, F. Schneider, A. Seale, H. W. Simkins, J. R. Slonaker, N. B. Smith. J. O. Snyder, W. E. Southwood, Mrs. Maud A. Strat- ton, R. E. Swain E. C. Thoits, Ray Saylor, T. Goshida, J. C. Thiele, M. H. Tichnor, Monroe Thomas, S. D. Townley, Louis Taylor, T. Uchizono, S. M. Vandervoort, D. S. Watson, R. J. Wells, Ray Lyman Wilbur, Geo. Wil- liams, E. I. Irving, Herbert Wilson, Chas. Weeks, W. K. Woolery, A. E. Worthy, R. H. Wiley.
Pala -- Charles Turner, chairman ; J. W. An- derson, Edward I. Field, J. P. Lacerda, An- drew Patton, J. F. Pyle.
Saratoga-Dr. I. G. Hogg, chairman : Rev. B. Z. Bazata, L. C. Dick, S. P. Patterson, J. L. Richards.
Sunnyvale-C. C. Spaulding, chairman ; F. X. Boden, J. M. Brown, F. E. Cornell, Frank Farry, F. B. Hughes, W. A. Larman, Rev. C. G. Marshall, Rev. H. J. Roberts, W. R. Rob- erts, C. W. Shepard, C. W. Spalding,' Leo. H. Vishoot, J. H. Hendy, F. C. Wilson, J. C. Sutherland, J. F. Holthouse, A. P. Freeman.
Valley View-J. L. Mosher, chairman ; Nel- son Barton, Oscar Benson, Jerry Cannon, Fred P. Hauck, Harry Johnson, Jack Mayne.
Santa Clara -- Dr. A. E. Osborne, chairman ; P. A. Brangier, Alfred L. Brown, W. T. Brown, Jos. Boschken, Robert Fatjo, Chas. Grimmer, P. Hayes, Geo. Hamilton, Ralph Martin, J. B. O'Brien, I. A. Pomeroy, Geo. A. Penniman, Robert Porter, Henry R. Roth, Chas. D. South ,F. R. Shafter, W. S. Sullivan, Dr. L. Stockton, F. A. Wilcox, B. F. Weston, I. A. Wilcox.
Franklin-S. W. Pfeifle, chairman; John Barry, F. H. Buck, J. Jepson, Fred G. Wool.
Oak Grove-O. Christofer, chairman ; C. W. Aby, Chas. Frost, Jr., A. C. Robertson, J. H. Swickard.
Santa Clara County sent to the front nearly 3000 soldiers. Following are the names of our men who made the supreme sacrifice :
Elias Ananstasion, Joseph F. Andrade, Har- vey C. Barnes, Joseph Basseile, Robert J. Ben- nett, Barnard M. Bustard, Antonio Camastro, Joseph L. Cancilla, Louis V. Castro, Hugh L.
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
Carney, Harrison J. Cleaver, Charles C. Crews. Arthur C. Chiles, Charles C. Cook, William Couch, William F. Covill, Thomas J. Clunie, William M. de la Rochelle, Frank Devoney. John J. Dorsey, Robbecole Disappa, Ray F. Dugdale, Norman Dunbar, Elmer H. Flagg. Elmer L. Fresher, James G. Ferguson, Hiram B. Fisher, Ben Garcia, Toney P. Gomes, Lorne A. Goode, Wilmer J. Gross, Fred A. Hall, Carl J. Hagel, Frank J. Hagen, Jr., Walter Hart- man, Walter A. Hilden, Mervyn J. Hoadley. Maltria Hugeback, Jarvis J. Johnson, Joseph F. Kelly, Arthur C. Kimber, Ralph V. Leg- gett, Walter Logan, Leo J. McCauley, Maurice F. Manha, Lester J. Mckinley, David E. Mc- Comel, Bruno Montorosso, Frank J. Murrin, Salvatore Muro, Daniel J. Narvies, Allan H.
Nichols, Frank H. Nichols, Frank J. Nunes, Mervin Neugrass, Charles H. Pappassi, An- tone Parades, Joe Prader, John E. Pashote, Albert G. Perkins, Manuel Q. Perry, A. E. Preston, John F. Pereira, Paul J. Pinnola, An- gelo R. Pinto, John Pourroy, John Regan, Ern- est R. Rines, Leon Roberts, Joseph L. Rose, Manuel R. Rose, J. S. Rumsey, Seeley T. Shaw, Fredrick E. Sanders, Elvyn B. Sedam, Gilbert Spencer, Harry N. Schneider, Law- rence W. Schrier, Ira M. Smith, Anton Sigurd, Sidney W. Simpson, Thomas Short, John G. Sturlo, Joseph V. Spingola, Verne I. Taylor, John L. Timosci, Frank B. Tost, Nick J. Vac- carello, Manuel J. Vargas, John J. Voss, Clark B. Waterhouse, Harold Woolf, Albert F. Wooley, Earl C. Young.
CHAPTER XVIII.
History of the Lick Observatory on the Summit of Mt. Hamilton-The Eccentricities of James Lick, the Philanthropist-What He Did for San Jose.
The greatest work of man in Santa Clara County and San Jose's greatest asset is the Lick Observatory on the summit of Mt. Ham- ilton, which is provided with the best and most complete astronomical appliances in the world. The distance from San Jose to the summit of the mountain is twenty-seven miles, but in an air line it is much shorter, so that if one stands in the streets of the city and looks at the Coast Range mountains he will see, a little south of east, the great white dome glittering in the sunshine and looking benignly on the valley. The drive to the summit is entrancing. The visitor motors out on Santa Clara Street and across Coyote Creek enters Alum Rock Avenue, a continuation of Santa Clara Street, and the broad, fine highway to the baths, min- eral springs and scenic beauties of the City Reservation. A little over three miles from San Jose the visitor turns to the right and be- gins to ascend the first ridge of mountains. The road is winding, but broad and safe, and the grade is easy. The beautiful valley, with San Jose in the center, spreads out before him.
He passes over this ridge and plunges into Hall's Valley ; crossing which, with its lovely homes and ranches, he begins to ascend another ridge. This is soon crossed and the visitor descends again into a little valley through which runs Smith Creek, a favorite trout stream. Here he finds a large hotel and garage, and before him looms Mit. Hamilton, seven miles up the hill. The beautiful scenery of the
Coast Range is seen as the last climb up is made. The road winds in and out through shady nooks, around bold promontories and up and up, often doubling upon itself, while the higher one climbs, the grander the majestic panorama of mountains and valleys that spreads out on every hand, and soon the great valley of Santa Clara, with San Jose but a shady spot, peeps over the two intervening ridges. The crookedness of the road may be imagined from the fact that there are 365 turns between the base at Smith Creek and the ob- servatory on the summit.
The Lick Observatory was the donation to the University of California by James Lick, who became immensely wealthy through min- ing and real estate ventures. The prominence which he achieved by his princely gift to sci- ence caused people from all over the county to recall incidents of his life, and these have been gathered and woven into a connected narrative, which is herewith presented.
James Lick was born in Fredericksburg. Pa., August 25, 1796. His ancestors were of Ger- man extraction and spelled the family name "Lük." His grandfather had come to America early in the century and had served in the army of Washington during the Revolutionary War. Nothing is known of the life of James Lick until he arrived at the age of twenty- seven and entered himself as an apprentice to an organ maker at Hanover, Pa. He worked here for a short time and in 1819 took a posi-
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
tion in the employ of Joseph Hiskey, a prom- inent piano manufacturer of Baltimore, Md. An incident of his experience there has been recalled.
One day a penniless youth named Conrad Meyer applied at the factory for employment. He attracted the fancy of James Lick, who took the stranger in charge, provided him with food and proper clothing and secured for him a place in the establishment. The friendship thus formed lasted through life. In 1854 the pianos of Conrad Meyer took first prize in the London International Exhibition, their maker possessing an immense factory in Philadelphia and ranking as one of the most eminent piano makers in the United States.
In 1820 James Lick left the employ of His- key and went to New York, expecting to start in business on his own account. This venture was restricted by his lack of capital, and, if attempted at all, was brief, for in the following year he left the United States for Buenos Ayres, South America, with the intention of devoting himself there to his trade. He found the Buenos Ayreans of that period a singularly handsome and refined race of almost purely Spanish extraction, and attaining by their mode of life in that fine climate a remarkable phys- ical development. By careful attention to busi- ness he prospered among them, accumulating a competence during the first ten years of his stay. "In 1832," writes his friend, Conrad Meyer, in the Philadelphia Bulletin, "I was in business on Fifth Street, when I was suddenly surprised one day at seeing James Lick walk in. He had just arrived from South America and had brought with him hides and nutria skins to the amount of $40,000, which he was then disposing of. Nutria skins are obtained from a species of otter found along the River La Plata. He said that he intended settling in Philadelphia, but in a few days left for New York, and from there sailed to Buenos Ayres. There he filled several piano orders, settled his affairs and sailed for Valparaiso, Chile, where for four years he pursued his vocation. His next venture was in Callao, Peru, where he lived for eleven years, occupying himself in manufacturing pianos and making occasional investments in commercial enterprises. That he was successful is shown in the statement made by himself that in 1845 he was worth $59,000. Resolving to try California, he sold his stock for $30,000. This money, which was in Spanish doubloons, he secured in a large iron safe which he brought with him to Cali- fornia. Among the odd articles which. James Lick brought from Pern was the work-bench he had used in his trade. It was not an elab- orate affair and the object of its deportation to . California, the land of timber, hardly appears, unless he had acquired an affection for this
companion of his daily labors. Ile retained this bench through all his California experi- ences."
Mr. Lick arrived in San Francisco late in 1847. At that time there was little to indi- cate the future prosperity of the Pacific Coast. California Street was its southern boundary, while Sansome Street was on the water front. Sand dunes stretched out to the horizon on the south and east, an occasional shanty break- ing the monotony of the landscape. Mr. Lick quietly invested money in these sand hills, paying dollars for lots that were not consid- ered by the inhabitants to be worth cents. He came to Santa Clara County at an early day and purchased the property north of San Jose, on the Guadalupe, which was afterwards known as the Lick's Mills property. He also bought the tract of land just inside the present southern city limits which was afterwards named the Lick Homestead. All these lands were then vacant and unimproved.
During seven years after his arrival in Cali- fornia Mr. Lick did no business other than the investment of his money. The first im- provement of his property was made on the Lick Mill Tract. An old flour mill had stood upon the property when he bought it in 1852, and this fact may have influenced him in his decision to build his own mill on the site of the old one. In 1853 he began to lay plans and gather material for the construction. In 1855 the work started and to those who saw the structure rise, it was the wonder of the time. The wood composing the interior finish was of the finest mahogany, finished and inlaid in the most elegant and expensive style. The machinery imported for the works was of a quality never before sent out to the Pacific Coast. The entire cost of the mill was $200,- 000. When put in operation it turned out the finest brand of flour in the state.
There is a romantic legend preserved in the memory of the old acquaintances of James Lick which explains the origin of this mill. The tale runs that when Lick was a boy he was apprenticed to a miller, who, besides be- ing possessed of a competency and a flourish- ing business, had also an exceedingly pretty daughter. Strange as the assertion may seem to those who were acquainted only with the unlovely old age of this strange character, James Lick was a comely young man, and upon him the miller's daughter cast approving eyes. Lick met her more than half way and a warm attachment sprang up between the ap- prentice and the heiress. The old miller, how- ever, soon saw the drift of matters and inter- posed his parental authority to break the course of true love. Young Lick declared he loved the girl and wished to marry her. There- upon the miller became indignant and, point-
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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY
ing to his mill, exclaimed: "Out, you beggar ! Dare you cast your eyes upon my daughter, who will inherit my riches? Have you a mill like this? Have you a single penny in your purse?" To this tirade Lick replied that he had nothing as yet, but one day he would have a mill beside which this one would be a pigsty.
Lick at once departed and after a time drifted to California, seeking the fortune he deter- mined to possess, a determination that never afterwards for a moment left him. Nor did he forget his last words to the miller. When he was a rich man he built this mill, and when he had finished there had been nothing left un- done which could have added to the perfection of its appointments. Its machinery was per- fect and its walls, floors and ceilings were of costly woods. Not being able to bring the miller to view the realization of his boyish declaration, Lick had the mill photographed within and without, and although his sweet- heart had long since been married, he sent her father the pictures and recalled to him the day he boasted of his Pennsylvania mill.
Although the mahogany mill gratified Lick's pride in its construction and in the brand of his product, it was not a financial success. The periodical floods of the Guadalupe River in- undated the land about it, destroyed his orch- ards and roads and interfered with the opera- tion of the mill.
In the year 1873 he surprised everybody by the gift of the whole property to the Thomas Paine Memorial Association of Boston. For some years he had been a close student and great admirer of the writings of Paine, and he took this means of proving the faith that was in him. On January 16, 1873, he made a formal transfer of the property to certain named trus- tees of the association, imposing upon them the trust to sell the property and donate one- half of the proceeds to the building of a me- morial hall in Boston, and so invest the other half that a lecture course could be maintained out of the income. The association sent an agent to California to look over the acquisi- tion, with power to deal with it. Without consulting Mr. Lick, the agent sold the prop- erty for about $18,000, at which proceeding the donor was so disgusted that he lost all interest in the advancement of the theories of the fa- mous infidel.
The next scheme of improvement to which Lick turned his attention was the erection of the Lick Hotel in San Francisco. He had bought the property for an ounce of gold dust soon after his arrival in California, and until 1861 it had lain idle and unimproved. The lot originally extended the entire length of the block on Montgomery Street from Sutter to Post, and the hotel would have covered this
space had not Lick sold the Post Street corner to the Masons. At the time of its construction the hotel was the finest on the Pacific Coast. Its interior finish was, in the main, designed by Lick himself, who took special pride in the selection of fine materials and in their combi- nation in artistic and effective forms. The dining room floor was a marvel of beautiful woodwork, made out of many thousand pieces and all polished like a table.
That part of the history of James Lick which lies between the years 1861 and 1873 is full of interest to those who desire to form a correct estimate of the man. The course of affairs had amply justified his early judgment of the future values of California real estate. His sand-hill lots, bought for a song in 1848, grew to be golden islands of wealth in the rising streams of California trade. The investments in Santa Clara County all yielded rich returns. By the very bulldog tenacity with which he hung to his transactions, he became during the '60s one of the wealthiest men on the Pacific Coast. His reputation, too, was state-wide, made so not only by his wealth but also by the rumor of his eccentricities.
It is very probable that the advancing age of James Lick acted upon his nature in develop- ing into active eccentricities the natural pecu- liarities of his disposition. Most of the pio- neers who remember him during the first decade of his California career, describe him as a close, careful, self-contained man, cold and somewhat crabbed of disposition, going his own lonely way in business and in life. Those who knew him between 1861 and 1873 inten- sify these characteristics and declare him to have been miserly, irascible, selfish, solitary ; one who cherished little affection for his race or kin, and whose chief delight appeared to lie in the indulgence of the whims of a thorny and unfragrant old age. Others who knew him say that beneath the ice of his outward nature flowed the warm currents of a philan- thropic heart.
The stories of Lick's eccentric career are numerous and amusing. Most of his time after the completion of his hotel was spent in and about San Jose. At first he lived upon his mill property, and upon it he began early to set out trees of various kinds, both for fruit and ornament. He held some curious theories about tree-planting and believed in the efficacy of a bone deposit about the roots of every young tree. Many are the yarns told by old residents about his action. It was a frequent sight to see him going along the highway in an old rattle-trap, rope-tied wagon, with a bearskin robe for a seat cushion, stopping every now and then to gather in the bones of some dead animal. There is a story extant,
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