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 44

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 44

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Thompson, Elizabeth Whitney Bland. widow of Col. Henry E. Thompson and de- scendant of Josiah Ballard, a private in 1777 in the company of Capt. John Trask, Col. Da- vid Leonard's regiment. Marched to Ticon- deroga. He was also in the company of Capt. Ebenezer Goodale, Col. Samuel Williams' reginient in the same year, and marched to join the northern army.

Waite, Alice C., wife of Melville M. Waite and descendant of Capt. Joseph Jewett, who was captain in Colonel Huntington's Conti- nental Regiment. After the siege of Boston they marched, under General Washington, to New York and remained in that vicinity until the close of the year 1776. He was at the Battle of Long Island. During the engage- ment Colonel Huntington's regiment was com- pelled to surrender, after an exhibition of great bravery, having been surrounded by the enemy. After the surrender Captain Jewett received several bayonet wounds from a das- tardly foe, from the effects of which he died. He was of elegant and commanding appear- ance, of unquestioned bravery and much re- spected and beloved.

Weston. Abbie May Bunker, wife of Benja- min F. Weston and descendant of Jonathan Bunker, who enlisted in the Continental Army for the term of the war. He died in 1796. He served for three years and was in most of the big battles. Bunker Hill was named after his ancestor, George Bunker, who came to Amer- ica in 1640. Mrs. Weston claims lineal de- scent from eight ancestors who served the country during the Revolutionary War.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Wright, Susie Davis, wife of Frank Vincent Wright, descendant of Benjamin Butterfield, who was a lieutenant in Col. Seth Warner's regiment of "Green Mountain Boys" in 1777. He served until 1780.

Wright, Edna Warren Leib, wife of William Hammond Wright, descendant of General William Russell.

Wyatt, Camille Palmer, wife of Ben Harri- son Wyatt and descendant of Lieut. William Moore.

The present officers of the chapter are Mrs. Samuel Franklin Leib, regent; Mrs. Blayney Maynard, vice regent ; Mrs. Maurice Connell, registrar : Mrs. Charles R. Parkinson, treas- urer : Mrs. Elizabeth Everett Plate, corre- sponding secretary.

Musical Clubs and Record

Up to the '60s music in San Jose had not reached beyond the stage of very amateur performances. But when musical courses were placed on the list of studies at the College of Notre Dame, Santa Clara College and Prof. Freman Gates' San Jose Institute, the musical tone of the community was both strengthened and improved. Soon teachers of ability and eminence began to come in, the first of which were Mr. and Mrs. A. N. Hamm. They arrived in the '60s and soon made their work and in- fluence felt. Mrs. Hamm, with her clear, bird- like soprano, had been an operatic singer in the East and Mr. Hamm, a basso, had ap- peared often in concerts. They opened a school, secured many pupils and gave many public entertainments. Among the local sing- ers of those days were Ella Bassett ( Mrs. Goodsell ). Ella Cook (Mrs. Stark), Mary Rhodes ( Mrs. Barstow), Beatrice Lawrey (Mrs. Hollenbeck ), Mary Youngberg, George Pomeroy, D. B. Moody, Ben Caswell, Charles .F. Macy, Elliott Reed, H. A. Keinath and C. C. Cook. Later came R. B. Crichton, W. A. Parkhurst, Grace Greene, Mrs. W. A. Mc- Leod, Della Marvin, Jennie McLeod. Lois Singletary, Will Hervey, Elmer Chase, Henry C. Murgotten, and several others.

J. H. Ellwood arrived in the early seventies and in September, 1875, organized the Handel and Haydn Society with the following charter members : B. F. Caswell, J. H. Ellwood, George Pomeroy, W. A. Parkhurst, A. P. Murgotten, G. E. Lighthall, R. B. Crichton, Elliott Reed, Alfred Barstow, W. D. St. Claire, Charles E. Schroeder, E. Rousseau, J. W. Pembroke, C. T. Bird and Mesdames J. H. Ellwood, A. Barstow, B. L. Hollenbeck, E. P. Reed, Elliott Reed, L. A. Tuck, A. E. Pomeroy, H. S. Foote, A. M. Crichton, W. D. St. Clair, E. Rousseau and Miss Della Marvin, Allie Marvin, Lillie Johnson, Nora Willey, Mary Willey, Fannie

Williams, Emma Pembroke, Sallie Webb. The original officers were: Elliott Reed, president ; Mrs. B. L. Hollenbeck, vice-president ; George Pomeroy, secretary ; G. E. Lighthall, treasur- er ; W. D. St. Clair, librarian ; J. H. Ellwood, conductor; Miss Lucy Washburn, pianist. The society was in existence for several years. It was succeeded by the Philharmonic Society, which also was short lived.

In 1883 Prof. J. W. Rainey and Clarence T. Urmy arrived in San Jose to add strength and artistic ability to the local musical coterie. Before them had come Henry L. Schemmel, pianist and vocalist ,and Miss Frederika Hoff- man, a lover and interpreter of Chopin. Prof. Rainey was for many years a teacher of vocal music, while Mr. Urmy, after a long period of faithful and distinguished work is now a mem- ber of the faculty of the State Normal School, a power for good in the musical department. He is also one of America's popular poets, his published verse having been in evidence for twenty-odd years.

In the nineties a new artist appeared upon the scene in the person of Frank Loui King, a born musician, composer and leader. He es- tablished the King Conservatory of Music and was for several years dean of the Conservatory of Music at the College of the Pacific. He died several years ago. His family inherited his tastes, his son Frank Giorza King taking charge of the Conservatory of Music, while his daughter, Miss Luena King, won laurels both as a performer and composer. The air was charged with music with Ellwood and King in town. Several musical clubs and quartets were formed and many entertain- ments were given. The D'Ablaing brothers, Fritz and George, were the next arrivals. One was a violinist, the other a cellist, and their orchestra furnished San Jose some of the best music it had ever listened to.

Other teachers and performers were Prof. G. M. Schuck, Prof. Everett Pomeroy. Prof. Z. M. Parvin and Miss Emily Peelor. The Burrows Musical Kindergarten and the Fael- ton Fundamental System were first introduced to San Jose by Miss Peelor.

In later years San Jose has listened to the peerless singing of Mrs. Hillman-Smith, Mrs. D. J. Gairaud, Mrs. A. S. Bacon, Miss Lulu Pieper, Mrs. Mary Weaver McCauley, Miss Mary Webster, Georgia Ryder, Mrs. Mil- dreth Spencer Hartman, and the fine instru- mental work of Clarence Urmy, Mrs. H. B. Worcester, G. C. Buchrer, Mrs. James J. Con- nell, Mrs. William J. Leet, Fred C. Brohaska, Tillie Brohaska, Miss May D'Oyley, Miss Isa- bel Longdon, Miss Augusta Schroeder, Miss Almee Auzerais and many others. Miss Grace Barstow makes violins artistically and plays

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

them exquisitely. Before her marriage to Prof. Joseph E. Hancock, principal of the Grant School, Mrs. Hancock, then Lessie Rainey, was an accomplished mistress of the violin. Since her marriage she has ceased playing that instrument in public, though she has not given up her musical studies. She is a musical composer of surpassing ability and her efforts in this line have been heard and appreciated in the several operettas produced at the Grant School.

The singing and acting of the late Charles W. Williams vastly entertained San Joseans for many years. Under his management there were produced at the Victory and California theaters those favorite light operas, "Olivette," "The Mikado," "Patience," "Pirates of Pen- zance," and "The Mascot." He was a singing comedian and would have made a fortune on the professional stage had he not elected to re- main in San Jose and devote himself to news- paper work. He was the founder and for many years the publisher of the Evening News.

Of the singers in San Jose at the present time, there are Chester Herold. Amos Wil- liams, Roy Thompson, Frank Towner, Dr. C. M. Richards, Dr. M. F. Hopkins, W. E. Johnson, Miss Olga Braslan, Miss Lulu Piep- er, Mrs. Hillman-Smith, Mrs. A. S. Bacon, Mrs. D. J. Gairaud, Mary Webster and oth- ers. Among the teachers are Mrs. Hillman- Smith, Mrs. Gairaud, Miss Webster, Miss Louisa Simpson, Mrs. Kerwin, F. E. Blick- felt, Iva Brown, G. H. D'Ablaing, Blanche Fox, J. L. McDonnell, Mrs. E. B. McDowell, Bertha Semple, Miss Maud Caldwell, Walter B. Kennedy, Mrs. Daisie L. Brinker, Mrs. Ella Cook Stark, L. V. Brant.

The Y. W. C. A.

A matter of vital interest to Santa Clara County during recent years has been the erec- tion and equipment of a structure for the Young Women's Christian Association. The idea of having an up-to-date plant, fitted in every way to aid in supplying the physical. social and spiritual needs of the girls and young women in San Jose and vicinity, was conceived in June, 1914, and carried out dur- ing 1915 and 1916, until its realization at the dedication of the building on May 14, 1916. Its cost in round numbers was $78,000, and the remaining $30,000, of the total subscription of $108,000, was used for furnishing and equip- ment for its various departments.

It was the result of months of careful plan- ning and thought on the part of the women whose idealism, concurring with the power of the moment, served to produce it-a lasting monument to the vision and enterprise of the good people of San Jose. Men as well as

women took hold with a will, and by their gifts, their vision of the needs of girls and young womanhood, and by their indefatigable energy, made its construction possible. The initial gift of $25,000 was made by Mrs. Maria P. Schofield, who, without girls of her own. reached out to the needs of all girls, and was quickly followed by contributions ranging from fifty cents to $2000.

The expert work of the National Y. W. C. A. secretaries was a revelation to the workers in San Jose, who had not before realized that women could be so efficient and far-seeing. The efforts of Miss Schooley, Miss Jaynes, Miss Lee and Miss Ristine will long be held in grateful memory by those who were privi- leged to share in them.

Mrs. D. A. Beattie was the first president and opened the first year's work with the fol- lowing board of directors: Mrs. George Gil- man, Mrs. J. B. J. Tuthill, Mrs. J. W. Crider, Mrs. W. C. Curtner, Mrs. T. A. Manning, Mrs. S. B. Squires, Mrs. Arthur Washburn, Miss Mary Helen Post, Miss Ruth Laird Kim- ball, Miss Frances Schallenberger, Mrs. Dr. Charles Hare, Miss Elizabeth Woodhams, Miss Carlotta Wood. Through the courtesy of the national board, the Association was able to have the services of Miss Julia T. Lee in following up the campaign work and later the directors secured for the general management, Miss Ada B. Hillman and an able corps of de- partment secretaries. Miss Hillman served efficiently for three years and was succeeded by Miss Emma Palmer, an industrial expert. She is the present general secretary.

The beginning of an endowment fund was in a bequest of $500 from the late Mrs. Crum- mey. Other wills have been made, bearing the Association in mind, in bequests which will increase this fund. .

Nothing short of a detailed description of the various departments of Association work could give any adequate idea of what is now being done for girls and young women in this building. It is impossible to estimate the value of this preventive and constructive work in the community, and so notable a beginning points only to enlargement and greater use- fulness.

. The officers for 1922 are Mrs. D. A. Beattie, president ; Miss Lucy Tarleton, recording sec- retary; Mrs. Cassie Burnett, corresponding secretary ; and Mrs. L. T. Smith, treasurer.

Club La France

The Club La France, of San Jose, was or- ganized on October 26, 1902. The object was to get all the French-Americans together for benevolent, patriotic and social purposes. Ever since the organization the club has yearly

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arranged for and carried out the celebration of the Fall of the Bastile on July 14. In 1920 the affair was held at Eastside Park. In addition to dancing, the singing of the Marseillaise and the Star Spangled Banner, Dr. A. C. Jayet de- livered a stirring address, first in French and then in English. The club is caring for six orphans, made so by the European war, and a part of the proceeds of the celebration will go toward the maintenance of the orphans, the rest for the benefit of the French section of the public library. The officers of the so- ciety are: Jean Costere, president; Joseph Sa- batte, vice-president: Justin Lasalle, secre- tary : directors, Frank Quement, Jean Verdier, P. Sabatte. During the war the club gave balls to raise funds for French and Belgian re- fugees, bought Liberty bonds, helped the Red Cross. and spent money freely for other things . in aid of the American cause.

The Boy Scouts

The Boy Scouts of America were organized in 1910. In 1916 Rev. Frank J. Mclain in- inaugurated the movement in San Jose by the formation of a troop of school boys. The public encouragement given induced the for- mation of other troops so that at the end of four years there were nine troops and one pat- rol in San Jose and six troops in the country. The oath is as follows: "On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and obey the Scout law ; to help others at all times, to keep myself physically strong,

mentally awake, and morally straight." The Scout law imposes these rules: Be trust- worthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

In 1917 and 1918, while America was at war with Germany the Boy Scouts of the city and county did valiant work for the various com- mittees, in planting war gardens, selling thrift and war saving stamps, Liberty bonds, Red Cross stamps, and in acting as distributors of patriotic literature. In fact they did every- thing that was required of them and more. J. H. Rainwater is the executive officer.

Loyal Italo-American Club

The Loyal Italo-American Club was organ- ized in 1919 with a membership of five. In 1922 the roll showed over 600 names. The organizers were D. M. Denegri, president; D. Campisi, F. Ruiz, Frank Cavallaro and C. D. Cavallaro. It is the purpose of the club to bring Italians together and by cooperation instill into their minds a respect and admira- tion for American institutions. Love for Amer- ican ideals should, according to one of their orators, be theirs always. The officers in 1920 were: D. M. Denegri, president : Joseph Spin- elli, vice-president; R. O. Maino, secretary, and Paul Cavala, treasurer. On July 11, 1920, more than a thousand people attended the annual picnic at Eastside Park. The pro- ceeds were used in fitting up the club rooms.

CHAPTER XXIV.

The Civic and Kindred Associations of San Jose-The Work of the Chamber of Commerce and Merchants' Association-One Hundred Per Cent Club and the Labor Organizations-Rotary and Civic Welfare Clubs.

The San Jose Chamber of Commerce is the successor in interest of the old San Jose Board of Trade. There was a board in 1874 but it was organized purely for commercial purposes. George B. McKee was president and E. H. Swarthout, secretary. The great- est problem with which it had to wrestle was the adjustment of the difference between gold and silver coin. In those times silver was at a discount of from one-quarter to three per cent, and to retail dealers this was a matter of considerable importance. They were prac- tically compelled to receive silver from their customers and to settle with the wholesalers on a gold basis. At this time, too, the trade

dollar came into circulation and tended to complicate matters. The board succeeded in putting all transactions on a gold footing. An attempt was also made to prevent the collec- tion of the merchandise tax which was then imposed. Money was raised by subscription to contest the collection in the courts. Before anyone was found willing to act as defendant in a lawsuit the board dissolved and the money was used to assist Edward Martin, a merchant of Santa Cruz, in a suit involving the same question.

A Board of Trade to treat with matters of general interest, was organized September 27, 1886, with the following directors: D. B.

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Moody, president ; A. Friant, first vice-presi- dent; William Osterman, second vice-presi- dent ; Frank Stock, treasurer ; G. W. James, A. Barker, W. C. Andrews, P. Etchebarne, Jo- seph Enright. S. A. Barker was selected as at- torney and E. B. Lewis as secretary.

Early in 1888, at the request of many promi- nent citizens the Board took in hand the mat- ter of inducing immigration to the county. An executive committee, consisting of Dr. C. W. Breyfogle, A. Friant and J. H. Barbour, was appointed and for several months they gave almost their entire time to the work as- signed to them. They sent an agent to Los Angeles to meet Eastern people coming into the state by the southern route and spent much money in advertising the resources of the county, both in California and the East. The rooms of the board in the Bank of San Jose building were supplied with a fine exhibit of the different products of the soil and excur- sions from various points were brought to the city. So effectively was the work done that the "boom" came before it was expected. In August the rush began and in a week from its commencement the sales of real estate ran up to a million dollars and the county recorder was compelled to quadruple his force in order to take care of the instruments presented for record. Values doubled before the month was out and hundreds of acres of new land in the vicinity of San Jose were subdivided into lots and sold. Country land was cut up into five and ten acre tracts and during the season these tracts were planted in trees and vines. The wild excitement subsided after a time, but there has been a steady increase in values ever since.

One of the first propositions brought be- fore the board was that of building a mam- moth hotel for the accommodation of visitors to the city. It had been advertised among tourists that San Jose had no adequate hotel accommodations for any considerable number of visitors, and although this was not true, it had the effect of keeping away many desirable tourists. The Board of Trade could not itself build the hotel, but it could and did, give the undertaking its active and moral support. Public opinion was practically unanimous in regard to the necessity of the enterprise and there were assurances that the capital stock would be promptly supplied. The question of location was most difficult to settle. It was proposed that permission should be asked of the city authorities to place the hotel in the center of St. James Park, but it was soon as- certained that the city could not grant this privilege. Negotiations were then entered into for the purchase of the Morrison lots, at the northwest corner of First and St. John

streets, the intention being to erect a four- story block on the entire First Street front- age, from St. John Street to the Court House, Tyler Beach agreeing to turn in the St. James Hotel property to assist in the enterprise. In examining the title it was found that the prop- erty could not be alienated at that time, inas- much as it included the interest of certain minor heirs. For this reason the project was abandoned, but the movers in the matter did not abate their efforts. A stock company was formed and the old homestead property of Josiah Belden, on First Street near Empire, was purchased. It contained eleven acres planted as a park. The owner at the time of the sale was C. H. Maddox and it required $60,000 to make the purchase. With this ac- quisition the Hotel Vendome may be said to have originated.

The company was organized August 11, . 1887, with the following board of directors: J. B. Randol, Dr. W. S. Thorne, Dr. J. S. Potts, L. Lion, C. W. Breyfogle, A. McDonald, T. S. Montgomery, F. H. Mabury and Gus Lion. The stock was placed at $10 per share in order that all who wished might assist in this great improvement. Enough of the shares were soon sold to warrant the commencement of the present magnificent building. The es- timated cost was $250,000. Afterwards addi- tions were made, bringing the cost up to over $300,000.

In the spring of 1887, the board presented a petition to the mayor and common council, asking that body to call a special election to decide whether or not the city should issue bonds to raise money for necessary public im- provements. Two elections for this purpose had been held before this, and on each occa- sion the bond proposition had been defeated. It was thought it would meet a similar fate now. The call was made, however, and the board, with the assistance of the press, pre- sented the matter in such an urgent manner that the bonds were ordered to be issued. From this action came substantial bridges, a new city hall, important improvements at Alum Rock and St. James parks, a perfected sewerage system and convenient crosswalks.

The first executive committee of the board resigned in June, 1887, at which time a new committee, consisting of Henry Phelps, N. Cadwallader and W. T. Adel, was appointed. This new committee took up the work where the old committee had laid it down and suc- cessfully carried it forward. A display of county products was made at the Mechanics' Fair. San Francisco, at the lowa State Fair, at Columbus, Ohio, at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893, and at the San Francisco Mid- winter Fair.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

In 1900 the board concluded to go ont of business and let a new body, the present Chamber of Commerce, continue the good work. Much was done by the new body in the first years of its existence. New rooms in the old Music Hall building were taken and a renewed campaign of advertising was undertaken. The chamber was instrumental in securing appropriations for the State Nor- mal and the public schools, and in inducing easterners to settle here. It had a fine exhibit of county products both at the St. Louis Ex- position in 1904 and at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in 1915. But it could have done more if it had not been handicapped by lack of money.

In 1919 it was resolved to undertake a de- termined campaign for money and new mem- bers. To make the venture certain of success there was in October of that year a reorgani- zation and the election of the following offi- cers: President, Joseph M. Parker; vice- presidents, John D. Crummey, E. N. Rich- mond ; manager and secretary, Roscoe D. Wyatt ; assistant secretary, Fred Lewis Fos- ter : treasurer, W. S. Clayton. Directors-W. G. Alexander, Earle L. Bothwell, F. B. Brown, Jas. B. Bullitt, E. E. Chase, W. S. Clayton, John D. Crummey, A. D. Curtner, Arthur M. Free, Arthur E. Holmes, John D. Kuster, J. B. Leaman, T. S. Montgomery, Chas. M. O'Brien, Joseph M. Parker, E. N. Richmond. Members' Forum-Archer Bowden, chairman ; Mrs. D. A. Beattie, Warren B. Reilly, Henry M. Ayer, Walter G. Matthewson, E. O. Bill- willer, vice-chairman. In

1921 President Parker resigned and Dr. E. O. Pieper was elected in his place.

There was a continuous campaign for mem- bers and by July, 1920, there were 1500 mem- bers on the roll. The result of the work of the new organization is seen in the number of important tasks it has undertaken and car- ried to success. It has induced two new in- dustrial organizations to locate here; it has induced the mayor and council to order the purchase of an automobile park on North First Street, and it has placed the water conserva- tion scheme on a working basis. It has also lent its active support to increasing the mu- nicipal revenues, so that San Jose will be en- abled to do the needed things the citizens so constantly demand.

Its program for the near future includes the adoption and carrying out of a comprehen- sive paving plan ; the building of an intermedi- ate bridge to assist in the development of East San Jose ; co-operation with the board of education to maintain the highest standard of educational facilities, night courses, vocational classes and Americanization, and assist in 16

bringing about polytechnic high school facili- ties: the further development of Alum Rock and the advertisement of the superior medici- nal qualities of its mineral springs; the crea- tion of public sentiment in behalf of a central athletic field for varied sports and ample space for safe and comfortable ascending and alight- ing of airplanes ; a move for the early construc- tion of the Skyline Boulevard and for con- necting highways, to gain for Santa Clara County a further attraction for the tourist and to open up homesites of a type to invite the building of beautiful homes; the encourage- ment of home buying, the study of the indus- trial situation in San Jose and the selection of methods to induce new industries to locate in this vicinity.

In conclusion, it may be said that the pres- ent Chamber of Commerce, managed by "live wires," is looked upon, both in the community and outside of it, as one of the important, pro- gressive civic bodies in California.

The Merchants Association

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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 44

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