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 46

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 46

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Home of Benevolence

The Home of Benevolence owes its exist- ence to the efforts of the Ladies' Benevolent Society. This society was organized in 1867, as a result of a meeting of Richard Savage, internal revenue assessor ; J. J. Owen, editor of the Mercury; Mrs. A. M. Gates, wife of the principal of the San Jose Institute; Mrs. J. C. Cobb, and a few others. At the organization meeting, on April 16 of the same year, the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J. C. Cobb; vice-president, Mrs. A. Pom- eroy ; secretary, Mrs. N. Hayes; treasurer. Mrs. C. R. Spaw. At the same meeting Mrs. W. N. Slocum, Mrs. G. Evans, Mrs. F. E. Adams and Mrs. E. J. Wilcox were appointed managers. The constitution stated the object of the society to be the rendering of assistance to sick and dependent persons residing in the city of San Jose.

Upon the acceptance of the constitution the following ladies were elected as a visiting com- mittee : Mrs. R. B. Hall, Mrs. E. Alban, Mrs. China Smith, Mrs. Joseph Ingham, Mrs. D. L. Shead, Mrs. A. I. Rhodes, Mrs. D. T. Adams, Mrs. Wesley Tonner, Mrs. J. R. Whitney, Mrs. T. Ellard Beans, Mrs. Josiah Belden, Mrs. P. T. McCabe, Mrs. J. C. Smith ; auxil- iary committee, J. A. Quinby. J. J. Owen, D. S. Payne, E. J. Wilcox, Richard Savage and A. B. Hamilton. The amount of fees collected through enrollment was thirty-nine dollars. Thus was launched upon the tide of human woes and human blessings one of the most beneficent, yet unostentatious, of local forces; a power that for over fifty years has steadily and quietly gone about doing good. There have been no emoluments or honors connected with its offices, no worldly benefits accruing to any of its. members.

In May, 1867, Mrs. Spaw tendered her res- ignation, which was accepted, and Mrs. N. Hayes, afterwards Mrs. Chas. J. Martin, was elected treasurer pro tem, and the names of Mrs. Norman Porter, Mrs. L. Archer, Mrs. R. . B. Buckner and Mrs. R. T. O'Hanlon were

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added to the list of members. During the sec- ond month, Mrs. James Hart, Mrs. J. Manly, Mrs. R. Savage, Mrs. Chas. Allen, Mrs. C. S. Crydenwise, Miss Sarah Severance, Mrs. K. Patterson, Mrs. S. A. Barker, Mrs. A. N. Hamm, Mrs. John Rouse and Miss Anna Cobb enrolled themselves as members. In August, Mrs. J. Lewis, Mrs. J. Cutler, Mrs. Stephen Thorne and Mrs. S. J. Churchill joined.

In 1872 the society incorporated under the laws of the state. At the same time T. Ellard Beans, T. W. Spring, A. C. Erkson and Mr. Rhodes were appointed as trustees, in addi- tion to the presiding officers and board of man- agers. The event of the year was an appro- priation of $500 from the state.

The Home of Benevolence was established by the society in 1877, and the same year the constitution was so amended as to provide rules and regulations for a home for destitute children and aged and infirm persons. The home was first located in a rented building on the corner of Third and Martha streets, Mrs. A. H. Anderson serving as matron. Special laws were made for the place. By permission of the board of trustees children under pe- culiar circumstances could be admitted, and all mothers who earn their living were al- lowed to place their children at the home by the day, paying a small compensation for the accommodation. Independent of the home- less children and helpless women who found shelter and care in the home during the first year of its existence, twenty-five tramps re- ceived "square meals."

An Authors' Carnival to raise money to- ward the building of a home that would an- swer all requirements was given at Music Hall on February 26, 1878. The officers at this time consisted of Mrs. Nellie Eyster. president ; Mrs. M. X. McKee and Mrs. L. W. Moultrie, vice-presidents; Mrs. Louisa King, secretary, and Mrs. Frances D. Williams, treasurer ; board of managers, Mesdames J. C. Cobb, C. R. Span, T. W. Spring, A. M. Gates, Ben Cory, P. D. Hale, Dr. Stone, E. Coombs, T. E. Beans, S. A. Clark, C. H. Allen, H. J. Haskell, Jackson Lewis, P. T. McCabe, A. T. Herrmann, M. Dimond.

The carnival was a success, the sum of $2,987.85 being netted to the society. In Sep- tember, 1878, the home was removed to the old Schroeder place at the junction of First and Market streets. Here, with a family of nine children and two invalid women, the so- ciety took temporary possession, Mrs. A. R. Ransom as matron. The house being large and unfurnished, the draught upon the treas- ury to make it both habitable and comfort- able was heavy. Various means to raise funds were discussed, among which was the propo-

sition to have a course of scientific lectures by some of the savants of San Jose. About this time Geo. W. Fentress, city librarian, was authorized to offer prizes for the best poem and the best story by San Jose authors. That for the best poem, "An Arboreal Song of the Alameda," was unanimously awarded, by in- telligent judges and critics, to its author, Mrs. Mary H. Field. The poem purports to be-

"The song of an ancient tree, Which it softly crooned to me As I walked on an autumn day In the Alameda-the beautiful way- The pride and glory of San Jose."

It tells in musical rhyme the history of the century's years, dating from the time when- The gray old Mission Fathers nine sat In the long refectory hall, Lingering over bread and wine, and planning. For the glory of God and the good of man, to

Plant some trees whose greenery

A screen from the burning sun shall be. After . much opposition from the brother Friars, who thought the plan of planting a "league of forest" too large to come within their compassing, it was done, and when the originator of the plan, the benevolent and weary Father de Catala, slept one night a bright vision hovered o'er him,

And he saw, as in a magical glass, that The trees of his planting so stately grew, They leaned their tops 'gainst the sky's soft blue, While intertwining on every side, The giant branches swept far and wide. 'Neath the lovely living arches' span The broad, smooth highway level ran, Its verduous vistas stretching on Till the power of the raptured eye was gone.

The vision shifted many times, until there came to the Friars' view some of the scenes of today :

A surging crowd of an unknown name- An endless, hurrying, jostling throng, Full of laughter, and jest, and song- The ceaseless tide of a city's street, The stately coach and the lumbering wain, Which came with rumble, and rush, and roar,

Swarming with people, behind, before, Above, within, and under, too,

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

For aught the puzzled Friar knew. Whose living monument stands today In the Alameda-the beautiful way.

Mrs. Field presented the manuscript of the poem to the society and an illustrated edition of 1,000 copies was printed, the sale of which produced a modest reventie.

It being found necessary to incorporate the Home of Benevolence as an institution sepa- rate from that of the Ladies' Benevolent So- ciety, a meeting to take the necessary steps was called on October 21, 1879, an election of officers followed and an application for a charter was made. In 1880, a house for the home was built on the Morey land on the cor- ner of Martha and Eleventh streets. It con- sisted of eleven large rooms and two bath- rooms. It was appropriately dedicated on September 5, 1880. It was then reported that there was not a dollar of indebtedness.

The event of the summer of 1882 was the furnishing of the two dormitories with thirty- six iron bedsteads, wire springs and hair mat- tresses, at a cost of $600. The children, irre- spective of sex, were now taught to do their own bed-making. On January 21, 1885, the society accepted the deed of conveyance of the yearly revenue from the "Contingent James Lick Trust Fund" of $25,000 for the benefit of the Home of Benevolence. There were five acres in the original home tract, but six and one-half acres were afterwards added; also a hospital and a large addition to the building.

After the Santa Clara County Charities and the Good Cheer Club began to do city and county work, the members of the Ladies' Be- nevolent Society devoted their time mainly to the care and maintenance of the home, which at present has seventy inmates (children). The matron is Mrs. Skidmore. The officers of the society are: Mrs. Geo. B. McKee, president ; Mrs. J. W. Blauer and Mrs. W. S. Clayton, vice-presidents ; Mrs. A. G. Field, re- cording secretary ; Mrs. Louis Sonniksen, financial secretary ; Mrs. P. H. Jordan, corre- sponding secretary ; Mrs. F. B. S. Williams, treasurer; trustees other than officers. Mes- dames W. C. Bailey, F. O. Read, H. Center, J. R. Kocher, P. F. Gosbey, G. W. Borchers, G. D. Farrington, W. S. Van Dalsem, F. W. Moore, G. A. Muirson, C. R. Parkinson, S. A. Ogier, Joseph Pash, C. A. Wayland, J. W. Hamilton, J. W. Faull. G. A. Sweigert, and Miss C. Belle Eaton.

The Odd Fellows' Home

One of the finest institutions of the kind is the Odd Fellows' Home, located on Fruitvale Avenne abont a mile south of Saratoga. It is a concrete building and was erected in 1912

at a cost of $300,000. There are eighty-two acres in the tract. In 1920 there were 174 in- mates, fifty of them being women. The main building contains a ladies' parlor, library, as- sembly hall, reception room and rooms for the officers. A large part of the tract is planted in fruit trees and in 1919 fruit to the amount of $5,000 was sold. The home maintains hog and chicken yards and a vegetable garden, and in a large measure is self-supporting. The management is in the hands of a board of trustees consisting of John Hazlett, San Fran- cisco; D. A. Sinclair, Oakland; Fred Pierce, Los Angeles: A. N. Bullock, Sacramento; Sam E. Moreland, San Jose. The superin- tendent is Dr. C. S. Arnold and his wife is matron. The average age of the inmates is seventy-six years and the cost of maintenance per inmate is $25.50 per month.

The Pratt Home

The Pratt Home, a gift from Mrs. W. W. Pratt, located on South First Street near the Market Street junction, was organized in 1891. Since then two annexes have been built. It has been used for the relief of homeless children and aged people of both sexes. The main building is spacious and well appointed and is surrounded by handsome grounds that are adorned with trees and shrubbery. At present there are fifty inmates. The follow- ing are the officers elected in May, 1920: President, Mrs. W. L. Woodrow ; secretary, Mrs. A. T. Herrmann; treasurer, Mrs. J. E. Richards ; financial secretary, Mrs. C. H. Her- vey; assistant treasurer, Miss Mayo Hayes; first vice-president, Mrs. Ernest Lion; other directors, Mrs. William Bogen, Mrs. B. Langh- lin, Mrs. W. G. Alexander and Miss Dock- stader.

Notre Dame Institute

The O'Connor Notre Dame Institute, lo- cated at the corner of Second and Reed streets, was formerly the residence of Judge and Mrs. M. P. O'Connor. On July 16, 1883, they do- nated the residence to the Sisters of Notre Dame for use as an orphanage for girls. At present there are twenty-five inmates, though there are accommodations for fifty. The in- mates are cared for and given a thorough ed- ucation. Those who wish can afterwards en- ter the College of Notre Dame high school. Others are placed in good situations after hav- ing been thoroughly inducted into the myster- ies of domestic science.

The Salvation Army and Volunteers

The Salvation Army has been a humani- tarian force in San Jose for over forty years. It carries a message of relief and hope to the poor and sick and its services both in war and

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peace have been important and far-reaching. The industrial department in San Jose, at 573 South Market Street, is conducted by Adju- tant W. Boyd, while the hall on Post Street for meetings is in the hands of Captain W. Bamford.

The Volunteers of America organized in 1876, just after Ballington Booth had severed his connection with the Salvation Army and had formed the national organization of Vol- unteers. A home for men is located on North Fourth Street and an industrial department does business at 477 North First Street. Both of these places are administered by Staff Cap- tain Rose Goth.

The work of the Salvation Army is illus- trated in the story of old Bob Bennett. Fish- ermen and hunters in the Mt. Hamilton region will remember the old man, who lived the life of a hermit in a little cabin high up in a gulch that debouches into the Canyon of the Santa Ysabel. Old Bob is dead and the coyote yips and barks and the wildcat snarls and eries in the little flat where once was heard the plain- tive strains of Old Bob's violin. The old fel- low was a curious character. He was an Eng- lishman, unmarried. and had no relatives in America. While a young man he followed the sea as a ship's carpenter. In middle life he came to San Jose and was employed for a number of years as a cabinet-maker in one of the city's large furniture stores. He had one besetting fault-overindulgence in strong drink-and inability to control the appetite sent him to the eastern hills for recuperation and reformation. But the habit of years was too strong to be easily thrown off. Some men in his situation might have fought the booze devil to a finish, but poor Bob was not a man of stamina. He was kind-hearted, honest and a hard worker, but he lacked the will-power to fight resolutely against his enemy. For a while he chopped wood, but ceased to manipu- late the axe when the late W. T. Adel pur- chased Campoodie, a large flat below the Kin- caid ranch, and engaged him to stay on the place and keep an eye on the improvements- an old log cabin and a recently built shack of two rooms. Bob stayed at Campoodie for a while, employing his spare time-which was about all his time-in making commercial use of the wood of the manzanita trees which grew in profusion above the flat. He was a cunning artisan, and having as his belongings a lathe and a full set of carpenter's tools, was able to fashion out of the seasoned manzanita all sorts of useful articles, from napkin rings to canes.

After he left Adel's place he located in a gulch across the Ysabel Creek. The spot had a fine spring, and near the water he erected a

cabin and a workshop, and while he lived he turned out manzanita work that found a ready sale. His best patrons were the astronomers at the Lick Observatory. Bob was a natural musician, though he could not read a note of music. Ile played the violin and banjo with equal facility, and during the camping season he woukl entertain the Ysabel campers with his music. All the time the drink habit held him in a vise. Once a month he would send to San Jose for provisions and a demijohn of whiskey. The whiskey would last about a week and during that time Bob would indulge himself to the limit. As the years passed the habit grew stronger, would not be denied. He found that he could not wait for the monthly supply, so he tried shellac to tide him over the shaky time. One day his shellac gave out. But he had a bottle of wood alcohol. Perhaps he did not know that sudden death lurked in the bottle. Perhaps he did know, and was reckless of consequences. At any rate, he drank deeply of the poison and twenty-four hours later a rancher found him dead in bed.

Some time before his death, news of his un- fortunate habit reached the lassies of the Sal- vation Army in San Jose. Two of them re- solved to ride up to the place and use argu- ments and prayers to induce him to cut loose from John Barleycorn. Bob was shy and em- barrassed in the presence of women, and when the Salvation Army lassies arrived he was shyer than ever, for he was just recovering from one of his periodical debanches. He greeted his visitors awkwardly and listened shamefacedly while they argued and pleaded. All the time he was fingering nervously the strings of his banjo. Argument was followed by prayers. The lassies knelt with heads bowed and prayed earnestly for the redemp- tion of the man who stood above them. And while they prayed Bob, hardly knowing what he was doing, kept on with his banjo playing. He gave them as accompaniment to the prayer. "Old Dan Tucker" and "There'll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight." and other lively tunes. Once a lassie looked up, a smile on her face, but when she noted the rapt ex- pression on Old Bob's face the smile fled and the eyes dropped.

Juvenile Court and Probation Office

In 1908 Judge M. H. Hyland of the Superior Court became convinced from observation and experience that the law was unfair in its treat- ment of offenders under the age of twenty- one. In his opinion they should not be treated with the same severity that marked the treat- ment of adult offenders. He was therefore instrumental in the establishing of a juvenile court. To carry out his idea it was necessary

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that a probation officer should be appointed. There was no authority in law for the pay- ment of a salary to this officer and for a time he had to rely on the enterprise and good sense of the board of supervisors. This body al- lowed his claim for expenses, but could go no farther in the matter. The first probation offi- cer was Frank R. Shafter, who for some time had been actively connected with the Humane Society. He was succeeded by Geo. WV. Lee. a Civil War veteran, and it was during Mr. Lee's incumbency that the State Legislature established the juvenile court and fixed a sal- ary for the probation officer. From this time on the court waxed in influence and the proba- tion officer found all the work he could do. Mr. Lee was succeeded by J. L. Montgomery. who held office until appointed as the head of the Preston Reform School at lone. After him came C. H. Waterman and Mrs. Catherine Brattan, the present officer. She has as assist- ant E. A. Raymond. At the start the object of the probation office was to look after the interests of juvenile offenders, but latterly it has taken charge of state adult criminals who have been released from prison on probation. These offenders living in Santa Clara County are obliged to report to the probation office at stated times. Employment is found for them and they are given every opportunity to be- come good citizens. Of the 117 looked after in 1919, eighty-seven per cent have made good. In respect of the juveniles the probation offi- cer, representing the juvenile court, hunts up cases of minors whose home life is not what it should be, or who have been regarded as bad boys or girls, made so by evil association and home surroundings, and as far as possible so improve the conditions as to give the subjects opportunity to lead moral lives. Many cases which might have come into court have been satisfactorily settled by the probation office. The juvenile court holds weekly sessions and offenders who are not released on probation are sent, not to prison, but to a reform school. convent or orphanage. Mrs. Brattan has been in office for seven years and has made a fine record for efficiency. From her last annual re- port the following statistics are taken :

New cases in which court action was taken -Male, 118; female, 44; total, 162. Cases set- tled informally-Male, 327; female, 97; total, 424. Wards placed on probation since Janu- ary 1, 1919, to January 1, 1920-Male, 38; fc- male, 2; total, 40. Free homes found, 30 since January 1, 1919, to January 1, 1920. Positions found, 60 since January 1, 1919, to January 1, 1920. Families reconciled, 26 since January 1, 1919, to January 1, 1920. Visits to homes, 242 since January 1, 1919, to January 1, 1920.

Investigations, 571 since January 1, 1919, to January 1, 1920.

The Coffee Club

The San Jose Coffee Club Association is a semi-philanthropic, co-operative membership association, organized for the purpose of es- tablishing rest and reading rooms which are maintained by the proceeds of the lunch de- partment conducted in connection. The idea was originated about twenty years ago by Ernest Fox, now of Stockton, who received his inspiration from the old English coffee houses and tea rooms. These places were, and in some places still are, the social centers of their respective communities, operated as they are along temperance lines, but partaking of the conviviality of the ancient taverns. The club has fine rooms in a building on South Second Street near the corner of San Fernando Street. Almost any day one may see in the clubrooms the well-to-do man of affairs rub- bing elbows with the "down-and-outer," to their mutual profit. Thus the club has become the melting pot of the community, enabling all sorts and conditions of men to meet as equals, for all are treated with courtesy and respect. It was started with membership fees and do- nations amounting to about $600 and has grown to its present worth through the re- capitalization of the accumulated profits, there being no dividends or disbursements among the members or directors, all accumulations remaining in the business to be used for im- provements and extension work.

With a growth from $600 to $15,000 in cash value, of floor space from 900 to 12,000 square feet, wages paid annually from $1,000 to $12,- 000, foodstuffs bought from $3,000 to $27,000, and from 300 to 1800 people accommodated daily, it may be seen that the Coffee Club fills a need and meets with public approval. The officers and directors of the Coffee Club Asso- ciation are: Charles F. Crothers, president ; L. P. Edwards, vice-president : Mrs. Maud A. Jacks, secretary ; Dr. E. R. Wagner, Dr. Ed- ward Newell, Prof. C. B. Gleason, Mrs. E. H. Baker, Miss Alice Winans, A. D. Campbell and S. D. Mathews is the manager.

The Woman's Exchange

The Woman's Exchange was started in 1899 from money gathered by Mrs. A. T. Herr- mann and Mrs. Collins. The main object of the exchange was to give to needy women un- able on account of family ties to do work on the outside, the opportunity to make a living in their own homes by baking bread, cakes, pies, etc., to be sold at a very small profit by the exchange. The sale shop is in Central Market, with Miss Alice Myers as manager.

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Mrs. Herrmann has been treasurer ever since the organization. She now acts as president also. The other officers are Mrs. M. V. Nye, vice-president : Mrs. Wallace, secretary. The only salaried officer is the manager.

Humane Societies

The Santa Clara County Humane Society came into existence over twenty years ago, but for a time no business was done. In June, 1909. a reorganization was effected, with Dr. John W. Davy as president. The original ob- ject was to prevent cruelty to animals and children, but when the probation office was es- tablished the society ceased to work for the children and gave its whole attention to dumb animals. In June, 1919, Dr. Davy resigned the presidency and was succeeded by Geo. F. Wakefield. At the election in June, 1920, the following officers were elected: President, G. F. Wakefield ; vice-presidents, Dr. J. W. Davy, F. R. Shafter, Mrs. A. M. Olinder ; secretary, Mrs. E. R. Croft: treasurer, Miss F. Ury ; di- rectors, Mrs. E. R. Croft, Mrs. G. F. Wake- field. Mrs. E. H. McCarthy, Mrs. E. A. Guil- bault.

In December, 1919, the Humane Educational Committee was organized as an offshoot of the Humane Society by Mrs. G. F. Wakefield. It has twenty-one members and the object is to educate the young to being kind to animals by talks and lectures. These talks are given mainly in the public schools. On June 23, 1920, under the auspices of the committee, Mrs. Minnie Maddern Fiske, the distinguished actress, spoke at the Hotel Vendome on the conservation of food animals and the abolish- ment of the trap. She was introduced by Mrs. Wakefield. Mrs. Fiske first made fetching apology for her appearance, stating that she had hoped to arrive in time to put on "her beautiful dress," but as she looked very lovely in her satin traveling cloak with its corsage of orchid-tinged sweet peas, her appearance was delightfully satisfying and proved that a lecture may be twice as interesting when the lecturer retains her femininity.

Touching briefly on a recent moment of dis- couragement when after twenty years of in- cessant labor a small body of humanitarians found that conditions were no better but even worse, Mrs. Fiske told of the renewed cour- age that came to them with a suggestion from a man in Denver who had devoted the best years of his life to their particular study. It

is no longer necessary, she explained, to apolo- gize or offer explanation for the mental atti- tude of those who feel a very great responsi- bility toward the dumb creation, although fifty years ago anyone interested in it was laughed at, and the old criticism that such

people were insensible to human need should be extinct by this time, for it is stupid and wicked. Nor are humanitarians sentimental- ists. Booth Tarkington, the creator of Pen- rod, and James Metcalf, editor of "Life," both active humane workers, were cited as exam- ples and no one would consider them senti- mientalists.

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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 46

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