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 65

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 65

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Mr. Lightston's marriage united him with Sarah A. Rossmussen, a member of an old pioneer family of San Jose, of which place she is a native; they are the parents of three children: Louis N., Charles F., and Juanita. Mr. Lightston is very popular in the fraternal organizations of which he is a mem- ber, the Woodmen of the World, Foresters, Red Men. and the Yeomen Lodge. In national politics he is a Republican, and in his religious faith is a member of the Catholic Church.

ELIZA ANN SUTHERLAND .- Much credit must be given to the wives of the early pioneers of California, who by their patience and loving sacrifice helped their husbands lay the foundation of a great civilization, and in Eliza Ann Sutherland, the wife of the late James Sutherland, we have a woman of rare charm, who has reared a large and useful fam- ily, and who, in the evening of life, is surrounded by many admiring friends and her loving children, and she dispenses hospitality freely at her home at 483 South Sixth Street in San Jose. She was born in Ray County, Mo., on September 4, 1850, and when thirteen years old left her Missouri home to begin the long journey across the plains. The ox teams were under Captain Duncan and the train consisted of many wagons and thirty families, and with their horses, mules, oxen and cows, proceeded on their journey. Her father, John Esrey, had married Miss Sarah Jane Stratton, a native of Kentucky, in Mis- souri and they had five children; Eliza Ann, our subject; Madelnah, Mrs. Wm. Ingram, deceased; John Wesley of Lemoore; Mary L. of Los Angeles, and Thomas S. of San Francisco. On account of Mrs. Esrey's delicate health the father was making the journey to a milder climate in the hopes that she would regain her health. Many hardships were en- dured, and the constant fear of the Indians, which they encountered, added greatly to their discomfort. The mother was stricken with that dread disease, the mountain fever, and despite the care and atten- tion given her, she died and was buried at the little village of Galena about three miles from Washoe, Nevada. The shock of losing her mother at this time, seemed more than the little girl, Eliza Ann, could endure, and to add to their troubles, the two younger children, Madelnah and Mary, were taken sick with the same disease, and for many weeks their lives were despaired of and they became so weak-

Eliza ann Sutherland.

James Sutherland

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ened that they could not walk. After they began to mend and were able to be up and around they had to learn to walk over again. Arriving in Cali- fornia in 1864 the family settled thirty miles south of Fresno at a town now known as Lemoore, where relatives had settled at an earlier date. After four years' residence there, Miss Esrey was married to James Sutherland, a native of England, born in 1847, who came to America with the family when four years old, coming to California via the Isthmus of Panama. They landed in Sacramento County, later going to the San Joaquin Valley, where the whole family raised cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, whose marriage license was issued at old Millerton, were married at Visalia in 1868, and with a two-horse wagon spent their honeymoon traveling up to Santa Clara County and settled about two miles northwest of what is now known as Lawrence Station. Their land adjoined the Murphy tract, where Sunnyvale was built. Arriving here Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland stopped with his parents two years, then bought the ranch adjoining, continuing there until coming to San Jose. He was the prime mover with his father, in erecting the Bay View Methodist Episcopal Church, South, near the Brawley school, which was later moved to Mountain View. He was one of the most liberal supporters of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in San Jose, up to the time of his death. He was liberal towards all good movements for the upbuilding of the county and when he died was mourned by a large circle of friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland reared five children: Jonathan Clark, whose sketch appears in this volume; Caroline became Mrs. Scott Dean, and they had a son, Robert W., who was reared by his grandmother from the age of nine and who died aged twenty-one, both of whom have passed away; Annie J., now Mrs. L. A. Bates, a contractor and builder and they reside in San Jose; Lena is the wife of A. T. Griffin, em- ployed by the Prune & Apricot Association, and they reside at 466 Fifth Street, San Jose. There are six grandchildren, Frances Bates, James Bates, Lucile Bates, Dorothy T. Griffin, Carrie (Sutherland) Munger and Cleanie Sutherland, and one great- grandchild, Charles Munger. Mrs. Sutherland still owns two dairy farms near Lemoore, Cal., which have become very valuable. Just before the great earthquake of 1906, the Sutherlands bought the home at 483 South Sixth Street, and this has been their home ever since. On account of failing health Mr. Sutherland for three years traveled from place to place seeking relief, but to no avail, and on July 2, 1916, he passed away. Politically he was a Demo- crat and fraternally was an Odd Fellow. In their religious convictions they were members of the Methodist Church, South, and Mrs. Sutherland is an active member of the Home Missionary Society. It is a delight to meet Mrs. Sutherland and to hear her relate the experiences through which she has passed and to realize that the hardships and sacri- fices were the mellowing influences that have brought the charm and beauty of later years.

GEORGE BISSELL POLHEMUS .- Mourned by many who had come to recognize in him one of the most representative Californians, as he was cer- tainly one of the foremost, influential citizens of Santa Clara County, George Bissell Polhemus, the well-known orchardist, passed away on July 26, 1914, at his residence on Stockton Avenue, San Jose, fol- lowing a short illness, although he had been in fail- ing health for over a year. He was born in San Fran- cisco on January 21, 1857, the son of the late Charles B. Polhemns, a native of New Jersey, who made off to South America when he was seventeen years of age. He pitched his tent at various points on the West Coast in Chile and Peru; but when the gold fever broke out in California, he hurried north and established a branch of Alsop & Company, then one of the largest Yankee houses in South America. In 1864 he became interested with Messrs. Donahue, Newhall & Polhemus in the San Francisco & San Jose Railroad, which they guaranteed and subse- quently owned; they worked the railroad up to 1867. and in the meantime built a branch to Gilroy, and then sold out to Stanford, Huntington and other pio- neer railroad builders.

This venture had one particularly interesting re- sult. Through investing in this railroad, Mr. Pol- hemus was compelled to purchase the Commodore Stockton ranch of 2,000 acres, which was later sub- divided, and he thus came to acquire the old Stock- ton ranch house on Stockton Avenue, which was brought from New York City by Commodore Stock- ton in 1849 or 1850, with eighteen other houses, around Cape Horn. In 1867 Mr. Polhemus nego- tiated for himself and three associates the purchase of 180,000 acres of land in Los Angeles and San Ber- nardino County, which they bought at the almost fabulously low price, viewed in the light of later val- uations, of $1.50 an acre-although at that time the land was more or less of a drug on the market.

In 1852, Charles Polhemus was married to Miss Matilda Murphy, a native of New York, who is now deceased; and three children blessed their union. One died in infancy; a daughter, Mary Josephine, now residing in Italy; while the other child was the subject of this review. Charles Polhemus was a member of Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., of Mt. Holly, N. J., founded, in part, by his father, Montgomery Polhemus, a merchant and a landowner in New Jer- sey, and the son of Major John Polhemus, a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. The mention of his name and status recalls one of the prized heirlooms of the Polhemus family, a steel-engraving of the Major, a fine looking old gentleman, in the dress of the time. It bears the following inscription :

J. POLHEMUS

Major John Polhemus, U. S. A., Commis- sioned as a Captain by order of Congress, Nov. 22, 1775; Promoted to a Majority at Valley Forge. The "Jersey Bleu," organized by his father-in-law, John Hart (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), found a patriotic commander in him.

Born May 25, A. D. 1738. Died on the 94th anniversary of that day.

George Bissell Polhemus received his early educa- tion in San Francisco under the Rev. George Bur- rows, who took twelve students to prepare for a col- lege course at Cambridge; but after devoting some years in the pursuit of that ambition, Mr. Polhemus

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decided to give up his college course, in which he had, as far as he went, laid the foundation, broad and deep, of an education which time and experience brought to a ripe fruition. In 1887, Mr. Polhemus was married to Miss Jennie Ryder, the daughter of George W. Ryder, of the Santa Clara Valley, a gifted lady who shared his popularity. One son, Charles Polhemus, sprang from this fortunate mat- ing, and bids fair to perpetuate the renown of the family name.

WILLIAM SUTHERLAND .- One of the most widely known, most successful and popular pioneers who ever lived in Santa Clara County was William Sutherland, who established his home on an eighty- acre ranch on the Saratoga and Alviso road, now known as Sutherland Avenue. A small portion of the ranch was devoted to family orchard, but the production of hay and grain and the raising of stock were the most profitable. Two fine artesian wells furnished an abundance of water for irrigation and for the large number of cattle, one being 300 feet deep and the other 425 feet in depth.

William Sutherland was born in Durham County, England, in 1821. His father, James Sutherland, was a native of Scotland, and his mother, Jane ( Richard- son) Sutherland, was born in England. The father was a gardener by occupation, but William was put to work in the coal mines when but ten years of age. Opportunities for an education were extremely limited, and the success he accomplished was due entirely to his ability, energy and perseverance in the face of discouragement and limited means.

In 1845 Mr. Sutherland was united in marriage with Miss Ann Dawson, born in England in 1825, the daughter of Robert Dawson. Five years after his marriage, he came to the United States, hoping to better his fortunes in this land of promise. Land- ing at New Orleans, he proceeded at once up the Mississippi to St. Louis. He spent several months in the coal mines of Missouri and Illinois and during the year of 1851 he came across the plains to Cali- fornia. He was first engaged in the mines in Placer County, but the next year concluded to try a new venture, that of agriculture. His wife and two chil- dren then joined him, coming from England via Panama, but the oldest child, a girl, died soon after their arrival. He located in Sacramento County and purchased a farm and conducted it until 1855, and then settling upon the Kings River engaged in stock raising very profitably for thirteen years. In 1868 he removed to Santa Clara County and purchased the property known all over the county as the Sutherland Homestead. Returning to England in 1870 for a visit, he came back to the Golden State, well content to spend his remaining years in the beautiful and productive Santa Clara Valley. He was an active and generous member of the Southern Methodist Church and his exemplary life won for him the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was a stanch Democrat, but was liberal in his views. His influence for good was far reaching and his industry and integrity were potent factors in his success and the younger generation would do well to emulate the example of his well-spent life. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland were the parents of ten children. but only three grew up, two of whom are now living: James, deceased, whose sketch appears in

this work; Elizabeth, the wife of Elbert C. Apperson of Sunol, and Mrs. Clara Buckner of Exeter. Mr. Sutherland died at his home in San Jose in 1903, while his wife survived him until June 17, 1911.

HENRY A. PFISTER .- If one were to tell the story of Santa Clara County from 1847 to the present day in the biographies of her distinguished sons- men, in every sense virile, citizens, in every sense American -- such a one would find inextricably woven with that history the name of the Pfisters. And to recount the advance of this community; to re- view the progress achieved, and to leave that name out, were to utter an apostrophe without an inflec- tion of the voice; were to paint a picture without dipping the brush in the radiant tones of the artist's shades. While we have here essayed to write con- cerning the county clerk of this county, Henry A. Pfister, still it must be known that no such biography of however brief a compass would be complete without a word snatched from the past-some short word, written in retrospect, regarding those who have gone before.

Mr. Pfister's father, Adolph Pfister, was born in Strasburg, Alsace, in 1821; and, after acquiring his education in the land of his birth, traveled exten- sively all over Europe, coming to New York in 1844. In 1847 he joined Stevenson's Regiment and circling Cape Horn came to California tinged with the ro- mance of that early and gallant expedition, land- ing first at Monterey and coming later to San Jose.

After a short visit to the mines of Eldorado County, where he was amply rewarded in his pur- suits, he returned to San Jose, and at once enlisted himself actively in the business and civic affairs of this city. He located first, on Santa Clara Street, near where the same is crossed by the Guadalupe River and there engaged in making saddle-trees. Later he erected the Washington Hotel, at the cor- ner of Santa Clara and San Pedro streets-the first hotel to be built in San Jose.

This hostelry and landmark he later sold; then established himself in the general merchandise busi- ness at the corner of Market and Eldorado, now Post Street. Selling this, he then moved to a site at the corner of First and Santa Clara streets, where the Bank of Italy now stands, and there continued in the mercantile business. Upon selling this to the Farmer's Union he occupied bimself in the grain business, owning at one time four flour mills in this county. Besides these many enterprises in which he was engaged he was also for many years the vice-president of the Bank of San Jose. Safely can it be said that but few men have reached the civic heights of Mr. Pfister, for he was twice elect- ed mayor of San Jose, and it was he who founded San Jose's first Free Library-having donated his salary as mayor to that philanthropic end; and was honored with the presidency of the Library Board for many years.

In 1850, Mr. Pfister married Miss Louisa Glein and to this marriage were born Henry A. Pfister, the present county clerk of Santa Clara County, his two brothers and three sisters, all of whom have made their mark in the world.

Henry Adolph Pfister was born in San Jose on January 26, 1859, and received the first rudiments of his education at the Gates Institute which stood on the east side of First Street, between St. James and Julian streets, but later inatriculated at the Santa

William Sutherland

Ann Sutherland

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Clara College, from which institution he was grad- uated with honors, in 1874. With an uncle, C. E. Hoffman, he then went to Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and still later to Mexico, engaging in mining in these various places. He then returned to San Jose and soon opened and conducted a store at the Guada- lupe Quicksilver Mines, at Guadalupe, in Santa Clara County. After the closing of the mines he opened a large store in Santa Clara, in which business he was still engaged when on November 8, 1894, the voters of Santa Clara County bestowed on him the office of county clerk. For almost thirty years Mr. Pfister has occupied this position in the public serv- ice, and has acquitted himself at all times in a man- ner indicative of that type of public official that is fast becoming extinct, but the memory of which shall ever remain as the inspiration and exemplar of coming generations.

He entered the political field as an Independent, with by no means weaklings offering the opposition, but his victory was assured from the very begin- ning; and his many times since happy returns to of- fice, and at times over apparently invulnerable op- ponents, bespeak in glowing tones the admiration, confidence and trust with which the citizens of this county view him, his political career and his suc- cess as a public official. This repeated approval of his constituents has made him the longest incum- bent in the chair of county clerk in the State of Cali- fornia, and one of the most respected in the state. This latter fact being shown by his being for the past twelve years, by unanimous voice, president of the County Clerks' Association of California. Fra- ternally, Mr. Pfister, is a Knights Templar Mason, and belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West.

On June 28, 1880, Mr. Pfister married Miss Maria N. La Molle, a member of an old, well-known and respected family of this community; a charming and accomplished lady whose untimely death on October. 3, 1920, left a wide circle of friends to mourn the passing of one, who, but to be known was to be loved. A daughter, Emily, who has since become Mrs. Thomas M. Landrum, the wife of a member of the C. C. Morse Co .; and another daughter, Marie, now the wife of Clarence M. Lynn of San Jose, and four grandchildren give hope of the perpetuation of this interesting family tree.

Henry A. Pfister is the possessor of an attractive personality that renders his individuality magnetic, pleasing and compelling. He is blessed with an acute mind; is quick of mental grasp and perspica- cious, which give to him an analytic insight into things that would ordinarily baffle other men; and by reason of his long experience in public life he is able to apply broad and liberal principles which always find a happy solution to problems however perplexing and exacting. He is endowed with a native force of character, strong but kind; and is fully cog- nizant that nobility obliges and that unselfish zeal and sacrifice have their own rewards. While pro- foundly clinging to the ideals and traditions of the past, he is not, however, blind to the innovations of today, all of which leave him clean and kind of heart. His lifetime of labor in public office gives his dis- tinguished usefulness an eminence that compels the admiration of all classes of society; and no one is more sensitive to, or better able to discern, the pub- lic pulse and heartbeats, or more apt in the apprecia- tion of public needs or better fit to meet emergencies.

There has been no phase of governmental develop- ment in which Mr. Pfister has not shared, keenly sensing, as he does, the responsibility of one in of- fice; and is therefore, found always working for higher civic standards and a healthier, stronger patriotism. This is shown, if in no other way, in his many and consecutive conscientious and efficient administrations where in his public and official capacity he ever retains the trust and confidence of his fellow-citi- zeus, who repeatedly acclaim their approval of his honesty, integrity and faithfulness to duty by his many re-elections. His years of service have rich- ly mellowed him into the kind protector of the young; the willing helper of the aged; and the wise counselor of all. Easy to approach, easy of ac- cess, he is always found willing to lend a hand; always ever ready to perform a goodly deed. The name of Henry A. Pfister will long be cherished and long will his accomplishments and achievements be retold, chiseled as they are on the annals of time, but mere words are vain and futile, for his praise stands out in the bold relief of service and deeds- truly is he the eminent son of a noble father-a scion worthy to perpetuate the heritage of the past.

GEORGE HAMILTON, SR .- One of Santa Clara County's worthy pioneers, who is a native son in all but birth, having resided here for nearly seventy years, is George Hamilton, Sr., who is now living in comfortable retirement on his ranch on Dunne Road, near Morgan Hill. Mr. Hamilton was born at Well- ington, Missouri, on June 4, 1848, and was the young- est child of George and Jane (Stovall) Hamilton, both deceased. The father, a native of Tennessee, had crossed the plains in 1848 and returned to Missouri in 1852, while the mother was of Scotch ancestry. In 1854, when the subject of this sketch was only six years old, his parents with other neighbors made up a party and crossed the plains with ox teams and settled in Santa Clara County, California, where they were engaged in ranching, and here George Hamilton attended school and helped his father with the hard work on the ranch, so that at the age of twenty he was well fitted to start out for himself in this field.

In 1870 Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Hattie Dominey, who was born in Eldorado County, Califor- nia, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Dominey, and they became the parents of seven children: George, Jr., a well borer, resides at Morgan Hill with his wife and three children; Clara resides at the home place; Charles is a contractor of San Jose, where he resides with his wife and one child; Grace passed away, survived by her husband, Thos. W. Cater, and two children and they live at Berkeley; Chester is married and the father of four children and makes his home at San Jose; Mrs. Eva Anderson of Fresno is the mother of one child, and Hattie is Mrs. Kenworthy of Morgan Hill, and mother of one child. Mrs. Hamilton died January 8, 1917.

In 1893 Mr. Hamilton acquired a tract of fifteen and a half acres in the C. Dunne subdivision cast of Mor- gan Hill, and here he has developed a beautiful ranch home. The place is devoted to the raising of French prunes, and he has made a splendid success with his orchard. While always devoted to his home and its interests, Mr. Hamilton is public spirited and loyal to the interests of his community, serving, for four years as deputy tax collector of the Morgan Hill district. He has always been a stanch Democrat.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

THADDEUS WARSAW SPRING .- A promi- nent pioncer and business man whose generous public spirit had much to do with the upbuilding of San Jose, Thaddeus Warsaw Spring, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., on June 17, 1829, and died in San Jose on August 13, 1890. He was a thorough gentleman, a successful business man, and lived a life worthy of emulation. He was the son of Andrew Jackson Spring, a native of New England, and a descendant of English ancestors. The father moved to New Orleans, La., when his son Thaddeus W. was threc months old and there died when the latter was still a small child. His home continued to be the Creole City until he was seventeen years old, becoming an auctioneer at the youthful age of fifteen years. Not satisfied, however, with his prospects in Louisiana, he ran away, and in Baltimore entered the U. S. service, enlisting in General Magruder's Battery and came to California with him in 1852, making the trip around the Horn on the ship Monterey, a voyage which occupied five months. Landing in San Diego, Cal., he continued in the service under General Magruder for some time until he received his honor- able discharge. Accompanied by his mother, who had followed him across the Isthmus, he came north to San Francisco. He went to the mines for a brief time, when meeting with only slight success, he soon quit mining and returned to San Francisco, where he engaged as assistant to his stepfather, Jasper Smith, who was then engaged in the auction business. After making a cruise to the Sandwich Islands and returning to California, he located in San Jose in 1862, and engaged in the auction business with Nicholas Hayes, who aside from being an auc- tioneer, was also the owner and proprietor of a large general merchandise store located on the corner of First Street and Fountain Alley in San Jose and during Mr. Hayes' absence abroad, Mr. Spring was placed in charge as general manager. Having care- fully saved his earnings, in 1865 he started in the mercantile business for himself and put in a fine stock of dry goods and clothing on Santa Clara Street at the location now known as the Smout Building. In 1869 the building at the corner of Market and Santa Clara streets, which is now occu- pied by Spring's, Inc., was built for him and there he built up a remunerative trade, and continued in business until the time of his death, being then sixty- one years of age.

Mr. Spring was assuredly one of the foremost citizens of San Jose. Fraternally he was a Knights Templar Mason, serving as treasurer, and was one of the two senior members of San Jose Commandery No. 10. Personally he was self-made and self-reliant, and his generosity to those less fortunately situated was well known to many whose lives he had bright- ened by his benefactions. All enterprises that tended to the upbuilding of his home city and county had his hearty support. He was an active member of the Pioneer Society of Santa Clara County. His portrait herewith published will serve to recall his sturdy figure, which was a very familiar one on the streets of San Jose, for which he did so much to upbuild, and whose good name and fame he was ever ready to champion and uphold. He had ad- mitted his son to the business some time before his death, the firm name then being T. W. Spring &

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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 65

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