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 68

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 68

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Don Walter attended the Santa Clara and San Jose grammar schools and the high school of San Jose. He was reared on the farm and when his father passed away, he went on with the management of the ranch, and has been justly rewarded for his industry and perseverance. His mother, himself and his sisters reside on the home place, living together in harmony, each cooperating and doing their part and having explicit confidence in each other.

On December 29, 1915, in Santa Clara, Mr. Luther was united in marriage to Miss Glen Monroe, a native of Oregon, a daughter of Julius and Anna

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Monroe, originally from Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Luther are the parents of one daughter, Alice Don- aldina. In national politics, Mr. Luther is a Repub- lican, and fraternally is a member of the Odd Fel- lows lodge of Santa Clara. The advancement and prosperity of Santa Clara County has a strong sup- porter in Mr. Luther, and his interest and influence is readily given to the upbuilding of his locality.

JOSEPHINE RAND ROGERS .- California is proud of her gifted and patriotic women, and well she may be, for ever since her entry into the Union, the Golden State has been singularly blessed with the number of women of exceptional public-spirited- ness and unusual, even rare talent and enviable quali- fications. In the beginning, to be sure, the women who helped to lay the foundations for the great com- monwealth, in keeping with the attitude of most of their sex throughout the land, contented themselves to labor in the quieter, less observed, but by no means isolated paths of life; but as the years went by, and a larger influence because of a larger free- dom and service was accorded them, thanks to a broader sentiment as to the value of women to soci- ety, and a greater tolerance as to suffrage-a senti- ment and a tolerance, by the way, fostered in part by the effective reform work of broad-minded, elear- visioned and courageous women-the so-called weaker, but the ever fair sex came to the fore; and ever since has been doing a larger, and quite its full share of the world's daily work. In this shin- ing company of far-seeing and courageous leaders, Mrs. Josephine Rand Rogers of Santa Clara Valley has borne her part in her adopted state.

Mrs. Rogers, as Josephine Almira Rand, was born at Forest Home, the old Rand homestead, situated between Niagara Falls and Buffalo, N. Y., on No- vember 6, 1869. She was the daughter of Calvin Gordon Rand of Batavia, N. Y., who had married Almira Hershey Long of Tonawanda, N. Y. Her maternal grandmother was of the old Hershey fam- ily of Lancaster, Pa., one of the oldest and most prominent families in Eastern Pennsylvania; her maternal grandfather, Benjamin Long, was an cx- tensive landowner of Pennsylvania, who later settled in Western New York, where he became one of the most influential and prosperous citizens of that sec- tion of the country. Her father was the son of Dr. James Rand of Batavia, N. Y., a descendant of Robert Rand, who came to America from England in 1635 and whose many descendants have made the name Rand a synonym for sterling worth and achievement in this country. An uncle of Mrs. Rogers, Chas. F. Rand, was the first volunteer in the Civil War and was decorated by Congress for being the first volunteer and also for bravery in service. He was also decorated by the New York State Legislature.

Calvin Gordon Rand was a school teacher in his earlier years, but later was the successful manager of a large estate which had been given him by his wife's father and on which was located beautiful Forest Home. He died when our subject was two years of age.

There were nine children in the family, and among these Josephine was the eighth. The others were as follows: Benjamin Long, who had a successful career as a banker, later became president of the Rand

Manufacturing Company of North Tonawanda, N. Y .; Mary Hershey, who passed away in her twentieth year, had devoted her young life to education and music, having graduated from the Buffalo High School, also was member of the first graduating class in the Chautauqua course; James Henry, presi- dent of the Rand Manufacturing Company, was the inventor of the Rand ledger used throughout the United States and Canada, also inventor of the vis- ible index system and a large number of time-saving devices; Cora Belle is the wife of F. Everett Reynolds of Brockport, N. Y .; Elizabeth Hershey is the wife of Rev. B. Frank Taber of Ithaca, N. Y., a Baptist clergyman, now at Washington, Pa .; Eugene died at the age of seven; George Franklin was well known in financial circles in this country and in Europe for his remarkable ability as a banker. At the age of thirty-five he was president of three na- tional banks. Later, as president of the Marine Trust Company of Buffalo, he was recognized as one of the greatest bankers of the country. He be- came of international interest from his gift of 500,000 fianes to the French Government for the erection of a monument in memory of the bayonet trench heroes at Verdun, and his check for the amount was presented in person to M. Clemenceau on December 5, 1919. Three days later, as Mr. Rand was crossing from Paris to London by aeroplane, he met instant death by an accident to the machine when landing. His heirs honored the check given to France, how- ever, and the monument was erected. Its dedication, a year later, was attended by great pomp and cere- mony. The famous war generals, Marshal Foch, General Joffre and General Petain, being present; also it was the first public official appearance of the newly elected president of France, M. Millerand. Seven members of the Rand family were also present for the occasion. Mr. Rand's gift to France marked an epoch in world history, for it was the first time a citizen of one country had given a monument to another country to commemorate the heroism of that other country's soldiers. Josephine Almira, was next in age in the family; Clara Nancy, now the wife of Frederick Robertson, a banker of North Tona- wanda, N. Y., was the youngest.

When Josephine was nearly two years of age her parents moved to LaSalle, four miles from Niagara Falls. A few months later her father died. Her early education was begun by her sister Mary. At the age of eight she began attendance at the country school, and when ten her mother moved her family to Brockport, N. Y., that the children might have the advantages of the State Normal School located there. Four years later her mother died.

Believing a change of climate might prove bene- ficial to Josephine, who had never been very robust, it was decided that she should make her home with her sister Elizabeth, who had become the wife of Reverend Taber and whose pastorate was in Man- hattan, Kans. Thither she went, accompanied by Reverend and Mrs. Taber and their young son. The next four years were spent in attendance at the pub- lie schools of Manhattan and in the Kansas State Agricultural College. It was in this college that she met her future husband, F. J. Rogers, who was a member of the college faculty. Deciding that she would fit herself for the teaching profession, Miss

Josephine Land Rogus

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Rand returned to New York and entered the Buffalo State Normal School. After graduation in 1890, she was offered a position in the Ithaca public schools, where she taught two years. Here she again met Professor Rogers, then an instructor at Cornell.

On June 27, 1893, at North Tonawanda, N. Y., at the home of her eldest brother, Benjamin, Miss Rand was married to Frederick John Rogers. Mr. Rogers was born at Neoga. Ill, September 9, 1863. He was the second child of John Rankin Rogers and Sarah Greene Rogers. The Rogers family came from Maine, and their ancestry is traced to William Rogers, who came to this country in 1746. On his maternal side, the Greenes were the prominent fam- ily by that name in Ohio, whose ancestry is traced to 1636. John Rankin Rogers moved his family from one state to another and finally settled in Kan- sas. During the family's residence in that state, Frederick attended the State Agricultural College, from which he graduated and was placed on the teaching staff the following year. In this college Mr. Rogers was a classmate of Ernest Fox Nichols and at Cornell, whither the two young men went at the same time, they were roommates. E. F. Nichols later became the president of Dartmouth University, head of the physics department at Yale, and presi- dent of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. An- other roommate of Mr. Rogers at the Kansas col- lege was James G. Harbord, now Major-General of the U. S. Army and General Pershing's chief of staff. When Mr. Rogers left Kansas to continue his studies at Cornell, his father moved his family to the state of Washington, and here he was elected gov- ernor of the state in 1896. In 1900 he was reelected for a second term. This was a personal victory, for he was the only candidate on his tieket-the Demo- cratie -- that was elected, but only a few months later he died in office. He is rated as one of the most efficient governors the state has ever had.

Upon her marriage, Mrs. Rogers accompanied her husband to Ithaca, where he was a member of the physics department of Cornell University. Here they remained for seven years. In 1900 they re- moved to Stanford University, with which institu- tion Professor Rogers is still connected. The family spent one year at Princeton University -- a sabbatical leave of absence from Stanford in 1914-1915, when Professor Rogers taught in the latter university.

Mrs. Josephine Rand Rogers is the mother of four children: Frederick Rand, born in Ithaca, N. Y., on December 27, 1894, who is now instructor on physical education in the Salinas high school. He attended the Palo Alto high school, Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and graduated from the Prince- ton, New Jersey, high school, and from Stanford University in 1920. His college course was inter- rupted by the World War. He enlisted shortly after war was declared in the Naval Reserve on April 12, 1917. He received his commission as ensign at San Pedro and was sent to Annapolis Naval Aead- emy, where he graduated in June, 1918. He was sent overseas and made chief inspector of fourteen- inch shells. at Sheffield, England, until the armistice was signed. He was then given the rank of lieuten- ant, junior grade. While at Annapolis, Frederick Rand Rogers and Miss Beatrice Easterday were mar- ried in Baltimore, Md., April 6, 1918. This marriage

was the culmination of a friendship begun when Miss Easterday was a student at Castilleja school in Palo Alto, and Fred was a high school student in the same place. They have one child, Katherine Haller, born January 12, 1921. During Frederick's high school and college course he was a prominent athlete, playing on football and basketball teams and winning quarter and half-mile races. He is member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. Robert Greene Rogers, the second son, born on December 5, 1895, graduated from the San Jose high school and en- tered Stanford University. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve for the World War, April 17, 1917, and re- ceived his commission as ensign, but the armistice was signed before he was sent overseas. He also took an active part in athletics during his high school course, playing on the football and basketball teams in high school and on the freshman football team at Stanford and made his letter S in high hurdles against California. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, the Skull and Snakes, the Geol- ogy and Mining and Gymnasium Club. Josephine, the only daughter, was born on March 12, 1903. While a student in the San Jose high school, from which she was graduated in June, 1919, she played on the girls' baseball team, was elected to Torch and Laurel, girls' honorary society. She was placed on the "preferred list" of girls for entrance into Stan- ford. However she entered Mills College. John, the youngest, born March 27, 1907, is a student in the San Jose high school.

While Mrs. Rogers has been a devoted wife and mother she has been impressed with a sense of noblesse oblige- that for all the advantages, priv- ileges, and opportunities that have been hers she owes a return to the world. Believing that condi- tions surrounding the home and children are de- pendent upon conditions in the larger home, the community, state and nation, and realizing that the world is what we make it, Mrs. Rogers has been impelled to do her part. She has at times applied herself to the furthering of movements that were unpopular but just. With no thought of personal glory or advantage but in a spirit of self-sacrifice and ardent devotion to that which is right she has wielded an influence for good that has made itself felt beyond the confines of her own residence in city or state. Alert, broad-visioned and consecrated, she utilizes her time for the promotion of human wel- fare. Her pleasure is in contributing her part to the world's progress.

The publie work to which Mrs. Rogers first applied her energies was in behalf of woman suffrage, in New York state in 1893. At that time the cause was exceedingly unpopular, and needed fearless champions. Ten years later, in Palo Alto, she again took up the work. Here it was also distinctly un- popular. Mrs. Rogers offered her services to the club that had voted to disband; she aided in increas- ing interest in the cause and enlarging membership of the suffrage club and at the time of the passage of the amendment to the State Constitution en- franchising women in 1911, the Palo Alto elub was one of the most influential in Northern California.

Mrs. Rand Rogers' chief interest is in child wel- fare. While deeply appreciating the work done by charity workers, for needy children, and also in

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sympathy with the efforts made through reform schools to restore so-called wayward children to nor- mal attitude of mind, Mrs. Rogers bends her efforts toward prevention rather than cure. To provide for children right environment and intelligent training that would lead to their best development Mrs. Rogers claims is the fundamentally important work of those who have the welfare of children at heart. To this end she has labored unceasingly. The San Jose Day Nursery owes much to Mrs. Rogers' efforts. At the request of two ladies, who had conceived the idea of a Day Nursery for San Jose, Mrs. Rogers assisted in forming the organization and was one of its first directors. When funds were exhausted and the doors were about to close, Mrs. Rogers gave a dramatic reading as a benefit performance, which netted a large amount and was sufficient to continue the work, and acted as president of the board of directors until the institution was firmly established.

During this time Mrs. Rogers was also active in the Parent-Teacher Association. As district chair- man of the home department she originated the plan of having talks at the regular meetings bearing on the moral training of children. She agitated the question of the importance of intelligent, scientific parenthood with indefatigable zeal, and aroused in- tcrest that is bearing fruit an hundredfold. The first course of lectures on child training given by the University of California Extension Division were given in San Jose at the request and by arrangement of Mrs. Josephine Rand Rogers, who was then County Chairman of Child Welfare for the Woman's Committee of the Council of Defense. Courses in San Francisco immediately followed. The idea grew rapidly and soon became an established custom.

In 1918 Mrs. Rogers had introduced into the State Legislature Assembly Bill No. 198, providing for an appropriation of $50,000 to the University of Cal- ifornia Extension Division for the purpose of giving couses of lectures in communities requesting them on scientific child training. This bill was not re- ported out from committee, but a direct result of the propaganda Mrs. Rogers had carried on in its be- half throughout the state led to the preparation of a correspondence study course on scientific mother- hood by the Extension Division.

During the next session of the State Legislature- 1920-Mrs. Rogers had another bill presented-Sen- ate Bill No. 213. This called for an appropriation of $50,000 for the establishment of a Child Wel- fare Research Station at the University of California. Realizing that the amount of information available for the courses in scientific motherhood was ex- tremely limited, Mrs. Rogers determined to go 10 the rock bottom of child welfare work-the scientific study of the child itself. For months her entire time was given to the furthering of this bill, securing en- dorsements from prominent educators, psychologists, judges, physicians, women's clubs and men's clubs, and attendance at the state conventions and the legislature. The bill was reported favorably from the education committee but tabled by the finance committee. She intends to continue her efforts in this direction until the goal is reached.

In behalf of child welfare, Mrs. Rogers fought assiduously for prohibition. Her activities along this

line-until the adoption of the Eighteenth Amend- ment-was marked by a determination, thoroughness and constructiveness that proved a compelling fac- tor in the struggle for the temperance cause in this state. She was one of the organizers of the War Service League that worked in conjunction with the inilitary authorities at Camp Fremont during the war; of the Civic Welfare League, formed to bring about better conditions in San Jose; also of the Santa Clara County Law and Order League, origi- nated to carry the Little Volstead Act election and continue the propaganda for the Wright Bill in the state election.

The League of Women Voters, of which Mrs. Rand Rogers is president at the time this history is being compiled, was organized in May, 1921. This organization having for its aim legislation for the welfare of women and children and education for bet- ter citizenship appealed to Mrs. Rogers as eminently worth while for the advancement of her dearest inter- est -- child welfare.

Mrs. Rogers was educated not only as teacher but as a dramatic reader. She studied with the best teachers in the country, including Professor Charles Cumnock of Northwestern University, and Leland T. Powers of Boston; at the Curry School of Expression in Boston, and the Emerson College of Oratory. Her dramatic readings throughout the country, including San Jose and Stanford University elicited both press and personal testimonies as to her splendid dramatic talent. She organized the Current Events Club com- posed of faculty ladies of Stanford in 1905, which is still regarded as one of high merit.

The year 1920 marked a new epoch in the life of Mrs. Rogers. As a result of her wide observation and experience in civic welfare work through various organizations and as a private citizen, Mrs. Rogers decided that her work would be more effective if per- formed in a government official capacity. Also she believed women's interests should be represented to some extent by women themselves in the State Leg- islature. Her desire was to render the greatest serv- ice in her power. Since the state senator from her district had declined renomination, she decided to offer her services for that position. The "wet" and "dry" forces each putting a man on the Republican ticket for nomination, Mrs. Rogers refused to split the dry vote by making a campaign for the primary election. Her loyalty to the "dry" cause was abso- lute. But after the primaries when the "wet and dry" issue was settled she made her campaign on an Inde- pendent ticket on the child welfare platform, and in behalf of democracy. The first woman to make a campaign for a state elective office in her senatorial district, the first person to start a campaign after the primaries, against great odds with no organization back of her, she polled a vote that astonished the most astute politicians. Although she did not win the elec- tion, she had made a campaign in behalf of a just cause and felt she had really rendered a valuable service to the public.

Open-minded, progressive, originator of ideas, of sound judgment, earnest and fearless, Mrs. Josephine Rand Rogers has learned the secret of right living, -the joy of service -- and she lives it to the utmost.

H. W. Low

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

HENRY WILLARD COE .- With many phases of Santa Clara County's development and upbuild- ing, Henry Willard Coe was closely associated. He was born in the village of Northwood, N. H., Febru- ary 6, 1820, and his youthful years were spent in the midst of moral, as well as physical surroundings eminently calculated to make him a leader among men. He descended, on both sides, from famous families, prominent in Colonial and Revolutionary history, the genealogy tracing the family as far back as 1640. Very early in life his mother died and feeling keenly the loss, the lad was prompted to ac- cept the offer of Zach. Chandler to accompany him to the West. With a meager stock of goods, which they carried with them, they were towed in a canal boat up the Hudson River, through the Erie Canal, and across the Great Lakes to Detroit, a journey occupying over a month. This offer of Mr. Chandler to a boy of sixteen, shows conclusively what was already thought of Henry Willard Coc. Within three years, a partnership in Mr. Chandler's great business was offered him, which proves that the expectations of Mr. Chandler were justified. However, the young man declined the flattering offer, and returning to his native town, purchased the business carried on by his father, and conducted it successfully. And now came one of those turns of the tide in the affairs of men which it is always delightful and helpful to recall because of the lesson they impress and the insight into character they furnish. One evening there came into the village a weary traveler from the West, who said that in the West his wife and all his children had died of fever. At the village inn, he asked for food and shelter, which was denied him. Mr. Coe, who happened to be standing near and heard the proprietor's refusal of hospitality, of- fered the man his home as long as he desired, and fed, clothed and entertained him with the warm hos- pitality for which he afterwards became famous. He was well repaid for his kindness. The stranger told him of a cotton manufactory in Cooperstown, N. Y., and that he knew the purchase would make him a fortune. Mr. Coe made a very careful inquiry and purchased the property, and operated it at consider- able profit. This was a most appreciable reward for the kindness that had helped the poor stranger, and it was practically the starting point of the well- known Phoenix Cotton Manufacturing plant at Cooperstown, N. Y. Mr. Coe employed a large number of people, and not only manufactured cot- ton, but turned out calicoes of new and varied de- signs. Two years after entering upon this enter- prise, Mr. Coe found himself with a substantial bal- ance. Then came a period of uncertainty; values of every kind fluctuated almost hourly, but Mr. Coe decided that he would not sell his business at a loss. He doggedly held on for six months; then the crash came, Henry Clay was defeated and the election of Polk to the presidency meant the repeal of the tariff. Following the election of Mr. Polk came a panic and Mr. Coe was financially ruined; however, he did not grieve over his losses, but assigned all of his property to his creditors. The strain of the anxiety over the financial situation, undermined his health, and his physician advised a complete rest. He journeyed to Detroit, where his friend, Hon. Zachariah Chandler, still lived, but he only stopped

there for a short time, going on to St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Coe had always been fired by visions of the Northwest, and being naturally of an enterprising and generous disposition, with a cool head and a warm heart, he was a recognized leader of men and his associates appreciated his superior leadership. When the spring of 1847 came Mr. Coe set out with a large company for Oregon. The journey occupied six months and the hardships and perils were great; these have all been told in the narrative of his son, Charles W. Coe, "The Winners of the Great North- west." Our history of Mr. Coe's life has more to do with his part in the development of the Golden State and what he did to further its interests. He had two brothers who distinguished themselves, Eben, the eldest, as a civil engineer, and George, as a very prominent financier and banker.

Toward the end of 1848, Henry W. Coe came down into California from Oregon. On this journey he discovered the value of the waters of Shasta Springs, where so many tourists stop to refresh themselves. Upon arrival in this state he spent some time in mining, discovering a valuable mine in Amador County, which he named the Phoenix, in memory of his old mill at Cooperstown, N. Y. He was fairly successful, enough so to induce him to accept an associate. This associate was of a burly build, and his character harmonized with it. One evening, in the hills, and in his associate's absence, there came along a lot of poor fellows, barely clothed, and to all appearances, more sparely fed. They proved to be veterans of the Mexican War, and the warm heart of Mr. Coe was moved to its very depth; he clothed and fed, and saw them on their way. Upon the return of his associate he declared Coe's foolish generosity had ruined them. With a smile, Mr. Coc walked away, and then occurred a very strange thing, which reads like a fairy tale. Away in the hills, a considerable distance from their camp, and walking with his eyes to the ground, as a pros- pector does, Mr. Coe noticed, almost at his feet, a string. He stopped and pulled it, and when he came to the end of it, there was a sack. The sack contained a beautiful meerschaum pipe, sundry gold coins, and at the bottom a number of ounces of gold dust, more than sufficient to repay, twice over, the amount the generosity of his heart had prompted him to bestow upon the weary travelers. There was no doubt that the pipe was a relic of the past. Mr. Coe kept the pipe for twenty-five years, hoping that the owner could be found. When Mr. Coe re- turned, he called his partner, paid him what was due him, showed him the door, and bade him good day.

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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 68

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