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 93

Author: Sawyer, Eugene Taylor, 1846-
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1928

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Hubbard Mille

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

have four children, James Edward, Dorothy Vivian, Henry Merle and Donald Lloyd. Leo John mar- ried Miss Emma L. Meyers of the pioneer Meyers family of Alviso, and to them has been born a daughter named Cleo Jane.

Mr. Costigan worked for the Spreckels Sugar Company at Spreckles, Cal., until 1907, when he re- moved to Milpitas and took a position with the Cali- fornia Fruit Canners' Association, and when that was taken over by the C. P. C. he still remained with them and is still employed on the California Packing Corporation pea ranch at Milpitas, where he makes his home on a part of the ranch. A Demo- crat in matters of national political import, Mr. Cos- tigau has been a school director of the Spreckels school district, and in the discharge of his duties has always been as broadminded and nonpartisan as the necessities of his locality demanded.

HUBBARD McKEE .- A worthy representative of a pioneer family, Hubbard McKee (familiarly called Hubb McKce) was a steady, clean-cut and enterpris- ing business man, who was born in San Jose on Feb- ruary 28, 1873, a son of George B. and Mary McKee, pioneers of Santa Clara County. His father was born at Ottawa, Ill., on July 27, 1838, the son of Lyman McKee, who was married in Watertown, N. Y., to Miss Melinda Butterfield. His maternal great-grand- father, Zacharia Butterfield, was a New Englander. who came out to New York State and was one of three that took up the land now the site of Water- town, hence was one of the founders of that thriving city. He was engaged in stock raising and dairying. George B. McKee was educated in the public schools of Watertown, N. Y., and in 1853 removed to Mil- waukee, Wis., and the following spring joined the Moody-Winchel train destined for California, arriving in San Jose in October, 1854; he has always been most prominent in civic and business circles and bas aided greatly in the steady development and prog- ress of his locality.

Hubbard McKee was reared in San Jose and edu- cated in the public schools of San Jose and Santa Clara College. After graduation he entered his father's store, beginning at the bottom and working up through the various departments in both the paint factory and the store. He was greatly interested in the business and in time was able to relieve his father of much of its care and oversight. When his father made a seven months trip to the Orient, he had charge of the business, and it was soon after his father's return that he met with the accident which resulted in his death on July 19, 1914. A description of the accident which caused his death was printed in the San Jose Mercury of July 22, 1914: "There is something ineffably pathetic in the tragic end of the late Hubbard McKee. He was known as a man of unusual tenderness, and his friends were not surprised to learn that he had given his seat to an injured man picked up by the roadside and that he himself had stood behind while the driver rushed with all speed to the hospital. It was at a sudden curve of the road, that the unselfish McKee was thrown from his pre- carious hold to his death, and that he, in the prosecu- tion of an act noble in the highest degree, should forfeit his own life, distinguishes this from the aver- age automobile accident. Those who knew the late Hubbard McKee knew a true man; his impulses were generous, his sympathies tender, indeed, since his

untimely passing many stories are told showing the genuineness of his manhood, his thoughtfulness for others, his willingness to sacrifice, when that was necessary. To the men in his employ he was a friend rather than master, while in his dealings with the public, he erred only to his own disadvantage. There was nothing petty in the man; indeed it was foreign to his nature, and yet he was a quiet, unobtrusive citizen, devoted to his home, his parents and his city. Ilubbard McKee could not be other than brave and generous, for he came of that splendid old pioneer stock which adorned the early history of California and the surviving members of which command such universal respect today. The name of George B. Mc- Kec is a synonym for integrity in business, for ag- gressiveness on the side of right and for love of state and country. The son was a replica of the father, a quiet citizen immersed in his own affairs, but ever ready to contribute his means and ability to a deserv- ing cause. What a contrast is presented in the heroic act of this man in picking up a stranger by the way- side to the speed-fiend striking down the innocent pedestrian and passing on without even learning his name or the extent of his injuries."

The marriage of Mr. MeKee occurred in San Jose on January 31, 1899, and united him with Miss Mary Grimley, a native of Port Jervis, N. Y., a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Drennen) Grimley, who brought her to Santa Clara County when she was five years of age and here she attended school at Mayfield, as well as Notre Dame College. Their union, a very happy one, was blessed with three children: George Butterfield, second, educated at Washburn School, San Jose, is now secretary of the Geo. B. McKee Co .; Margaret Mary, a graduate of San Jose high school, is also with the Geo. B. Mc- Kee Co .; Frank Hubbard is at present a student at the William Warren Military Academy, Menlo Park. Mrs. McKee was a true and loving wife, and since her husband's untimely end has been very zealous in her care of their children, being unselfishly devoted to their comfort and pleasures. Hubbard McKee was liberal, brave and kindhearted, always ready to do a good turn to any deserving person and every- one who knew him loved him, for he was always helping those in need, for he never found a man down, but he would render him timely aid.

C. A. CARLSON .- The good people of Sunny- vale may well be congratulated upon their grocery service, furnished by C. A. Carlson, the "square dealer," who has done his best to standarize that trade, and in endeavoring to furnish the community only the best at the lowest price, has easily built up a dependable patronage. Carlson's Cash Grocery is known far and wide; and wherever it is known, one speaks only good of the enterprise.

Mr. Carlson was born at Falun, Sweden, on July 25, 1874, and in his native land he grew up. His first work for a living was in the employ of the pulp and paper mills at Grigsbo; but when he was only seven- teen, he crossed the ocean to America. He took pas- sage on the White Star Line, sailed from Gothen- burg, and landed at New York. Without stopping long in the great metropolis, young Carlson came west to Monona County, lowa, and there he started to work out by the month.

In 1900, Mr. Carlson was married to Miss May Wickersham, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

George Wickersham, of Monona County, and to this union two children, Laura and Violet, have been born. Taking up agriculture in Iowa, Mr. Carlson at first rented, then bought land; but the eighty acres he soon sold to engage in the grocery trade at Ticonic, in Monona County, lowa. At the end of two years, however, Mr. Carlson decided to come out to the Coast; and on reaching the Golden State. he came to Sunnyvale, where Mrs. Carlson's uncle, Lee Wickersham, was then, and is still, living. For awhile Mr. Carlson clerked in a grocery, and then he bought the store. His past experience, foresight and careful attention to the details of the trade have enabled him to anticipate the wants of his patrons. and he has been prosperous ever since. Mr. and Mrs. Carlson have a fine residence on Murphy Ave- nue, and they belong to the Congregational Church. Mr. Carlson deals in staple and fancy groceries, and more than ever the public have come to appreciate the dependable service. His place of business is scrupulously clean and orderly, and his many pa- trons are sure to get the best of wholesome goods, gentlemanly attention and a square deal at all times.

F. A. SCHILLING .- Numbered among the active and highly-esteemed residents of the county is F. A. Schilling, auditor of Santa Clara County. Born in San Jose August 31, 1870, Mr. Schilling entered pub- lic service in January, 1893, and has since been con- tinuously in the service of the county as court clerk, clerk of the board of supervisors and as county au- ditor. Long years of experience, coupled with natural adaptability, enable him to render efficient public service, which has always received the highest com- mendation from his constituents.

He is a son of Frank Schilling, now deceased, the pioneer gunsmith of Santa Clara County, who in the year 1861 opened the sporting goods store now con- ducted by Raymond Schilling, another son, on Post Street, in San Jose. Beside Raymond, Mr. Schilling is a brother to Herbert E. Schilling, formerly mayor of San Jose, and to Mrs. Lena Stewart, who resides with his mother, Mrs. Margaret Schilling. All are residents of San Jose.

Mr. Schilling is married and has two daughters; Mrs. Marjorie Cathcart, the mother of a son, and Miss Dorothy Schilling. He makes his home in the beautiful college town of Palo Alto.

DR. H. F. CARPENTER .- A learned practi- tioner of medical science who is a master of re- search and controversy, and has accomplished much good by his masterly contributions to polemical lit- crature, is Dr. H. F. Carpenter, a minister of the Advent Christian Church, residing at 806 Jackson Street, Santa Clara. He is profoundly versed in the Bible, and as a fine old gentleman draws and holds a large circle of immediate admirers and support- ers, while through his trenchant, inspiring pen, he reaches, influences and guides a still wider coterie.

He was born at Douglas, Mass .. on October 24, far back in 1833, the son of Seba Carpenter, who was a shoe manufacturer and made brogans out of "kip" leather, or heavy work shoes for the slaves "down South." and kept so busy that he had as many as sixty shoemakers working for him. He was born at Douglas, and his father was Nathaniel Carpenter, a native of the same place, where he first saw the light on the old Carpenter homestead. The Carpenters came from England; and as in the usual

story of the pioneer, three brothers crossed the ocean and settled in Vermont. and two brothers settled in the other colonies. Our subject is prob- ably descended from the Vermont line; at any rate, his is a Colonial family, and his ancestors were in the thick of the Revolutionary War, and some of them also fought in the War of 1812. Seba Car- penter was originally a Massachusetts farmer, and he married Melinda Learned, also a native of Massa- chusetts. They had five children, all boys; and H. F. Carpenter was the second.

He was sent to the district school, and from school days he had to work, generally in his father's shoe factory; so it came to pass that he sewed up thou- sands of pairs of brogans, for shoemaking in those days was all by hand. He had a desire, however, to study medicine; and having moved with his parents to Worcester, Mass., he went to the high school there, and in due time graduated from that excellent institution.

During this time, in 1854, he was converted and immediately took up preaching. The miraculous change was effected in him in the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Worcester; and in that church he remained for two years. His first sermon, however, was preached in the Adventist Church at Worcester, now known as the Advent Christian Church; it was delivered in the spring of 1856. and he has been preaching ever since. He has also practiced forty- five years-practiced medicine and healing; for he is a "natural born" healer. He has been able to look deep into such difficult, oft-puzzling diseases as diphtheria and appendicitis, and he has cured nu- merous cases of the latter disease, and never lost a case-and never used a knife. He studied medi- cine under Dr. Porter, at Vallejo, Cal., in 1876, and he was admitted to practice after lue examina- tion before the California State Board of Examiners.

In Connecticut he had a pastorate, and he had several similar congregational charges in Vermont. He became pastor of the church at Fitchburg, and from there he migrated to California in 1875, settling at Vallejo. Then. in 1879. he removed to Santa Clara. At first, he was an evangelist, and he held tent meetings; but he has preached intermittently in the Advent Christian Church at Santa Clara ever since 1879. He has never lost a case of diphtheria in Santa Clara, although while at Vallejo, when he went through an epidemic of diphtheria and had seventy-five cases, he lost two. He is getting stronger in his faith every day, and believes that the second coming of Christ is at hand. As an author dealing with religious themes, Dr. Carpenter has written, with exceptional clearness and vigor, a number of tracts. He wrote one on "Christian Science: Both Un-Christian and Unscientific," an- other on "The Three Hells," another on "The Well- Scaled Book," a fourth on "The Two Horned Beast of Rev. 13 not the United States," a fifth on "Man's Need-God's Supply," and a sixth on "God's Esti- mate of the Human Body."

Dr. Carpenter's first wife was Susan A. Vose be- fore her marriage, and she was a native of Prince- ton, Mass. They had two children when they came to California. Lizzie is now Mrs. S. J. Fisher and resides at San Mateo, where she is a popular pianist and music teacher, being a gifted musician; Anna M. married Obadiah Morse, and she resides at San

allen & Customer

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Francisco. Mrs. Carpenter died in 1898, and Dr. Carpenter was married a second time in October, 1899, when he took Mrs. Meriah G. Couch for his wife. She was born in Barnstead, N. H., the dangh- ter of Nathaniel Pickering; and she married the Rev. John Couch. After her tenth year, she was reared in Massachusetts, and there she became a widow. Dr. Carpenter has built two houses,-the first of which he sold, while he resides in the second, at 806 Jackson Street, Santa Clara. He is now eighty-eight years of age, and all of his religious tracts have been written since he was sixty, some since he was sev- enty years of age, and is still writing.

ALLEN E. CURTNER .- The fact that his father selected Santa Clara County as a permanent abode has never been regretted by Allen E. Curtner, whose judgment concurs in the decision. Born on the old Curtner ranch at Warm Springs, Alameda County, October 5, 1867, he is a son of that distinguished pio- neer. Henry Curtner, who arrived on the Pacific Coast during the year of 1853, from Indiana, where he was born in Fountain County, January 17, 1831. The pa- ternal grandfather was Jacob Curtner, born and reared in North Carolina, and married Nancy Heaton, a na- tive of Tennessee. About 1827 they removed to In- diana, and were among the earliest settlers of Fom-

tain County, and there developed a homestead. He had been a soldier in the Indian struggles and served under General Jackson. Both grandparents passed away in Indiana. Early in life Henry Curtner had been left an orphan, and he had many obstacles to surmount in his struggle. He worked on various farms throughout the country, cleared timber land, and became a towboy on the Wabash and Erie canal. Exercising the traits of thrift which were his by in- heritance and with the savings he had been able to accumulate, he started on the long voyage from New York via Panama to San Francisco. In the fall of 1856, he returned to Cass County, Ind., and married Miss Lydia Kendall, and the following year the young folks removed to California and bought fifty acres between Centerville and Alvarado, Alameda County, and made their home upon this ranch for ten years. In the spring of 1868 they removed to the ranch near Warm Springs. Mr. Curtner's first purchase of land comprised about 2000 acres, to which he added from time to time until he had 8000 acres. He sold por- tions of this and the balance was divided among his children. For many years he was a director of the Security State Bank of San Jose, and was president of the Milpitas Land & Live Stock Company, owners of 8000 head of cattle, 800 head of horses and a flock of 7000 sheep, using as range 32,000 acres of patented land in Humboldt County, Nev., besides a range of 100 square miles. Mr. and Mrs. Curtner were the parents of eight children, Allen E., the subject of this review, being the fourth. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Curtner married Miss Mary E. Myers and they were the parents of two children. She passed away in California, and his third marriage united him with Miss Lucy Latham, who survives him and whose sketch will be found in this volume. Mr. Curtner was liberal with his vast means along all progressive lines: he was especially active in educational matters, and remembering the trials and discouragements of his orphaned boyhood, was generous to all institutions of this kind. He was one of Santa Clara County's most

noted philanthropists. He passed away at the Warm Springs home November 1, 1916.

Allen E. Curtner was but ten years old when his mother died. He received his education at Irvington College, of which his father was one of the organiz- ers. In 1898 the building was burned and Mr. Curt- ner sold the property, and the college was rebuilt and is now operated under the name of the Anderson Academy. Mr. Curtner began ranching on a part of the old Curtner ranch, and in 1914 took up his resi- dence on his present place. His whole life has been spent on the farm, and consequently is thoroughly conversant with every phase of agriculture and horti- culture, to which he has given much study.

Mr. Curtner's marriage occurred in Milpitas, De- cember 4, 1889, and united him with Miss Rosabella Hewitt, a native of Manchester, England, who came with her parents to California at the age of fourteen years. She is a daughter of William and Isabelle (McLachlan) Hewitt. The Mclachlan family are traced back to Castle Douglas and have a coat of arms. Great-grandfather Mclachlan married a Miss McGee, also of a noble family. Wm. Hewitt died in England and the mother, with her children, Rosabella and Walter, came to Irvington, Cal., in 1880, and the former was educated at the Warm Springs school. Her mother and brother both live in Sunnyvale. Mr. and Mrs. Curtner are the parents of three children: Isabella, Louise, and Alan E. Isabella is the wife of Bud D. More, employed by the Associated Oil Com- pany, and they reside on a ten-acre ranch near Sunny- vale, the entire acreage planted to Bartlett pears. Louise is the wife of Derol Chace, associated with his father as agents for the Associated Oil Company, and they reside in San Jose. Alan E. served overseas m the One Hundred Forty-third U. S. Artillery, For- tieth Division, until his return and discharge. He married Miss Celesta Jane Burch of Los Angeles and they reside on a ranch on the Stevens Creek road. Mr. Curtner's ranch is located on Maud Avenue near Pastoria Avenue, one and one-half miles northwest of Sunnyvale, and consists of 279 acres of valuable land: 204 acres in alfalfa and hay is leased for a dairy; the balance is rented for vegetable growing. They are members of the Christian church in San Jose. Mr. Curtner has resided on this ranch for the past eight years, and he is one of those citizens whose settle- ment in the locality has been a factor in the develop- ment of the material resources of the county.

JOHN H. FAHEY .- A native of Iowa who, as a hard-working, progressive and successful business man has made good in California, is John H. Fahey, the owner of some twenty-two acres in his home ranch at Sunnyvale, and about ninety-seven acres in a tract at the Mountain View landing or harbor in whose future he places great confidence. He was born at Clinton, in the Hawkeye State. on Septem- ber 24, 1881, and was a student at the high school at Lyons, lowa. He then pursued courses at the University of lowa, and having completed his studies, he went to work in the First National Bank at Clinton, where he was employed for three years. He had inherited the best of qualities from his father, John J. Fahey, who died, however, when our subject was only six years old, and from his devoted mother. who is happily still living with him at Sunnyvale. His bookkeeping experience had given him a valu-

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able business training, and when he went in for farming and oil-producing, he was able to manage his affairs with capability. The climatic conditions of California induced him to visit the Golden State in 1918, and he availed himself of the opportunity to travel through this Coast region and to judge for himself: in 1919 he bought his property, and in 1920 he came out here to live. He had done well prior to coming here, and he was thus able to bring to California a comfortable competence.

At Monmouth, Ill., in 1914, Mr. Fahey was mar- ried to Miss Elizabeth Martin, the daughter of John and Mary Martin, of the well-known Martin fam- ily of Little York, Warren County, Ill., established there as early as 1830. The Martins came from Muskingum County, Ohio, to Warren County, Ill .. in the early days and a member of the family, Wil- liam Martin, was killed by the Indians at Little York in 1832, during the Black Hawk War. She graduated from Monmouth College, and both in her home circle and in the world beyond, she has been able to stand side by side with her husband, as a real and valuable helpmate. Mr. and Mrs. Fahey attend the Catholic Church, and Mr. Fahey is an Elk. Together they manage their excellent fruit ranch, extend a generous hospitality to their circle of friends and look forward to the time when Moun- Lain View harbor will come to its own.

LOUIS P. BENOIT .- A veteran business man of Palo Alto was the late Louis B. Benoit, the Stan- ford University merchant tailor, who had actively and successfully plied his trade there for the past twenty-five years. He was born at San Loup, France, December 7, 1844. There he grew to man- hood and learned thoroughly his trade of tailor, so that he could always be counted upon to do fine and conscientious work. He served in the French army with distinction in the war of 1871, receiving special

medals for bravery. In 1874 he came to America and settled at Woodland and established his busi- ness and conducted it successfully for two years. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in Woodland in 1879 and during the same year his marriage occurred, which united him with Miss Mar- garet St. Louis, a daughter of Edward St. Louis, a native of Canada, and one of Yolo County's first settlers; he had married Miss Marcella Perpetua Jack, who was born at Martinsburg. Berkeley County, W. Va., February 12, 1825, and her ancestors were descendants of the Lord Baltimore colonists. Edward St. Louis had removed from Canada to Missouri and on account of the prominence of the St. Louis family, the great city of St. Louis was named after them; he left Missouri with his wife and three children on April 3, 1852, making the journey across the plains by ox-team; upon arriving in Sacra- miento, September 18, 1852, they settled at Knights Landing, and Mr. St. Louis later became a farmer in Yolo County. He passed away in 1895, and his wife survived him until 1904. Mr. and Mrs. St. Louis were the parents of ten children: Charles E., lately deccased, was the first newspaper man in Woodland, being the founder and publisher of the Woodland News, he was later in life a farmer and he passed away in 1921 at the age of seventy-eight years; the second child, a daughter, died in infancy; George resides in Fresno County; Francis, now of San Leandro, Cal., formerly lived in Colusa, and was among the first farmers in that section to pro-

mote irrigation; later he became a surveyor; Mrs. Mary Hebert resides in Berkeley, Cal .; Virginia re- sides on the old home place in Yolo County; Mrs. Silvina Spooner resides in Glenn County; Mrs. Mar- cella Foster resides in Butte County; Mrs. Mar- garet Benoit, the wife of our subject; Martha resides upon the old home place in Yolo County, Cal.

Mr. and Mrs. Benoit removed to Palo Alto in 1895, and Mr. Benoit purchased the pioneer tailor shop and conducted it for over a quarter of a cen- tury; he was a hard worker and by his thorough and conscientious work built up a large and paying business. He was a favorite with everyone; citizen, student and professor alike. In 1905 he purchased a residence at 824 Bryant Street, where the family resides. Mr. and Mrs. Benoit were the parents of two children; Evelyn married William Fiske Henry, superintendent and part owner of the Palo Alto Times, and they have four children. Wilma, Wilbur, Louise and Arthur John; Eugene died at the age of one year. The family belong to the St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. Mr. Benoit passed away. on January 21, 1922, at his home at 824 Bryant Street. His condition, following a paralytic stroke, had been critical for several days. Funeral services were held at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church on January 23, and was one of the largest ever held from that church.

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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 93

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