History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 111

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934

USA > California > Santa Clara County > History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches > Part 111

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

he chose Miss Mabel Reick, and they have one child, Dorothy. Emma M. is at present Mrs. Frank Grigsby of 42 Union Street, San Jose; and they have one daughter, Vivian. Ida M. has become Mrs. W. A. Rasmussen, of 381 Delmar Avenue, San Jose; and they have one son, W. A. Rasmussen, Jr. Since coming to San Jose, Mr. and Mrs. Peacock have made their home at 2 Sanborn Avenue.

JAMES PATRICK SEX .- A representative mem- ber of the legal fraternity, James Patrick Sex is highly esteemed by his associates. A native son of California, he was born in San Jose April 7, 1875, a son of Peter and Margaret (Kenny) Sex. In 1851 his father came to California via the Isthmus of Panama and settled first in San Francisco, but during the gold rush went to Amador and Calaveras coun- ties; later during the gold excitement, he moved to the Feather River country, then journeyed into Brit- ish Columbia and Canada.

A few years later, in the year of 1857, Mr. Sex returned to California and settled in Amador County, where he became a naturalized citizen; he remained there until 1859 when he came to San Francisco for a short time and from there to Mon- terey and San Luis Obispo counties, where he was engaged in the cattle and sheep business. In 1866 he returned to Santa Clara County and engaged in farming. and later was employed as general night man with the San Jose and San Francisco Railroad, which had just been completed. On account of fail- ing health, he only remained with them for one year, and returned to farming and for a year or more operated a threshing machine in partnership with Thos. Boyter and Dennis Hayes.

After his marriage to Mrs. Margaret (Kenny) Shaw, who was also a pioneer of this country, Mr. Sex was engaged in general teaming, which he con- tinned until 1896, after which he became superin- tendent of Calvary Cemetery and was thus engaged until his death, which occurred in 1902. Mrs. Sex passed away April 17, 1887. By her union with Mr. Shaw Mrs. Sex had two children, one of whom grew up-Margaret Shaw the wife of James Mc- Kagney of San Jose; and of her union with Peter Sex there were also two children, William, who died in infancy and James Patrick.

James P. Sex received his preliminary education in St. Joseph's College, supplemented by a course in Santa Clara College, when he received the coveted degree of Ph.B. in 1909 and his LL.D. in 1910. He had matriculated in Santa Clara College in 1890 for the class of 1894, but circumstances arose which compelled him to leave college in 1893, and he en- tered Wm. A. Bowden's law office and studied law until he was admitted to the bar. April 27, 1896, and later on to the U. S. District Court, August 3, 1909. After his admission he practiced law for a year with Mr. Bowden, until June 1, 1897, when he entered the county clerk's office as a deputy county clerk under Henry A. Pfister, serving until June 1, 1902. He then opened a law office and practiced law until January 1, 1904, when he entered the district attorney's office as assistant district attorney under Judge Jas. H. Campbell, continuing under him and his successor, Arthur M. Free, until November 1, 1911, when he resigned to again enter the general practice of law with offices in the First National Bank Building, San Jose, where he has a lucrative

James J. Sex.

705

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

practice among a large clientele. He is well known and popular, and his business is not alone confined to Santa Clara County and the Bay region, but over the whole State of California, having had nu- merous interesting and hard-fought cases in the course of his legal career.

In July, 1909, with Father Joseph W. Lydon, Mr. Sex was one of the organizers of the law depart- ment of the University of Santa Clara, which was opened in August, 1909, since which time he has been professor of criminal law, a chair he has filled acceptably and well. Since January 1, 1920, he has also conducted the class of practice and the moot court of the above institution.

The marriage of Mr. Sex, January 29, 1900, united him with Miss Nellie G. Ward, born in San Fran- cisco, the daughter of John and Julia Ward. She graduated at Notre Dame College in 1897. To them has been born one daughter, Helen Marie. Politic- ally he is a Democrat, is a third degree Knight of Columbus, belongs to the Young Men's Institute, and is a faithful and devout member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church. He has richly deserved the suc- cess he has achieved and it is the wish of all who know him that he may long live to enjoy the fruits of his labors, and the good will of his many friends throughout the community.

FRANCIS MARION EVANS .- A pioneer whose life and work have left a deep and abiding impress on his day was Francis Marion Evans, a native of Missouri, where he was born on January 19, 1837. His father, Josiah Evans, was a frontiersman and a farmer, who had married Miss Cavery Ann Smith; and when the lad was twelve years old, his parents set ont across the rough country to California and soon settled in the Placerville district, where Mr. Evans mined for a number of years. In time the family migrated further to Santa Clara County and there, east of Milpitas, they found part of the old Tularcitos grant, which took their fancy; and Mr. Evans purchased 500 acres of the grant, buying it twice, in reality, on account of a dispute in the title. He set out ten acres to prunes, and devoted the bal- ance of the land to general farming. The land proved a good investment, and the past season twelve acres have been devoted to the cultivation of tomatoes, and round about the home, which was erected on the ranch in 1870, stock, grain, hay and seed are raised. There were four children in the iamily, Francis being the eldest.

He attended the grammar schools in Missouri, and completed his schooling in California, but the de- mands of a busy life precluded his carrying studies beyond the lower grades. At San Jose, on December 12, 1869, he married Miss Lydia R. Trueman, a native of New Brunswick, Canada, and the daughter of Marcus and Rebecca (Reynold) Trueman, who brought her to California in 1868 by way of the Panama route. They stopped for a while in San Francisco, then Mr. Trueman took up farming, and after that he engaged in undertaking. He lived to he eighty-three years old, and his good wife breathed; her last when past eighty. Mr. Evans built an attrac- tive home on an elevation commanding the valley below, and on that beautiful spot he and his wife reared a family of six children: George, Nellie, Ann, Mrs. Topham, Elizabeth, C. J. and Arthur. Francis

Marion Evans, who was a standpat but broad- minded Republican who exerted the best of influence in politics, died on November 26, 1915, particularly honored by his fellow-members of the Pioneers and Grangers of Santa Clara County.

JOHN H. COSTIGAN .- A popular public official of Milpitas is John H. Costigan, who in addition to the performance of his duties as constable is a pros- perous rancher and the successful proprietor and manager of one of the best livery stables in all Santa Clara County. A native son proud of his association with the great Pacific commonwealth, he was born seven miles west of Gilroy, in Santa Clara County, on September 23, 1861, the son of John J. and Mary E. Costigan. His father was a resident of Illinois when he decided to migrate westward to California; and he came to the Golden State by way of the Isthmus route, and arrived in San Francisco in 1854.

Almost immediately, as the result of his insight and foresightedness, he came on to Santa Clara County, where he engaged as a merchant at a place between Edenvale and Cottage Grove, where there used to be a quicksilver mine, establishing himself in business as a partner of R. McIlroy. In that place and way he continued a number of years, or until the quicksilver mine was abandoned, when he lost heavily through the indebtedness to him of those who suddenly left the mine country. He then en- gaged in the raising of sheep near Gilroy, and so it happened that the lad John attended the school in the Adams district. Later, when his father had taken up an express business in San. Jose, he went to school there in the old city hall, the eldest in a family of ten children, only six of whom are still living These surviving representatives of one of the worthiest couples ever settling in Santa Clara County are, our subject; Alice, now Mrs. J. R. Grant of Gilroy; Anna, now Mrs. Walter Espinoza of Monn- tain View: Robert, who is field manager for Milpitas of the California Packing Corporation; Isabelle, and George, tractor driver with the California Packing Corporation at Milpitas.

When John H. Costigan was twenty years old, he accepted employment with William Tennant at the Twenty-one Mile House, and later he worked for G. J. Murphy, on the Murphy Ranch, at Gilroy; and when Mr. Murphy removed to Milpitas, he became foreman of the Moreland Stock Ranch, conducted there by Mr. Murphy, and which was devoted to the raising of fine horses; and in association with Mr. Murphy, in horse-breeding, of thoroughbred trotting horses, he remained active as a leader for ten years, his experience proving of real value not only to the interests of the famous ranch, hut in the advance- ment of this branch of California industry.

In 1898 Mr. Costigan became constable of Milpitas, five years after he moved into the town itself, and he has since held that responsible office, to the entire satisfaction of everyone, displaying level-headedness and both public spirit, resolution and bravery in the performance of his duty, maintaining law and order, and doing justice by all who have official dealings with him. In 1912 he embarked in the livery busi- ness, and he has continued to furnish Milpitas the best service of that kind she has ever enjoyed.

At San Jose, on September 6, 1893, Mr. Costigan was married to Miss Mary Ellen Elrod, a native of Gilroy and the daughter of N. and Hannah (Fitts) Elrod, natives of North Carolina, who came to Gil-

706

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

roy in early days. Mrs. Costigan owns a ranch of 160 acres in the Adams district near Gilroy, while Mr. Costigan has a farm of equal size in Lassen County, taken up by him under the enlarged Home- stead Act. Six children have blessed this union: Vivian has become Mrs. Edward Costigan of Mil- pitas; Mamie is Mrs. Silveira of Livermore; Etta Costigan dwells in San Jose; Lester lives at home; Avis is now Mrs. V. C. Eller of Fresno; Archie Ray died in May, 1921. Mr. Costigan is a standpat Democrat, whose experience and foresight are sought for the councils of his party, and he is a member of the Milpitas lodge of the U. P. E. C.

WILLIAM H. SELBY-A very successful ranch- er who is also an expert carpenter, is William H. Selby, of 269 South Fifteenth Street, San Jose, whom the citizens of Santa Clara County are pleased to honor, first as the son of a worthy pioneer, secondly as the husband of a talented lady who well represents another pioneer family of note, and third, as one whose forward movements have always meant something promising to others besides himself.

A native son, he was born at San Jose on April 9, 1862, the son of John Samuel and Sarah (Brelsford) Selby, long highly-esteemed residents of the Santa Clara Valley. His great-grandfather, John Selby, was a native of Maryland, and he migrated to Ken- tucky, and later settled where he died, in Callaway County, Mo. He had a son, William J. Selby, who was born in Shelby County, Ky., and grew up a car- penter; and later he was a farmer in Callaway County, Mo., where he lived until his demise. He married Miss Julia Ann Turley, also a native of Ken- tucky, who passed away in Missouri. John Samuel was one of a family of seven children, and was born in 1834 in Callaway County, where he attended school. On April 17, 1853, he set out on a five- months' trip to California. He took a good look at the Santa Clara Valley, and the result of the inspec- tion was his locating at San Jose. He soon went to work in Marin County, in the redwood district, after which he returned to San Jose.

Then he took up farming, and purchased 150 acres at Berryessa; but at the end of three years he sold this tract and bought a farm five miles north of San Jose-100 choice acres, of which he soon had four- teen set out in orchards. Once established as a farmer, he followed contracting and building as well; and from 1892 he was one of the best supervisors, for four years, Santa Clara County ever had. He married Miss Brelsford, a native of the Hoosier State, the ceremony taking place at San Jose; and two sons and three daughters blessed this union. Mary mar- ried William E. Trimble, a farmer of San Jose; Emma Jane is the wife of Ed. Able, of Milpitas; Wil- liam H. is the head carpenter at the State Hospital at Agnew; Lizzie Lee became the wife of W. E. Coombs, of San Jose; and George Wray is a citizen of Santa Maria. John S. Selby was active as a Demo- cratic politician, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and also a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Chuch South. As a lumberman at Vir- ginia City, and in other places and fields of activity, he steadfastly set forth the example of a straight- forward Christian gentleman.

William H. Selby attended the Orchard School in Santa Clara County, the third child in the family, and when old enough to do so, took up carpentering with

his father. When twenty years of age, he assumed the responsibilities of contracting in partnership with his father; but in December 1898, he entered the ser- vice of the state, and became the supervising carpen- ter and builder, in charge of maintenance at the Ag- new State Hospital. He lived on the old Selby ranch, until 1911 when he moved into San Jose.

At San Jose, on August 23, 1893, he married to Miss Alice Meads, a native of Santa Clara County, the daughter of John Wesley Meads, who came to California in 1853, locating in Santa Clara County His grandmother was a member of the old Amos family of Kentucky, and near relative of Gen. Robert E. Lee. John W. Meads was born in Baltimore, Md., on April 11, 1834, the son of William Meads, also a native of that city, a famous vegetable gardener of early days. John W. Meads grew up in a family each one of whom made a name and record, and in young manhood was apprenticed to the mason's trade. When he came out to California he traveled by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and he rented land near Alviso, on the Alviso and San Jose road, where he engaged in farming until 1865. He married Miss Agnes Louise Emerson, a native of Maine, and the daughter of Capt. Charles Emerson, who brought his family to California by way of the Horn in 1849, as master of his own vessel. He located his family in San Jose while he continued to follow the sea for many years, making trips to both the Orient and Europe. He was shipwrecked twice, losing two ves- sels. His wife was accidentally killed while a pas- senger on the steamer Jennie Lind, when the boilers aboard blew up in San Francisco Bay.

Mrs. Selby is the fourth child in a family of seven children, three of whom are living. Being an accom- plished and attractive woman she is able to give her own daughter, Elizabeth Louise, many advantages. In 1911, Mr. and Mrs. Selby bought their present home on South Fifteenth Street; and there they have since lived. He is a Democrat, Mrs. Selby a Republi- can, and she has served on the election board.

MRS. ROBERT S. INGLESON .- A splendid ex- ample of what a plucky American woman may do, her character ennobled by a high, definite purpose in life, when called upon to discharge enormous duties in the face of many and well-nigh overpower- ing obstacles, has been afforded in the life of Mrs. Robert S. Ingleson, the rancher, who lives at the corner of First and Gish streets, in San Jose. A native New Yorker, she was born at South Glens Falls, in Saratoga County, and was baptized Martha M. Parks, the daughter of William and Clara (Sweet) Parks, and the granddaughter of Daniel Parks. Her parents were descended from old New York families, and they left nine children to perpetuate their well- established lineage. Mrs. Ingleson was the second child and eight of the family are still living, Thomas, the seventh-born, having died at the age of twenty- three. Samuel, William, Archie F., and John are stockmen in Santa Clara County; Bertha has be- come Mrs. Hulbert Willis, of San Jose; Nellie is Mrs. Styles, of Los Angeles; the youngest of the family is named Mark, also a stockman, residing in San Luis Obispo County.

William Parks was a stockman after he came to California in 1877 and in 1881 became a partner with C. C. Schofield in the cattle business on the Mt. Hamilton Range on Black Mountain, east of San

alice Meads Selly.

IN the selby

709

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Jose. It happened, therefore, that Martha Parks at- tended the San Jose grammar school; and growing up, she was married at San Jose, on November 1, 1891, to Robert S. Ingleson, who was born on Alviso Road, in Santa Clara County, April 13, 1859, the son of Charles and Louisa (Bergen) Ingleson, na- tives of the Island of Guernsey, England, and Balti- more, Md., respectively. He sailed around the Horn to California in 1849, and bought land in the vicinity of Alviso, and it is believed that Mr. Ingleson built the first two-story frame house in the county. Mr. Ingleson made a trip back East and in Baltimore, Md., he was married, and he brought his wife out with him. There were nine children in their family, of whom Robert S. was the second-born. Mary, now Mrs. Harper, was the eldest; after Robert came Charles; then Elizabeth, who married Henry Gallagher of San Jose, and the others were John, Mrs. Margaret Shattuck, James, Clara and George.

Robert Ingleson attended the public schools of Santa Clara County, while growing up on the old home place, a ranch of 160 acres south of Alviso, and after they were married, they lived until the fall of 1906 on a part of the ranch, leaving it only when the place was sold. Mr. Ingleson then rented the old Flannery Ranch of 100 acres, and for nine vears conducted there a stock and dairy farm.

When Mrs. Ingleson had been married about one years, her mother died, and she was called upon to take her place as foster mother to the five younger members of the family, and to rear them as well as her own children. Mr. Ingleson died on February 9, 1916, highly esteemed and mourned by all who knew him, and she has since then been compelled to meet the perplexing problems of life alone. For- tunately, she has never cared much for diverting social activities, but has thrown her energy into her home and ranch duties, and thus developed a splen- did, dependable character. Fortunately, also, she inherited much of inestimable value from her father, who for a while was one of the superintendents of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst's estate, and for years had a force of about fifty men working under him. She owned a ranch in Merced County, but she farmed it, to grain, for only one season. In 1916 she purchased a ranch of thirty-one acres known as a part of the Younger Tract, which was devoted to dairying and the raising of alfalfa. To this has been added six- teen acres adjoining, known as the C. C. Churchill Farm, and the whole is being developed into a fine berry farm. Then she owns a ranch of 275 acres on the Felter Road, southeast of Milpitas, where eighteen acres are devoted to prunes and the rest to general farming. This ranch is known as the Cullins Ranch, and under Mrs. Ingleson's skillful management, it has been brought to a high state of cultivation. Two children were born to the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ingleson, and they bear the names of Hazel and Dorothy; both are home, the joy and pride of their devoted mother.

WILLIAM ALLEN JOHNSTON .- A deservedly eminent representative of the California Bar is Wil- liam Allen Johnston, who was born at San Jose on September 29, 1856, the son of Silas Newtea and Virginia L. (Faber) Johnston, natives of Kentucky and Iowa, respectively. The Johnstons are an old

Kentucky family of Scotch-Irish descent, while Grandfather John S. Faber was born in Virginia in 1810 and became a pioneer of the Mississippi Valley, taking part in the Mexican War. After the death of his wife he brought his daughter, Virginia L., across the plains to California in 1852, spending his remaining days in Santa Clara County, where he passed away on August 9, 1900, at the age of ninety years. Silas Newton Johnston also came to Cali- fornia across the plains, arriving here in 1853, and for years was a carpenter and then established him- self in the lumber business on the present site of the Glenwood Lumber Company on Third Street. Later he became vice-president of the old Union Savings Bank and was also a member of the city council. He died on October 2, 1907. and Mrs. johnston passed away on January 3, 1909. They were the parents of six children: William Allen of this sketch; J. H. Johnston, M. D., who died in 1904; Walter S., a druggist of San Jose; Frank F., of Hubbard & Carmichael Bros .; a daughter died in childhood, and L. May is the wife of R. B. Hale, of Hale Bros., Inc., San Francisco.

The eldest of the family, William Allen Johnston, attended the public schools until 1871, and then matriculated at the University of the Pacific, from which he was graduated with the A. B. degree in 1876, three years later the university conferring upon him the Master of Arts degree. In the fall of 1876 he entered the law school of the University of Michigan and on March 28, 1878, he was graduated with the LL.B. degree. Returning to California, Mr. Johnston Was admitted to the bar of this state on April 30, 1878, and he soon thereafter formed a partnership with Thomas H. Laine, who was state senator and then a member of the State Constitu- tional Convention in 1879. From December, 1884, to 1890, Mr. Johnson discontinued practice on account of the condition of his eyes, but he has again become a familiar figure in the courts of law, having resumed practice and taken in with him his son, Faber L. Johnston. Mr. Johnston is a stockholder in the Security State Bank and the Security Savings Bank of San Jose, being attorney for both banks, and as vice-president of the latter he safeguards important financial affairs in which thousands are interested. With his son he is attorney for the San Jose Build- ing & Loan Association.

At San Jose on January 24, 1884, Mr. Johnston was married to Miss Cora L. Laine, a native of Santa Clara County and the daughter of Senator Thomas H. and Lucy (Chapman) Laine, pioneers of '49. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John- ston and in late years their family circle has been made happier by the birth of four gandchildren. Ila Lee is the widow of Capt. A. E. Preston, who died of influenza while serving in the Engineering Corps in France, during the World War; Hazel M. is Mrs. H. D. Ainsworth; Faber L., a graduate of Stanford University, is in partnership with his father; William N. is an automobile machinist; Dorothy is a graduate of Stanford Unversity. Mr. Johnston is an honored member of the California Bar Associa- tion, and in the councils of the Republican party he is a valued leader.

710

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

THOMAS O'CONNELL-The life of Thomas O'Connell, who passed away on March 18, 1921, affords a striking illustration of the value of indus- try and determination. A native of Ireland, he was born November 4, 1846, the son of James and Joannah (Maroney) O'Connell, both natives of Ireland. The father died before the family left their native land, but the mother lived to reach the United States, passing away at New Haven, Conn. They were the parents of eleven children.

Thomas O'Connell was educated in the common schools of Ireland, and left home at the age of seventeen, coming to the United States, and settled at New Haven, Conn. He remained there for a year and a half, working at odd jobs, then came to California in the year of 1868. He worked in a brickyard in San Francisco for one and a half years, then moved to San Benito County and engaged in farming for twenty-six years. Here he acquired considerable property. In 1895 he moved to San Jose and established his wood and coal business, which has proved a profitable undertaking. In the year 1901 he retired from active business life and his five sons have since been successfully conduct- ing the business, which has prospered under their management. July 9, 1906, the business was in- corporated under the name of O'Connell Bros., Inc. The growing business is located at Sixth and St. James streets, and their large real estate holdings comprise 15,000 acres of land.

The marriage of Mr. O'Connell in May, 1872, united him with Miss Julia Elizabeth O'Brien, born in Boston, Mass., and who survives him. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell are the parents of seven children: James William, died in early manhood at the age of twenty- three; Charles Thomas married Elizabeth Cunan and has three children, Maurice Robert, Adrian Earl, and Clarisse Evlyn, and is manager of O'Connell Bros., Inc .; Franklin J. married Rhea Fenton and has three children, Fenton, James and Ruth, and is manager of O'Connell Bros. ranch; George Daniel is mar- ried to Maime McMurray and has two children. Irwin and Kenneth, and has charge of the meat and grocery department for O'Connell Bros .; Albert F. and Lillian are twins, the former married Grace Clark and he assists in the management of their ranch, while Lillian married Eugene I. Cunan of San Jose, who passed away August 9, 1917, leaving his widow and little daughter, Eugenia; Elmer Stephen has charge of the fuel department for O'Connell Bros. Politically Mr. O'Connell was always a stanch Democrat, and with his family belonged to the Cath- olic Church. While winning his way to a front rank in business, at the same time he gained the confidence of associates and acquaintances, and was esteemed for his high principles of honor and in- tegrity in business transactions and was mourned by a large circle of friends. He always labored ef- fectively and earnestly to uphold the interests which made for public progress and improvement.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 111

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 1934

Author: Sawyer, Eugene T
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 1934