History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 115

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

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The marriage of Mr. McCarthy occurred in Oak- land, August 10, 1884, and united him with Miss Margaret Bronsat. a native also of County Kerry,

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Ireland, born within four miles of her husband's birthplace. She is the daughter of Cornelins and Eleanor (Casey) Bronsan, farmers in their native land. Mrs. McCarthy was the ninth of a family of twelve children, and during 1879 she came to the United States and lived in Oakland until her mar- riage. In his political belief Mr. McCarthy favors the candidate best fitted for the office regardless of party lines. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and both belong to the Catholic Church.

JOHN W. BLANCH .- An enterprising and very successful contractor who has done much to advance the development of the painting trade in San Jose, is John W. Blanch, of 643 South Second Street, who was born in San Jose on December 19, 1865, the son of the late Charles Blanch. The latter was born in Gloucestershire, England, on February 20, 1831, and there he was reared and educated as a farmer. In 1851 he came to the United States and settled in Iowa, where he farmed for three years; and then he went on to Minnesota, and for five years continued agricultural pursuits there, although for two years in succession his entire crops were destroyed by grasshoppers. He crossed the great plains to California with the aid of ox teams, and came direct to Santa Clara County, arriving at San Jose in the fall of 1859. On the way the Indians stole their cattle. They followed the redskins for several days, until they came across the big band of thousands of Indians. Seeing no chance to recover their stock, they went back to their wagons and waited until another train came up, and made ar- rangements to come through with them.

After living for two years in San Jose, Charles Blanch took up farming about ten miles ont of town, where he lived until 1868, and then he proceeded to San Luis Obispo County and commenced dairying, but all of his cattle sickened and died. He then re- turned to Santa Clara County where he farmed for a year, and after that he made a journey to Oregon, where he put in a winter. In the spring, he was back in Santa Clara County. This time he settled at the place known as the White Oak Flat, in Bnr- nett township; and at the expiration of four years, he located on a ranch of 150 acres in Hoover Valley, where he lived for many years.

At St. Paul, Minn., on April 27, 1859, Mr. Blanch was married to Miss Maria Watkins, also a native of England, by whom he had ten children. William T. was born on October 9, 1863. Then came John W .. the subject of our review. Mary E. was born on January 5, 1868. Charles E. first saw the light on December 7, 1869. Sarah M. was born on March 8, 1873. Robert entered the family on March 27, 1875. Charlotte was born on February 17, 1879. The date of the birth of Edmund H. was February 8, 1860, and he died on May 22, 1860. Jessie A. was born on June 2. 1861, and died on September 21, 1866. Rich- ard, born on October 14, 1877, died three days later.

John W. Blanch attended the public school in the country districts for a couple of seasons, and when cighteen years old he started to make his own way in the world. He took up painting, beginning his apprenticeship under J. C. Roderick and finishing under Michael Lenzen, after which, as a journeyman painter, he worked for Mr. Baird for five years. Then he became a contractor in painting, and he continued active in that field for the following eight years, work-

ing throughout the Santa Clara Valley and as far as Hollister and Livermore. In 1899 he again became a journeyman, and he has continued as such for the past twenty years, acting also as a foreman painter, especially, for years, in the service of Walter McGin- ley, and during all that time making San Jose his home. He took up a homestead of 160 acres in the hills about sixty miles from San Jose; it is a valuable stock ranch, and is on the Phoenix Mining Road.

At San Jose, on November 4, 1891, Mr. Blanch was married to Miss Mattie Aborn, a native of Evergreen, Santa Clara County, and the daughtr of John Aborn who had married Mary E. Fullmer, born in San Jose in October, 1848. Her grandmother, Mrs. Eliza Full- mer, was a member of the famous Donner party and came to California in 1846. The Aborn Road was named after John Aborn, who was a veteran of the Mexican and also of the Civil War. This pioneer couple had six children of whom Mrs. Blanch is the fourth. Four children have blessed this union of Mr. and Mrs. Blanch. Charles R. is with the Santa Clara Mill & Lumber Company; he entered the World War as one of the Grizzlies, on October 23, 1917, and was in the One Hundred Forty-fourth Field Artillery. He was sent to Camp Kearny and there he volunteered as a replacement man and was sent overseas. He left for France on June 28, 1918. going via England to Brest, and on July 26 went into battle with his new regiment, the One Hundred Eighth Infantry, later transferred to the One Hundred Eighth Field Artillery, and he has credit for the following offensives: Aisne-Marne, the Vesle Sector. August 15 to 18, and August 18 to Septem- ber 10. Oise-Aisne offensive; October 30 to Novem- ber 11, Ypres-Lys. September 10 to October 10. Meuse-Argonne. He saw a great deal of active fight- ing, and was wounded once on the hand with shrap- nel. He returned to the United States on May 19. 1919, and on June 2 following was discharged. Hazel, the second child, is the wife of John E. Deeds of San Jose. Cecile has become the wife of Carle E. McAdoo. of the Benson Garage at San Jose. Wal- ter W. Blanch is with the American Can Company. Mr. Blanch is a Republican, and he is a member of the Eagles of San Jose.

FRED H. GARDNER .- During the '50s men from all sections of the country were thronging to California as offering advantages and opportunities greater than were possible in the East and it was in 1852 that Daniel Gardner, the father of our subject, journeyed across the plains with an old time ox- team train. Fred Gardner was born in the rural districts near Saratoga, November 29, 1879, the son of Daniel and Sarah (Kenyon) Gardner. The father first settled in Placerville and worked in the mines for six years, coming to Santa Clara County in 1858. and in 1861 bought the ranch where the family have lived continuously ever since. Daniel Gardner passed away in 1913, having enjoyed the fruits of his labors. living for many years in peace and con- tentment in the beautiful Saratoga section of the Santa Clara Valley. The mother came with her family across the plains from St. Joseph, Mo., in 1849, when she was but a small girl of five years, and on July 9, 1861, the young people met and were married at Santa Clara. Mrs. Gardner passed away in 1913, lacking three months of celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. The old house

y W Blanch mattie Blanch

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

still stands on the home place; last year half of the roof was reshingled, but the other half of the old roof still stands. Fifteen apple and ten pear trees planted by the father in 1863 are still bearing flowers and fruit each year.

Fred H. attended the grammar school in Saratoga and upon finishing the course went to the Los Gatos high school. With the exception of five years when he was engaged in the grocery business in San Mateo, Mr. Gardner has heen engaged in farming. His marriage united him with Miss Mabel Deanglar of Los Gatos, and they have two children, Myrtle and Frances. Politically Mr. Gardner is a Repub- lican, and fraternally is an Odd Fellow, being dis- trie deputy grand master. He is also a member of the encampment and the Canton, and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Foresters of America at Saratoga. He finds his recreation in ontdoor life, and gladly aids in all progressive measures for the upbuilding of Santa Clara County.

F. A. SHERMAN .- An experienced, successful railroad man who has amply proved that with in- telligent labor and conscientious attention one may succeed at horticulture in the Santa Clara Valley and attain to the most enviable results in this important division of California agriculture, is F. A. Sherman, who is operating the two Fassett farms, among the best enltivated ranches in the Santa Clara Valley. He was born at Allen, Hillsdale County, Mich., on November 8, 1861, the son of Frederick Sherman, a carpenter and builder who had married Miss Sabina Butterfield; and he was fortunate in being given a good grammar school education, for circumstances then compelled him to get out and work for a living. He secured employment on farms and also engaged with his father in carpentering; and he commenced at ranch work when he was only twelve years old and received five dollars a month. He next learned telegraphy and was an operator and agent at various places between Chicago and Lanark, Ill., on the Chi- cago and Council Bluffs division of the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railway, and for nine years he was at Hampshire, Stillman Valley, and Ontario- ville, when he also did considerable relieving at various stations along the line. In the fall of 1894. he came to Washington and for fifteen years he was with the Great Northern Railway Company as sta- tion agent; and there he became well acquainted with James J., or "Jim" Hill, as he was familiarly and affectionately known, the famous railway magnate.

He had also become acquainted with the Fassett family at Hampshire, Ill., and after they moved out to Santa Clara, Cal., in October, 1896, he married Miss Calla Fassett, the daughter of the late C. A. Fassett. After their marriage they went to Wash- ington, where Mr. Sherman continued in the railway service until September, 1910, when he came to his present place of residence and took up the responsi- bility already referred to. The two ranches aggre- gate thirty-two acres, and of these he has twenty- seven aeres devoted to the cultivation of prunes, and five acres to apricots.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are the parents of five children, all of whom are still living. Wilma, a grad- uate of the College of the Pacific, is the wife of Justin K. Dyche, who was a second lieutenant of aviation, and is now connected with the Oahu Col-

lege of Honolulu, as an instructor in chemistry and mathematics. Marian A. is a graduate of San Jose State Normal and is a teacher in the Santa Clara grammar school. Ceylon F. was in the junior train- ing corps and is a student at the College of the Pacific, where Edna L. is also studying; and there is Waldo N. Sherman, attending the grammar school at Santa Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Sherman are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Santa Clara, and politically they aim to vote for the best men and measures without fear or favor. Mr. Sherman be- longs to the Odd Fellows of Santa Clara and is a past grand of that order; and he is junior warden in the Masonie Lodge. All in all, Mr. and Mrs. Sherman belong to those circles most welcomed in the Santa Clara community, for they believe in the future of the great Golden State and never lose an opportunity to contribute to its permanent progress.

HUGH MACDONALD .- Although retired from the active cares of life, Hugh Macdonald still takes an interested part in the affairs of his locality and can be counted on to to give his aid to all matters of progress and development. Born in Kings County, Prince Edward Island, Canada, April 12. 1846, the son of John E. and Margaret (Walker) Macdonald, also born there of Scotch parents, he came with his parents to California in 1867 and they first located in San Francisco, later removing to the Livermore Valley, where they engaged in farming. Both parents have passed away, the father having died in 1870, shortly after removing to the Liver- more Valley, while the mother died in San Francisco.

Hugh Macdonald was the fourth oldest of twelve children and began his education in the schools of Canada. He farmed in the Livermore Valley for seven years, then spent two years at Santa Maria, and later removed to the Santa Cruz Mountains, where he worked in the redwood country for two seasons. He then took up a ranch in the mountains at the head of Kings Creek and lived there for eight years. His marriage in San Jose, December 31, 1881, united him with Miss Marcella Moultrie, born near Santa Clara, and she is the daughter of Riley Moultrie, who was a member of the Donner party. The father was a rancher at Santa Clara and later at Saratoga, and he died in San Jose, being survived by his widow, who is now ninety-one years old. Mr. and Mrs. Macdonald are the parents of two sons. Harland B. and Jerome E., both in the Imperial Valley, and there is one grandchild.

In 1900 Mr. Macdonald removed to his present home on the Saratoga Springs Road, which consists of thirty-nine acres. He cleared the land and set out the trees, and this highly improved orchard now yields him a handsome profit each year. He also has valuable property in the Imperial Valley. For thirteen years he was the trusted and efficient em- ployee of the San Jose Water Company and pur- chased his land from them. He is a stanch Demo- erat and has served the Castle Rock district as a school trustee. In 1899 Mr. Macdonald went to Nome, Alaska, and engaged in mining at Council City until 1904. during which time he spent two winters in the frozen North. During his long r.si- dence here he has seen much of the development of this section of the state and Santa Clara County and his mental and moral characteristics are such as have won for him the esteem and confidence of all who know him.

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CAPTAIN RICHARD BAILEY HARPER .-- The name of Captain Richard Bailey Harper is one that is well known to the citizens of Santa Clara County, since he has been a resident of this county continuous- ly for fifty-seven years. Captain Harper has been as- sociated throughout his entire residence in the West with the mining interests of the coast. Born at Red- ruth in Cornwall, England, June 3, 1847, he is a son of William and Elizabeth (Bailey) Harper; his father, William Harper, was a mechanical engineer and fol- lowed his profession all over England, Scotland and Waes; later in life he was sent to Spain in this line of work, and passed away there. When Richard B. Har- per was sixteen years of age he embarked for the United States, and in November, 1863, he came on a sailing vessel around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, Chile, thence on a steamer to Panama, then on the Golden Gate to San Francisco, arriving in March, 1864, locat- ing at Grass Valley, where he worked in the mines for a little over a year; then for two years worked in the Comstock gold and silver mines at Virginia City, Nev .; during the year of 1865 he came to Santa Clara County where he was engaged in the New Almaden mines for three years; then in the New Idria mines. He was solicited and returned to his former position in the Almaden mines and remained there for about three years. By this time, his experience in the man- agement of mines, had become varied, and he was en- gaged as foreman in the Mariposa gold mines for ten months; thence going to Grass Valley for about one year and he was then employed as foreman of the gold mines in Virginia City, Nev .; then was, for a time, foreman of the Silver Wave Mining Company at White Pines, Nev .; then for a year and a half was in charge of the Troy mines, in Nye County, Nev., owned and operated by an English company. Re- turning to San Jose about this time, he was the fortu- nate discoverer of the North Almaden quicksilver mines in Santa Clara County, and it was here that he built his first quicksilver furnace. In 1872 the com- pany was incorporated under the name of the North Almaden Quicksilver Mining Company, and their pro- duction, at one time, amounted to ten tons per day. The company maintained an office in San Francisco, but the headquarters were at the mines, Captain Har- per being general manager and trustee of the com- pany. The ground on which the mines were located was leased, and on the expiration of the lease, they were unable to secure a renewal, and in 1876, the com- pany was dissolved. Captain Harper then removed to Sinaloa, Mexico, taking charge of the silver mines of the Alacan Mining Company of San Francisco. Upon his return to the United States, he was recommended to the British government, and was designated as "Her Majesty's Inspector of Mines." His territory was confined to British Columbia, and he was thus engaged for two years. He was instrumental in erect- ing the first gold mine smelter in Cariboo. Upon severing his relations with the English government, he returned to San Jose, and took charge of the Mari- posa County mines; also the Red Cloud mines, in which capacity he worked for two years; then for six years, he travelled in Mexico for an English com- pany, as mine inspector, traveling from Mexico City to the northern boundary; he then purchased the New Almaden mines in Mexico for an American company, and erected the first continuons quicksilver furnace in Mexico; he was with this company for two years. Upon his return to San Jose, he purchased the Santa

Teresa quicksilver mines for a company in Boston, Mass .; also purchasing what was known as the "Old Chapman" mitte, operating both of these mines for three years; he again returned to Mexico, this time purchasing a mine in the state of Chihuahua, and for almost a year he operated this mine. He was obliged, on account of the revolution and unsettled conditions, to abandon his project, and was fortunate enough to escape unharmed, although he encountered many hardships, and was obliged many times to fight for his life. He has large and valuable interests in Chihuahua, but is unable to look after them on ac- count of the conditions there. In all Captain Harper has made sixty-eight trips to Mexico and return. Still following the line of work he was best fitted for, in 1907, he became a mine examiner, and was actively engaged as a mine inspector for seven years, and be- cause of his varied experience in all manner of mines, he is considered one of the experts on mining in the United States. He has held the position of examiner of mines not only for the British government, but for the American government, and now, although ad- vanced in years, is consulted when something unusual comes up. He has personally inspected every mine of consequence, from British Columbia to Peru, Bo- livia, and Chile, South America. He was referred to as the junior expert, and for years travelled with George Hearst, the father of William R. Hearst, who was known as the senior adviser. When questions of valuation of mining property came up, the junior ex- pert was always consulted, and his advice often de- cided the case. Since 1914, he has been obliged to seek a rest from his active duties, but is often called in consultation, regarding valuations and productive- ness of mining properties. At one time he was the owner of large real estate interests in Santa Clara County, but now his interests are centered in mining property; he owns twenty acres of mineral land near Almaden and is also interested in mines in Mariposa County, Cal.

Capt. Harper's first marriage on February 22, 1877, united him with Miss Emma Farnsworth, a native of San Jose, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah Farns- worth, whose father removed to California as early as 1852 and farmed at Evergreen. Mrs. Harper was edu- cated in the public schools of San Jose, later attend- ing the State Normal School. Three children were born to Captain and Mrs. Harper; William, a mining engineer employed in Yuma, Ariz .; Marie, deceased in 1917, and Emma, who entered a convent in San Fran- cisco. There are four grandchildren, the children of William Harper-William, Jr., Richard, Emma and Margaret. Mrs. Harper passed away in 1886. The second marriage in 1907 of Captain Harper united him with Mrs. Philomena Glubetich, a native of Dal- matia, her people being pioneers of California in 1870; she passed away October 2, 1921. Politically Captain Harper is a stalwart supporter of the principles of the Republican party. He has a large acquaintance with prominent men of national fame and was a close friend of Senator John P. Jones, George Hearst, Irv- ing and Henry Scott, Mike and Charles De Young, Senators Fair and Stanford and David McKinley; also was a close friend of many eastern men of prominence and national repute. He speaks the Spanish language fluently. Fraternally he is a Mason, Eagle and an Odd Fellow. Looking back on a highly useful life, he is able to review his career with the satisfaction which very properly comes of the knowledge that no

R.B. Harper

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

taint or blemish has attached to his name, that honor and integrity have characterized all his transactions, that an unselfish spirit has actuated him in his per- sonal dealings with his fellowmen, and that in all ways he has done what he could to make the world a little better as the result of a well-planned and well- spent life.

SAM B. LOWE .- A member of one of the honored pioneer families of California, Sam B. Lowe is widely and favorably known in San Jose, where he is now serving as financial clerk on the board of supervisors of Santa Clara County and is discharging the duties of this position conscientiously and efficiently. He was born May 28, 1872, a son of Waldo H. and Eliza J. (Whiteman) Lowe, the former of whom was born in Newburyport, Mass., while the latter was a native of Missouri. She arrived in California at an early period in the development of the state, coming to Santa Clara County with the Pyle-Whiteman party in 1846. She died in 1919 at the age of seventy-five years. Mr. Lowe was a brother of Ralph and James R. Lowe, the family having come to California via Panama in the early '50s. Waldo Lowe died in 1879. His father was named James R. Lowe, and his mother was before her marriage Mary Tuckwell. J. R. Lowe was born in Chesterfield. England, in 1808 and was educated as a landscape gardener and horti- culturist. It was his fame from his native land that led him to come to America and he executed some very fine pieces of landscape gardening in the East. In 1852 he came to California and with his family located in San Jose and engaged as a landscape gar- dener and was the means of bringing here and propa- gating many valuable plants and trees, a work to which he was devoted up to the time of his death in 1874. He was at one time a member of the city council. Mr. and Mrs. Waldo H. Lowe became the parents of four children, all residents of Santa Clara County: Sherburne W., a rancher of Cupertino; Sam B., of this review; Waldo H., Jr., connected with the Bank of San Jose, and Mary R. O'Keefe, also of Cupertino.

After completing his high school course at San Jose, Sam B. Lowe was for a short time a student at Pacific University and when eighteen years of age started out in life independently, working at odd jobs while still pursuing his studies. Going to Ag- new, in Santa Clara County, he there opened the first general merchandise store in the locality, acting as postmaster of the town at the same time. For thirteen years he successfully conducted his mercan- tile establishment at Agnew and then sold his in- terest to Messrs. Lewis and King, after which he came to San Jose. Two years later he secured a clerical position in the office of the county clerk and has since been identified with various departments of the county. Since 1919 he has been financial clerk of the board of supervisors of Santa Clara County and is well qualified for this position, proving sys- tematic, prompt, and reliable in the discharge of his responsible duties. He also has other interests, being associated with his sister and brothers in the owner- ship and operation of a valuable ranch of eighty acres at Cupertino, devoted to the raising of berries and other products. This was a part of a quarter- section of land that was taken up from the govern- ment by Mr. and Mrs. Lowe.

In San Francisco, Cal., on May 31, 1902, Mr. Lowe was united in marriage to Miss Annie M. Wade, a

native of Alviso, and a daughter of Harry G. and Mary Wade. The father, a native of England, came to the United States as a boy and subsequently made his way to California, arriving during the pioneer epoch in its history. In the early days he ran a stage between San Jose and Alviso and he afterward be- came an extensive stock raiser and successful rancher. To Mr. and Mrs. Wade were born three children: George, residing in Alviso; Margaret, the wife of J. P. Higgins, of San Jose; and Annie M., now Mrs. Lowe.

Mr. Lowe gives his political allegiance to the Re- publican party and fraternally he is connected with the Masons, belonging to San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and to San Jose Parlor No. 22, N. S. G. W. He has led an active and useful life, utiliz- ing every opportunity to advance, and his present success is entirely attributable to his close applica- tion and laudable ambition. His personal character- istics are those which make for popularity and he has many warm friends in Santa Clara County.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 115

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