History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 125

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 125

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).

JOHN SNYDER .- During August, 1901, John Snyder passed away, and Santa Clara County lost one of its largest and most successful ranchers and most energetic, capable and public-spirited pioneers. On February 11, 1828, in Harrison County, Ind, he was born, the son of Joseph K. and Sarah (Fleming) Snyder, the father, a native of Philadelphia, Pa., and the mother born in France. Her name was originally Flamonde, but it was changed to Fleming after she and her sister Louise, afterwards Mrs. Harry Bowen, came with Stephen Girard to Philadelphia, making their home with his family until they were married. The Snyder family had settled in Harrison County in 1821, when it was but a wilderness, and in the fall of 1839 removed to what is now Tipton, Cedar County, Iowa, where the parents reared and educated their family of five daughters and three sons. In 1849, when John Snyder was twenty-one, he joined a small party in which were his father and brother- in-law, Moses Bunker, in a trip across the plains. The two wagons comprising their outfit, with ox teams and provisions, traveled alone until reaching the Missouri River, when they were joined by others. The party underwent the usual hardship and danger incident to a trip across the plains in those early days, and arrived in California where Chico has since sprung into existence. The two older men soon re- turned to lowa. The following winter was spent in the mines, and then Mr. Snyder went to Trinity County, and after joining the new camp became aware that the supply of provisions was running low, and volunteers were asked for to go in search of food to replenish the larder. Mr. Snyder was among

the number chosen to go to Humboldt Bay for this purpose, and later he was one of a party to make a trail to the Salmon River from Trinity County. He then located in Weaverville. An expedition was or- ganized by a man named Ross, who discovered the Scott River, but never received the credit for his dis- covery. Scott, after whom the river was named, met Mr. Ross and party when they were in pursuit of Pawnee Indians who had stolen their ponies, and from the party learned of the location of the river. Turning his course in the direction of the river, Scott appropriated its discovery.

At a later period Mr. Snyder made another trip to Scott River and took out considerable gold, but on account of bad weather the party followed the course of the river to its head, then in the direction of Fort Jones, and to Shasta Butte and the Oregon trail. Here the party broke up, some going to Oregon and Mr. Snyder and his friends going to Sacramento. For a short time he lived in the vicinity of San Jose, and after working in the redwoods a few weeks was em- ployed on farms during the winter of 1850-51. Re- turning to Santa Clara County the following spring, he was taken ill with fever and was unable to do any- thing until 1852, when, in February, he returned to the redwoods. In 1855 he was again in Santa Clara County operating a farm and threshing machine, and his success led him to establish a home of his own, shortly after his marriage with Martha Kifer, in the fall of 1855. Mrs. Snyder also came from a pioncer family of the coast country, having been born at Mount Sterling, Montgomery County, Ky., in which state her father, John Kifer, had settled after his re- moval from Tennessee. The father was born in Pennsylvania, and in 1847 removed to Jackson Coun- ty, Mo., where he engaged in farming, and from where he crossed the plains with his family in 1853. The train consisted of twenty wagons, and he had 150 head of cattle, and was selected captain of the train. Settling near Mountain View, he purchased government land and farmed for the balance of his life, his death occurring at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, formerly Lucy Martin, was born in Tennessee, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Snyder, at an advanced age.

Mr. Snyder continued to farm until the fall of 1859, when he bought a farm near Mountain View, and lived there until 1865. Meantime, in 1861, he had pur- chased the large tract of land on Permanente Creek, which originally consisted of 1160 acres. He bought the land on time, but he was fortunate with his crops and from the first year's yield was able to pay for one-half of it. His grain crop of 1862 was the first raised in this section of the county. His success in- spired others and was an incentive for his neighbors to plant their land to grain, and the section became fa- mous for the quality and quantity of its grain output. He had about 500 acres under cultivation and twenty- five acres in orchard, principally French prunes, and sixteen acres in vineyard. He also owned eighty acres in the Collins school district in vineyard, and his farm near Mountain View of 160 acres in hay and grain. He also owned 300 acres in Monterey County, a part of a tract of 1200 acres he had purchased with his brother-in-law, Mr. Kifer, in 1866, as well as valuable property in San Mateo and Fresno counties. Fol- lowing Mr. Snyder's death, his widow occupied the

792

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

home ranch of 700 acres. Mrs. Snyder proved an excellent manager, and an ideal mother, rearing a family of five children, all of whom reflect credit upon her teachings and example. She passed away in January, 1919, at the age of eighty-one. Her eld- est daughter, Sarah Ann, is the widow of William F. Foss, of San Jose; Arthur J. is a rancher of Mountain View; John H. passed away six years ago; Martha B. became the wife of Dr. W. H. Hammond; she passed away on their ranch near Mountain View, leaving one child, Muriel, who is the wife of Raymond Haynes; Letitia became the wife of E. F. Kendall, residing on a ranch called "Kendall Dell," five miles south of Mountain View. Mr. Snyder was a Democrat in poli- tics, and fraternally was a Mason. He was respected and honored in his locality and contributed to its standard of manhood by a noble and upright life.

EDMUND L. FELLOWS .- A man of recognized worth and ability who has contributed much to the horticultural development of the Santa Clara Valley and whose mining interests are also extensive is Ed- mund L. Fellows, a native son, born at Napa, April 4, 1865, the son of a pioneer family of 1850, estab- lished in the state in that year by his father, George Fellows, one of the most interesting characters in the early history of the state.

George Fellows left his native state, New Hamp- shire, when nine years old, and accompanied his par- ents to Galena, Ill., where he was reared. In 1850 he joined the gold-seekers on the Pacific Coast, and more fortunate than many, he acquired a genuine lik- ing for mining and was interested for the remainder of his life, operating on gradually increasing propor- tions. From Hangtown he removed to Nevada County, and there he discovered the Plumbago mines and the Fellows lead, later called Gold Canyon. Later he located other large, valuable properties and he became known as one of the most successful gold mine owners in that section. In 1862 he removed to Napa, and while there, with others he built the Napa Valley Railroad, afterward a part of the Southern Pacific system. From 1870 to 1875 he was superin- tendent of the Phoenix quicksilver mines near Calis- toga, and then engaged in farming, first near Brent- wood, Contra Costa County, and then near Spokane, Wash. He returned to Mountain View, Cal., in 1900, and there his death occurred on May 15 of that year. During his lifetime he made a fortune, and being most liberal and kind hearted, much of it was given to charities and to educational institutions. His mar- riage had united him with Ann McCabe, who crossed the plains with her parents in 1852, her father, Thomas McCabe, settling near Brentwood, where he ,died in 1886. Mrs. Fellows passed away in 1901, the mother of a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living.

The fifth child in the family, Edmund L. Fellows, engaged in farming in the vicinity of San Jose until 1890, when he became interested in horticulture, help- ing to set out and develop the orchards of the fa- mous Quito Ranch, of which he has been for some years the owner, this being one of the finest orchard properties in the Santa Clara Valley. The ranch, which consists of 550 acres, is beautifully located on Saratoga Avenue. It is splendidly equipped, the head- quarters being centrally located on the ranch, with ample buildings to care for the stock and imple- ments, as well as space for the dry yards, sufficient

to dry all the fruit on the ranch, including an evapo- rator of large capacity. It is indeed a busy place, and often a dozen teams may be seen in the morning, starting to the various parts of the ranch to take care of its cultivation. Before becoming so extensively interested in horticulture, Mr. Fellows assisted his father in his later mining projects in Nevada County and is still largely interested in that district, a region that has some very rich ore and has what is termed picture rock, of high value.

Mr. Fellows' marriage united him with Miss Laura E. McCoy, a member of one of the pioneer families of this region. Her parents were Reuben and Ellen D. (England) McCoy, who were married December 12, 1866, the latter a native of Missouri. Reuben McCoy was born in Greene County, Tenn., February 4, 1825, and in 1836 went with his father to Missouri, where he lived until April 13, 1850, when he started for California in an ox-team train, reaching here on August 29. He became a prominent farmer in Santa Clara County and passed away on August 9, 1886, his wife surviving him until February 1, 1922. In addition to his large horticultural interests, Mr. Fel- lows is prominently identified with the political and social affairs of the county, and is a stanch Republi- can. Fraternally he is a member of True Fellowship Lodge No. 283, I. O. O. F., the Encampment and Patriarchs Militant. Mr. Fellows' ranch is under a high state of cultivation and is one of the truly pleas- ant and hospitable rural homes in the neighborhood. He is an ardent lover of nature, is devoted to his in- teresting calling and being gifted with business sa- gacity, has long since passed the experimental to the assuredly successful stage.

JAMES H. ELLIS .- Throughout Central Califor- nia no man was better known or more highly esteemed than James H. Ellis, a successful dairy farmer, who became prominent as a substantial and well-to-do resi- dent of Gilroy. He was the descendant of a promi- nent Virginia family and a native of the Old Domin- ion, born November 25, 1828. His parents moved to Illinois when he was but six years old; then re- moved to Montrose, Iowa, on the Mississippi River, and it was there he grew to manhood and acquired an education in the public schools. He was a mem- ber of a family of seven children, and after leaving school learned the bricklayer's trade and was thus engaged until he reached twenty-one, when he de- cided to remove to California. In 1849 he came across the plains with ox team and, locating in Colusa County, Cal., he engaged in mining for sev- eral years, and was quite successful at times, but he amassed no great wealth in this venture. About 1854 he spent a short time in Sacramento. Later, coming to the Santa Clara Valley, he located near Santa Clara, where he engaged in farming.

Mr. Ellis was married to Miss Harriet Zuck on November 25, 1855, his twenty-seventh birthday. Mrs. Ellis was the daughter of David and Maria Louisa (Linnton) Zuck, the former a native of Penn- sylvania, and the latter of Ohio, and she was horn in Marion County, Ohio, May 10, 1838. When a young man her father accompanied his parents to Ohio, locating first in Ross County and afterward in Marion County. In 1849 he came to California and engaged in mining, but in 1851 returned to Ohio. The following spring he again started west with his

Edmund Le Fellows

795

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

family, and after a journey of six months behind ox teams they reached their destination. The family first located in Marysville and Mr. Zuck followed mining until 1853, when he removed to Santa Clara County and purchased land near Gilroy, and it was upon this farm that both he and his wife passed their closing years.

Soon after marriage the young couple moved to the vicinity of Gilroy and it was there that Mr. Ellis rose to prominence as a dairy farmer, continuing for forty- six years. He had energy, was capable of hard work, and was ambitious, and these qualifications secured his advancement in the financial world. Retiring from active pursuits in 1891, he spent his remaining years in Gilroy, where his death occurred November 25, 1900. In national politics he was a supporter of the Republican party. He was one of the original stockholders of the old Bank of Gilroy and a director at the time of his death. With Jesse D. Carr he or- ganized the Salinas City Bank of Salinas; also with Mr. Hawkins organized the first bank in Hollister and was a stockholder in the Commercial & Savings Bank of San Jose. After her husband's death, Mrs. Ellis continued to reside on the home place until she passed away in October, 1907. They were the par- ents of six children: Alvin L. died in May, 1919; Milton, deceased; Laura is Mrs. Frank Vetterline; Emma married George T. Dunlap and resides in Oakland; Dora married Edgar Hollaway and both arc deceased; and Marion E. is deceased.

JAMES HENRY CAMPBELL .- The name of James Henry Campbell is inseparably interwoven with the history of Santa Clara County and more especially the beautiful town of Campbell, for his father, Benjamin Campbell, laid out the little town and it was named in his honor, now the very center of one of the finest fruit-growing sections of Santa Clara Valley. Here our subject was born on Decem- ber 12, 1852, a son of Benjamin and Mary Louise (Rucker) Campbell, both parents pioneers of Santa Clara County. In tracing the ancestry of Mr. Camp- bell, we find his paternal grandfather, William Camp- bell, to have been a native of Bourbon County, Ky., a tanner by trade, and a soldier in the War of 1812. He operated a tannery near Greenville, Ky., prior to going to Missouri in 1839, and there followed farming pursuits until he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia in 1846, making the trip via the Platte River route. Capt. Benjamin Campbell, the father of our subject, was a youth of twenty when his parents came to California, and during the trip across the plains he drove one of the teams, walking most of the way. William Campbell preempted a claim of 160 acres two miles south of Santa Clara and his son Benjamin assisted him in preparing a home for the family in the new country, staying with him until 1849, when he returned to Missouri by way of Panama, on a visit. Upon his return to California, in 1851, he pur- chased the land upon which the town of Campbell stands, and in the fall of the same year again re- turned to Missouri, this time to claim his bride, Miss Mary Louise Rucker, born in Missouri, daughter of William and Verenda (Taylor) Rucker. They were married in Saline County, Mo., and in the spring of 1852 he again made the trip to California, accompa- nied by his wife, her father and his family, and also

two of his sisters and their families. He was captain of the ox-team train and they brought a band of cat- tle. Three children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Campbell, of whom James Henry. the subject of this review is the eldest; Laura Ann, Mrs. Swope, is deceased, and Lena M. is Mrs. S. G. Rodeck. In 1885 Benjamin Campbell began the cul- ture of fruit commercially, which proved a good hus- incss venture in that locality. In 1890 he conceived the idea of founding a town in the midst of the fruit- growing district and having determined upon a line of action, he permitted no obstacle to turn him from his accomplishment. Realizing the many evils of in- temperance, he was determined that the town should be founded on temperance principles, and the town will forever remain so. The original plat of Camp- bell contained but eighteen lots, but since then many additions have been made by the Campbells with the same clause in the deed, and the place has increased in size and population. In executing the deeds to these lots, the title was made subject to the follow- ing conditions and restrictions: "That if the party of the second part, his heirs or assigns, shall at any time sell or keep for sale, on any portion of said premises, or knowingly permit anyone to keep for sale any spirituons of intoxicating liquors either dis- tilled or fermented, the entire title and estate in and to said premises hereby created, shall cease, and title to said premises shall thereupon revert to said party of the first part or his heirs and assigns forever, and it shall then be lawful for said party of the first part, his heirs or assigns, to enter upon said premises and eject said party of the second part, his heirs or assigns, and every person claiming under them, or either of them." Benjamin Campbell was active in the affairs of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and for many years 'was a steward and trustee and superin- tendent of the Sunday school. In early days he was a Whig, then a Democrat, but prior to his demise was a Prohibitionist in his political views. He was the first postmaster of Campbell, and for two years was a justice of the peace, school director for a num- ber of years, a member of the board of trade, a pro- moter of the Bank of Campbell, of which he was vice-president and director, and he was a trustee of the Grange. He died March 27, 1907, and his widow survived him until March 5, 1913.

James Henry Campbell received his education in the local public schools and then attended a private school and then followed the occupation of his for- bears. The original 160 acres of land acquired by his father in 1851 has been divided and sold as town lots until there are only two acres left of the old homestead on which our subject makes his home. His present marriage occurred on March 28, 1907, and united him with Mrs. Jessie (Kelley) Mckenzie, a native of San Mateo, Cal., and they are the parents of one child, Adelbert, a student in the University of California. By his former marriage Mr. Campbell has two children, George E. and Clyde E. Mrs. Camp- bell had two children by a former marriage, Della May and James W. Mckenzie. Politically, Mr. Camp- bell is a Democrat and fraternally is an Odd Fellow. Having spent his entire life in Santa Clara County. his history is well known to its citizens, and his has been an honorable and useful career.

796

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

EDGAR H. FREEMAN .- A native of Maine, Ed- gar H. Freeman has attained a degree of success in his California home that would have been impossible in the midst of circumstances existing in the state of his birth. He was born at Minot Corner, on the Lit- the Androscoggin, near Lewiston, Maine, October 10, 1857, the son of Daniel and Hannah D. (Marble) Freeman, who were natives of the same place. The original ancestors came from England and three Freeman brothers came to America on the May- flower, from whom all the other Freemans are de- scended. Great-grandfather Daniel Freeman was one of the early settlers of Maine. Daniel Freeman, the father of our subject, was a farmer in Maine, and in 1850, leaving his wife and child in the home state, he came via Panama to California, where he engaged in mining for two years; returning to Maine he con- tinued there until 1876, when he again came to Cal- ifornia. During the Civil War, when he was forty- six years old, he enlisted, but was rejected on account of being over age. The family lived in Sonoma County, Cal., for one year, then removed to Hol- lister, where they lived for three years; and then came to the Santa Clara Valley, where they both died.

Edgar H. Freeman was educated in the grammar and high school of Maine and after leaving school was engaged in the manufacture of shoes at Lynn, Mass. In 1878 he came to San Benito County, Cal. and during 1878 and 1879 engaged in ranching near Hollister; then removed to the Bodie gold mines in Mono County and was there for five years, prospect- ing and mining. In 1884 he came to Santa Clara, where he was engaged for several years in raising pure-bred fancy poultry, Brahmas, Plymouth Rocks, Wyandottes, Leghorns; also Pekin ducks and Bronze turkeys. He had the best stock procurable and at the Santa Clara Valley poultry and kennel club show at San Jose he won the diamond medal for best poultry exhibit and at Petaluma he won the $100 gold medal for best and largest exhibit at the California State Poultry Show. He was one of the organizers of the California State Poultry Association and was secretary of the organization. In 1896 he took charge of forty acres planted in grapes, a portion of his father's old place; a part of this came into his pos- session from the estate and the balance he purchased. He removed the vines and planted it to prunes and apricots, and the place has been brought to a high state of cultivation and productiveness.

Mr. Freeman's marriage at Lynn, Mass., in 1877, united him with Miss Dorothy D. Wescott, also a native of Maine, born at Castine. Her father, Capt. Samuel Wescott, was part owner and master of his vessel and for years sailed all over the world into important ports. He died at sca. Her mother, who was Margaret Dunbar, died at her old home in Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are the parents of four chil- dren: Hersey D. passed away in Bodie; Eldora P, a graduate of Stanford University, is Mrs. Ernest Kimberlin of Sacramento; Edgar D., a graduate of the College of the Pacific is an electrician with the South- ern Pacific Railroad Company at Gold Run; Hazel, a graduate of the San Jose State Normal School is teaching at Mountain View, Cal. There are nine grandchildren. Mr. Freeman is a Republican and fraternally belongs to the Knights of Pythias, Wood- men of the World, Fraternal Aid Union, is active

in the local Grange and Farmers' Educational & Co- operative Union, and has served his community as a school trustee. He is a broad-minded, public spir- ited man and citizen, and all movements for the ad- vancement of the county have his hearty support.

HON. ALDEN ANDERSON .- Few men have been associated more actively and none more honor- ably with the financial and political history of Northi- ern California than Hon. Alden Anderson, who grew up and was educated in San Jose, Santa Clara County, and is now president of the Capital National Bank of Sacramento, and actively associated with a num- ber of other financial institutions and enterprises that aid in the advancement of the county and state. Wide has been the influence exerted by him in the banking circles of his portion of the state and varied as have been his commercial connections, they have been equaled by his intimate identification with the public lite of the commonwealth and by his patriotic partici- pation in the upbuilding of his community.

A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Anderson was born in Meadville, Crawford County, in October, 1867, while his parents were at their old home on a visit. His father, J. Z. Anderson, is elsewhere represented in this volume. With such educational advantages as were afforded by the public schools and the Univer- sity of the Pacific, Alden Anderson began to earn his own livelihood at a very early age, his first occupa- tion being that of an assistant in the fruit business conducted by his father. During 1886 he went to Suisun City, Solano County, and embarked in the fruit industry for himself, later drifting from the growing of fruit into the shipping of same. From that place he came to Sacramento in 1902, and after- ward disposed of his interests in Solano County. From his arrival in the capital city until the year 1908 he acted as vice-president of the Capital Banking and Trust Company. When he disposed of his stock in that concern he removed to San Francisco, where, until July 1, 1909, he held office as vice-president of the Anglo-London Paris National Bank, and until February, 1911, served by appointment as superin- tendent of the Bank of California. During 1911 Mr. Anderson made a protracted continental tour of Eu- rope, Asia and Africa, returning to Sacramento De- cember 1, 1911, at which time he purchased the Cap- ital Banking and Trust Company, and of this institu- tion under its present title of Capital National Bank, he officiates as president. Mr. Anderson's place in the banking circles of Northern California is one of as- sured influence and increasing responsibility. He also helped to organize a number of other banks in the Sacramento Valley in the management of which he actively participates. He was president of the com- pany building the electric line from Sacramento to Stockton, which aided an enterprise of the greatest importance to the permanent upbuilding of the rich agricultural region through which it passes. His home is graciously presided over by the lady whom he married at Rockville, Cal., March 2, 1893, and who was Miss Carrie L. Baldwin. There is one daughter in the family, Miss Kathryn.

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 125

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