History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 137

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 137

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).

with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. They now look back upon their interesting and pleasant careers in San Jose with much pleasure and are de- hghted that so much of their active life was spent in this beautiful Santa Clara Valley.

JAMES WESLEY FORWARD .- A contractor who thoroughly understands the many ins and outs of successful building in California is James Wesley Forward, a native of Morrisburg, Dundas County, Ontario, Canada, where he was born on April 13, 1850, the son of James Forward, who was primarily a farmer but also a minister in the Methodist Church; preaching in the neighboring meeting houses. He had married Miss Ann Gocher, and she lived, the devoted mother of our subject, until he had attained his twentieth year. They had five children, three sons and two daughters, and among these James Wesley was the youngest. All are dead excepting the latter and one brother, Thomas, who lives at Ches- terville, Ontario, Canada.

James Wesley was sent to the grammar school of his home district, and then for fifteen months he at- tended the high school; but he spent a good part of his early life on the home farm. In 1872, breaking away from the associations of his past, he crossed into the States and came to California; and in Sonoma County he followed dairying for a year. On his re- turn to Canada, he was married at Chesterville on February 17, 1874, to Miss Mary Garrow, a native of Chesterville and the daughter of Allen Garrow, a farmer, who had married Eliza McIntosh. For the next five years Mr. and Mrs. Forward lived at Wil- liamsburg, but farming there proved unprofitable, and Mr. Forward sold out and took up building, at the same time moving back to Morrisburg. The For- ward family have great constructive genius; many of this family have been successful builders. In this connection it may be stated that Edgar Forward of Montreal, a nephew of our subject, is one of the Canadian Government's leading engineers. It was he who completed the great steel bridge of the Grand Trunk Railway, which spans the St. Lawrence River at Quebec, after others had failed.

Mr. Forward relates with keen interest how he got into building. While at Morrisburg, he was hauling lumber needed for the building of the Metho- dist Church; and when the contractor asked him to help finish the two towers, he responded and soon got such an understanding of the trade that he re- mained with the contractor for five years. As this contractor was a man of much experience and en- gaged only in notable undertakings, Mr. Forward had the best of apprenticeship, and when he finally left him, he also left the locality. He went to Minne- apolis, and spent there the summer of 1887; but not being impressed with conditions there, he and his wife and family came out to San Jose. Here he took up building again; and entered upon that aggressive career as a contractor which has made him so well known throughout the Santa Clara Val- ley. A Republican, with all which that historic name implies, Mr. Forward has always worked and voted for that which seemed best for the interests of the country or the community at large.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Forward: Mabel married Haven W. Edwards, the well-known educator; Frank is living at Superior, Wis .; Effie Lillian is Mrs Robert B. Bailey; Flor- ence Amy married Gilbert Nelson and resides at San

877

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Jose; Mabel is the mother of a girl named Mary H .; Effie has three children, Vivian, Orville and Jack; and Frank has a daughter, Teresa Mary. Four chil- dren died in infancy. Mrs. Forward died at San Jose in 1891, and was buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Mr. Forward was married a second time August 29, 1893, to Miss Edith A. Pillow, born at Lee, county of Kent, England, being a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Aspen) Pillow, who were born, reared and married in London. The father was a lighterman, waterman and shipping agent, and belonged to the higher mid- dle class of England. In January, 1872, the parents with their eight children, four boys and four girls, embarked on the sailing vessel "Dover Castle" for New Zealand, and after a four months' voyage landed safely at Little Harbor. They continued to live in New Zealand until 1888, when they embarked for San Francisco, where they landed in November, 1888. They soon moved to San Jose, and Mrs. For- ward continued to live at home with her parents until her marriage. Her father died in San Jose in 1902. The widowed mother went to New Zealand again. In 1912 Mrs. Forward made a trip to New Zealand to visit her mother in her last sickness; she arrived at her mother's bedside just four days before her death, and remained in that country one year before re- turning to San Jose. Mrs. Forward is a woman of deep religious conviction and has served as secretary of the Women's Missionary Society . for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Forward are members of the United Presbyterian Church. They are comfortably domi- ciled and live happily, in their new bungalow, at the corner of East Julian and North Sixteenth streets, which Mr. Forward built in June and July of 1921.

SAMUEL J. IRWIN .- An expert printer who has equally demonstrated his ability to make a suc- cess of pear growing, is Samuel J. Irwin, of the vicin- ity of Agnew. He was born within six miles of the city of Londonderry, in the northern part of Ireland, on June 8, 1870, the son of William Irwin, a farmer, who had married Miss Mary McCarthur. They had six children, Samuel being the fourth. He attended the national schools in Ireland, and then learned the typesetting and printing trades. He also worked as a journeyman printer, enlarging his experience. In 1891 he came to America and settled in Pennsyl- vania; and there he continued to do job printing. He also moved to New York, then to Philadelphia, and finally to Chicago; and in each of these places he worked at his trade.

In 1901 Mr. Irwin migrated far enough west to settle in Santa Clara, and for six years he worked as an attendant at the Agnew State Hospital. While thus employed, he met and in April, 1920, married Miss Dora McComas, the daughter of the late Charles L. and Elizabeth Jane McComas, the well- known pioneers. Mr. McComas was a native of West Virginia, who located in Missouri, and in 1856, at Platte City, he married Elizabeth J. Hatfield, a native also of West Virginia, and a daughter of John Hatfield, and who had moved to Missouri with her parents and located in Platte County. Her grand- mother, Susan Brumfield, before her marriage, was also born in West Virginia. In 1863, Mr. and Mrs. McComas set out across the plains for California, and having at length arrived at Alviso, they soon moved to the vicinity of Santa Clara. In 1872 they purchased eighty acres three miles northwest of Santa Clara and one mile west and Mr. McComas

grew to enjoy eminence among the farming folk through his success in raising strawberries, black- berries, raspberries, alfalfa and grain. He passed away in 1885. Later, Mrs. McComas demonstrated her talent for managing the ranch until her death in 1905. Of their nine children Mrs. Irwin was the sixth child; only four are now living.

Recently Mr. Irwin has also become a horticultur- ist, and has developed some fourteen acres of a pear grove. He has made a specialty of Bartlett pears, and his orchard is a beautiful sight to behold. His ten- year-old trees are heavily laden, and this is largely due to his thoroughly scientific and practical meth- ods of caring for the trees and their products.

Mr. Irwin was made a Mason in Liberty Lodge No. 299, F. & A. M., Santa Clara, and is a member of San Jose Chapter No. 14, R. A. M., was knighted in San Jose Commandery No. 10, is a member of Islam Temple A. A. O. N. M. S. in San Francisco, and is a member of the Order of Sciots in San Jose. Mr. Irwin was reared a Presbyterian, while Mrs. Irwin is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. Politically he is a Republican.

ROBERT K. O'NEIL .- An enthusiastic, pains- taking student of the law, whose knowledge and coun- sel have been frequently sought by the professional attorney, is R. K. O'Neil, chief deputy county clerk of Santa Clara County. He is a native son, born in San Francisco, on Silver Street, South Park, April 21, 1869. When he was only six years old he was placed in a home for children in San Francisco and until he was twelve he was reared in that sheltering institution, then was taken to a ranch near Antioch, Contra Costa County, where he spent the next eight year of his life, since which time he has made his own way in the world.

In 1894 he attended Heald's Business College in San Francisco, and after finishing his course, came to San Jose and studied law in the office of W. L. Gill, the noted criminal lawyer, for about eighteen months, then for the next six years and until the be- ginning of 1906, he worked and studied in the law office of Jackson Hatch, of whom he has always been a great admirer. In 1898, while in Mr. Hatch's office, he was admitted to practice at the bar of California. Directly after severing his connection with Mr. Hatch, Mr. O'Neil opened an office and began building up a clientele for himself and was getting nicely estab- lished, when the earthquake of 1906 broke up his plans and practice. On July 1, 1906, he accepted a position in the county clerk's office and has gradually worked his way to the position of chief deputy. For six years he was clerk of department number one, and in 1912, followed W. T. Aggeler as chief deputy, which position he now occupies, attending to the legal affairs, particularly naturalization, passport and election work of the office. As the result of his con- stant study of law, his experience in office practice and as courtroom clerk, Mr. O'Neil has become one of the best-versed men in legal lore in the county. He is a member and secretary of the local Bar Asso- ciation, and expects to eventually resume the practice of law. For many years he has been a member of Observatory Parlor of the Native Sons. In national politics a Democrat, Mr. O'Neil is broad-minded when it comes to local issues and is a supporter of the best men and the best measures.

Mr. O'Neil was united in marriage at San Jose, September, 1901, with Miss Sae Alice Thompson,

878

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

born in Denver, Colo., the daughter of John and Carrie Thompson, who now reside in Oakland. Mr. Thompson was for many years a prominent con- tractor and builder in San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil have two children, Agnes B. and Robert Grant, both attending the San Jose high school. The family have resided for several years at 327 Willow Street.

JAMES ALEXANDER FORBES .- Numbered among California's very earliest pioneers, James Al- exander Forbes lived a full and eventful life in the years of his long residence here, and as a man of education and culture, he left a strong impress on the developing affairs of his generation. He was born in Inverness, Scotland, of a wealthy old family there, and began his education in his native place, receiving the highest training in the classics, as well as in music and languages. Later he accompanied his uncle, a British official, to Spain, where he lived to manhood, graduating from the famous college of Salamanca. Entering the service of Spain in the warfare against the Moors, he later came to California on a Spanish man-of-war, landing at Yerba Buena, now San Fran- cisco, in 1828. Returning to Scotland, he came a second time to America, making a prospecting tour to Vancouver and coming to California in 1833 with a party of the Hudson Bay Company, camping on the San Joaquin River where the city of Stockton now stands. During this time he wrote a history of Cal- ifornia for the English Government, which was pub- lished in London and was the first history of this part of the country written in the English language. Ap- pointed consul by England, Mr. Forbes removed to the Mission of Santa Clara, in Santa Clara County, and was stationed there when California became a part of the United States. He soon took a prominent part in the development of the country under the new rule, and built a beautiful residence in Santa Clara, with many modern conveniences, such as dumb waiters, speaking tubes, etc. and had sent from Eng- land the first cook stove to be brought into California, and also brought the first carriage and plow into this county. He constructed the stone flouring mill at Los Gatos at a cost of $180,000, built at the peak of high wages, and ran it for some time, when it passed into other hands and then remained idle for many years before passing into the hands of its present owners. During the Mexican War, when the native forces under the command of General Sanchez gave battle to the American forces, sent here at the battle of Santa Clara, as it is known in history, Mr. Forbes, as British consul came out with a British flag and halted the engagement and advised the Mexican forces that on account of lack of equipment they had no chance and to cease their resistance as it was use- less for them to try to win over the well-equipped American forces.

Mr. Forbes was an experienced mineralogist and chemist, and when he first came across ore from what became the New Almaden Mine, he pronounced it cinnabar or quicksilver. He was one of the original owners of the mine and was for many years its treas- urer. His uncle was a member of the banking firm of Baron and Forbes, Mexico City, with a branch at Tepic, Mexico, and it was through him that the mine was originally financed. They took enormous sums out of this venture, but later much of this fortune was lost through litigation. While acting as British con-

sul, Mr. Forbes was married to Anita Maria Galindo, the daughter of Juan C. Galindo, who was a member of one of California's best-known Spanish families, and the owner of the Stockton ranch, lying between San Jose and Santa Clara, which afterwards became the property of Mrs. Forbes. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes became the parents of twelve children, the only survivor being James Alexander Forbes of San Juan, Capistrano, Cal., an eminent historian, scholar and musician. The late Alonzo Forbes, a former judge of Monterey County, passed away in 1921. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes spent their last days at Oakland, and there he died on May 6, 1881, aged seventy-seven years.

Mr. Forbes early saw the need of an institution for higher education in the Santa Clara Valley and so induced Father Nobili to open the school at Santa Clara which was the nucleus of the present Univer- sity of Santa Clara, and he contributed $3,500 to help 111 its establishment. He was a man of scholastic attainments, and was the master of six languages; throughout his life he remained an extensive reader, abreast with the advanced thought of his day, and his life was a precedent for the high standard of education of this great commonwealth of today.

CHARLES W. DAVISON .- A distinguished member of the California Bar who has also been privileged to serve his fellow-citizens in high offices of responsibility in civic life is Charles W. Davison, a native of New Hampton, Chickasaw County, Iowa, where he was born on July 30, 1874, the son of Lorenzo B. and Esther J. (Annabel) Davison, worthy pioneers of that state, who performed their part, in their day, in building the nation, and who eventually, migrating westward to California, came to live in Santa Clara County. Charles W. Davison graduated from the New Hampton high school on June 10, 1892, and then attended the Valders Normal School at Decorah, lowa, during 1893-94.

He next matriculated at the Kent Law School. the alma mater of so many eminent jurists, pursuing courses there during 1894-95, and he was admitted to the Bar of California by the Supreme Court on December 24, 1895. Later, the U. S. District Court at San Francisco on October 23, 1899, admitted Mr. Davison to practice, and on July 1, 1907, the U. S. Circuit Court at San Francisco also granted Mr. Davison admission to practice in the Circuit Courts.

Responding to the call of President Mckinley for volunteers in the Spanish-American War, Mr. Da- vison enlisted on May 8, 1898, in Company E, Seventh California U. S. Volunteer Infantry, and he served his country until the close of the war. Then, having luckily returned to his home, Mr. Davison in 1902 was elected municipal judge of San Jose, and in 1906 he was re-elected; and in 1908 he was still further honored at the hands of his fellow-citizens by being clected mayor of San Jose, and in 1910 he was re-elected to that office. Mr. Davison's ad- ministration as mayor marked a new era in munici- pal development closely identified with the most rapid strides in the forward march of the city. Modern pavement was installed on the main thor- oughfares, the narrow-gauge lines of the street rail- way were surrendered and the standard broad-gauge tracks built, and the city authorities obtained a gen- eral transfer system from the carlines. A devoted Republican in respect to political affairs of national import, Mr. Davison has assumed a nonpartisan

Oflexforbes

879

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

attitude in local affairs, and has been a first-class "booster," lending a helping hand whenever and wherever needed.

The day before Christmas in 1902 at San Jose, Mr. Davison was married to Miss Maude L. Welch of San Jose, a lady of exceptional gifts who taught in the public schools for a number of years. They have one son, Henry Welch, who was born on De- cember 13, 1903, a student in the San Jose high school. From August, 1910, to August, 1911, Mr. Davison was great sachem of California's Improved Order of Red Men, and from 1905-06 department commander of California United Spanish War Vet- erans. He is a member of Fraternity Lodge No. 399, F. & A. M., and also belongs to the Woodmen of the World and the Modern Woodmen of America.

H. RAY FRY .- A scholarly, experienced attor- ney whose successful practice in law has added dignity to the legal profession in California is H. Ray Fry, of the well-known firm of Fry & Jenkins, San Jose. A native son, proud of his mother state, he was born in Dewitt, Cal., on April 7, 1876, the son of George Washington Fry who came to Cali- fornia via Panama and thence by sailing vessel to San Francisco in 1852, and for nine years tried his fortune at mining in Lassen County. In 1861 he took up farming and stockraising, and in that field of agricultural industry he continued until his death, in 1892. Mrs. Fry, who was Miss Mary Louisa Wiggin, crossed the great plains to Cali- fornia in 1863, and in Lassen County they were mar- ried; she is still living.

Ray attended the grammar schools of Dewitt and San Jose, and in the latter city also pursued the excellent courses at the high school, from which he was graduated in 1896. Then he matriculated at Stanford, studied there for two years, enlisted on May 4, 1898 in the First California Volunteers for the Spanish-American War, and on receiving his honorable discharge, returned to Stanford University and was graduated in 1901 with the A. B. degree. The following year, the same institution gave him the LL.B. degree.

In 1901, Mr. Fry was admitted to practice at the California Bar, and for twelve years he was a part- ner with Judge Beasly, the two attorneys handling many important cases and defending many important interests. In 1913 Mr. Fry joined hands with D. T. Jenkins, and the partnership of Fry & Jenkins then established still continues, the firm being rated as a leader both in and beyond Santa Clara County. Mr. Fry belongs to the State and County Bar associa- tions, in which his personal character as well as his knowledge of the law have given him a very enviable reputation for model practice.

Mr. Fry was married to Miss Edna F. Milco, and they are the parents of two attractive children- Leland R. and Percy W. Fry. Mr. Fry belongs to the First Presbyterian Church, and he is also active in Masonry, being a past grand master of the Grand Council of the State of California; he is also a past high priest of Howard Chapter No. 14 R. A. M., and past commander of San Jose Command- ery No. 10, and is a Shriner. He is fond of hunt- ing and fishing, and also finds recreation in such commendable undertakings as the erection of a three-story building-one of the finest in the city-

at the corner of San Carlos and First streets. This structure is owned by Mr. Fry, and stands as a worthy contribution toward the continued expansion of a city widely known for its edifices.

DANIEL J. McGRATH .- For many years the name of McGrath has been associated with Santa Clara County where Daniel J. McGrath has been in the furniture business at San Jose, and at the present time he is the owner of a successful enter- prise at 138 South Second Street. A native son, born in San Jose May 9, 1868, he is the son of Patrick and Bridget McGrath. His father, who was an ironmolder by trade, migrated to the Pacific Coast in 1852, settling in San Jose; here the parents were married and both passed away here.

Daniel J. McGrath received his education in the public schools of San Jose. After finishing school i.e became associated with Lion's in the furniture business and remained with them about fourteen years, then began for himself and in 1918 located at 138 South Second Street, where the business is yield- ing ample profits to its owner. His success has come only through intelligent effort, backed by a determi- liation to overcome every obstacle. In political affilia- tion a Democrat, Mr. McGrath has served one term under the Davidson administration as council- man from the Second Ward. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and whenever op- portunity affords he spends a few days in the moun- tains, hunting and fishing. He is a stanch supporter of all municipal improvements, and enjoys the confi- dence and good will of all who come in contact with him in business or social matters.

JOHN A. RAWLINGS .- The son of one of Santa Clara County's pioneer residents, himself a native of the county, John A. Rawlings is making good in the field of horticulture at his thriving orchard home on Pearl Avenue, south of San Jose. He was born Feb- ruary 25, 1874, near San Jose, his parents being George S. and Florence Minerva (Roberts) Rawl- ings, highly esteemed residents of this neighborhood. The father, who was born in Kentucky, settled here in 1866, being employed for several years on the large ranch of John G. Roberts, part of which later passed to Mrs. Rawlings on the death of Mr. Rob- erts, and during all the years since then it has always been the family home.

John A. Rawlings attended the public schools of his neighborhood, but early in life he deserted the school room for the more practical tasks of helping his father on the home ranch. Here he remained until 1915, getting a thorough experience in every detail of ranch and orchard work, when he pur- chased a tract of twenty acres near the home place, and this he has developed into a fine prune orchard, doing practically all the planting himself. He has given it his careful attention and its value is steadily increasing.

Mr. Rawlings' marriage united him with Miss Lois V. Williams, the daughter of Alexander and Emma (Perry) Williams. She was born in the Almaden neighborhood, her mother's family being well-known old residents of that locality, Perry Station being named for one of the family. Mr. Rawlings is a Democrat, and has a public-spirited interest in all the affairs of the community.

880

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

MRS. CLARA C. BRAY .- Among the most fa- vored native daughters of Santa Clara County is Mrs. Clara C. Bray, a daughter of that prominent pioneer, James Faris Kennedy, who was born in Bucks County, Pa., January 18, 1810, the son of William and Jeanette (Faris) Kennedy. The paternal grandfather's par- ents came to the United States from the North of Ireland in colonial days, and his father served in the Revolutionary War as a captain. The maternal grandmother's family came from Scotland and set- tled in this country about the same time that the Kennedy family did. James F. Kennedy was the eldest in a family of eight children, all reaching ma- turity. He lived in Philadelphia until he was twenty- one years old, then spent about eight years traveling over the country. For several years he was in the lead mines of Galena, 111., then returned to Philadel- phia, and in June, 1840, married Serena Salter, a na- tive of that city, born January 6, 1820, who died near Los Gatos, Cal., June 16, 1888. Her father, Samnel Salter, was an Englishman, who came to the United States in 1790. Upon his arrival here, finding mirrors very high, he engaged in their manufacture, importing for that purpose plain glasses from Paris. He followed this business for several years and be- came independently rich and retired from business. Samuel Salter married Catharine Myers, a native of Pennsylvania, of German descent.

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 137

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