History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 45

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 45

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).

Pen Women Branch

The San Jose Branch of the League of American Pen Women was organized March 23, 1922. The objects of the League are

mutual benefit in creative work, betterment of literary and artistic production. The Edwin Markham Home was chosen as a fitting meet- ing-place. To further interest in books and Pacific Coast writers, the League will give an annual book fair. The officers are : Mrs. Kath- erine D. Cather, president ; Mrs. Edith Daley, vice-president ; Miss Mildred Hamilton, treas- ttrer ; Mrs. Elva S. Cureton, secretary ; Miss Ruth Amet, historian. Those eligible are ar- tists, writers and musical composers.

The Plotwrights

On June 8, 1921, the Plotwrights, an asso- ciation of county fiction writers, was organ- ized in San Jose. The following officers were elected : Homer Eon Flindt, president ; Oscar L. Oliver, secretary ; Eugene T. Sawyer, treas- urer. The objects are sociability, the discus- sion of the technique of the salable manu- script. the giving of entertainments, the boost- ing of the beautiful valley of Santa Clara, and the reception and entertainment of visiting authors. The membership consists of the following writers: H. E: Flint, Austin Hall, J. B. Frisbie, James Hanson, Ray Hardin, Ray Hicks, A. Jamison Arroll, E. T. Sawyer.

The Western Aero Club

An Aero Club to promote aeronautics in the Santa Clara Valley was formed at a meet- ing of local aviation enthusiasts on July 12. 1920. The charter members were Johnny Johnston (instructor), Louis Normandin, Ar- thur Britton, Sanborn Young, Frank Puck, Paul Stephany, Fred Gurvine, J. R. Penning- ton, Clyde Arbuckle, J. R. Knutzen (vice- president). Roscoe Russell, William Brud- wein, Charles Newman, C. H. Odell (secre- tary and treasurer), R. M. Scherf, W. G. Har- ton, Mrs. W. G. Harton, S. Metzgar, K. Rog- ers (president). R. A. Burgess, Mrs. Newbre, Frank Rose (aerial acrobat), W. Lidley, H. Coleman and Dr. Morris.

The name selected is The Western Aero Club and the headquarters will be the old site of the Garden City aviation field on Capitol Avenue, near Santa Clara Avenue. The club has ships and more are to be added in the near future. In Santa Clara is another club and the Pennington-Todd training field on the San Francisco road.

Aviation in San Jose took its first real start during the European war. The Garden City field was selected as a base of operations, and when not aiding the local war committees of San Jose in distributing Red Cross, Liberty Bond and other circulars, the aviators carried passengers for a ten to fifteen minutes" flight over the city. During this period many ex- cursions from Camp Mather were made and hundreds of airships passed over the valley on their way to southern points.

245

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

The San Jose squadron was organized on December 1, 1921. On February 18, 1922, it appealed to Congressman Free to assist its members in securing a plane for training pur- poses. Mr. Free, upon receipt of this request, called at the war department and presented the matter to the heads of the air service.

Although the war department plans to co- operate with the San Jose squadron in every possible way and to include it in its future plans for the development of aviation on the Pacific Coast, theer were certain technical diffi-

culties in the way of having an army plane allotted immediately for use at San Jose.

Mr. Free therefore appealed to the postof- fice department, having heard that a JN plane owned by that department was at Crissey field, San Francisco, and might be available. Through the sympathetic cooperation of Hon. C. F. Egge, head of the air mail service, who took up the matter immediately at Mr. Free's request, the plane was secured and or- dered to be delivered without charge and fully equipped for use to a representative of the San Jose air reserve squadron on April 3.

CHAPTER XXV.

Charitable and Humanitarian Organizations of San Jose-The Good Cheer Club, County Charities, Home of Benevolence-Pratt Home, Salvation Army, Notre Dame Institute, and Young Men's Christian Association.

The Associated Charities was organized in 1894, and while in existence met with the gen- erous co-operation of the public. The direc- tors represented the churches of every faith in San Jose, as well as other existing charita- ble bodies. The aims were to make investi- gation and keep a record of all cases of distress reported ; to give temporary relief in emerg- ency cases and then report them to the char- itable organizations under the jurisdiction of which they belonged; to expose fraud and prevent duplicate giving ; and to secure work for needy women and men. Annual entertain- ments were given, which always netted the society a sufficient sum to tide it over until the next year. The officers for the first year were: Alfred C. Bean, president; Mrs. T. Ellard Bean, vice-president ; Mrs. W. B. Hill, secretary ; James Bean, treasurer, and Miss Cora M. Bethel, superintendent ; board of di- rectors, Mrs. S. B. Hawkins, Mrs. T. Ellard Beans, Mrs. A. T. Herrmann, Rev. H. M. Tenney, Mrs. H. Branham, James Bean, Mrs. W. L. Woodrow, Mrs. W. B. Hill, Mrs. E. G. Williams, Mrs. Anna Taber, Mrs. Alfred C. Bean ; honorary directors. G. D. Worswick, Mrs. S. C. Winchester, Rev. Father Gleeson, Mrs. Geo. M. Bowman, J. H. Campbell, Mrs. E. O. Smith, Mrs. H. Levy, Mrs. C. D. Blaney, Mrs. E. McLaughlin, Mrs. B. Cochrane, Mrs. Jackson Hatch, J. E. Knoche, James Rhodes, Mrs. W. P. Dougherty, Mrs. S. A. Jones, E. A. Hayes.

The association continued its beneficent work until 1917, when the Santa Clara County Charities was organized under the state law and with state and county aid. As its opera-

tions and aims were about the same as those of the Associated Charities, the latter organi- zation concluded to disorganize and then to reorganize under the name of the Social Serv- ice Agency. This action was taken after it had turned over all its data to the County Charities. As the Social Service Agency it allied itself with the Good Cheer Club, and for several years assisted in the club's cam- paign work.

Miss Cora M. Bethel, former superintendent of the Associated Charities, is the investigator or superintendent of the County Charities, Ray B. Newman is the secretary, and fine offices have been fitted up in the county court house. The board of supervisors has discon- tinited its alms-giving system and has turned over all that business to the County Charities for investigation and action. The County Charities presents claims of applicants for re- lief to the board and the board makes the allowances. The state aid for the six months ending December 31, 1919, amounted to $16,- 723.16; supplementary, $1,012.03; total, $17,- 735.19. Total of all aid for the six months, $23,173.02.

In addition to its other work, the County Charities dispenses the Widows' Aid Pension. Nearly all the claims of applicants for aid are for groceries, clothing and other necessaries.

The Good Cheer Club

The Good Cheer Club, started in 1904, is the health organization of Santa Clara County. The objects are to promote health and effi- ciency in the community, to give systematic relief to the sick, poor and needy, and to es-

246

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

tablish a fund for these purposes. Annual membership fee, five dollars; life membership, twenty-five dollars. The officers are: Presi- dent, De Lancey Lewis; vice-presidents, Mrs. Chas. Allen, Mrs. John E. Richards; secretary, Miss Emma Philbrick. It is supported by the Santa Clara County Welfare Association, con- sisting of the Florence Crittenden Home, the Anti-Tuberculosis Society and the Social Serv- ice Agency. It receives state and county aid and fees from patients. The average monthly cases exceed 1,000. The departments include mental, medical and dental clinics and social hygiene. There are nineteen physicians. on the consulting list.

The work of the club is done by no other organization in San Jose, yet it is in close co-operation with all the other humanitarian agencies and at the least possible expense. It reaches not only the very destitute and defi- cient, but the large American middle class in need of assistance. This assistance the club is organized to give, not so much as a charity but as a public health service. Visiting nurs- ing in the homes was started in 1904 and for several years that constituted the largest part of the work; but at last it became necessary to establish an office and dispensary, where applicants could be received, medicines and sick-room supplies distributed, surgical dress- ings made and sterilized, patients met by ap- pointment, doctors consulted, etc. Each branch of work undertaken has been the di- rect result of a real need. One of these was the clinic where children could have continued treatment. Doctors cheerfully cared for pa- tients through acute attacks. It seemed im- possible at first for the club to successfully follow up these attacks, as each child had a different doctor and a different hour of ap- pointment. But at last the club succeeded in opening a medical clinic through which chil- dren below par mentally and physically have been treated with wonderful results. Every child is given a thorough examination, the case is properly diagnosed. often by means of X-ray pictures and various tests. Treatment is then prescribed, medicine furnished, and when necessary the case is dismissed, contin- ued or referred to other treatment. Many children have received expensive surgical cor- rective treatment and hospital care, with no expense whatever to the parents. Through the operation of the medical clinic was found an absolute need for a dental clinic. Before this, only emergency work had been provided through the generosity of first one dentist and then another, but it was found that nearly every child coming to the medical clinic needed dental care, hence the establishment of a den- tal clinic.

The social hygiene department was estab- lished on February 1, 1919. with the assist- ance of the State Board of Health. There are now 200 patients being treated. In San Jose there are clinics conducted daily in all depart- ments. Branches of the club have been es- tablished in Los Gatos, Campbell, Mountain View and Santa Clara.

The nationalities of the new cases treated for one month in 1920 were as follow: Amer- ican, 213; Italian-American, 86; Italian, 18; Spanish-American, 29; Japanese, 2: Swedish, 3; Portuguese, 1 : German, 3; Spanish, 2; Jew- ish-American, 4; Slavonian-American, I. To- tal, 362.

Home of Benevolence

The Home of Benevolence owes its exist- ence to the efforts of the Ladies' Benevolent Society. This society was organized in 1867, as a result of a meeting of Richard Savage, internal revenue assessor; J. J. Owen, editor of the Mercury; Mrs. A. M. Gates, wife of the principal of the San Jose Institute ; Mrs. J. C. Cobb, and a few others. At the organization meeting, on April 16 of the same year, the following officers were elected: President, Mrs. J. C. Cobb ; vice-president, Mrs. A. Pom- eroy; secretary, Mrs. N. Hayes; treasurer. Mrs. C. R. Spaw. At the same meeting Mrs. WV. N. Slocum, Mrs. G. Evans, Mrs. F. E. Adams and Mrs. E. J. Wilcox were appointed managers. The constitution stated the object of the society to be the rendering of assistance to sick and dependent persons residing in the city of San Jose.

Upon the acceptance of the constitution the following ladies were elected as a visiting com- mittee : Mrs. R. B. Hall, Mrs. E. Alban, Mrs. China Smith, Mrs. Joseph Ingham, Mrs. D. L. Shead, Mrs. A. L. Rhodes, Mrs. D. T. Adams, Mrs. Wesley Tonner, Mrs. J. R. Whitney, Mrs. T. Ellard Beans, Mrs. Josiah Belden, Mrs. P. T. McCabe, Mrs. J. C. Smith ; auxil- iary committee, J. A. Quinby, J. J. Owen, D. S. Payne, E. J. Wilcox, Richard Savage and A. B. Hamilton. The amount of fees collected through enrollment was thirty-nine dollars. Thus was launched upon the tide of human woes and human blessings one of the most beneficent, yet unostentatious, of local forces ; a power that for over fifty years has steadily and quietly gone about doing good. There have been no emoluments or honors connected with its offices, no worldly benefits accruing to any of its members.

In May, 1867, Mrs. Spaw tendered her res- ignation, which was accepted, and Mrs. N. Hayes, afterwards Mrs. Chas. J. Martin, was elected treasurer pro tem, and the names of Mrs. Norman Porter, Mrs. L. Archer, Mrs. R. B. Buckner and Mrs. R. T. O'Hanlon were

247

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

added to the list of members. During the sec- ond month, Mrs. James Hart, Mrs. J. Manly, Mrs. R. Savage, Mrs. Chas. Allen, Mrs. C. S. Crydenwise, Miss Sarah Severance, Mrs. K. Patterson, Mrs. S. A. Barker, Mrs. A. N. Hamm, Mrs. John Rouse and Miss Anna Cobb enrolled themselves as members. In August, Mrs. J. Lewis, Mrs. J. Cutler, Mrs. Stephen Thorne and Mrs. S. J. Churchill joined.

In 1872 the society incorporated under the laws of the state. At the same time T. Ellard Beans, T. W. Spring, A. C. Erkson and Mr. Rhodes were appointed as trustees, in addi- tion to the presiding officers and board of man- agers. The event of the year was an appro- priation of $500 from the state.

The Home of Benevolence was established by the society in 1877, and the same year the constitution was so amended as to provide rules and regulations for a home for destitute children and aged and infirm persons. The home was first located in a rented building on the corner of Third and Martha streets, Mrs. A. H. Anderson serving as matron. Special laws were made for the place. By permission of the board of trustees children under pe- culiar circumstances could be admitted, and all mothers who earn their living were al- lowed to place their children at the home by the day, paying a small compensation for the accommodation. Independent of the home- less children and helpless women who found shelter and care in the home during the first year of its existence, twenty-five tramps re- ceived "square meals."

An Authors' Carnival to raise money to- ward the building of a home that would an- swer all requirements was given at Music Hall on February 26, 1878. The officers at this time consisted of Mrs. Nellie Eyster. president ; Mrs. M. X. McKee and Mrs. L. W. Moultrie, vice-presidents; Mrs. Louisa King, secretary, and Mrs. Frances D. Williams, treasurer ; board of managers, Mesdames J. C. Cobb, C. R. Span. T. W. Spring, A. M. Gates, Ben Cory, P. D. Hale, Dr. Stone, E. Coombs, T. E. Beans, S. A. Clark, C. H. Allen, H. J. Haskell, Jackson Lewis, P. T. McCabe, A. T. Herrmann, M. Dimond.

The carnival was a success, the sium of $2,987.85 being netted to the society. In Sep- tember, 1878, the home was removed to the old Schroeder place at the junction of First and Market streets. Here, with a family of nine children and two invalid women, the so- ciety took temporary possession, Mrs. A. R. Ransom as matron. The house being large and unfurnished, the draught upon the treas- ury to make it both habitable and comfort- able was heavy. Various means to raise funds were discussed, among which was the propo-

sition to have a course of scientific lectures by some of the savants of San Jose. About this time Geo. W. Fentress, city librarian, was authorized to offer prizes for the best poem and the best story by San Jose authors. That for the best poem, "An Arboreal Song of the Alameda," was unanimously awarded, by in- telligent judges and critics, to its author, Mrs. Mary H. Field. The poem purports to be-

"The song of an ancient tree, Which it softly crooned to me As I walked on an autumn day In the Alameda-the beautiful way- The pride and glory of San Jose."

It tells in musical rhyme the history of the century's years, dating from the time when- The gray old Mission Fathers nine sat In the long refectory hall, Lingering over bread and wine,

and planning. For the glory of God and the good of man, to

Plant some trees whose greenery

A screen from the burning sun shall be. After much opposition from the brother Friars, who thought the plan of planting a "league of forest" too large to come within their compassing, it was done, and when the originator of the plan, the benevolent and weary Father de Catala, slept one night a bright vision hovered o'er him,

And he saw, as in a magical glass, that The trees of his planting so stately grew, They leaned their tops 'gainst the sky's soft blue, While intertwining on every side, The giant branches swept far and wide. 'Neath the lovely living arches' span The broad, smooth highway level ran, Its verduous vistas stretching on Till the power of the raptured eye was gone.

The vision shifted many times, until there came to the Friars' view some of the scenes of today :

A surging crowd of an unknown name- An endless, hurrying, jostling throng, Full of laughter, and jest, and song- The ceaseless tide of a city's street, The stately coach and the lumbering wain, Which came with rumble, and rush, and roar,

Swarming with people, behind, before, Above, within, and under, too,

248

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

For aught the puzzled Friar knew. Whose living monument stands today In the Alameda-the beautiful way.

Mrs. Field presented the manuscript of the poem to the society and an illustrated edition of 1,000 copies was printed, the sale of which produced a modest revenue.

It being found necessary to incorporate the Home of Benevolence as an institution sepa- rate from that of the Ladies' Benevolent So- ciety, a meeting to take the necessary steps was called on October 21, 1879, an election of officers followed and an application for a charter was made. In 1880, a house for the home was built on the Morey land on the cor- ner of Martha and Eleventh streets. It con- sisted of eleven large rooms and two bath- rooms. It was appropriately dedicated on September 5, 1880. It was then reported that there was not a dollar of indebtedness.

The event of the summer of 1882 was the furnishing of the two dormitories with thirty- six iron bedsteads, wire springs and hair mat- tresses, at a cost of $600. The children, irre- spective of sex, were now taught to do their own bed-making. On January 21, 1885, the society accepted the deed of conveyance of the yearly revenue from the "Contingent James Lick Trust Fund" of $25,000 for the benefit of the Home of Benevolence. There were five acres in the original home tract, but six and one-half acres were afterwards added ; also a hospital and a large addition to the building.

After the Santa Clara County Charities and the Good Cheer Club began to do city and county work, the members of the Ladies' Be- nevolent Society devoted their time mainly to the care and maintenance of the home, which at present has seventy inmates (children). The matron is Mrs. Skidmore. The officers of the society are: Mrs. Geo. B. McKee. president : Mrs. J. W. Blauer and Mrs. W. S. Clayton, vice-presidents ; Mrs. A. G. Field, re- cording secretary ; Mrs. Louis Sonniksen, financial secretary ; Mrs. P. H. Jordan, corre- sponding secretary ; Mrs. F. B. S. Williams, treasurer ; trustees other than officers, Mes- dames W. C. Bailey, F. O. Read, H. Center, J. R. Kocher, P. F. Gosbey, G. W. Borchers, G. D. Farrington, W. S. Van Dalsem, F. W. Moore, G. A. Muirson, C. R. Parkinson, S. A. Ogier, Joseph Pash, C. A. Wayland, J. W. Hamilton, J. W. Faull, G. A. Sweigert, and Miss C. Belle Eaton.

The Odd Fellows' Home

One of the finest institutions of the kind is the Odd Fellows' Home, located on Fruitvale Avenue about a mile south of Saratoga. It is a concrete building and was erected in 1912

at a cost of $300,000. There are eighty-two acres in the tract. In 1920 there were 174 in- mates, fifty of them being women. The main building contains a ladies' parlor, library, as- sembly hall, reception room and rooms for the officers. A large part of the tract is planted in fruit trees and in 1919 fruit to the amount of $5,000 was sold. The home maintains hog and chicken yards and a vegetable garden, and in a large measure is self-supporting. The management is in the hands of a board of trustees consisting of John Hazlett, San Fran- cisco; D. A. Sinclair, Oakland; Fred Pierce, Los 'Angeles: A. N. Bullock, Sacramento; Sam E. Moreland, San Jose. The superin- tendent is Dr. C. S. Arnold and his wife is matron. The average age of the inmates is seventy-six years and the cost of maintenance per inmate is $25.50 per month.

The Pratt Home

The Pratt Home, a gift from Mrs. W. W. Pratt, located on South First Street near the Market Street junction, was organized in 1891. Since then two annexes have been built. It has been used for the relief of homeless children and aged people of both sexes. The main building is spacious and well appointed and is surrounded by handsome grounds that are adorned with trees and shrubbery. At present there are fifty inmates. The follow- ing are the officers elected in May, 1920: President, Mrs. W. L. Woodrow ; secretary, Mrs. A. T. Herrmann; treasurer, Mrs. J. E. Richards ; financial secretary, Mrs. C. H. Her- vey ; assistant treasurer, Miss Mayo Hayes ; first vice-president, Mrs. Ernest Lion; other directors, Mrs. William Bogen, Mrs. B. Laugh- lin, Mrs. W. G. Alexander and Miss Dock- stader.

Notre Dame Institute

The O'Connor Notre Dame Institute, lo- cated at the corner of Second and Reed streets, was formerly the residence of Judge and Mrs. M. P. O'Connor. On July 16, 1883, they do- nated the residence to the Sisters of Notre Dame for use as an orphanage for girls. At present there are twenty-five inmates, though there are accommodations for fifty. The in- mates are cared for and given a thorough ed- ucation. Those who wish can afterwards en- ter the College of Notre Dame high school. Others are placed in good situations after hav- ing been thoroughly inducted into the myster- ies of domestic science.

The Salvation Army and Volunteers

The Salvation Army has been a humani- tarian force in San Jose for over forty years. It carries a message of relief and hope to the poor and sick and its services both in war and

249

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

peace have been important and far-reaching. The industrial department in San Jose, at 573 South Market Street, is conducted by Adju- tant W. Boyd, while the hall on Post Street for meetings is in the hands of Captain W. Bamford.

The Volunteers of America organized in 1876, just after Ballington Booth had severed his connection with the Salvation Army and had formed the national organization of Vol- unteers. A home for men is located on North Fourth Street and an industrial department does business at 477 North First Street. Both of these places are administered by Staff Cap- tain Rose Gotlı.

The work of the Salvation Army is illus- trated in the story of old Bob Bennett. Fish- ermen and hunters in the Mt. Hamilton region will remember the old man, who lived the life of a hermit in a little cabin high up in a gulch that debouches into the Canyon of the Santa Ysabel. Old Bob is dead and the coyote yips and barks and the wildcat snarls and cries in the little flat where once was heard the plain- tive strains of Old Bob's violin. The old fel- low was a curious character. He was an Eng- lishman, unmarried, and had no relatives in America. While a young man he followed the sea as a ship's carpenter. In middle life he came to San Jose and was employed for a number of years as a cabinet-maker in one of the city's large furniture stores. He had one besetting fault-overindulgence in strong drink-and inability to control the appetite sent him to the eastern hills for recuperation and reformation. But the habit of years was too strong to be easily thrown off. Some men in his situation might have fought the booze devil to a finish, but poor Bob was not a man of stamina. He was kind-hearted, honest and a hard worker, but he lacked the will-power to fight resolutely against his enemy. For a while he chopped wood, but ceased to manipu- late the axe when the late W. T. Adel pur- chased Campoodie, a large flat below the Kin- caid ranch, and engaged him to stay on the place and keep an eye on the improvements- an old log cabin and a recently built shack of two rooms. Bob stayed at Campoodie for a while, employing his spare time-which was about all his time-in making commercial use of the wood of the manzanita trees which grew in profusion above the flat. He was a cunning artisan, and having as his belongings a lathe and a full set of carpenter's tools, was able to fashion out of the seasoned manzanita all sorts of useful articles, from napkin rings to canes.

After he left Adel's place he located in a gulch across the Ysabel Creek. The spot had a fine spring, and near the water he erected a

cabin and a workshop, and while he lived he turned out manzanita work that found a ready sale. His best patrons were the astronomers at the Lick Observatory. Bob was a natural musician, though he could not read a note of music. He played the violin and banjo with equal facility, and during the camping season he would entertain the Ysabel campers with his music. All the time the drink habit held him in a vise. Once a month he would send to San Jose for provisions and a demijohn of whiskey. The whiskey would last about a week and during that time Bob would indulge himself to the limit. As the years passed the habit grew stronger, would not be denied. He found that he could not wait for the monthly supply, so he tried shellac to tide him over the shaky time. One day his shellac gave out. But he had a bottle of wood alcohol. Perhaps he did not know that sudden death lurked in the bottle. Perhaps he did know, and was reckless of consequences. At any rate, he drank deeply of the poison and twenty-four hours later a rancher found him dead in bed.

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 45

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