History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 64

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

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Probably the painting entitled "Crossing the Plains" is the most notable of Mr. Hill's recent productions. It was purchased by subscription and it was a mem- orable event on April 23, 1921, when this fine painting was presented to the people of California. Many notables were in attendance at the presentation, among them being Governor Stephens, Mrs. James Patterson, who drove the last iron spike that united the east and west; Mr. Brown, who made the first plow in California on J Street, Sacramento; John McNaught, the well known author and publisher; Al- fred Bettens and R. M. Bettens, the leading hotel managers; Mr. and Mrs. Alden Anderson and many others. Alex. P. Murgotten, secretary of the Andrew P. Hill Art Committee, made the presentation speech, in which he spoke of the inspiration of the artist to paint a picture that would live in the memory of the

pioneers of California. Governor Stephens accepted it for the people of California.

Mr. Hill is an honored member of the Pioneer Society of Santa Clara County, and served on the board of directors of the Forest Play Association of California, and the Sempervirens Club. The "Save the Redwoods" leagne appropriated their name from the "Save the Redwoods" rallying cry of the Semper- virens Club. Mr. Hill's name and his life work is entitled to a conspicuous place in the historical literature of California, for there are few men liv- ing here today whose labors have such a lasting influence upon the happiness, prosperity, and wel- fare of the commonwealth. Mr. Hill holds a con- cession at California Redwood Park to sell park pictures, and his summers are spent there. He gives lectures every Sunday on the trees of Cali- fornia to appreciative audiences, and during the win- ter months he paints pictures to fill orders taken during the summer.

RICHARD P. KEEBLE .- A typical representa- tive of the self-made men of our times, occupying a well-deserved place of prominence and affluence in the Santa Clara Valley, is Richard P. Keeble, known to his wide circle of friends as Dick Keeble, who has contributed much to the upbuilding of the county during his long residence here, and particu- larly has he done much to advance the interests of the fruit industry. He was born near Maryville, Blount County, Tenn., August 6, 1868, a son of Marion and Martha Jane (Clark) Keeble, both na- tives of that state. The Clark family were of Eng- lish ancestry, while Mrs. Keeble's maternal ancestors, the Thompsons, were of Scotch descent and among the early settlers of Tennessee. The Keeble family came from England, settling in Virginia just prior to the Revolutionary War, and Great-grandfather Richard Keeble served in that struggle for independ- ence. Grandfather Keeble, also named Richard, was a pioneer of Tennessee, and his son, Marion Keeble, the father of our subject, was an officer in the Con- federate army in the Civil War, serving under Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. For many years he was a prominent farmer in Eastern Tennessee, where he passed away, the father of ten children, seven of whom are living, five of them being residents of California.

The second eldest of the family, Dick Keeble, at- tended the public schools of Blount County for a short time during the winter months, his summers being spent in working on the farm. In 1889 he came out to California, remaining for a month at Los Angeles and then going on to Ventura County, where he was employed on a bean thresher for a season. At the time of his father's death, in 1890, he returned to his old home in Tennessee where he remained for a year and a half, and then he made up his mind to return to the Coast and locate here permanently. For a time he resided in Washington, where he was engaged in the lumber business, com- ing back to California in 1892 and settling in the Santa Clara Valley, where he found employment dur- ing the fruit season. He began at the bottom of the ladder on arriving here, working for A. D. Rice, a rancher. at twenty-five dollars a month, but as he was willing and observant, he soon mastered ranch- ing methods as practiced in California. By thrift and economy he saved a considerable portion of his wages, so that in 1905. with his brother, he pur-

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chased a ranch near Edenvale. Later he acquired a five-year lease on the Ogier ranch, on the Brokaw road, and after five successful seasons, he purchased the 115 acres that comprised the Ogier home place. Energetic and enterprising, he began at once to add to its improvements and set out and reset much of the place to all varieties of pears, until he de- veloped it into one of the finest and best-equipped pear orchards in the state. The phenomenal suc- cess which attended his efforts is a conclusive proof of the statement that the Santa Clara Valley is the center of the pear-raising industry.

Mr. Keeble has also engaged extensively in the fruit business and besides shipping his own fruit he bought pears, apples and olives, packed them and shipped them East, his business growing to very large proportions, so that in 1920 he had become the largest individual green fruit shipper in the United States, building up this business through his energy and capability from a small beginning and increas- ing its volume each year. He has constructed his own packing sheds, modernly equipped with a full complement of machinery, ten men being employed the year around, while the services of sixty men are required during the busy season. Mr. Keeble has also developed a forty-acre pear orchard just north of San Jose, so that it can readily be seen that he has unbounded faith in the prosperity of the fruit industry in the Santa Clara Valley. The prod- ucts of his orchard have been shipped to all the large markets of the United States as well as supplying the export trade. In the fall of 1921 he disposed of his large orchard, a record sale, as it was the con- sensus of opinion that it was the highest price ever paid for a like acreage in this valley.

During the past twenty-five years Mr. Keeble's life has been a varied one, and he has crossed the con- tinent twenty-seven times in disposing of his fruit and looking after his interests. His rise to promi- nence and affluence in a few short years is all the more interesting, since he says that it was in Cali- fornia that he made his first dollar. Besides his fruit interests, he has invested in two other ranches, one of fifty-two and one of forty-two acres; the latter is in alfalfa and is leased as a dairy. Politically Mr. Keeble is a stanch Republican, supporting the principles of the party of his choice, and has served on the county election board several times. De- servedly popular among a large circle of friends, he participates in the activities of the San Jose Country' Club and the Chamber of Commerce and is a char- ter member of the San Jose Commercial Club. It is to such men that the rising generation may look for moral and material guidance, for unselfishness has been one of his chief characteristics and industry and courage his unfailing guides.

JAMES LOUIS LIGHTSTON .- A native son of California who has for the past eleven years been connected with the city government is James Louis Lightston, who is now deputy city treasurer and license collector. Mr. Lightston was elected for three terms as city treasurer; when the new com- mission form of government was established this position became appointive and Mr. Liglitston was again selected to hold this office, which he does to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was horn in San Jose on February 14, 1872, the son of Frank and Juanita (Soto) Lightston, the father a

'49er, having come to this country during the time of the gold rush and first tried his luck as a miner. He was the first city treasurer of the city of San Jose, and was also the deputy sheriff; James Light- ston is still using the books that were opened by his father. The mother was a member of an old Spanish family, and passed away in the year 1900, her hus- band having preceded her, in 1890.

James was educated in St. Joseph's school, and when he first began to make his livelihood he began as a clerk in a grocery store and was engaged in that line for a period of five years; he then went to work for an undertaker's establishment and was em- ployed here for three years; then he spent ten years in railroad work and later he was elected to the position of city treasurer and license collector for three terms, and later, under the new form of gov- ernment, he received this appointment, and in all he lias served in that office for eleven years.

Mr. Lightston's marriage united him with Saralı A. Rossmussen, a member of an old pioneer family of San Jose, of which place she is a native; they are the parents of three children: Louis N., Charles F., and Juanita. Mr. Lightston is very popular in the fraternal organizations of which he is a mem- ber, the Woodmen of the World, Foresters, Red Men, and the Yeomen Lodge. In national politics he is a Republican, and in his religious faith is a member of the Catholic Church.

ELIZA ANN SUTHERLAND .- Much credit must be given to the wives of the early pioneers of California, who by their patience and loving sacrifice liciped their husbands lay the foundation of a great civilization, and in Eliza Ann Sutherland, the wife of the late James Sutherland, we have a woman of rare charm, who has reared a large and useful fam- ily, and who, in the evening of life, is surrounded by many admiring friends and her loving children, and she dispenses hospitality freely at her home at 483 South Sixth Street in San Jose. She was born in Ray County, Mo., on September 4, 1850, and when thirteen years old left her Missouri home to begin the long journey across the plains. The ox teams were under Captain Duncan and the train consisted of many wagons and thirty families, and with their horses, mules, oxen and cows, proceeded on their journey. Her father, John Esrey, had married Miss Sarah Jane Stratton, a native of Kentucky, in Mis- souri and they had five children; Eliza Ann, our subject: Madeinah, Mrs. Wm. Ingram, deceased; John Wesley of Lemoore; Mary L. of Los Angeles, and Thomas S. of San Francisco. On account of Mrs. Esrey's delicate health the father was making the journey to a milder climate in the hopes that she would regain her healthı. Many hardships were en- dured, and the constant fear of the Indians, which they encountered, added greatly to their discomfort. The mother was stricken with that dread disease, the mountain fever, and despite the care and atten- tion given her, she died and was buried at the little village of Galena about three miles from Washoe, Nevada. The shock of losing her mother at this time, seemed more than the little girl, Eliza Ann, could endure, and to add to their troubles, the two younger children, Madelnah and Mary, were taken sick with the same disease, and for many weeks their lives were despaired of and they became so weak-

Eliza ann Sutherland.

James Sutherland

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

cned that they could not walk. After they began to mend and were able to be up and around they had to learn to walk over again. Arriving in Cali- fornia in 1864 the family settled thirty miles south of Fresno at a town now known as Lemoore, where relatives had settled at an earlier date. After four years' residence there, Miss Esrey was married to James Sutherland, a native of England, born in 1847, who came to America with the family when four years old, coming to California via the Isthmus of Panama. They landed in Sacramento County, later going to the San Joaquin Valley, where the whole family raised cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland, whose marriage license was issued at old Millerton, were married at Visalia in 1868, and with a two-horse wagon spent their honeymoon traveling up to Santa Clara County and settled about two miles northwest of what is now known as Lawrence Station. Their land adjoined the Murphy tract, where Sunnyvale was built. Arriving here Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland stopped with his parents two years, then bought the ranch adjoining, continuing there until coming to San Jose. He was the prime mover with his father, in erecting the Bay View Methodist Episcopal Church, South, near the Brawley school, which was later moved to Mountain View. He was one of the most liberal supporters of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in San Jose, up to the time of his death. He was liberal towards all good movements for the upbuilding of the county and when he died was mourned by a large circle of friends.

Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland reared five children: Jonathan Clark, whose sketch appears in this volume; Caroline became Mrs. Scott Dean, and they had a son, Robert W., who was reared by his grandmother from the age of nine and who died aged twenty-one, both of whom have passed away; Annie J., now Mrs. L. A. Bates, a contractor and builder and they reside in San Jose; Lena is the wife of A. T. Griffin, em- ployed by the Prune & Apricot Association, and they reside at 466 Fifth Street, San Jose. There are six grandchildren, Frances Bates, James Bates, Lucile Bates, Dorothy T. Griffin, Carrie (Sutherland) Munger and Cleanie Sutherland, and one great- grandchild, Charles Munger. Mrs. Sutherland still owns two dairy farms near Lemoore, Cal., which have become very valuable. Just before the great earthquake of 1906, the Sutherlands bought the home at 483 South Sixth Street, and this has been their home ever since. On account of failing health Mr. Sutherland for three years traveled from place to place seeking relief, but to no avail, and on July 2. 1916, he passed away. Politically he was a Demo- crat and fraternally was an Odd Fellow. In their religious convictions they were members of the Methodist Church, South, and Mrs. Sutherland is an active member of the Home Missionary Society. It is a delight to meet Mrs. Sutherland and to hear her relate the experiences through which she has passed and to realize that the hardships and sacri- fices were the mellowing influences that have brought the charm and beauty of later years.

GEORGE BISSELL POLHEMUS .- Mourned by many who had come to recognize in him one of the most representative Californians, as he was cer- tainly one of the foremost, influential citizens of Santa Clara County, George Bissell Polhemus, the well-known orchardist, passed away on July 26, 1914, at his residence on Stockton Avenue, San Jose, fol- lowing a short illness, although he had been in fail- ing health for over a year. He was born in San Fran- cisco on January 21, 1857, the son of the late Charles B. Polhemus, a native of New Jersey, who made off to South America when he was seventeen years of age. He pitched his tent at various points on the West Coast in Chile and Peru; but when the gold fever broke out in California, he hurried north and established a branch of Alsop & Company, then one of the largest Yankee houses in South America. In 1864 he became interested with Messrs. Donahue, Newhall & Polhemus in the San Francisco & San Jose Railroad, which they guaranteed and subse- quently owned: they worked the railroad up to 1867. and in the meantime built a branch to Gilroy, and then sold out to Stanford, Huntington and other pio- neer railroad builders.

This venture had one particularly interesting re- sult. Through investing in this railroad, Mr. Pol- hemus was compelled to purchase the Commodore Stockton ranch of 2,000 acres, which was later sub- divided, and he thus came to acquire the old Stock- ton ranch house on Stockton Avenue, which was brought from New York City by Commodore Stock- ton in 1849 or 1850, with eighteen other houses, around Cape Horn. In 1867 Mr. Polhemus nego- tiated for himself and three associates the purchase of 180,000 acres of land in Los Angeles and San Ber- nardino County, which they bought at the almost fabulously low price, viewed in the light of later val- uations, of $1.50 an acre-although at that time the land was more or less of a drug on the market.

In 1852, Charles Polhemus was married to Miss Matilda Murphy, a native of New York, who is now deceased; and three children blessed their union. One died in infancy; a daughter, Mary Josephine, now residing in Italy; while the other child was the subject of this review. Charles Polhemus was a member of Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., of Mt. Holly. N. J., founded, in part, by his father, Montgomery Polhemus, a merchant and a landowner in New Jer- sey, and the son of Major John Polhemus, a soldier in the Revolutionary Army. The mention of his name and status recalls one of the prized heirlooms of the Polhemus family, a steel-engraving of the Major, a fine looking old gentleman, in the dress of the time. It bears the following inscription:

J. POLHEMUS Major John Polhemus, U. S. A., Commis- sioned as a Captain by order of Congress, Nov. 22. 1775; Promoted to a Majority at Valley Forge. The "Jersey Bleu," organized by his father-in-law, John Hart (a signer of the Declaration of Independence), found a patriotic commander in him.

Born May 25, A. D. 1738. Died on the 94th anniversary of that day.

George Bissell Polhemus received his early educa- tion in San Francisco under the Rev. George Bur- rows, who took twelve students to prepare for a col- lege course at Cambridge; but after devoting some years in the pursuit of that ambition, Mr. Polhemus

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decided to give up his college course, in which he had, as far as he went, laid the foundation, broad and deep, of an education which time and experience brought to a ripe fruition. In 1887, Mr. Polhemus was married to Miss Jennie Ryder, the daughter of George W. Ryder, of the Santa Clara Valley, a gifted lady who shared his popularity. One son, Charles Polhemus, sprang from this fortunate mat- ing, and bids fair to perpetuate the renown of the family name.

WILLIAM SUTHERLAND .- One of the most widely known, most successful and popular pioneers who ever lived in Santa Clara County was William Sutherland, who established his home on an eighty- acre ranch on the Saratoga and Alviso road, now known as Sutherland Avenue. A small portion of the ranch was devoted to family orchard, but the production of hay and grain and the raising of stock were the most profitable. Two fine artesian wells furnished an abundance of water for irrigation and for the large number of cattle, one being 300 feet deep and the other 425 feet in depth.

William Sutherland was born in Durham County, England, in 182]. His father, James Sutherland, was a native of Scotland, and his mother, Jane (Richard- son) Sutherland, was born in England. The father was a gardener by occupation, but William was put to work in the coal mines when but ten years of age. Opportunities for an education were extremely limited, and the success he accomplished was due entirely to his ability, energy and perseverance in the face of discouragement and limited means.

In 1845 Mr. Sutherland was united in marriage with Miss Ann Dawson, born in England in 1825. the daughter of Robert Dawson. Five years after his marriage, he came to the United States, hoping to better his fortunes in this land of promise. Land- ing at New Orleans, he proceeded at once up the Mississippi to St. Louis. He spent several months in the coal mines of Missouri and Illinois and during the year of 1851 he came across the plains to Cali- fornia. He was first engaged in the mines in Placer County, but the next year concluded to try a new venture, that of agriculture. His wife and two chil- dren then joined him, coming from England via Panama, but the oldest child, a girl, died soon after their arrival. He located in Sacramento County and purchased a farm and conducted it until 1855, and then settling upon the Kings River engaged in stock raising very profitably for thirteen years. In 1868 he removed to Santa Clara County and purchased the property known all over the county as the Sutherland Homestead. Returning to England in 1870 for a visit, he came back to the Golden State, well content to spend his remaining years in the beautiful and productive Santa Clara Valley. He was an active and generous member of the Southern Methodist Church and his exemplary life won for him the respect and esteem of all who knew him. He was a stanch Democrat, but was liberal in his views. His influence for good was far reaching and his industry and integrity were potent factors in his success and the younger generation would do well to emulate the example of his well-spent life. Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland were the parents of ten children, but only three grew up, two of whom are now living: James, deceased, whose sketch appears in

this work; Elizabeth, the wife of Elbert C. Apperson of Sunol, and Mrs. Clara Buckner of Exeter. Mr. Sutherland died at his home in San Jose in 1903, while his wife survived him until June 17, 1911.

HENRY A. PFISTER .- If one were to tell the story of Santa Clara County from 1847 to the present day in the biographies of her distinguished sons- men, in every sense virile, citizens, in every sense American-such a one would find inextricably woven with that history the name of the Pfisters. And to recount the advance of this community; to re- view the progress achieved, and to leave that name out, were to utter an apostrophe without an inflec- tion of the voice; were to paint a picture without dipping the brush in the radiant tones of the artist's shades. While we have here essayed to write con- cerning the county clerk of this county, Henry A. Pfister, still it must be known that no such biography of however brief a compass would be complete without a word snatched from the past-some short word, written in retrospect, regarding those who have gone before.

Mr. Pfister's father, Adolph Pfister, was born in Strasburg, Alsace, in 1821; and, after acquiring his education in the land of his birth, traveled exten- sively all over Europe, coming to New York in 1844. In 1847 he joined Stevenson's Regiment and circling Cape Horn came to California tinged with the ro- mance of that early and gallant expedition, land- ing first at Monterey and coming later to San Jose.

After a short visit to the mines of Eldorado County, where he was amply rewarded in his pur- suits, he returned to San Jose, and at once enlisted himself actively in the business and civic affairs of this city. He located first, on Santa Clara Street, near where the same is crossed by the Guadalupe River and there engaged in making saddle-trees. Later he erected the Washington Hotel, at the cor- ner of Santa Clara and San Pedro streets-the first hotel to be built in San Jose.

This hostelry and landmark he later sold; then established himself in the general merchandise busi- ness at the corner of Market and Eldorado, now Post Street. Selling this, he then moved to a site at the corner of First and Santa Clara streets, where the Bank of Italy now stands, and there continued in the mercantile business. Upon selling this to the Farmer's Union he occupied himself in the grain business, owning at one time four flour mills in this county. Besides these many enterprises in which he was engaged he was also for many years the vice-president of the Bank of San Jose. Safely can it be said that but few men have reached the civic heights of Mr. Pfister, for he was twice elect- ed mayor of San Jose, and it was he who founded San Jose's first Free Library-having donated his salary as mayor to that philanthropic end; and was honored with the presidency of the Library Board for many years.

In 1850, Mr. Pfister married Miss Lonisa Glein and to this marriage were born Henry A. Pfister, the present county clerk of Santa Clara County, his two brothers and three sisters, all of whom have made their mark in the world.

Henry Adolph Pfister was born in San Jose on January 26, 1859, and received the first rudiments of his education at the Gates Institute which stood on the east side of First Street, between St. James and Julian streets, but later matriculated at the Santa

William Sutherland

Am Sutherland

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Clara College, from which institution he was grad- nated with honors, in 1874. With an uncle, C. E. Hoffman, he then went to Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and still later to Mexico, engaging in mining in these various places. He then returned to San Jose and soon opened and conducted a store at the Guada- lupe Quicksilver Mines, at Guadalupe, in Santa Clara County. After the closing of the mines he opened a large store in Santa Clara, in which business he was still engaged when on November 8, 1894, the voters of Santa Clara County bestowed on him the office of county clerk. For almost thirty years Mr. Pfister has occupied this position in the public serv- ice, and has acquitted himself at all times in a man- ner indicative of that type of public official that is fast becoming extinct, but the memory of which shall ever remain as the inspiration and exemplar of coming generations.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 64

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