History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 74

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

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En. Brown

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

fornia. John Edwin Hichborn, his father, married Frances Hunt and came around the Horn in 1852. when he was seven months on the way, landing at San Francisco in the fall of that year. Later he went to Humboldt County, where he built the first wharf on the Eureka waterfront, and established the first produce business in the country.

Franklin Hichborn attended both Santa Clara Col- lege and Stanford University, studying at the latter institution during 1892-94. Santa Clara College eventually, in 1903, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts. From 1894-97, he was the publisher of the San Jose Letter; in 1897-98 he was the city editor of the Fresno Expositor; in 1899 he edited the Winnemucca, Nevada, Silver State; for a year, beginning with 1900, he published the San Jose Spectator; from 1902 to 1904 he edited the San Jose Herald; from 1904 to 1906 he was news editor of the Sacramento Union; and from 1906 to 1919 he was active as both a writer and a lecturer on political and economic subjects, while from 1915 to 1917 he published the Legislative Bulletin at Sacramento.

As a lineal descendant of some of the best Amer- ican families, Franklin Hichborn's voice and pen have ever been at the service of justice, truth and right, and he has conducted several state-wide publicity campaigns of great value in their salutary effect on public morals. One, in 1912, defeated the attempt, under initiative provisions and the state constitution, to restore race-track gambling in California. In 1913, his historic work, "The System, as Uncovered by the San Francisco Graft Prosecution," did a great deal toward cleaning up San Francisco. In 1914 he brought about the ratification of the "redlight" abatement act, and as late as 1920 he published an effective brochure on "Red Morals," in which he discussed the social evil in Europe and America. He has become one of the most conscientious and ablest advocates of na- tional prohibition and defenders of the eighteenth amendment, and his power to handle this difficult theme against other able and differing advocates is shown in his reply to Father Jerome Sixtus Ricard, the famous astronomer and director of Santa Clara Observatory, who, in the San Jose Mercury-Herald, attacked the amendment and the proposition of pro- hibition and pleaded for the American's rights to personal liberty.

Other publications of Mr. Hichborn are the "Stories of the California Legislature"-4 volumes, 1909, 1911. 1913, 1915, "The Social Evil in California as a Polit- ical Problem," and "The Parochial School vs. The Melting Pot," and just what value these fruits of the California reformer have, may easily be seen from a number of critical reviews from sources worthy of national consideration. Francis J. Heney, who con- ducted the San Francisco graft prosecution, said: "I have read 'The System' with deep interest. It is the only accurate and complete account of the San Francisco graft prosecutions which has ever been published in any form. Mr. Hichborn has performed a most important public service. The perpetuity of republican institutions depends upon the masses be- ing able to secure correct information, and to thus acquire a correct understanding of the underlying causes of corruption and of bad government in our cities, states, and nation. "The System' will make plain to every intelligent reader just what these

underlying causes of corruption and bad government are. It ought to be read by every person in the state above the age of twelve years. It is a clear, logical, sane, and fair history of one of the most im- portant periods in the life of San Francisco." So, too, Harper's Weekly praised Mr. Hichborn's search- light inquires into California legislative proceedings, when it said: "To Franklin Hichborn, more than to any other journalist, is due the sweeping tide of polit- ical reform in California. The stern facts, marshalled in his "Stories of the California Legislature" for three successive sessions have been fatal to those con- demned by them. In the preface to his latest book, 'The System,' he says: 'It is my purpose-as far as it lies in my power-to keep the cover off.' In that phrase lies the temper of his service. Dispassionate as a recording angel, keen as a detective hero, he does not need to muckrake but is content to let the logic of his facts bring their own unsparing con- clusions. While the traditional 'machine' of his gen- eration was still dominant in California, he saw that it was not so important to know what was done as how it was done; so he merely turned the clock around, took out the back and showed the voter how the machine worked. In other words, for the last six years he has devoted himself to telling, without fear or malice, the record of every man in the Legis- lature, on every important measure; to tracing the influences of special privilege through lobby and hall; to laying bare the hidden and interwoven roots which produce corruption." And Collier's Weekly, equally famous as a national periodical, added: "Roosevelt's speech, in which he made famous the phrase, 'the strenuous life,' was delivered at Chicago in 1899. Reading it, we find the exhortation: 'Read the Congressional Record.' And then follow several paragraphs of an emphatic call to search the votes, roll-calls, and other official records of Congress, and to base approval or disapproval of public men upon these records. Exactly this sort of searching of the records is one of the things that has led to the political revolution of the past decade. Among the more potent agents of this political revolution are the men who have gone into official records which were obscure and complex, and made them simple and available to the general public. Conspicuous among the men who have done this is Mr. Franklin Hichborn, who, at the end of each session of the California Legislature, compiles a book in which he analyzes the record of every member, and the history of all the important bills. Every voter in California should read it. Voters elsewhere should know about it, and try to secure a like institution in their own states."

At Fresno, on December 31, 1897, Mr. Hichborn was married to Miss Mabel Houlton, of Santa Clara, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greenleaf Houlton, and granddaughter of the founder of Houlton, Maine. Five children have blessed this union. The eldest bears, very appropriately, the historic name of Paul Revere, while the next in the order of birth is Deborah, who in 1920 married David T. Rayner. The others are Drusilla, Mahel, and Frances. A Progressive Republican, Mr. Hichborn is a member of the San Francisco Press Club and the National Economic League. He resides with his family at 1091 Fremont Street, Santa Clara.

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SPENCER MORROW MAZE .- One of the early pioneers of Santa Clara County, who furnished a splendid example of the self-made man, and whose career is worthy of note, is Spencer Morrow Maze, who passed away May 11, 1916, at his home in Gil- roy, highly respected by all who knew him. A Kentuckian by birth, he was born July 16, 1830, in Henry County. The parents of Spencer Maze were John and Sarah (Morrow) Maze, both also natives of Kentucky, the former born January 16, 1788, and the latter, July 17, 1792. They were married November 29, 1808, and were the parents of nine children: Enoch, Elizabeth, Polly, Patsy, Sarah, Chesley, Eliza, Spencer M., and Pleasant, all of whom are now de- ceased. In 1834 the family moved to Illinois, locat- ing in Macoupin County, where the father bought up government land in large sections and continued his occupation of farming. After having located in Illi- nois, John Maze returned to Kentucky to settle up his affairs and while there died, September 6, 1835. His widow remained on the farm in Illinois for eight years, and died May 24, 1843, when Spencer M. was but thirteen years of age.

Left an orphan thus early in life, Spencer first took up his residence with his brother Enoch, who soon removed to Carlton, where two years later Enoch died. Spencer then became an apprentice to learn the wagonmaker's trade and applied himself for three years, receiving ten cents a day and board for his services. At the end of three years he had thoroughly mastered the details of that business and in March, 1849, he set out across the plains behind mule teams. without a relative in the party, but being in company with Colonel Fry and James Ralston and Mr. Sharon, who afterwards built the Palace Hotel in San Fran- cisco. Upon arriving in Sacramento, August 3, 1849, he, in company with Colonel Fry, went to the gold mines in the American River Valley, spending his first winter at Georgetown. His work in the mines proved unsuccessful and within two years he gave it up altogether. Going to Santa Clara County in 1851. Mr. Maze first located in the vicinity of Alviso and engaged in farming for a year and a half; going next to Saratoga, he took up his trade of wagon maker and blacksmith for five years and was successful in his undertaking. In August, 1858, he first came to the Gilroy district, and two years later purchased what was known as the Maze home ranch of 200 aeres, which he operated for almost thirty years as a dairy farm. In 1886, Mr. Maze retired from active duties of life and moved to Gilroy, where he spent the remainder of his days, a worthy citizen of the locality. While residing in Saratoga, in May, 1855, he married Miss Amanda Gruwell, a native of Iowa, where she was born in January, 1837, a daughter of Labon Gruwell, who crossed the plains in 1852, bring- ing his family. Mr. and Mrs. Maze were the parents of five children: Edward Record; Ella Pearl, became the wife of Dr. J. R. Reily and she died aged about forty years; there were two boys who died in infancy; and Miss France Spencer Maze, of Gilroy. Mr. Maze was a Republican in politics and was a patriotic citi- zen, as shown by the fact that from 1861 to 1865 he served as a member of the Home Guards, first as a private, then promoted to be captain. After locating on his ranch in the south end of Santa Clara County, Mr. Maze found the place covered with wild mus-

tard, no cultivation at all, and he had to do some very hard pioneering work to first get his crops put'in. During the years 1865-66-67-68, when he couldn't make the ranch pay, he would walk from his ranch six miles to Gilroy, to work at his trade and back each night, receiving $3.50 per day.

EMORY GRIGSBY SINGLETARY .- Among the most promising young business men of San Jose, who was making a success of the career his ambition had marked out for him, was the late Emory Grigsby Singletary, a cultured, scholarly young man; a native son, born in San Jose on September 3, 1882, he was the son of the late Emory C. Singletary and his wife, Florence Grigsby Singletary, also represented in this work. One of twin brothers, our subject was reared in San Jose, attending the public schools, Belmont Academy and Stanford University, taking a course in mining engineering, after which for some years he was employed by Palmer, McBride & Quayle as con- struction engineer. While at Stanford University he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.

In San Jose, May 24, 1909, Mr. Singletary was united in marriage with Miss Margaret E. McGeoghe- gan Mr. Singletary continued with Palmer, McBride & Quayle until the death of his father in 1911, when with his brother he returned to San Jose to take charge of the large estate, rapidly becoming prominent in financial circles and with a promising career before him. On December 1, 1918, he was stricken with the influenza and in spite of his rugged constitution and great strength he could not withstand the severe at- tack of this disease, but was taken away December 10. Mrs. Singletary was also a victim of the in- fluenza and for a time her life was despaired of, but she recovered to mourn the loss of her husband and to care for the two bright boys that blessed their union, Emory Curtis and John Grigsby. He was a Knight Templar and a Shriner and was buried with Masonic honors.

Mr. Singletary was an acknowledged leader among the younger generation of business men of Santa Clara County, as well as in civic and social life, and his death was a severe blow to the community which held him in high regard, and an irreplacable loss to his immediate family. The memory of his life, which was one of integrity and honesty of purpose, winning for him the respect of all who came in contact with him, is a great comfort and consolation to Mrs. Sin- gletary, who was very proud of his ability and rise in the business world.

Since her husband's death, Mrs. Singletary has con- tinued to reside at her comfortable home at 50 Fre- mont Street, which Mr. Singletary built a short time before his death, her life interest being centered in her young sons, who were so early deprived of a father's care and counsel. A woman of culture and rare amiability, she is greatly interested, as was her husband, in the general progress and welfare of the community. A native daughter, she was born in San Francisco, coming to San Jose when she was a child; here she received her education in Notre Dame Col- lege and the San Jose public schools, soon after which occurred her marriage, which proved a very happy one. Her father, John T. McGeoghegan, a pioneer resident of San Francisco, was very prominent in financial circles, both in that city and San Jose. For a number of years he served on the school board in San Francisco, as well as holding other offices of trust

I m maze

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and honor, and was a man whose integrity was un- questioned and who could always be depended upon to do his full duty with capableness and ability. His marriage occurred in San Francisco in 1873, and united him with Miss Margaret Smith, whose family were also prominent pioneers of California. She was a very beautiful and accomplished woman and de- cidedly popular in the social life of San Jose. Both Mr. and Mrs. McGeoghegan have passed away, leav- ing a family of seven children.

GEORGE C. SINGLETARY .- Born and reared in San Jose, since reaching the years of his manhood George C. Singletary has taken his place among the forceful citizens of this city, and proving himself a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family. His father, Emory C. Singletary, was one of Santa Clara County's prominent pioneer citizens, who led a busy and useful life.

The descendant of one of the early colonial fam- ilies of New England, Emory C. Singletary was born May 16, 1824, at Holden, Mass., and on both sides of the house he was closely connected with families of distinction. He grew to manhood on the ances- tral homestead in Massachusetts, and migrating in 1840 to the Far West, as it was then considered, finally located in Walworth County, Wis., where he engaged in farming and stock raising, subsequently became an extensive cattle dealer throughout Mis- souri, Illinois and Wisconsin. On these travels he became acquainted with many of the prominent men of the state and it was among his treasured mem- ories that he had the privilege of knowing the great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln.

In 1863, Emory C. Singletary started across the plains in a party of nineteen men, driving 200 head of cattle. After several skirmishes with the Indians, they arrived via Beckwith Pass, in Colusa County, in October of that year. Here Mr. Singletary pur- chased land and embarked in farming and stock raising and at that time was one of the largest and best-known cattle dealers in the state, and also one of the largest landowners, holding title to over 35,000 acres. In 1873, having sold 7.700 acres of his land, he removed to Santa Clara Valley, and his health becoming impaired, he settled in San Jose. In 1874 he helped to organize the First National Bank of San Jose and was its vice-president, and was a leader in financial circles here throughout his life. For a number of years he was a director of the State Agricultural Society, of which he was a life member: also one of the organizers of the Yuba County Fair.

The first marriage of Mr. Singletary, in Walworth, Wis., united him with Miss Caroline A. Wilson, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Alexander Wilson. a pioneer farmer of Wisconsin. She passed away in Colusa County, Cal., January 11, 1877. Mr. Single- tary's second marriage united him with Miss Flor- ence Grigsby, who was born near Potosi, Grant County, Wis., a daughter of William E. Grigsby, who is still living, hale and hearty at the age of 102, at Aberdeen, S. D., his family fully as distinguished as the Singletarys'. After finishing her education in Wisconsin, Mrs. Singletary came to the Pacific Coast. and taught school, first at Portland, Ore .. and later in Santa Clara County. She then entered the San Jose Normal School, and after her gradua- tion there she resumed teaching in this institution until her marriage. Mrs. Singletary is a sister of the late Col. Melvin Grigsby, colonel of the cele-

brated Cowboy Regiment in the Spanish-American War, and who was a noted lawyer and politician of Sioux Falls, S. D., and one of her nephews, who has made his mark in the world, is Hon. George Grigsby of San Francisco, who was formerly attorney-general of Alaska. A woman of great executive ability. Mrs. Singletary is a natural leader in all forward movements and has always been a social favorite in San Jose, her home at 1245 Alameda being the center of much hospitality. Mrs. Singletary is a member of Isabella Chapter, D. A. R., and is an active mem- ber of the Episcopal Church of San Jose. Her mother was Rhoda Thomas, a granddaughter of Massey Thomas, who fought in the Revolutionary War, serving in Captain John Gillson's Company, Sixth Virginia Regiment, which was under the com- mand of Col. John Green.

George C. Singletary, with his twin brother, Emory Grigsby Singletary, was born on September 3, 1882. at San Jose. There the brothers grew up, attending the public school, also Belmont Academy, and lastly Stanford University, pursuing the course in mining engineering, but before graduating, George entered the employ of the Alta Mining and Smelting Com- pany in Arizona. After one year there he engaged as construction engineer for the firm of Palmer, McBride and Quayle, general contractors and rail- road builders. When their father, Emory C. Single- tary, passed away in 1910, George and Emory, both of whom were employed by Palmer, McBride and Quayle, returned to San Jose and formed a partner- ship known as Singletary Brothers, and assumed the management of his large estate, at once becoming prominent in the financial circles of their native city. George C. was president of the San Jose Abstract Company, and in 1919 he helped to organize the Growers Bank and is its vice-president, and he is also vice-president of the Lewis Company, dealers in bonds, mortgages, loans and insurance.

In December, 1918, Emory Grigsby Singletary passed away. A leader among San Jose's progres- sive young men, his passing was a blow to the entire community, but most of all to his brother, for not only had they been inseparable during their boyhood days, but they had been in the closest association during all their years in business. Since his death, George C. Singletary has been the active manager of the partnership of Singletary Bros., Mrs. Mar- garet Singletary retaining her husband's interest.

George Singletary's marriage, which occurred in San Jose Nov. 24, 1910, united him with Miss Elsie Byron, a daughter of Daniel J. and Mary (Collins) Byron. Mr. Byron was born in San Francisco and was a prominent contractor of San Jose and San Francisco, erecting many of the business blocks in both cities. He is now retired and lives at San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Singletary are the parents of one son. Byron Curtiss Singletary, and the family residence is at 1249 Alameda. A man of clear insight, integ- rity and executive force. Mr. Singletary is highly re- garded, and in financial circles is one of San Jose's most successful men. Prominent in Masonic circles. he is a member of Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., the Consistory in San Jose, and of the Shrine in San Francisco, being affiliated with Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. Politically he gives his influence and vote to the candidates of the Republi- can party, and is a member of the Country Club and the Progressive Business Men's Club.

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MRS. SARAH A. FOSS .- Surrounded by a large circle of friends, by whom she is greatly loved for her rare qualities of mind and heart, Mrs. Sarah A. Foss maintains the Foss home at 444 Lakehouse Avenue, San Jose, which has been her home for more than a quarter of a century. A native daughter, whose father and husband were both honored pioneers of the state, her life has been interwoven with the events and affairs of the county's history. Her father, John Snyder, was one of the county's largest and most successful ranchers and he occupied a prominent place 111 its affairs for many years.

Beginning his life history in Harrison, County, Ind., on February 11, 1828, John Snyder was a son of Joseph K. and Sarah (Fleming) Snyder, the former born in Philadelphia and the latter in France. The name was originally Flamande and was changed to Fleming in this country for convenience. Grandmother Sarah Flamande and her orphan sister Louise, who be- came Mrs. Henry Bowen, came, when young ladies, to Philadelphia with Stephen Girard, and they made their home with his family until they married. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Snyder settled in Indiana in 1821 and in 1839 they removed to what is now Tipton, Cedar. County, Iowa. In 1849, when John Snyder was twenty-one, with his father and brother-in-law, Moses Bunker, he joined a small party starting across the plains, consisting of two wagons with ox teams. One more wagon joined them at the Missouri River and the small party crossed the plains alone, suffering many hardships and privations en route. They tar- ried for a time at Redding Springs, now Shasta, on reaching California, and then went on to the present location of Chico. Joseph K. Snyder and Mr. Bunker soon returned to Iowa, and John Snyder remained and engaged in mining. While thus employed in Trinity County, the camp provisions ran low and Mr. Snyder was one of those chosen to go to Humboldt Bay to replenish their supplies, and he was also a member of a party to make a trail to the Salmon River from Trinity County, at the time of the dis- covery of the Scott River. At a later period Mr. Sny- der made another trip to the Scott River and took considerable gold out of Scott Bar, going from there to Sacramento. Between the years of 1850-55, he spent some time in the vicinity of San Jose, and in the redwood country, and in 1855 he came here to settle permanently.

It was in 1855 that Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Martha Kifer, born in Mt. Sterling, Ky., who came across the plains with her parents, John and Lucy ( Martin) Kifer, in 1853, the family settling near Mountain View, where Mr. Kifer became a large landowner and a prominent farmer, and Kifer Road was named in his honor. Mr. Snyder farmed near Santa Clara until 1859, when he bought a farm at Mountain View and continued there until 1865. Mean- while, however, he had bought the great ranch on Permanente Creek in 1861, which was the family home for so many years. It originally consisted of 1,160 acres and his grain crop of 1862 was the first raised in this section. His success encouraged others, and this section became famous as a grain country. He also planted a prune orchard and a vineyard and was the owner of a large tract of land in Monterey County. Mr. Snyder passed away in 1901, aged sev- enty-three, and Mrs. Snyder survived him until Jan-

uary 12, 1918, passing away at the age of eighty-one, having lived in the one house for fifty-six years.

The eldest of the family of five children of this worthy couple. Sarah Ann Snyder, now Mrs. Wm. F. Foss, of this review, was born on the Kifer Road near Santa Clara and spent her girlhood days on the great ranch of her father on Permanente Creek, at- tending the public school of that vicinity. At her parents' home May 22, 1884, she was married to William F. Foss, who was born at Biddeford, York County, Maine, February 11, 1849. In June, 1857, he came with his parents to California via the Isthmus of Panama, and for a year they lived in Nevada County, going from there to New York Flat near Brownsville, Yuba County, where they remained un- til 1870. William F. Foss attended the Normal School at San Francisco, obtaining a certificate to teach and for a time taught in Yuba and Butte counties. Later he entered the San Jose State Normal School when it was first opened in San Jose, from which he was graduated in 1873, and for fifteen years was engaged in teaching in different counties of California, for eight years of this time he was principal of Mountain View School. He then engaged in the real estate business, a partner in the firm of Foss & Hicks of San Jose, and in this field he continued successfully for many years, passing away on April 30, 1918, aged sixty-nine, an upright, exemplary citizen, standing high in the esteem of the community. He was a prominent Mason, and was also well known in the ranks of the Knights of Pythias.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 74

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