History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 76

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 76

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).

his death. He was the original owner of Warn Springs Landing. Mr. Valpey's eldest son, Calvin, came to California in 1858 and he passed away in San Jose in 1914. Horatio B. Valpey was the next to leave and came alone to California in 1859 via Panama and the next year saw his mother and two sisters, Elizabeth and Alice, and one brother, Charles, en route to California. The eldest child, Emeline, married a Mr. Prosser and she passed away in 1921 at Yarmouth. Captain Valpey was here during the stirring times of the Vigilante days and the founda- tion of the state. Mrs. Valpey was born in 1810 and died in 1901 at the ripe old age of ninety-one years.

Horatio B. Valpey was one of a family of six chil- dren and when nineteen years of age came to Cali- fornia by way of the isthmus route. He assisted his father in cultivating the Warm Springs ranch and in caring for the stock and in 1870 he removed to Ash- land, Ore., where he was employed in a planing mill. After his father's death in 1880, he returned to Warm Springs, Cal., and farmed there, and following his marriage he went to Saratoga, where he remained for eighteen months, at the end of which time he again went to Warm Springs and farmed until 1906. In 1906 he sold his ranch there and went to Santa Clara, where he lived for one and a half years, later going to Pacific Grove, where he spent an equal period. He became a resident of San Jose in 1910 and has since lived retired in this city, having accumulated a com- petence through the capable management of his ranching interests.

On July 30, 1884, at Irvington, Mr. Valpey was married to Miss Margaret Leeds, a native of Mount Pulaski, 111., and a daughter of Timothy and Mary Ann (Latham) Leeds, both of whom died when she was but three years old; she was reared by her grand- parents, Richard and Margaret Latham of Springfield, 111 .: her grandfather Latham was a close friend of President Lincoln. Mrs. Valpey attended the gram- mar and high schools of Springfield, Ill., and in 1879 came to California in company with her uncle and aunt, Rev. and Mrs. J. H. McCollough, the former a minister of the Christian Church. They settled in San Francisco, thence going to Irvington where he was president of Washington College, later known as An- derson Academy, and she had charge of one of the departments. Mrs. Henry Curtner and Mrs. Me- Collough, both of San Jose, are her aunts. She has one brother, Timothy Leeds of Cleveland, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Valpey have become the parents of six children: Henrietta, now the wife of Clarence Holman, of Aromas, Cal .; Frank Dunn, who died when four- teen years of age: Elizabeth, the wife of Luther Quentel, a prominent building contractor of San Jose ; Lucy, at home; Horatio Calvin, who met death by drowning in November, 1913; and Rebecca Ruth, who married Russell Henwood. of Porterville, Cal. They have one grandson, Harold Quentel.

Mr. and Mrs. Valpey are allied with the Prohibition cause and are stanch Republicans. He has ever been deeply interested in the cause of education and while residing at Warm Springs served for seventeen years as clerk of the school board, making a high record in that connection. The family are members of the Christian Church of San Jose and endeavor to follow its teachings. Mr. Valpey's life has been an upright and honorable one in all respects, crowned with suc- cessful achievement.

JAleanoll

453

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

THOMAS A. CARROLL .- A pioneer of Santa Clara County and a resident of San Jose for more than a half century, Thomas A. Carroll has ever done his share in the upbuilding and development of this thriving city. He was born in Ireland, February 15, 1843, and spent the first year of his life on the At- lantic Ocean in a boat which had been driven by a storm until it had reached such a dismantled condi- tion that it had been given up for lost, and it took full twelve months to get into port. The Carroll family settled at New Haven, Conn., and the father, who was a gardener, lived and died there, in the month of March. 1859, the mother having passed away in 1857.

Thomas A. Carroll was educated in the schools of New Haven, and at the age of fifteen years, after his parents had both passed away, went to New York in 1860 and entered a blacksmith's shop where he thoroughly learned his trade. He followed in that line of work until the year of 1864, when he started for California, coming by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and arriving in San Francisco, stopped about two months and in April landed in San Jose. He worked for a local blacksmith for about four months, then engaged in business for himself, estab- lishing his shop at the corner of St. John and First streets in 1864. After eighteen months, he moved to 184 West Santa Clara Street and inside of four years this young stranger had four men employed, one of them the man he learned his trade from in New York, and he continued here until he retired from business life in 1918. He had, during his early years of work here, animals brought from a fifty-mile radius which were supposed to he impossible to handle, but under his system, were made safe for any place. At this time he was the oldest man living who had been continually in business at the time he opened his shop. He became very well-known and throughout the country, as his work was the very best, he did a prosperous business and accumulated sufficient means to enable him to live comfortably the remainder of his days.

Mr. Carroll's marriage on September 12, 1871, united him with Miss Helen Kell, who was a native of California, having been born in San Jose, a des- cendant of a good old pioneer family, who came across the plains in the year 1844. They became the parents of seven children: Patrick William, a post- graduate of Santa Clara University and serving as secretary of the City Store Company for years when he died in December. 1917, aged forty-seven; Ann M. is teaching in the Oakland schools; Thomas E., a graduate of University of California, is a first lienten- ant in the U. S. Army; Helen G. is teaching in Ala- meda; Bernard D. graduated from the San Jose high school and died in January, 1901; Mary J. is also a teacher in Oakland; Charles C. is an electrical en- gineer in Salinas. Mrs. Carroll passed away on August 20, 1911.

Mr. Carroll has been a very prominent figure in the local affairs of San Jose, and he has always been active in the Board of Trade and later its suc- cessor, the Chamber of Commerce. At the time of the earthquake he was one of the most zcalons work- ers in giving relief to those who suffered losses in this time of stress. In religions faith, he is a Cath- olic, and in national politics, he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party, and has been a well-known figure at the city, county and state conventions, serving on the State Central Committee for twenty- five years. He served for eight years on the city

board of education and was the chairman of school house and site committee during the rebuilding after the earthquake in 1906.

During the high water of 1867 boats ran in front of Carroll's shop at No. 184 West Santa Clara Street. a little episode worth mentioning here that will show the conditions of the early days of San Jose. It was during this flood when Mr. Carroll was living on Santa Clara Street near the river, that he arose to see the high water and what damage it might be doing. As he made his way towards the scene of disaster he heard cries of distress and saw buildings ready to topple into the water. He saddled his horse and rode to the corner of St. Augustine and Santa Teresa Streets and could see people in the water. One woman with a babe in her arms was holding to the limb of an elm tree and calling for some one to save her child. Mr. Carroll had just helped rescue a Mr. Doherty, and then started for the lady, swim- ming his horse to reach her. She handed the child to him and said she would get out some way. Turn- ing his horse he swam him towards the shore but be- fore he reached it a submerged limb hit the horse and toppled him over, he going up stream and Mr. Carroll down, landing some distance down stream. He handed the baby over to some women to be cared for and then helped make a raft with which others were rescued from their perilous positions. There were several houses washed down stream during the flood period.

GEORGE WASHINGTON WORTHEN .- Prom- inent among the well-known and highly-esteemed residents of Santa Clara County is George W. Wor- then, who during the thirty-nine years that he has resided in this county has been identified with its progress and advancement as one of the successful agriculturalists. A native of Charleston, Vt., he was born May 22, 1844, the son of Samnel and Lydia (Beede) Worthen. The father, a physician, was a native of Sandwich, N. H., born in 1801, and his mother, in 1804. They were residents of Vermont at the time of their marriage in 1838. Of charitable and kind-hearted nature, they did much to relieve suffering of every kind in their locality. The paternal great-grandfather rendered valuable services in the Revolutionary War, and through this connection our subject is eligible to membership in the Sons of the American Revolution.

George W. was fortunate in securing a good edu- cation, and as carly as 1861 began his career as a teacher. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he of- fered his services to his country, and enlisted on August 22, 1862, and in October was mustered into the U. S. service as a member of Company H, Fif- teenth Volunteer Infantry, under Redfield Proctor, who after the close of the war served as Secretary of War. Mr. Worthen was a member of the famous Stannard's Second Vermont Brigade, which immor- talized itself by a heroic counter-charge upon Pick- ett's hosts, July 3, on the memorable field of Gettys- burg. At the expiration of his term of service he was mustered out at Brattleboro, Vt., on September 4, 1863. Soon after, he became the first principal of Linden Literary Biblical Institute at Linden, Vt. Re- maining in this position one year, he then entered the National Normal University at Lebanon, Ohio. and took the scientific course and secured his B. S. degree. Then he went to lowa and for about two ycars was professor of Greek and mathematics at

454

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Wilton Collegiate Institute, Wilton, Iowa, his name appearing first in their catalogue; later he returned to Lebanon, and while pursuing his studies in the classical course became a teacher in the institution and secured his A. B. degree and followed teaching in various places until coming to California on March 13, 1876. and settling in San Mateo. The same year he secured a position as instructor in A. L. Brewer's Military Academy, where he remained for one year, when he became principal of the public schools of San Mateo, after which he returned to the Academy for another year, and then was professor of Eng- lish at Washington College, Irvington, for a period of about two years.

The marriage of Mr. Worthen on June 7, 1878. united him with Miss Mary J. Hoyt, who was born July 18, 1857, in East Concord, N. H. Her girlhood was spent in the home called the "Mountain Farm." noted for its beauty and its sightly location. Presi- dent Pierce, after his return from public service. liked this place, and offered a price for it far in ex- cess of its real value; but the property had been in the Hoyt family so many years that the father could not give it up. The History of Concord contains a picture of the place, and much interesting informa- tion regarding it, as does the Hoyt Family Geneal- ogy, which was published after a family meeting held in Providence, R. I., a number of years ago, when all the branches were represented. Senator John Sherman represented the Connecticut branch of which General W. T. Sherman was a member, his mother being Mary Hoyt, a native of Connecticut. The Hoyt family is of English origin, and its American history dates from the coming of two brothers to America in 1636-1638. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Worthen was the second male child born in Con- cord, N. H. Two of the grandfather's brothers served in the Revolutionary War, Abner being with General Stark at Bennington, and the other brother, Stephen, saw Major Andre executed. A description of the childhood home of Mrs. Worthen is well worth quoting: "The house in which I was born was, in Indian times, an old garrison-house, and the

port-holes are still under the clapboards. The frame is of solid oak, and very heavy. The History of Concord, at the time of its publication, gave the date of building as 1748. My grandfather bought the house and moved it from the fort to his farm. Grand- mother lived in the house sixty years. My childhood caught glimpses of that old New England life, and had the advantage of two generations; for while I played the games of the present day, my play-room was the attic, with its loom and spinning-wheel, its tin bakers and mysterious chests." Mrs. Worthen graduated from the New Hampshire State Normal School in 1873; from the National Normal of Le- banon, Ohio, in 1875, and from the California State Normal School at San Jose in 1877, and taught in San Mateo, Alameda and Santa Clara counties for fifteen years. Her parents, J. T. Hoyt, born in New Hampshire, and Mary J. (Cronkleton) Hoyt, a native of Ohio, came to California in 1875, locating in San Mateo and later in San Jose, where they both passed away. Mrs. Worthen is a member of Sequoia Chapter. D. A. R., of San Francisco; is past matron of San Jose Chapter No. 31, O. E. S., and belongs to the W. R. C. and Ladies of the G. A. R., and has served on the board of trustees of the Willow Glen school for a number of years.

Mr. Worthen has been the owner of valuable ranch property, and was vitally interested in the cause of the farmers, and as early as 1893 became affiliated with the Patrons of Husbandry. During the years of 1899 to 1901 he served as master of the State Grange, and because of his very efficient and untiring service, he was presented with a beautiful medal by San Jose Grange No. 10, of which he was master two years. He represented the Grange at their Na- tional Convention held at Springfield, Ohio. His report of the "Committee on Trusts" was well re- ceived, and this report was instrumental in bringing about a solution of the trust problem. and exposing the crooked working of many of the trusts. For the past twenty-five years he has made annual crop re- ports to the U. S. Government from Santa Clara County; he has also given of his time and efforts to the preservation of the forests and water-sheds of California. During his residence in Santa Clara County, he has hought, improved and sold several ranches. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masons, Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., and served as master in 1899-1900, and for ten years has been Chaplain; he is also a member of San' Jose Chapter, No. 31. O. E. S. He is a thirty-second degree Scot- tish Rite Mason, and is a frequent contributor to the "New Age," the official organ of the Supreme Council of the thirty-third and last degree of the A. & A. Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Southern Jurisdiction U. S. A. He is a member of Sheridan- Dix Post No. 7, G. A. R., Department of California and Nevada, of which he was commander in 1920. Mr. Worthen is a writer of prose and poetry and contributes an article each month to the official bulle- tin of Friendship Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M. Mr. and Mrs. Worthen are members of Trinity Episco- pal Church.

In January, 1921, Mr. and Mrs. Worthen disposed of their valuable ranch property, and erected an ar- tistic, modern home at 1014 Willow Street, San Jose. It has been the privilege of Mr. and Mrs. Worthen to be identified with the growth of California since 1875. The part which they have borne in the work of development is that which each patriotic and pub- lic-spirited citizen feels it an honor to bear, and they feel repaid for whatever sacrifice they have made. The Worthens are a patriotic family, members of which have participated in every war in our country since the Revolution.

Mr. Worthen is the author of many beautiful poems, and herewith is given one of his favorites, en- titled

"MY CALIFORNIA"

My Golden State, of thee I sing,

Let ev'ry voice loud anthems ring:

Thy mountains high, thy giant trees,

Thy land-locked bays, thy sail-decked seas.

Thy sun-kissed skies, thy balmy breeze,

Thy wealth of flowers and humming bees.

Of all the daughters East and West,

Thine, California, are the best.

Dame Nature yields her bounteous store To feed and clothe the rich and poor.

Law, love, toil, consistency

And happy homes with constancy,

The bulwarks of Democracy,

Be these our stay from day to day.

Then Peace shall flow from peaks of snow To where the golden poppies grow.

Wr. L. Woodrow

457

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

WILLIAM L. WOODROW .- The late William L. Woodrow, pioneer undertaker of San Jose, was born in Pembroke, Genesee County, New York, on July 5, 1835. He was the son of Benjamin and Mary F. (Sprague) Woodrow, the former born in England and the latter a native of New York State. When our subject was a lad of six years his parents removed to Churchville, Monroe County, New York and there they remained four years. In the meantime, in 1844, the mother passed away, then in 1845 the family re- moved to Spencerport, near Rochester, and here William went to live and work on a farm for Lemuel Brown. The only opportunity the lad had to secure an education was by attending school during the winter months, but by his association with Mr. Brown he acquired habits of industry and attention to business and the duties of life which were such po- tent factors in his successful business career in later years. When he was fifteen the family removed to a farm in Lee County, lowa, and here, though only fifteen, William carried on farm pursuits until 1856.

On December 9, 1856, occurred the first marriage of Mr. Woodrow, which united him with Miss Mar- garet E. Wilcoxson, a daughter of one of the oldest and most respected families of Clay Grove, Iowa. After his marriage Mr. Woodrow farmed for himself until 1862, when he decided to come to California. He started with his wife and two children, across the plains in ox wagons, and after a journey of four months he arrived at the end of his journey. He engaged in mining and dealing in mining properties in California and Nevada for four years and then he came to Santa Clara County and here engaged in ranching near Berryessa for a time. However, this did not prove to his liking and in 1871 he bought an interest in an undertaking business that had been under the management of Marcus Trueman, and as Trueman and Woodrow the business was carried on successfully for several years, when Mr. Woodrow became sole owner.

Mrs. Woodrow passed away on January 2, 1882, having borne her husband five children, four of whom are now living: Jane L., Mary F., Charles W., George, and Grace E. The second marriage of Mr. Woodrow occurred in 1883, when Miss Emma H. Kellner became his wife. She is a native daughter, born in San Francisco, the daughter of the late Rev. Augustus Kellner, who was sent to California by the Rock River Conference from Chicago, to estab- lish the German Methodist Episcopal denomination in this state. He built churches in Stockton, Sacra- mento, Marysville, San Francisco, and elsewhere. The church in San Francisco he established in the early '50's and of it he was the beloved pastor until his death in the early '60's. One daughter, Hazel Augusta, was born to Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow, but she died in infancy.

Mr. Woodrow was prominent in fraternal circles and was a member of the Masons, the Odd Fellows and other orders. He served as president of the State Funeral Directors Association and was an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church for over forty years, serving as one of the stewards and as treasurer. He died on October 10, 1911, mourned by a wide circle of friends as a man who was ever willing to lend a helping hand to those in distress and to aid every cause that had for its object the upbuilding of Santa Clara County and the state.

ORLANDO L. BAKER .- Coming here in early manhood without means or influential friends, Or- lando L. Baker has worked his way unaided to a position of independence. He was born in Hornells- ville, now Hornell, Steuben County, N. Y., January 19, 1836, a son of James and Anna (McIntyre) Baker. His father, James Baker, was a farmer, who removed to Michigan when Orlando L. was one year old, and where he purchased timber land, which he cleared and on which a home was built. Here the father passed away, when Orlando was ten years old.

Mr. Baker secured his early education in the schools of the district, working on his father's farm in sum- mer, and after the death of his father, he assumed a good share of the farm work. When he was four- teen, his mother was married the second time to Andrew Kilberry and the family removed from Stur- gis, Mich., to Indiana, where Mr. Kilberry owned a 130-acre farm. When nineteen Mr. Baker deter- mined to start out for himself, and engaged in farm- ing for a time, renting a thirty-acre farm in the Wa- bash Valley, near Peru, which he planted to corn. His residence on the farm covered a period of two years, after which he left for the goal of his ambi- tion, Pikes Peak, Colo., when gold was discovered. They met so many discouraged men returning from Pikes Peak that they decided to go on to California, crossing the plains in the usual way, a wagon drawn by oxen. The trip was accomplished without mishap, although accompanied by many hardships. They crossed the Missouri River at Nebraska City, Fort Hall, then by Sublette Cut-off and on to Lassen County, Cal. Three years were spent in Plumas County. In the fall of 1860 he took up a mining claim in Virginia City, and with his usual determina- tion and patience, he labored day after day, until a tunnel 180 feet long was dug into the hillside in search for gold, but without success. He then re- turned to Plumas County and went to work in a store. At the same time he farmed, his brother, Simeon, carrying on the work. They raised grain, but traded the grain for a fourteen-acre potato crop and disposed of the potatoes to his employer for cash, thus making a double profit. During the year of 1862 he removed to Santa Clara Valley and pur- chased a ranch of eighty acres, a portion of the old Santa Teresa grant. This he successfully farmed for six years, but was obliged to relinquish all right to same on account of its being a part of a Spanish grant. He then purchased a 120-acre tract on Me- Laughlin Avenue, on which he raised grain; also hav- ing a number of cattle and horses. He also rented additional grain land, which brought him fine return for his labor. After spending seventeen years on his ranch, he sold out and bought a thirty-seven-acre tract on the Senter Road, on which he built a house and where he resided for twenty-three years. He still retains ten acres of this land.

The first marriage of Mr. Baker occurred Decem- ber 18, 1867, in San Jose and united him with Miss Mary A. Pruett, a native of Missouri. Her father died when she was a small girl, and her mother was married the second time, to Joseph Aubrey, a pioneer of Grass Valley, who came to California in 1850, set- tling first in Grass Valley, two years later coming to Santa Clara Valley, where he purchased land and engaged in farming. Mrs. Baker's schooling was ob- tained in the public schools of San Jose. She passed away in San Francisco in 1894, the mother of one

458

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

daughter. Lillie A., now the wife of Frank H. Buck. who resides on a ranch of the Santa Teresa grant. Mr. and Mrs. Buck have one daughter, Mary A. On July 26, 1897. Mr. Baker's second marriage united him with Miss Paulina Cottle, a native daughter, born in Santa Clara County, a daughter of O. B. Cottle, a pioneer of 1850.

Mr. Baker is a man of the type which has been most largely responsible for the latter-day develop- ment of the West. Politically he adheres to the principles of the Democratic platform. He has always done all in his power for the advancement of his local community, and at his advanced age, enjoys a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

THOMAS BODLEY .- What it means to have a man of exceptional ability and above reproach in an office of peculiar responsibility and requiring for its successful administration much tact and common sense, is well demonstrated in the care with which Thomas Bodley manages the county tax collector's office, bringing him into personal relation to thou- sands throughout Santa Clara County. He is not only a native son, but like a number of others who have risen to prominence in this part of the state. he was born at San Jose, and first saw the light on December 15, 1860. His father was Thomas Bod- ley, a Kentuckian, horn in 1821, and his mother in her maidenhood was Miss Julia A. McCabe, a na- tive of Missouri, and she crossed the great Ameri- can plains by ox-team train in the Argonaut days of '49, reaching at length the land of promise in safety, and Mr. Bodley came via Cape Horn that same year. In 1856 they were married at San Jose; and liking this region better than that of any of the other favored Coast sections, they continued to live here. Mr. Bodley, who was a Royal Arch Ma- son, was one of the first undersheriffs appointed by William McCutchen; and later he served in the State Legislature, and was also district attorney for a term. He died on September 17. 1887. Mrs. Bod- ley is still living, at the fine old age of eighty-three. These estimable parents had seven children, among whom only three are now living.

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 76

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