History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 94

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

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Thomas Fitzgerald, the father of our subject, pur- chased a ranch of about 800 acres between Madrone and the New Almaden mines, and was engaged in general farming and stock raising until 1884 He then disposed of his ranch and invested in a 200- acre farm near Gilroy, on which he resided until he passed away in 1890. He was married in California to Miss Mary A. Cullen. a daughter of Thomas Cullen, who came to California from the same part of Canada as did Mr. Fitzgerald, in 1867. On the homestead of the Fitzgeralds near Gilroy, Walter G. acquired a sound constitution and sane views of life. His preliminary education was practical and thorough and was acquired in the country schools and at the grammar and high schools of Gilroy. In 1895 he began the study of law in the office of W. A. Johnston, an able and prominent lawyer of San Jose, and after studious application to his work, was admitted to the bar in December, 1897.

After heing admitted to practice law, Mr. Fitz- gerald followed his profession in San Jose until 1903, at which time he removed to Gilroy, where he is still practicing. In 1908 he was elected mayor of Gilroy, serving in that office one term, and since that time has been serving his community as city attorney. He was one of the organizers of the Chamber of Commerce and served first as vice-presi- dent, then succeeded H. Hecker as its president and held this office for eight years. The steady growth of this body was largely due to the untiring efforts of Mr. Fitzgerald.

The marriage of W. G. Fitzgerald occurred in San Francisco September 8, 1913. and united him with Miss Adelaine Cassamayou, and they are the parents of two children, Thomas Gerald and Kathleen A. both attending school. Full of energy and determination, and having a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of the law, Mr. Fitzgerald is the most influential member of the bar in his community, and maintains the dignity and high standing of his family. He is a member of the County Bar Asso-

Stephen P. Sanders

Mrs N. A. Sauders

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

ciation and politically he is a stanch Democrat, and has been a member of the County Central Committee. He is a volunteer fireman and a member of the Elks Lodge of San Jose. He has always been actuated by a spirit of advancement in all that he does and he has sought not only to promote material progress but also to aid in the intellectual and moral devel- opment of the community in which he resides.

FRANK W. STEWART .- Prominent among the most energetic, far-seeing, successful and influen- tial business men of Santa Clara is undoubtedly Frank W. Stewart, of 1053 Franklin Street, a na- tive of Payson, Utah, where he was born on May 31, 1878, the son of William Duff Stewart, now liv- ing retired at San Jose, a native of Perthshire, Scot- land, who came to America when he was seven- teen years old. In 1871 he made Nevada his des- tination, and until 1885 he engaged in freighting. At Eureka, in that state, he was married to Miss Maggie Weisik, and he continued to live at Eureka until 1885, for a time being a partner of W. L. Pritchard, nicknamed "Nick of the Woods" and an original, odd character. Mr. Stewart built up a large freighting business, furnishing transportation from Palisade to Eureka, and from Eureka to Bel- mont, Pioche, Ely, Tibo and other neighboring min- ing camps. He and his associates became the own- ers of thirteen twenty-mule teams, and in 1885 took a couple of twenty-mule teams and drove them over- land to Butte, Mont. He used the teams to haul wood, for he furnished wood to the smelters for · the Anaconda Mines. From Butte Mr. Stewart re- moved to San Jose, Cal., in 1887, and he engaged in the real estate movements affected by the Boom: and later he went back to Nevada, and settled at Beowawe, near Elko, and engaged in the stock business. He stayed there from 1889 to 1905, when he went to Tonopah and Goldfields to embark in mercantile pursuits; but since 1908 he and his de- voted wife have lived in San Jose, residing at 227 South Second Street.

Frank W. Stewart attended the public schools in San Jose, and then pursued courses of study in what is now Heald's Business College. He next joined his father in the stock business in Nevada, and was with him as a partner for fifteen years and two months, and when only seventeen years of age, had charge of 18,000 head of stock. He continued to manage the business until 1905; and when his father removed to Tonopah, he came to Santa Clara where. two years before, he had been married to Miss Ethel Parker, a daughter of Charles Parker, the capital- ist. Then and there he engaged in orcharding, and for eight years he made a specialty of growing prunes; in 1911 he started in with his present busi- ness as a dealer in wood, coal and building materi- als, for which he uses one team and two trucks.

Charles Parker, just referred to, has been one of Santa Clara County's most substantial citizens for many years. A native of Missouri, he was born in Jackson County on March 20, 1845, the son of a Kentuckian, William Parker, who had married Miss Sarah H. Wilson, a native daughter of Maryland. Far back in 1838, they moved from the Blue Grass State into Missouri, where Mr. Parker engaged in farming and stockraising, and so it happened that until Charles Parker was eighteen years of age, he grew up in that field of activity, where he also re-

ceived the best educational advantages that the local- ity and the times could afford. In 1863 he went West and became a well-known teamster on the great route between Kansas City and Santa Fe; in 1867 he came back to Jackson County to farm, but in 1871 he responded to the lure of California and moved West to Santa Clara County. This was a year after he had married Miss Elsie T. Mason, the daugh- ter of James C. and Mary (Staples) Mason, resi- dents of Jackson County, a charming lady who passed away within less than a year. In November. 1876, he was married to Miss J. J. Hudson, a resi- dent of Santa Clara County, and the daughter of William D. and Mary Ann ( Haun) Hudson, who became the mother of one child, Ethel H. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stewart- a daughter. Nadene. Mrs. Stewart is a native daugh- ter. and so is her mother, who was born seven miles from Santa Clara.

Mr. Stewart has been successful to a high degree. his progress affording a fine illustration of what brains. industry and integrity will do; and he has become a substantial stockholder in the Santa Clara Branch of the Garden City Bank & Trust Co. of San Jose. He is an Odd Fellow, and belongs to Lodge No. 52, at Santa Clara.

ADOLPH WILLIAM EHRHORN .- An intelli- gent, hard worker is found in Adolph William Ehr- horn, a successful rancher of Mountain View, who owns a ranch of thirty acres, a portion of the old Martin Murphy ranch, twenty acres being planted to Bartlett pears and the balance of ten acres to cherries. A native son of California, he was born in San Francisco, January 6, 1869, a son of the late Adolph Paul Ehrhorn, who came to San Francisco in 1848 from Peru, where he had been engaged in the mercantile business. He married Louisa Bolton McFarland, whose father was a native of Scotland. while her mother was born in France. Mrs. Ehr- horn was born in Peru, South America, where her father was in the general merchandise business. Adolph Paul Ehrhorn was born in Hamburg, Ger- many and was descended from a long line of mer- chants, and was one of the early merchants of San Francisco. He and his wife were the parents of fourteen children, ten of whom grew up, and nine living: Oscar A., is a merchant at Cochabamba, Bolivia. South America. He is married and has three children. Mrs. W. A. Nygh is a widow resid- ing at Palo Alto. Edward M. is horticultural com- missioner of the Hawaiian Islands and Marie also resides there. George lives in San Francisco, where he is employed by the Spring Valley Water Com- pany. Mrs. Louise James resides in Palo Alto. Charles H. is engaged in the real estate business in Santa Ana, Cal. Adolph William is the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Basil Prior, who resides with her husband at Lindsay, where he is an orange grower. The oldest member of the family was Frank, who died at San Francisco.

Adolph William attended the public schools of San Francisco, and Mountain View. After his father's death, the city property was traded for a Moun- tain View ranch of twenty-five acres of the old Tom Steele place, which was planted out to orchard in 1884. Mr. Ehrhorn bought his present place in 1906. planted it to orchard and during April, 1919, took up his residence there. He was married in San Francisco to Miss Lillie Strauch, a daughter of

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

Jolin A Strauch, a warehouseman of San Fran- cisco, vid they are the parents of six children: Dor- othy, a student at Stanford; Jack, also at Stanford; Marie Louise in Mountain View high school; Adolph William, Jr., a student in high school: Kath- ryn and Robert in grammar school. Mr. Ehrhorn is u member of the Pear Growers' Association. Suc- russ has crowned his well-directed efforts and the reward of prosperity is his by hard work, perseverance and industry.

MAJOR LEWIS FOSTER PARKER .- A worthy pioneer settler whose name is linked with the earliest lays of California and Santa Clara County, is the late Maj. Lewis Foster Parker, who contributed much toward the development of Almaden township, for so many years his home. Major Parker was born on March 20, 1824, in Highland County, Ohio, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Davis) Parker, both natives of Pennsylvania. On his paternal side Major Parker was of English descent, while his mother's people were of Welsh origin. His parents removed to Highland County, Ohio, and later to In- dianapolis, Ind., where William Parker built the first flouring mill. He afterwards returned to Ohio, where he passed his remaining days. Lewis F. Parker had a brother, J. D. Parker, living at Terre Haute, Ind., who held the office of county elerk of Vigo County, so made his way thither as a young man and attended Terre Haute Academy, after which, for a time, he assisted his brother in the county clerk's office. He then proceeded to Laporte, Ind., where he was em- ployed as a clerk in a store and it was in that city he formed the acquaintance of Miss Julia A. Keith, whom he afterwards married. Mr. Parker then en- gaged in farming until the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia was heralded in the East and with others he outfitted with horses and pack ponies and came horse- back across the plains, being enroute about six months, arriving in California September 1, 1850.

Going first to Georgetown, El Dorado County, he next located at Horseshoe Bend, where he engaged in mining, going from there to Spanish Flat. Here his wife joined him, coming via Panama in 1852; he remained there until 1856, then came to Santa Clara County, and settled on a ranch of 320 acres in Almaden township, the place now owned by his daughter, Miss N. Elizabeth Parker. Here he en- gaged in farming and stockraising, the country be- ing then only sparsely settled and quite in its primi- tive state, so that his labors paved the way for the succeeding generations. Prominent in the military affairs of the state in the early days, Mr. Parker was a commissioned captain of the New Almaden Cavalry, Company K, California Militia, on Jan- uary 28. 1865, and served until November 1, 1867. being promoted to the rank of major. He was also active in the public affairs of the county and was a prominent Republican; he also served as dep- uty county assessor under D. M Harwood and W. O. Barker. The school district was organized at the Parker home about 1858. The question came up for a name of the district; some suggested Parker, but the Major was too modest to permit it. After other names had been suggested Mrs. Parker said, "Why not call it Union district," as the people in the district were strong pro-union. Thus it was decided and Major Parker was school trustee from its organ- ization until he resigned.

Major Parker was married at Laporte, Ind., on December 23, 1847, to Miss Julia Keith, and they became the parents of one daughter, N. Elizabeth, who owns and makes her home on the Parker ranch, managing its 320 acres with splendid ability. She is proud of being a native daughter and is a Re- publican in her political affiliations, taking a progres- sive interest in ,community affairs through her mnem- bership in the Neighbors Club. Major Parker passed away on October 20, 1892, the mother surviving him until January 31, 1911, both worthy pioneers whose memory will always be held in grateful remembrance.

HARRIET NEWELL HARVEY .- Among the worthy and esteemed residents of Santa Clara County is Miss Harriet Newell Harvey, who is now located upon a ranch of twenty-four acres in the neighborhood of Coyote, which she is successfully conducting. She is the Western representative of an old New England family. Her grandfather, Elias Harvey, a native of Rhode Island, removed to Con- necticut and followed the occupation of farmer until his death, which occurred in Colchester, that state. In the family was a son also named Elias, who was. born in Colchester, Conn., and in manhood became a merchant and later was engaged in agricultural pursuits, remaining on the old home place until the time of his death. He was a prominent figure in both local and state affairs, as a Republican in poli-

ties representing his district in the state legislature for one term. In local affairs he served as school director for many years. He married Miss Sallie Maria Ransom, a native of Salem, Conn., and she . passed away in Colchester. Her grandfather, John Ransom, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

Of a family of two sons and three daughters, Har- riet Newell Harvey was the youngest daughter and next to the youngest child. She was born in Col- chester, Conn., November 19, 1843, and was there reared to womanhood. Her education was received in the public schools and in the academy at Colches- ter. After the death of her father, March 17, 1879, she remained at home nine years, taking care of her mother, who died March 16, 1888. In 1890 Miss Harvey came as far west as Kansas, where she vis- ited with relatives. Following this trip she and her oldest sister came to Madrone, Cal., and visited an uncle, Joel W. Ransom, for several months, after which, in 1892, she returned to Connecticut and spent three months. In the same year she again came to California and became a member of the family of Joel W. Ransom. her mother's brother. Mr. Ransom's death occurred July 11, 1897, on the farm where Miss Harvey now resides, which her unele has deeded to her three years previous to his death, and which consisted of eighty-three acres. The ranch is devoted to the raising of prunes, apples and other fruit. In the management of her ranch, Miss Harvey shows a marked adaptability for the work. The property is located on the Monterey Road, one-half mile south of Coyote. Miss Harvey was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Coyote and was active in its various departments during the existence of the church, having served as president of the Ladies' Aid Society for twelve con- secutive years, and she made it one of the most efficient societies in the county. She was also one of the trustees and stewardesses of the church and is highly esteemed and respected for the many good deeds she has done.

Servis J. Parker.

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

L. H. ALBERTSON .- A prominent citizen of Santa Clara County particularly active in the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce is L. H. Albertson, learned in the law, in which he has been admitted to practice, ex- perienced in extensive dairying, and now the owner of many acres of blackberries, famous for their rare quality and great productivity. He was born in Den- mark in 1868, and there grew up on his father's farm. When he was eighteen, he crossed the ocean to Amer- ica and for a while settled in Iowa; but in 1890 he came to California and pitched his tent in Stanislaus County. He acquired property near Newman, and there pursued grain farming.

Desiring a still higher education, Mr. Albertson in 1891 entered upon the academie course of the Col- lege of the Pacific; and in 1900 he was graduated from this institution. Following this, for a year he took advanced work at Stanford, and in 1901 he war married to Miss Thomasine Headen, youngest daughter of the late Dr. Benjamin Franklin Headen, and the only child of that distinguished surgeon now living-a cultured and accomplished lady. After his marriage Mr. Albertson ran a large dairy for years and succeeded; and later he turned the place into a fruit ranch, where he now has seven acres of Himalaya blackberries, among the wonder producers of the Santa Clara Valley. Mr. Albertson is also operating a ranch in Livingston, Merced County, where he owns 120 acres which he is rapidly setting out to a vineyard, besides being engaged in dairy- ing. Not caring for the general practice of law, he has never followed it, although his knowledge of law and legal processes has often helped him in his own or in community affairs.

Public spirited to a marked degree, Mr. Albertson served for three years as president of the Santa Clara Chamber of Commerce, his term extending from 1913 until 1916; and during this period he was very active in collecting and installing exhibits from the Santa Clara Valley for its exhibit at the Panama-Pacific Exposition at San Francisco in 1915, at which exposition he took the first gold medal with his Himalaya blackberries. He also took a first prize for a two-year-old Guernsey bull, and the reserve championship with the same animal, and his was the only livestock prize bestowed on any exhibitor from Santa Clara County. Mr. Albertson is now among the pioneer farmers and stockraisers of these parts. His close observation, study and experience has made him well posted, so much so that his conclusions and ideas have been often sought and are followed by many others with good success. It is to men of the type of Mr. Albertson, who are not afraid to work, venture and experiment that the county owes much of its present development and greatness.

Mr. Albertson is particularly active in interest- ing the public in the improvement of the proposed Alviso water-way, which will open the way for ship- ping by water all kinds of fruits and products from river points to the Santa Clara Valley. He visions the making of a consolidated city of San Jose and Santa Clara, and of extending its limits to the water-ways at Alviso. In order to do this, the Alviso channel or slough will have to be straight- ened and deepened, so that boats laden with the products of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys can run up from the river points through the Bay to Alviso. He is making a strong and active ap-

peal for these improvements, and his reports and plans, now a part of the Congressional Record, were taken up by Congress through Senator Phelan, who was actively supporting the project, and it would no doubt have already been an accomplished fact had it not been for the intervention of the war.

Mr. and Mrs. Albertson make their home on the Headen ranch and in the improvements made there they are preserving as far as possible Dr. Headen's ideas of replanting the place to orchards and berries and particularly in the preserving the row of red- wood trees he planted in the sixties as well as the live oak grove that is the admiration of all who see them. The redwoods along the state highway have now become a landmark, admired by thousands of tourists. In 1913 they built a beautiful stucco resi- dence, up-to-date in every respect, and there they dispense a generous hospitality. As a member of the Alumni of the College of the Pacific, Mr. Albertson retains his association with both the aca- demic and the student world.

OSTRUM H. YERKES .- An Iowan who has been succeeding so well, since he established him- self in California that he is now rated as one of the leading dealers in wood, coal, hay and straw in Santa Clara County, is Ostrum H. Yerkes, whose office and yards are at 1066 Main Street, Santa Clara. He was born in Benton County, lowa, on May 16, 1875, the son of S. A. Yerkes, a gentleman now eighty-five years old, a well-to-do farmer with an enviable record for public service as a supervisor. He was born in Indiana, came to Iowa before the Civil War, and married at Vinton Miss Catherine Hite. They reared a family of twelve children, eleven of whom are still living; and they themselves are both now living at Vinton, Benton County, Iowa. The youngest of the family is thirty-four, and the eldest fifty-four.

The eldest son and the fifth child, Ostrum, was sent to the country schools, and then he went for a year to the Tilford Academy at Vinton; and grow- ing up to hear good reports of the Golden State, he decided to come out to California. He became coach- man for Mrs. T. B. Dawson at Sunnyvale, and there met his future wife, Miss Alice Rupp, daughter of John Rupp, the well-known railway man, once mas- ter-mechanic for the C., R. I. & P. Ry., who for forty-five years lived at Washington, Iowa, and is now living retired on a pension granted by the company, at the home of Mr. Yerkes in San Jose. He is a member of the G. A. R. back in lowa, from which state he volunteered in the Civil War when but fif- teen years old and served through that entire strug- gle. He was in the siege of Vicksburg and went with Sherman on his March to the Sea and took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C., at the close of the war. Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes were mar- ried on Washington's Birthday, 1904, at Washing- ton, lowa, and they remained in lowa for a year after their marriage, when Mr. Yerkes conducted a furniture store at Vinton; but at the end of that time they decided to return to California, this being, in their opinion, the only place in which to really live. In 1905, they came to Santa Clara, and Mr. Yerkes leased the old lumber yard and went into business. By close application to the needs of his patrons, anticipating their wants and leaving no stone unturned to please and satisfy them, Mr. Yerkes

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HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY

has built up a good, paying trade, and for the pur- poses of a prompt delivery he maintains three wagons, and a two-ton Moreland truck.

Mr. and Mrs. Yerkes own a handsome residence. the old property of the banker, Mr. Birge, one of the finest homes in the town, and two children,-Mar- garet C. and John Stephen Yerkes-share its com- forts and pleasures. The family attend the Bap- tist Church, and Mr. Yerkes is a deacon in that congregation. In matters' of national political im- port, he favors the Republican party platform. He is a Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Modern Wood- man, and is affiliated with the Santa Clara lodges.

JOSEPH WALTER DUDLEY BLABON .- A man who by his own efforts has risen to a prominent place among the agriculturists and horticulturists in the Santa Clara Valley is Joseph Walter Dudley Bla- bon, a native son of the county, born on the old Bla- bon ranch on the Mountain View Road, June 12, 1865. He is the son of Walter L. and Anna F. ( White) Blabon, natives of Chesterville, Maine, and Boston, Mass., respectively. His grandfather, Dr. Otis Blabon, was also a native of Maine and was a scafaring man, as well as a physician. He had sailed all over the world, studied navigation and in time be- came a captain. Deciding to come to California, he and his son Francis secured passage in a four-mast schooner named Sacramento, bound for San Fran- cisco. On the way the captain and second mate died and when they put in to Acapulco the first mate was very ill and it was thought wise to leave him. Thus it became necessary that Otis Blabon take command as captain as he was the only man aboard that under- stood navigation, and he brought the schooner safely into port where he turned it over to the company agent in San Francisco. Dr. Blabon then came to Santa Clara County purchasing land on the Stevens Creek Road where he resided on the farm and prac- ticed medicine until 1863. He then returned to Maine remaining there until 1875, when he came back 10 Santa Clara County and located near Saratoga. One of the sons, George Blabon, was the founder oi the George Blabon Company of Philadelphia, to- day the largest manufacturers of oil cloth in the world. Walter L. Blabon came to California via Panama in 1860, arriving in San Francisco on De- cember 8. Hc farmed in the Cupertino district for four years. In 1864 he purchased the old homestead which consisted of 130 acres where he engaged in farming and reared a family of four children.

J. D. Blabon, as our subject is familiarly known. has been a close student of orcharding and is a pio- neer in the fruit industry. By his well directed efforts and close application he has become one of the larg- est prune growers in Santa Clara County. His land holdings over the state are extensive, his favorite possession being Madronc Mineral Springs, a hunt- ing lodge beautifully located in the center of 400 acres of the Mount Hamilton range. Mr. Blabon first became interested in these springs, when after a stay of five weeks the drinking of the water entirely cured him of a serious stomach trouble that different physicians had been unable to conquer, and on finding that the property was for sale, he purchased it. The medicinal property of the water has great curative power, so pronounced by the leading physicians of the state.

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History of Santa Clara County California with biographical sketches, Part 94

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