USA > California > Santa Cruz County > History of Santa Cruz County, California with Biographical Sketches > Part 24
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Santa Cruz. Accommodations for caring for the newcomers to the west at this time were limited indeed as compared with the demands, a fact which Mr. Ryse readily recognized upon locating in Santa Cruz and his decision to open a hotel in the town proved a wise one. In addition to conducting his hostelry for many years he also served as judge for four years and for one term represented his county in the state legislature. Subsequently he purchased and located upon one hundred and ninety-two acres of land four miles from Santa Cruz, which he ran successfully for twenty-eight years or up to the time of his death, September 29, 1889.
When she was only fourteen years old, in 1856, Miss Nancy Ryse was united in marriage in Santa Cruz with Samuel Myrick, who died two years later in Mazatlan, Mexico, where he was interested in mining and milling. After the death of her father Mrs. Myrick took up the responsibilities of main- taining the ranch, and continued his policy in making a specialty of raising live-stock and hay. Later, however, she gave her efforts more particularly to raising fine blooded stock, and was one of the few women who have made a success of the business. Notwithstanding her success Mrs. Myrick sold out her ranch about 1905 and has since lived in quiet retirement in Santa Cruz, in a neat little cottage on Branciforte street. Having made her home in this locality for over fifty years Mrs. Myrick has a fund of reminiscences of pioneer days from which to draw which seems inexhaust- ible, and the fact that they are her personal experiences gives an added charm.
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FRED R. WALTI.
The president of the Santa Cruz Brewery and Ice Com- pany was born March 27, 1861, in the canton of Basel, Switz- erland, near the banks of the historic river Rhine, on whose opposite shores stood the province of Alsace, now a part of Germany. Amid such scenes he passed the years of child- hood. At the age of sixteen he came to the United States and secured employment in a brewery in New York City, but two years later he made his way to the plains of Nevada and took up the life of a cowboy. Coming to California in 1881 he secured employment in a brewery in San Jose. After two years he resigned the position and went to Hollister, where he conducted a brewery for one year.
Immediately after his removal to Santa Cruz in 1884 Mr. Walti bought the old Vienna brewery on Soquel avenue and, in partnership with a Mr. Peters, conducted the business for eight years, when he sold out to the Bausch Brewing Company. The next enterprise that engaged his attention was the management of a meat business on Pacific avenue, he be- ing owner and proprietor of the Eldorado and Central mar- kets. During 1906 he organized the Santa Cruz Brewery and Ice Company, of which he now officiates as president. The establishment of the business was in response to his opinion that a demand existed for a first-class brewery. The plant is modern and well equipped, surpassed by none in the entire state. There are those who believe that its equal cannot be found in all the west. The original cost was great, approximating $125,000, but the money proved to be well in- vested. By means of modern machinery imported from Ger- many beer can be manufactured and bottled at an annual saving, over the old process, of $15,000, the benefit of which saving is reaped by the retailers. Twenty-five men are fur-
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nished employment in the brewery and the capacity of the plant is fifteen thousand barrels per year. By the use of the new machinery five men can bottle beer from forty barrels in the same time that it formerly required to bottle only fifteen barrels. The product, beer and porter, is sold ex- tensively throughout the county and the company plans to branch out into every part of the state. Recently they es- tablished an agency at San Jose, where there is a steady de- mand for the output of their plant. The company's ice plant has a capacity of twenty-five tons per day and is the only one in the city, which, before the building of the same, ship- ped into town all the ice needed for local consumption.
Interested in the progress of Santa Cruz, foremost in its activities, and for four years a member of the city council, Mr. Walti has used his influence to promote measures of local importance and easily holds a foremost position in the citi- zenship. No one is more loyal than he to his adopted city and his progressive spirit has evidenced itself in the support of worthy projects. Fraternally he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. In early manhood he lost his first wife, who left one child, a son, F. W., now a stu- dent in the Berkeley University. After her death he was again married, his marriage in 1892 uniting him with Miss F. Shillings, a native of San Francisco and a lady of educa- tion and culture. Of the second marriage there is a daugh- ter, C. M., who is attending school in Santa Cruz.
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GEORGE LIDDELL.
At the time of the gold excitement in California George Liddell left his home in England, where for a number of years he had followed his trade of civil engineer and con- tractor, and with a ship load of iron houses set sail for Cal- ifornia, where, in San Francisco, he hoped to find his houses in great demand. The venture did not prove a success, how- ever, so the following year, 1851, he abandoned the idea and turned his efforts in another direction.
Coming to the Santa Cruz mountains at this time Mr. Liddell built a steam saw mill and also constructed a water mill and began taking out redwood lumber. The venture proved a complete success, prospering far beyond his ex- pectations, and the creek on which his mills were located finally became known as Liddell's creek. This was the pio- neer effort in lumbering in the redwoods of Santa Cruz county, an enterprise which finally developed into a thriving industry. Receiving an injury in the mill which incapacitated him for active service Mr. Liddell retired from business and thereafter made his home in Santa Cruz, where his death oc- curred.
Mr. Liddell had come alone to the United States in 1850. but as soon as his milling enterprise was established on a firm basis he sent to England for his family, consisting of his wife, formerly Elizabeth Elliott, and eight children. They made the entire journey from England to California, around Cape Horn, in a sailing vessel which encountered many peril- ous storms, but finally landed its passengers safely in the harbor of San Francisco. Mr. Liddell was a man of true pioneer mold and the work which he accomplished in the lumber interests of this locality as well as along other lines of activity have been of inestimable value.
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J. M. GRIMMER.
As an example of what may be done by persistent energy in the face of serious obstacles, the life of J. M. Grimmer presents lessons of encouragement to young men starting out for themselves, without the aid of means, influential friends or those other accidents of environment that ofttimes de- termine our destiny. When he came to America he found himself in a land of strangers, with whose language he was unfamiliar, and whose opportunities he was unable to grasp because of lack of means. Born in Germany September 23, 1832, he had been favored by a fair education in the German schools, and also had been apprenticed to a trade while still quite young. Thoroughness is a Teutonic characteristic and he had been thoroughly taught all the details of the black- smith's trade, so that he was well qualified to earn his liveli- hood by following the occupation. After having landed at New York City in 1853 he worked on a New Jersey farm for five months and then proceeded to Michigan, where he found similar employment. During 1860 he came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and on the sixth day of November he first saw Watsonville, the home of his future efforts. That day is memorable in the annals of our country as the date of the first election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency.
It was not long after his arrival that Mr. Grimmer was earning a fair livelihood as a blacksmith and he was profitably engaged in that occupation until 1864, when the heaviest misfortune of his life came to him in the loss of his right arm through the accidental discharge of a gun. The catastrophe precluded further efforts at the blacksmith's trade. It there- upon became necessary to seek a means of livelihood pos- sible to one so afflicted as he, and the growing of fruit was
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selected as offering a favorable opening. A pioneer in horti- culture, he became an authority concerning the occupation and his thorough understanding of the soil has been of ad- vantage to himself as well as to others. For many years he made a specialty of the berry business, but eventually he concentrated his attention upon the raising of apples and at this writing he owns an orchard of one hundred and twenty- five acres, the greater part of which is in bearing, the apples being of those varieties ascertained to be best adapted to this soil and climate. In the twilight of his busy life, the owner no longer devotes his entire time to the orchard, but is living practically retired, in his comfortable cottage at No. 222 East Lake Street, Watsonville, where he is surrounded by the comforts rendered possible by years of patient indus- try and unremitting toil.
Very shortly before his migration to the western coast Mr. Grimmer was married in Michigan to Miss Catherine Christ- ner, who was of German birth and ancestry. Five children were born to their union, but death removed three of their number from the family circle. The two survivors are Carrie and Mabel. The former is the wife of Frank Thomp- son and resides in San Francisco. The younger daughter married Frank Rodgers, who is connected with the drug store in Watsonville. Throughout his long identification with the commercial and horticultural development of Santa Cruz County, there has never been a time when Mr. Grimmer has ยท wavered in his steadfast faith in the country's prosperous future and by his own energetic efforts he has hastened the consummation of the prosperity to be attained by the intelli- gent cultivation of the soil of this region. For four years he served as a member of the board of town trustees. The only order to which he belongs is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and for more than twenty-five years he has acted
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as trustee of the local lodge. During the period of his trus- teeship, in 1893, he was closely identified with the building of the order's substantial office structure on East Third Street, where on a lot valued at $2,250 the lodge erected a building that cost $19,000. Somewhat later the lodge acquired, at a cost of $1,200, the lot adjoining their first purchase, so that their holdings now represent a large outlay of capital. The wisdom of the undertaking has been justified by the returns received from the investment, while in addition the lodge has had the pleasure of owning their own society hall, equipped in modern style, and offering abundant facilities for the en- tertainments of members and friends.
FRED W. SWANTON.
Difficult if not impossible would it be to name any citizen who is more closely connected with the modern development of Santa Cruz than Mr. Swanton, whose reputation for ag- gressive energy and success in promoting enterprises is not limited to his home city, but extends throughout all of the central coast counties. A list of the movements he has fostered would be practically a list of all the enterprises con- tributing to civic progress, for no measure has been presented of present or future value to the city that has lacked his co- operation. His support has been withheld from no project necessary to local development. Whatever of prominence Santa Cruz has gained throughout the west as a popular resort and attractive city, the credit for such result belongs to him in no small degree.
Illustrative of the identification of Mr. Swanton with local measures, we mention the following: In 1881 he enthu- siastically fostered the movement that resulted in the installa-
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tion of the first telephone system in Santa Cruz. In 1883 he built the hotel Swanton and in 1886, the first athletic park. During 1888-89 he promoted the first electric light plant, and in 1890-91, the first electric railroad. During 1893-94 he built the plant of the Big Creek Power Company. In 1895-96 he aided in securing the consolidation of the concerns forming the Santa Cruz Electric Light & Gas Company. In 1900 the consolidation of the Santa Cruz street railroads was effected and the following year the Monterey & Pacific Grove elec- tric railroad was erected, similar work being done in 1902-03 for the Santa Cruz & Capitola electric railroad. During 1903 he was one of the progressive men who enthusiastically began to "boom" Santa Cruz, calling the attention of people else- where to the natural advantages possessed by the city. In 1904 he promoted the Co-operative electric light plant and built the first Casino and bathing pavilion, also the Tent City and electric pier. For 1906 the special works were new beach improvements, promoting the Casino, Natatorium cottage city and the famous board walk on Santa Cruz beach. The com- pletion of the Casino, Natatorium and beach improvements marked the year 1907, while the next year was marked by the opening up of the Swanton beach park along the Cliff drive and the Swanton beach. This forms a residence district un- excelled for beauty. The year 1909 was characterized by the drawing of plans for a new hotel, to cost $500,000, which Mr. Swanton proposes to erect in 1910 on the property ad- joining the Casino.
Born in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 11, 1862, Fred W. Swanton was four years of age when he came to California with his mother, the father, Albion Paris Swanton, having preceded them. In 1867 he came with the family to Santa Cruz and soon afterward became a pupil in the public school. During 1881 he was graduated from Heald's Business College, after
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which for a year he was employed by the Maderra Flume & Trading Company, of Fresno, and for a year was with the Santa Clara Valley Mill & Lumber Company. About this time he made a trip to the east and secured the state right for a telephone patent. Later he devoted considerable at- tention to the construction of telephone systems. In 1883, with his father, he erected the Swanton hotel, and this the two men conducted until it was destroyed by fire in June of 1888. At the same time he acted as manager of the Santa Cruz opera house. After the dissolution of the partnership he established the Palace pharmacy, but sold in fifteen months, and immediately became interested in the project to light Santa Cruz with incandescent electricity. Associated with Dr. H. H. Clark, in October of 1889, he put in a machine of three hundred lights. At once the price of gas dropped from $3.50 to $2.50 per thousand feet. The demand for the lights was so great that it was necessary to add a machine of six hundred and fifty lights. Within two years they were supplying five thousand incandescent lights. The success of the work rendered a new organization necessary and the Santa Cruz Electric Light Company was founded with the following officers: H. H. Clark, president; A. P. Swanton, vice-president; F. W. Swanton, secretary and manager, as well as the largest stockholder. In the fall of 1895 the plant was sold to James McNeil.
The Big Creek Power Company was established in 1896 with the following officers : Henry Willey, president; William Rennie, vice-president; F. W. Swanton, secretary and man- ager; and C. E. Lilly, treasurer. Eighteen miles were built along the mountains and the entire line was finished in sixty days from the time it was started. In 1900 Mr. Swanton sold his interest to J. Q. Packard and F. W. Billings. It is worthy of note that Mr. Swanton introduced into Santa Cruz
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the very first incandescent lights used in California and that his was the first long-distance electric power plant in the state. Its capacity was increased from twenty-five hundred to ten thousand lights, and light then was provided for Wat- sonville and Capitola as well as Santa Cruz. After having disposed of his interest in the power plant Mr. Swanton visited the Alaskan gold fields. On his return he organized the Santa Cruz Oil Company to operate in the Bakersfield oil fields, with Henry Willey as president and J. J. C. Leonard as vice-president. During 1901 he began the organization of a new electric street car company to run from Santa Cruz to Watsonville by way of Capitola, and this work oc- cupied his attention in the next two years. Later he be- came extensively interested in building up the beach and his name is associated with numerous buildings along the coast, his chief association, however, being with the Swanton beach and the park of the same name. Here he plans to erect a magnificent hotel, equipped with modern conveniences and provided with all the comforts necessary to the success- ful management of a hotel catering to cultured and refined guests.
The marriage of Mr. Swanton was solemnized December 25, 1884, and united him with Miss Stanley Hall, daughter of Richard Hall, of Santa Cruz. Mr. and Mrs. Swanton, with their daughter, Miss Pearl Hall, occupy a modern residence in the midst of beautiful grounds and affording a charm- ing view of the city, ocean and the mountains. In fraternal relations Mr. Swanton holds membership with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, Knights of Pythias and Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.
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PIERCE B. FAGEN, M. D.
The marvelous changes wrought during the latter half of the nineteenth century were witnessed by Dr. Fagen and in a number of them he bore an interested part. Fate had reserved for him an active participation in pioneer tasks and for such arduous labors had qualified him by bestowing upon him an infinite degree of patience, an intense love of his country, a constitution adapted to the endurance of hardships and a sagacity of judgment as keen as it was of formulative im- portance in frontier history. The profession which he chose for his life-work was one for which he was adapted by natural endowment and acquired education. The science of materia medica had in him a thoughtful student. To study and to conquer disease seemed to him a task unsurpassed in magni- tude by any other object appealing to the higher ambitions of mankind. Hence we find him concentrating his intelligent, earnest attention upon therapeutics, with such gratifying re- sults that he gained a reputation for skill in diagnosis and promptness in applying the correct remedial agencies.
The life which is herein depicted began at New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, November 22, 1818, and closed at Santa Cruz, Cal., in February, 1901, thus spanning a con- siderable portion of the nineteenth century, but brought to a close at the beginning of the twentieth century. The family represented by Dr. Fagen was one of colonial importance and considerable means, hence it was possible for him to secure desired educational advantages. The best institutions of the east qualified him for the responsibilities of life and his degree of M. D. was tendered to him by the medical depart- ment of Kemper College, St. Louis, Mo. To him belonged the honor of being the first physician at Fort Des Moines, Iowa, and he had the further honor of assisting in laying out and
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platting the city of Des Moines. On the west side of that city he bought eighty acres and laid the land out in lots. With the early history of the capital city of Iowa his name was indis- solubly associated and his talents were utilized in pioneer work of importance to future local development.
Not until the discovery of gold in California was the atten- tion of Dr. Fagen called closely to the resources of the vast west. A study of the country led him to desire participation in its activities, and we find him the leader of a caravan of Argonauts that crossed the plains with horses and wagons in 1850. For a time he engaged in mining at Nevada City and later in Placer county, where he became prominent among the pioneers, being a leader in all movements for the benefit of the people and the development of local resources, and in both places he also practiced medicine. It was about 1869 that he came to Santa Cruz and in a short time he had acquired high professional standing, building up a practice that was limited only by his time and strength. In spite of professional de- mands he did not forget the duties devolving upon him as a citizen, but bore a part in local enterprises, served as trustee of the public schools, filled the office of county coroner, be- came a large real-estate owner, and served as president and vice-president of both banks, besides being a member of their boards of directors. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and Odd Fellows.
Shortly before he came to California Dr. Fagen had mar- ried in 1849 Miss Melissa Hoxie, who died in Placer county, Cal., leaving two sons, Clarence E. and Herbert D., now resi- dents of Santa Cruz county. The second marriage of Dr. Fagen was solemnized February 27, 1873, and united him with the widow of Albion P. Jordan. This estimable lady sur- vives him, making her home at No. 172 Mission street, Santa Cruz, where she owns one of the most elegant residences in
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the city. For years she has been a leading worker in the Congregational church and one of the principal members of its Ladies' Aid Society. The missionary and philanthropic en- terprises of the church receive her earnest co-operation and many a large gift, the fruit of her generous helpfulness, has proved a blessing to the cause for which it was donated. She has also been a large contributor of both time and means to all the charities and civic improvements of her city.
OTTO STOESSER.
For a period covering very little less than one-half century Mr. Stoesser was intimately associated with the commercial development and civic progress of Watsonville and his name is inseparably connected with the local annals. Death alone had power to terminate his activities. Many of the qualities that distinguished his career came to him by inheritance from a long line of thrifty Teutonic ancestors, but these attributes were supplemented by characteristics notably American and more especially typical of the pioneer Californian. To a man thus endowed a complete failure is impossible. For a time success may hold aloof its laurel wreath, but eventually de- termination and industry win the goal. Such proved to be the case in the career of this German-American, whose ac- tivities aided in the material upbuilding of the Pajaro valley and whose personality was a virile force in every important undertaking for the general welfare.
The childhood home of Otto Stoesser was situated in Gag- gennau, near Baden-Baden, in the grand duchy of Baden, Germany, and there he was born November 18, 1825, being a son of Dominick Stoesser. The excellent schools of his native land afforded him fair opportunities and of these he availed
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himself until the time came when the necessity of self-support precluded further educational advantages. While yet a mere lad he heard much concerning America as a home for the poor young man. As soon as he attained his majority he bade farewell to relatives and friends and set sail for the new world, landing in New York City June 25, 1846. From there he went to Norfolk, Va., where he was employed for eighteen months, and next he worked for a short time successively at Wilmington, N. C., Columbia and Danville, Pa., after which he worked for John Hagan, at No. 308 Market street, Phil- adelphia. Resigning that position February 22, 1850, he prepared for a voyage to California and five days later he em- barked on the Zenobia for San Francisco. Slowly the vessel proceeded southward to the Horn and thence up the Pacific. Only a very few stops were made, one of these being at Val- paraiso, Chile, where the vessel anchored for four days.
After having landed at San Francisco on the 13th of Au- gust after a voyage of almost six months, Mr. Stoesser secured employment with M. L. Wynn, manufacturer of Wynn's golden syrup. While there he witnessed the celebration at- tendant upon California's admission as a state. Like all new-comers, he was ambitious to try his luck in the mines and with this purpose in view he traveled to a mine near Agua Fria, but he was so unfortunate that when he returned to San Francisco on Christmas day he had only $4.85 in his pos- session. The first employment he was able to secure was that of cabin-boy on board the Columbia, bound for Panama, and he returned on the same ship in March of 1851. Hoping to meet with better success in the mines, he went to the Feather river and Rich Bar mines, but the same bad luck befell him and he was discouraged from all further efforts in mining. Re- turning to San Francisco he was about to ship as a cabin-boy, but happening to see a sign "Wanted: a Dishwasher," he en-
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