USA > California > History of the State of California and biographical record of Coast Counties, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time > Part 44
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Returning east December 20, 1859, Captain Harloe bought the schooner Wild Pigeon, in Providence, R. I., and sailed from New York for San Francisco March 23, 1860, coming through the Straits of Magellan and spending one hundred and fifty days in the voyage. The cargo carried by this vessel was the material for the steamer, Salinas, the first ship built by the Pacific Coast Steamship line. Reaching San Francisco, the cargo was discharged at the foot of Third street. The Wild Pigeon was then taken by the captain into the Mexican trade. At the opening of the Civil war he sold that vessel and took charge of the tugboats, Monitor and Merrimac, in San Francisco. In 1865 he was elected harbormaster of San Francisco, which position he filled for two years and nine months, and then resumed tug-boating.
The first identification of Captain Harloe with Santa Barbara county as a resident was in 1867, when he came here to settle the estate of Isaac J. Sparks, his father-in-law. In 1869 he shipped as master of the steamer Gussie, from San Francisco to San Luis Obispo, and later for three years commanded the steamship Coni- mander of the Holladay and Brenham line. His next position was as a master for the Pacific Coast Steamship Company, commanding the Constantine and Ventura. In 1880, under Gov- ernor Perkins, he was appointed chief wharfinger at San Francisco, which office he filled for three years. Afterward he commanded the steamship Santa Marie along the coast and to the Sandwich Islands, since which time he
has been to some extent retired from a seafaring life.
Since 1875 Captain Harloe's family have made their home on the Hutasna rancho, which com- prises about nine thousand acres, and is utilized ior stock-raising and general farm purposes. The property is a portion of a land grant se- cured by Isaac J. Sparks from the Mexican gov- ernment, and by him bequeathed to his daugh- ter, Mrs. Harloe. The family home is one of charming simplicity, combined with elegance. The large library, the fine piano, and the cozy furnishings indicate that the family have a taste for literature, music and the refining influences of life. Having received excellent advantages in her girlhood, Mrs. Harloe has acquired a cul- ture which, combined with her amiable disposi- tion and charm of manner, renders her a valuable acquisition in the best society. Like her husband, she descends from a seafaring race, her mother, Mary Sparks, nee Ayers, hav- ing been a Scotch shipmaster's daughter. Cap- tain and Mrs. Harloe are the parents of five children now living, namely: Marcus S., who is second officer of the steamship Oregon; Archie M., now in Bakersfield, Cal .; William George, a druggist in San Francisco; John D., a graduate of St. Mary's College; and Flora, who in the family circle and among intimate friends is best known as Cushie.
As a member of the Republican party Captain Harloe has of late years been active in politics. In 1889 he was elected to the legislature and during his service of one term was a member of the committee on commerce and navigation. For many years he served as school trustee and for two years he was a supervisor of San Luis Obispo county. During exciting campaigns he does excellent work for his party and helps to turn the tide toward victory. One of his hob- bies has been the establishment of a union high school, the students for which shall be the older pupils in the district schools embracing several districts, and he aided greatly in securing the passage of the bill which rendered this excellent plan practicable. It is a matter of some pride with him that he holds the highest license ever granted any master by the United States, this permitting him to act as inspector or com-
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mander of ships in any ocean, and the pos- session of such a document is added proof of his ability in the management of ships. He fol- lows the example of his ancestors not only in regard to his occupation, but also in respect to his fraternal connections, and is a stanch Mason, holding membership in Arroyo Grande Lodge No. 277, F. & A. M .; San Luis Obispo Chapter, R. A. M., and San Luis Obispo Commandery No. 27, K. T., at San Luis Obispo.
Since he landed in California, June 24, 1850, Captain Harloe has been thoroughly imbued with the spirit of western progress, and has constantly maintained a close connection with matters maritime and civic affairs as well. He is one of that class of pioneers to whose energy, keen judgment and wise discrimination the Cal- ifornia of to-day is so greatly indebted.
WILLIAM VANDERHURST.
In the life of this successful banker of Salinas are illustrated the results of perseverance and energy, coupled with judicious management and strict integrity. He is a citizen of whom any community might well be proud, and the people of Monterey county, fully appreciating his abil- ity, accord him a place in the foremost ranks of representative citizens and business men. Iden- tified with the history of Salinas from the earli- est period of its settlement, he has witnessed its gradual growth, the development of its com- mercial interests and the gradual increase of its population by the removal hither of men of en- terprise, intelligence and high standing.
The early years of the life of Judge Vander- hurst gave no indication of a successful future. His parents, Michael M. and Emma (Sones) Vanderhurst, natives respectively of Amster- dam, Holland, and North Carolina, were liv- ing at Columbia, Marion county, Miss., at the time he was born, in 1833, but later they moved to Camden, where they resided a few years, and then moved to Canton, Miss. Doubtless the father, who was a man of great perseverance, would have attained success had his life been spared, as he was regarded as a prudent and re- sourceful merchant, but his death occurred in 1839, while he was still a young man. The son,
a boy of six years, was thus deprived of a father's care and guidance during the years of his youth. At the age of sixteen he secured employment in a store, but he was not satisfied to remain in Mississippi, and saved his earnings in order to pay his transportation elsewhere. On the last day of the year 1852 he left his old home on the long journey to California, and arrived in San Francisco February 5, 1853. He went to the southern mines in the vicinity of Jamestown and later mined at Gold Hill on the middle fork of the American river.
During the latter part of 1858 Judge Vander- hurst embarked in merchandising at Watson- ville, where he remained until 1868, and then moved to Salinas. At that time there were only two houses in the place, one of these being a small frame building, while the other is now utilized as the dining room of the Abbott hotel. Somewhat similar was his experience in Wat- sonville and King City, in the latter of which he built the first house that the place boasted. The first man to invest largely in Salinas was S. W. Conklin, for many years the senior mem- ber of Conklin & Samuels. The next to in- vest largely in real estate and merchandise was Mr. Vanderhurst, who founded the mercantile house of Vanderhurst, Sanborn & Co., and erected the structure in which the firm has en- gaged in business for about thirty-four years. The history of this firm is a history of Salinas itself. With the growth of the town the firm prospered. Some idea of its develop- ment may be gained from its large storehouses and fine stock of goods. On the incorporation of the firm under the title of the Vanderhurst- Sanborn Company, Mr. Vanderhurst was chosen president, and continued in that capacity for many years. Indeed, the high standing of the firm, the reputation which the house gained for reliable dealings and honorable methods of con- ducting business, was largely due to his capable supervision and his integrity of character. Al- luding to his success, the publishers of the Mid- winter Fair edition of the Gonzales Tribune state: "Of William Vanderhurst, the head of the house, we may, we think, be permitted to say, without the least disparagement to the capacity, energy and enterprise of any other business man
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in the city, that had Sir Walter Scott known the hard struggle and vicissitudes of his early life, he could not have had a better example in mind when he wrote: 'There is no life of a man, fully recorded, but is a heroic power of its sort, rhymed or unrhymed;' nor yet Bulwer when he wrote: 'In the lexicon of youth, which fate re- serves for a bright manhood, there is no such word as fail.' "
December 3, 1856, in Monterey county, oc- curred the marriage of William Vanderhurst to Jane, daughter of Joseph Hatch, of Wisconsin. Born of their union are the following-named children: Alice E., deceased; Estella, formerly the wife of Edward Evatt, but now deceased; William M., of Salinas; Robert Lee, of Seattle, Wash .; Francis, deceased; George B., of San Francisco; Mary A .; Lillian M .; John C., de- ceased; and Albert Sidney. The eldest son, Wil- liam M., is a graduate of the Salinas schools and has always made this city his home. For a time he was a member of the firm of G. W. Hatch & Co., and after the death of Mr. Hatch lie purchased the latter's interest from the heirs, since which time he has been sole proprietor of the business. In addition to a full line of furni- ture, carpets, wall paper, curtains, etc., he con- ducts an undertaking establishment. With his foreman, he spent several months in the best undertaking establishments of San Francisco, where they gave special attention to the art of embalming. His store and warerooms are on Main street in the Odd Fellows' building. In 1890 he married a daughter of Rev. Joseph Emery, the then pastor of the Methodist Epis- copal Church South, of Salinas.
Masonry has always had a stanch friend and admirer in Judge Vanderhurst, and he has served as master of Salinas Lodge No. 204, F. & A. M .; is also a member of Salinas Chap- ter No. 59, R. A. M .; and Watsonville Com- mandery No. 22, K. T. From an early age he has been a believer in Democratic principles. His early adherence to the party was doubtless due to the locality in which he was reared, but after attaining manhood and removing to an- other section of the country he saw no reason for changing his views, and still remains stead- fast and true to the principles of Jeffersonian
Democracy. Never an office-seeker, and pre- ferring rather the quiet paths of private busi- ness to the excitement of public life, he has at no time been a candidate for office, and the only position which he has ever filled was that of mayor of Salinas. However, he has always been interested in local affairs, and has had a firm faith in the future of his home city. He was one of the most ardent champions of the removal of the county-seat from Monterey to Salinas, which question was decided by vote of the people in November, 1872. In matters con- nected with the removal and the establishment of the new county-seat, his influence was con- stantly felt and the benefit of his counsel appre- ciated. The Bank of Monterey County was or- ganized under his management in 1890. As president, he has since guided its policy and superintended its investments, thereby placing the concern upon a solid financial basis and gaining for it the confidence of the people of the city and county.
The title of "judge" was conferred upon Mr. Vanderhurst many years ago by his fellow-citi- zens and has always clung to him since. There is scarcely a business man of Monterey county who has not formed his acquaintance, and every- where the greatest confidence is reposed in his judgment and advice. From the period of his earliest residence here he has identified himself with every interest of the county, social, busi- ness, financial and educational, and is justly re- garded as one of her substantial men of affairs and public-spirited citizens.
BENJAMIN HITCHCOCK.
Men possessing the fundamental characteris- tics of which Benjamin Hitchcock is heir have ever been regarded as the bulwarks of the com- munities in which they have lived. With as- sets partaking rather of the mental than the material, he has forged his way to a competence, and to an honored place among the agricultur- ists of the Salinas district. Born in Compton, Shelby county, East Canada, August 17, 1835, he is a son of Hiram O. and Louise (Osgood) Hitchcock, the latter of whom is still living, and is eiglity-seven years of age. Hiram O. Hitch-
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cock was a native of Vermont, and went to Canada when a young man, where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death at the age of seventy-five years. He was a fairly successful man, was the representative of an old and honored family, and he had the satisfaction of clearing a farm from the rough, and thereon establishing a home containing comfort if not luxury.
As the oldest of the children born to his pa- ients, it fell to the lot of Benjamin Hitchcock to materially aid in the clearing of the Canadian farm, and to contribute his share towards the general maintenance. Of an ambitious nature, he recognized the limitations by which he was surrounded, and this desire for larger things resulted in his removal to California in 1855. He journeyed here by way of the isthmus, and during the first winter worked in the mines of Nevada county, and the following spring went to the north fork of the American river. In Sonoma county he worked on a ranch for two or three years, and from this it is inferred that his mining experiences were those of the aver- age, rather the exceptional being. In Marin county he managed a ranch for a year for John Abbott, after which he went to Alama as fore- man for C. R. Abbott for two years. In the fall of 1866 he came to Monterey county and conducted a large dairying enterprise for C. S. Abbott, and at the expiration of five years lived for two or three years on the farm of his father- in-law. He then bought his present ranch of two hundred acres at $30 per acre, and here he has since conducted general farming, grain and stock raising. He is a director of the Salinas Creamery, and his enterprise and public spirit- edness have found outlets in various business and social directions. Since casting his presi- dential vote for Fremont he has voted the Re- publican ticket, but has never desired or ac- cepted official recognition. Fraternally he is a charter member of the Salinas Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M., having jomed the Masons in 1868.
Mrs. Hitchcock was Agnes, a daughter of John Abbott, a native of Canada, and an over- land California pioneer of '52. To Mr. and Mrs. Hitchcock have been born two children, of whom Elba Ellsworth is with his father on the
ranch; and Dona M. is the wife of George Dougherty of San Pedro, Cal.
HON. CHARLES H. JOHNSON.
On the fertile island of Guernsey, off the coast of Normandy, the Johnson family were living during the latter part of the eighteenth century. There was born and reared Charles H. Johnson, Sr., who for many years during his early life was an officer in the French navy. When the battle of Waterloo with its fatal consequences had given a death blow to the imperial hopes of Napoleon, this officer, compelled to seek another occupation, crossed the ocean to America and settled in Baltimore, Md., where he married a daughter of William Green, of an old Irish family. Their son and the father's namesake was born in Baltimore in 1826, and received his education principally in Asbury College, but, owing to poor health, was obliged to discon- tinue his studies before the completion of his collegiate course. Travel being deemed advis- able, he was sent to Europe with an uncle, who was agent for an East India house.
The first independent venture with which Mr. Johnson was associated began in 1847, when he and John Finley fitted out a ship for the purpose of trading along the west coast of South Amer- ica. The Rhone sailed from Baltimore Decem- ber 22, 1847, visited the various ports on the west coast of South America, and arrived at Honolulu July 18, 1848. While there, the own- ers received word that gold had been discovered in California. At once their plans were changed. Instead of disposing of their goods in Honolulu, they purchased a large addition to their cargo, and set sail for San Francisco, where they ar- rived August II, their vessel being the first merchantman to enter the harbor of the Golden Gate after the publication in California of the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The cargo of the Rhone brought its owners $100.000, and with this amount as a capital, the firm of Fin- ley. Johnson & Co. was established, being the first large house started in the city. Their pros- perity exceeded their most dazzling hopes. For a time everything went well. Heavy importa- tions were being constantly received from South
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America, Mexico and the Sandwich Islands. Large warchouses were built and crowded with valuable stock. The owners were among the wealthiest men in the city, when, suddenly, as -ticcess seemed assured, everything was swept away. Old timers will recall vividly the great fire of May 4, 1850, with its disastrous conse- quences. The firm of Finley, Johnson & Co. were among the heaviest losers, and to add to their misfortunes, no insurance could be ob- tained.
However, with a faith and courage that mis- fortune could not subdue, the owners of the business began once more. Their credit being good, they were enabled to purchase stock, and soon ships were pouring in their cargoes as be- fore. Stores were rebuilt, business revived and prosperity again seemed assured. Once more the demon of fire swept away in a moment the labor of months, and this second fire was even more destructive than the first, involving a total loss of $500,000. Not permitting themselves to be disheartened by this adversity, the members of the company again put up buildings, and this time they were declared by experts to be fire- proof, but they met the fate of their predeces- sors. May 4, 1851, on the anniversary of the first fire, eighteen blocks of business houses were destroyed by fire, involving a loss of al- most $12,000,000, Finley, Johnson & Co. losing not only their new buildings, but also $250,000 .worth of merchandise just received. The com- plication of disasters so greatly reduced their re- sources that they settled with their creditors and retired from business.
During the early '50s Mr. Johnson removed to Monterey, where he was for a time officer at the port and later deputy collector of cus- toms for the port of Monterey, having charge of the coast to the south. While filling the latter position, he took advantage of favorable open- ings for investments in San Luis Obispo county and purchased large tracts of land. In 1856 he settled permanently in San Luis Obispo county, where he has since managed his real-estate in- terests. Some frame buildings that he erected in San Luis Obispo burned down in 1898, but he has since replaced them with substantial brick buildings. His holdings include large tracts in
the Chorro valley, where he has a section of fine land.
In politics Mr. Johnson is a Democrat. Dur- ing 1860 and 1861 he served in the state legis- lature, where he introduced several bills. His popularity was great and his name was favor- ably mentioned for congress. Indeed, he would without doubt have been elected had it not been for the Civil war, which started factions before unknown. For eleven years he served as chairman of the town board, and it was largely due to his efforts that the city was incor- porated, under act of congress, in 1867. In the same year he drafted the bill to settle the town titles to the actual occupants and secured its passage by the legislature, thus preventing any litigation. For many years, while serving as school trustee, he was able to promote the edu- cational interests of the city. Through the sys- tem of breakwater which he started at Port Harford, a good harbor was made possible there, which in itself is of the greatest benefit to the county. In 1860 he took up his home on a ranch near town, where he erected a large adobe residence and made other improvements. Since then he has made his home on this place. Years ago he brought some cuttings of grape vines from Los Angeles, which he set out, and now has the oldest vineyard in the county.
Added to his other abilities Mr. Johnson has a taste for literature and wields a ready pen. In 1882 he wrote a history of San Luis Obispo county, which was published in the San Luis Tribune. At different times he has contributed articles to local papers, and often assumed the editorial chair of the Tribune when it was un- der the administration of Walter Murray, its founder. Additional weight is given to his writ- ings from the fact that he has been identified with the county for a longer period than almost any other man now resident here. Besides his fondness for literature, he has another "hobby," love of travel. During his early life he traveled nuch and widely, thereby acquiring a fund of cosmopolitan information whose value cannot be overestimated. In later years he has retained his fondness for a study of life in other lands and with other people. During 1894 he made a tour of the world, at which time he visited not
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only the points seen in his voyages nearly forty years before, but also traveled through Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Germany, India, China and Japan.
JACOB A. BLACKBURN.
The life which this narrative sketches began in Springfield, Ohio, June 12, 1823, and closed in Watsonville, Cal., January 23, 1893. Within these seventy years is a record of much accomplished for the benefit of his fellow-citi- zens, many improvements introduced of lasting value to the Pajaro valley and substantial inter- ests established that left his family in comfort- able circumstances at his death. He was a son of Joseph and Margaret (Drew) Blackburn, and a descendant of a colonial family, maintaining a keen pride in the fact that his grandfather bore a valiant part in the Revolutionary war and endured all the hardships of that memorable winter at Valley Forge. His father, too, was a man of patriotic spirit and bore arms in the sec- ond struggle with England.
At the time. Jacob A. Blackburn was a small child his father, who was engaged in the cattle and transportation business, met death by ac- cidentally drowning. The mother later became Mrs. Bell and in 1838 moved to Henderson county, Ill. When her son was nineteen years of age he secured employment on a Mississippi river flatboat and met with a degree of success that, instead of satisfying him, made him am- bitions to secure larger returns. At the time of the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast he felt the time had come for a change and so de- cided to seek his fortune in the great west. In the spring of 1849, in company with a party in charge of Colonel Finley, he outfitted for Cali- fornia. The expedition consisted of light wagons, with no extra merchandise. Conse- quently they were able to make as much as twenty-five miles a day, and thus reached their destination in ninety days. In many respects they were more fortunate than most overland travelers, for they were unmolested by Indians and suffered no greater hardships than scarcity of water and the difficulty of crossing swollen streams.
On his arrival, in Angust of 1849, Mr. Black- burn began mining on the Yuba river, but soon went to Santa Cruz, where he landed November 26, same year. The town was of special interest to him, as being the home of his brother, the late Judge Williamn Blackburn, who became the first alcalde under the municipal government and later held office as county judge. Shortly after his arrival Mr. Blackburn purchased a saw- inill, and this he conducted until 1852, when he embarked in the general mercantile business in Watsonville as a partner of L. Godchaux, their store, which was one of the first in the village. occupying the present site of the postoffice, on the corner of Peek and Main streets. The net gains of the first year, $20,000, were so gratify- ing that be enlarged the business and increased the stock. At the same time he associated him- self with his brother in raising potatoes, which industry had been conducted with remarkable success in this locality during preceding years. However, in 1853 everyone who could buy or rent land determined to raise potatoes and there was an overproduction, so that the losses were heavy. Not only did Mr. Blackburn lose per- sonally in his potato ventures, but he also ex- pericneed heavy losses through selling large quantities of goods on credit to the potato plant- ers, relying upon the prospects of an abundant crop at fair prices. Thus the losses of 1853 wiped out his gratifying gains of the preceding year.
Selling out to his brother James, in 1855, Mr. Blackburn returned to Santa Cruz and acquired real estate in Blackburn gulch by laying school warrants on the land. In 1858 he purchased one-third interest of one of the twelve heirs of the Roderignez estate in the celebrated Pajaro valley, which made him the possessor of valuable land adjoining Watsonville, as well as one-thir- ty-sixth interest in the town. Here he settled in 1862 and ever afterward made his home. The previous year he planted an orchard which is still in fine bearing condition, with trees from twelve to fifteen inches in diameter. Many orchards were planted in early days, but there being no railroads or otherfacilities for shipment the fruit rotted on the trees, and so the land was gradually turned over to the more profitable
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