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 54
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In 1852 Filipe Gonzales married Carmen, daughter of Sebastian Rodriguez, the latter a pioneer of the '3os in Santa Cruz county, where he built an adobe house on the north side of what is now Watsonville, and moved his family to the new home from Monterey county in 1833- The subsequent years of his life were passed in the vicinity of Watsonville, and he acquired the ownership of several leagues of land extending from the bay to the creek, in the Pajaro valley. In religion he was a Roman Catholic. On his death he was succeeded by his son-in-law, Filipe Gonzales, who afterward had charge of the estate and devoted it to grain and general farm prod- ucts. The wife of Filipe Gonzales was born in 1828, and died in 1877. Two children were born of their union, of whom the sole survivor is Miss Bersabe. Shecontinues to reside at the old home- stead, occupying a residence that stands. near the old abode which was for so long the home of her ancestors. The homestead is now in her name
and under her direct supervision. althoughi rented to tenants, by whom it is used for gen- cral farming purposes. In religious belief she is a devoted member of the Roman Catholic Church.
G. C. GINGG.
A native son of California who is conducting a profitable and up-to-date retail and wholesale butchering establishment in San Luis Obispo is G. C. Gingg, who in his undertaking is ably assisted by his brother and sister and father. This family live together in a most amicable manner, and constituite a combination of busi- ness and social enjoyment rarely witnessed. Born in California June 25, 1873, Mr. Gingg is the representative of a prominent Swiss family first represented in America by Jacob Gingg, the father of G. C., who was a butcher in his native land, and came to this country when quite young, settling in Newark. N. J. About 1868 he sought the larger possibilities of California. and after locating in San Francisco engaged in his former occupation with considerable success, branching out into a retail and wholesale buty- ing and shipping trade. He came to San Luis Obispo in 1892, and has since been an honored resident of this thriving town. He married Johanna Gerken, and of this union there have been born three children, two sons and one daughter.
At a very early age G. C. Gingg became familiar with his father's business, and while at tending the public schools assisted as a clerk in the store. Eventually the family combined their energies to make a success of a large wholesale and retail business which has no superior in the town, and is undoubtedly without a peer in the county. The firm have their private slaughter- ing house, and are at present pushing the whok sale department of their trade. The elder Gingg is a man of enterprise and good business judg- ment, traits shared and emphasize I in his son G. C., who is virtually the head and manager of the concern. The father is fraternalh associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Fraternal Brotherhood. Ile is a Republican in political affiliation. G. C. Gingg has never
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married, and lives with the rest of the family. The family was broken into by the death of the mother since coming to San Luis Obispo. Mr. Gingg, whose name heads this sketch, is fra- ternally associated with the Benevolent Pro- tective Order of Elks, the Fraternal Brother- hood, and he is identified with the Native Sons of the Golden West. The Gingg market and its attachments command the confidence of the business community of San Luis Obispo, and is regarded as a necessary adjunct to the com- mercial supremacy.
ALEXANDER C. GIBSON.
Through his connection with various impor- tant interests, Mr. Gibson is well known to the people of San Luis Obispo county and particu- larly to the residents of Los Osos valley, where he has made his home since 1871. Of Irish birth and parentage, he was born in the city of Bel- fast in 1857, and was about eleven years of age when he came to the United States with his father. Robert J. Gibson. The first location of the family was in Marin county, Cal., but after three years there they removed in 1871 to San Luis Obispo county, where the parents re- mained until their death.
The estate of Robert J. Gibson included one thousand acres of land, of which three hundred and fifty-seven acres became the property of Alexander C. The latter had received a fair education in district schools and from an early age had been an indispensable assistant to the work of the home farm. The first flax raised in San Luis Obispo county came from this ranch. Next an attempt was made to raise wheat, but the crop was destroyed by rust. A subsequent experiment was made with oats and barley, both of which were found to thrive well, and have since been produced in large quantities. The bottom land is used for corn, beans, potatoes and pumpkins, all of which are successfully grown.
A dairy industry was established on the ranch in 1876, and Mr. Gibson has since given close attention to building up a model dairy. He keeps about forty milch cows, mostly Durhams, and all of fine strains. At the head of his stock
he has an imported thoroughbred Durham bull. In the management of the ranch and the dairy Mr. Gibson finds his time fully occupied. It is his aim to be satisfied with nothing but the best, hence he labors constantly to improve his land. The success that has rewarded his efforts proves what can be accomplished by a man of industry in such a climate and such a soil as San Luis Obispo county offers. At one time it was supposed that the soil here was not fer- tile, and that the land could never be utilized except for stock-raising purposes, but the suc- cess of such men as Mr. Gibson in the raising of grain and vegetables proves that the opinion formerly held was erroneous.
In intervals, when the work of the farm per- mits, Mr. Gibson writes articles for the county newspapers. These are upon various subjects, but mostly humorous, and the nom de plume of Will Lye under which he writes is well known in all this section of the country. He is a direc- tor of the San Luis Obispo Agricultural Asso- ciation, under whose auspices a county fair is held each fall. Another matter of importance in which he was interested and which he took an active part in securing was the extension of the coast line for the valley. At this writing he is advocating a road to start from San Luis Obispo and connect with the McKittrick oil district and Bakersfield, which will furnish a means of transportation between localities now scarcely accessible to one another. Politically he is a Republican and has rendered his party valuable service as a member of the county central committee and a delegate to county con- ventions. February 4, 1902, he married Miss Flora Brophy of Templeton, daughter of John and Clara (Ritchie) Brophy, residents of Tem- pleton.
Like the majority of men now living in San Luis Obispo county, Mr. Gibson has had stock interests. For seven years he was engaged in raising sheep, and had a flock of several thou- sand head on the Camatti and Huer-Huero ranchos. All of the sheep were merinos and were raised both for the wool and the mutton. The IIner-Huero was in years past one of the large ranchos of California, embracing forty-eight thousand acres and adjoining the Santa Ysabel
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rancho. It was particularly adapted ior the pas- turage of sheep and was used exclusively for that purpose. Finally the land was divided into farms and within two years thirty-four thousand acres were sold to a desirable class of settlers.
On the ranch owned by Mr. Gibson there is a copper mine, owned by the Los Osos Copper Company, in which he is a stockholder and director. During the past few years $3,000 has been spent in placing this mine upon a paying basis, and good ore has been secured. Plans are now being made for the future development of the mine, which is now bonded by the United States surveyor-general. In common with most prospectors, the owners of this mine have not found the road to fortune an easy one. One of their most serious setbacks was the caving in of the mine during a season of protracted rains that caused the timber to give way. However, everything looks hopeful at this writing and work will soon resume.
CAPT. THOMAS T. TIDBALL.
Patriotism is a prominent characteristic of the Tidball family. Not only has Captain Tidball himself rendered valued service to the country, but other members of the family have been equally loyal and valorous. His maternal grand- father was a Revolutionary soldier, and the spirit that led him forth to do battle for the col- onies caused his four grandsons to enlist in the Union army during the Civil war. One of these commanded the Fifty-ninth New York Infantry at numerous engagements; another, Joseph L., was a captain in the regular army and at the out- break of the Civil war became a recruiting offi- cer; another brother held rank as first lieuten- ant and regimental quartermaster in the Fifty- ninth New York Infantry.
Near Allegheny City, Pa., Captain Tidball was born October 2, 1826, being a son of Joseph and Eliza K. (Lynn) Tidball. When he was a year old his parents settled in Holmes county, Ohio, where they remained until 1838, and then settled in Mansfield, same state. There the son learned the hatter's trade under his father's in- struction, and later he also acquired a knowl- edge of the printing business. In 1846 he en-
listed in Company A, Third Ohio Infantry, for service in the Mexican war. With his regiment he proceeded to Mexico and thence still further southwest. After fourteen months as a private he was honorably discharged and returned to Mansfield, where he secured work as a clerk in a warehouse. In 1849, in company with a friend, he started for California. At Independence, Mo., they joined a party westward bound, it being the agreement that they were to pay $75 for their passage to California. However, when they reached the Platte river he and his partner bought a ferry for $50 and remained behind after their companions had proceeded on the way. In a little more than a week they had cleared $150. With this welcome addition to their funds they again started westward, over- taking their former companions and proceeding via Salt Lake, where they saw Brigham Young. Thence they walked to the present site of San Bernardino, where they arrived weary and hun- gry. Going on to Los Angeles, they took a boat to San Francisco, where they arrived with ȘIo in their combined possessions.
A few days later Mr. Tidball secured work as a wood chopper at $5 per cord. He then bought an axe and some provisions on credit from a man he had never seen before, and for six weeks engaged in cutting wood, soon making enough to repay his accommodating creditor. His next venture was at Placerville, where he tried his luck at mining. From there he went further up the Feather river, where he remained for six months. For two years he engaged in ranch- ing near Sacramento, and then for six months he was interested in a store at Jackson, Cal. . \t the expiration of that time he returned to Indi- ana with a partner, expecting to buy cattle and drive them across the plains. However, on ac- count of sickness, the project was abandoned. For two years he edited a paper at Albion, Ind., and while there married Helen M. Hill. Three children were born of their union, but May and Minnie died in girlhood. The only one now liv- ing is Nellie H., wife of John D. Hall, and mother of four children, John J .. Helen H .. Stella and Charles S.
During 1857 Captain Tidball came to Cali- fornia via the water route and settled in Santa
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Cruz, where He was employed on a paper when the Civil war broke out. Inspired with the pa- triotic spirit of his ancestors, he at once raised a company of eighty men, which was mustered into the United States service at Sacramento, with himself as captain. Ordered to Southern California, they remained several weeks near the coast, and then marched to Fort Yuma to suppress the Apaches, who were on one of their customary fierce outbreaks. About the Ist of October they were sent to San Pedro, and on the Ist of February were ordered to Tucson, Ariz., from which point they proceeded after the Apaches. They were obliged to be cautious in their pursuits, as they had a cunning foe to deal with. For five nights they traveled on foot, sleeping in the daytime. No camp fires were built, fest the Indians might see the smoke. There were only twenty-five white men in Com- pany K, the balance of the one hundred and four men being Indians or Mexicans. On the morning of the fifth day they surprised the In- dians, killing eighty of the braves, and capturing eighteen women and children, also sixty-six horses and some government property. The expedition had been one of great hardship, but the successful termination caused the soldiers to forget their annoyances, and all rejoiced at the fortunate outcome. They had traveled about one hundred and eighty miles, with pack-trains to carry supplies, and had crossed one stream thirty-six times. It was just at break of day when they surprised the Indians, who were in the act of building a camp fire. With the loss of only one man, the expedition returned to Tuc- son, bringing with them their prisoners of war and the booty taken in the battle.
From Tucson Captain Tidball was ordered to the Rocky mountains, where he had command of a post at Bowie, Ariz., for sixteen months. During that time he commanded an expedition to the San Carlos reservation, and meanwhile killed thirty or more hostile savages, including the chief of the tribe. Frequently he went on scouting expeditions, and more than onee crossed the desert on foot. Mustered out of the service November 30, 1864. he then returned to Santa Cruz, and in the fall of 1865 was elected county clerk. At the expiration of his
term of two years he was appointed internal revenue collector of the second district. Re- signing two years later, he moved to Tulare county and ranched there for a year. His next location was on the Cooper ranch in Salinas valley, where he spent three years. In 1876 he came to Jolon and opened a store in partner- ship with Mr. Dutton. Two years later he erected a building, which he utilized as a hotel and store. He also conducted feed yards, and has served as postmaster, while at this writing the postoffice is in charge of his wife. For six- teen years he has been a notary public. His political affiliations are with the Republican party, among whose members in Monterey county he occupies a leading position. In 1853 he was made a Mason and has since been identi- fied with the fraternity, being now past master of the lodges at Santa Cruz and Castroville.
At the first meeting of the legislative body of. Arizona, its members adopted a resolution com- mending Captain Tidball for his services in the .Apache outbreaks, and the letter forwarded to him from the legislature was cherished by him as indicative of the appreciation in which Itis labors were held. He also received recognition in another manner no less acceptable than the former, this being in his promotion to major and brevet-major in the army, which honor his faithful and intelligent services amply merited.
WILLIAM T. GILKEY.
The name of William T. Gilkey is worthy of enrollment among the very early settlers of Monterey county who foresaw its great possi- bilities, and put their shoulder to the wheel to develop the chances by which they were sur- rounded. He was born in Wayne county, N. Y., April 8, 1821, and when only six years of age was taken by his parents to Wayne county, Mich., where he was reared on a farm until his seventeenth year. His first business experience was gained as a clerk in, a store in Illinois, said store being located in a tiny hamlet rejoicing in the name of Joliet, now known as one of the largest and most prosperous towns in the state. From Joliet he returned to Michigan, and in Detroit engaged in the mercantile business for a
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couple of years, afterward working in an hotel for about four years. From 1847 to 1850 he lived in Lansing, Mich., and during that time had a hand in the initial undertakings of that embryo town. He built the first house on the section of school land upon which Lansing eventually arose, and when the capitol of the state was removed there he was employed by the government to clear the ground and set out trees. At the expiration of his government service he came to California in 1850, starting from Lansing April 18th and arriving in San Francisco Angust 18th.
In Tuolumne county, Cal., Mr. Gilkey en- gaged in mining for a time, and from September, 1850, to April, 1851, lived at Fine Gold Gulch, Madera county, where he experienced little suc- cess. With three partners he engaged in the mercantile business at Savage Hill for a short time, and then returned overland for his wife and son, in Michigan, the trip consuming six months. Upon again locating in California he engaged in ranching and the hotel business in Jamestown, or Mountain Pass, and at the end of a year began to team at Skulls Flats, and also engaged in building and mining. This venture proved unsuccessful, and in the fall of 1859 he settled on his present ranch of one hundred acres, which was pre-empted from the govern- ment for $1.25 an acre, and is mostly hill land. In politics Mr. Gilkey was a Democrat until the organization of the Republican party in 1855. since which time he has been a stanch npholder of the latter's principles and issues. He has served as horticultural commissioner for the district for eight years. For eighteen years he has been principal correspondent for the de- partment of agriculture, and he is a correspon- dent for the Orange Judd Farmer. For twenty years he was a member of the Grange.
November 2, 1844. Mr. Gilkey married Mary Dayton, and the same day cast his presidential vote for James K. Polk. Mrs. Gilkey is a native of New York state, and was born July 21, 1826. When eleven years of age she removed with the rest of her family to Detroit, Mich., and after- ward to Birmingham, same state. She is the mother of nine children, four of whom died young. Jerome B. lives in San José, Cal .; Rosie
D. is the wife of T. J. Clapp; Caleb B. is a car- penter and rancher of Parkfield; William J. is a farmer and teamster of Watsonville; and Mary R. died at the age of twenty-three years. Al- though one of the oldest residents of his lo- cality, Mr. Gilkey is a remarkably well preserved man, and the only real grievance that reminds him of the passing of years is rheumatism in one of his legs. He is the living representative of seven generations, that he himself has seen. He and his wife are full of life and spirits, and of them it may be said that they have grown old gracefully, and have seen the happy as well as dark side of life.
FRANK E. GAUSE.
Various industries engage the attention of the residents of Monterey county, but there are comparatively few who follow the occupation of bee-raising, which is being successfully pursued by Mr. Gause on his ranch, three and one-half miles northeast of Jolon. Through a long ex- perience in the bee business he has gained an accurate knowledge of all its details and is con- sidered one of the authorities of Monterey county in everything bearing upon the subject of apiaries.
In Richmond, Ind., Mr. Gause was born Sep- tember 1, 1862. At nine years of age he accom- 1 anied his parents to Iowa and settled on a farm near West Liberty. For several subsequent years he attended the public schools of West Liberty, after which he carried on his studies in the college at Iowa City. On leaving school he traveled through the south and west, with a view to settling in some favorable location. In 1888 he came to Monterey county and pre-emp- ted one hundred and sixty acres as a homestead claim. To this tract he has since added and now owns two hundred acres. In 1896 he entered the bee industry, with which his name is now closely associated. Since then he has had his share of reverses, but he has not allowed these to discourage him. During the dry year, 1898. he lost ninety-three out of one hundred colo- nies, which was certainly a discouraging expe- rience. However, in spite of these and other drawbacks, he has persistently pushed forward
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in the work, and now has one hundred and fifty colonies. these resulting from seven swarms of wild bees secured in the mountains. Besides his bee industry, he is the owner of ten acres in a fine orchard of peaches, apples, prunes and al- monds, the care of which requires considerable time on his part.
The marriage of Mr. Gause occurred Feb- ruary 5. 1902, and united him with Mattie B. Starr, of Salinas, a successful schoolteacher and popular young lady. In fraternal relations Mr. Gause is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in politics is a supporter of Republican principles.
WILBER M. GARDNER.
The junior member of the law firm of Martin & Gardner, of Santa Cruz, was born near Elgin. Ill., March 22, 1861, and is a son of Alexander and Eliza (Bacon) Gardner. The advantages of- fered by public schools were supplemented by a course of study in Elgin Academy. When a young man he secured a clerkship in Hamp- shire, Ill., and remained in that town until forced to resign his position on account of con- stant trouble with rheumatism. Acting upon the advice of his physician, he determined to seek relief in the genial climate of California. During 1882 he came to San Francisco and later spent a short time in Stockton, where within three weeks his weight had increased from one hundred and twenty-seven to one hun- dred and forty-two pounds.
Employment in the harvest fields of Butte county was followed by work as a sewing ma- chine agent, but while thus engaged Mr. Gard- ner suffered a relapse and in the spring of 1883 came to Santa Cruz. For two years he was in a serious condition and practically an invalid. Had the climate been less healthful he would have succumbed to the disease, but it supple- mented medical assistance and eventually he re- gained his health. He then took up the study of shorthand and became principal in the short- hand department of Chestnutwoods Business College. Going to Los Angeles in 1887. he found employment as stenographer, and for two years was with the San Pedro Lumber Com-
pany in that capacity. On his return to Santa Cruz in 1880 he opened a school of shorthand and at the same time took up the study of law. In 1891 the Republicans elected him justice of the peace, which position he filled for eight years. Meantime, in 1898, he was admitted to the bar and the following year embarked in the practice of law, which he has since conducted at Santa Cruz. Fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias and Rathbone Sisters, and in religions views he is liberal. September 8, 1890, he married Miss Mamie E. Norriss, daughter of James A. Norriss, formerly of Lon- don, England, later of Monterey county, Cal. They have two daughters, Cymbeline and Cle- onice.
NOAH HILDEBRANT.
A transplanted southerner who has success- fully manipulated his chances in San Miguel is N. Hildebrant, owner and proprietor of a large soda water manufactory and agent for the Union Ice Company. He was born in Carroll county, Mld., December 29, 1839, and is a son of Jacob and Nancy (Vance) Hildebrant, natives also of Maryland. When a young man Jacob Hilde- brant removed from Maryland to Virginia, and at different times owned land in Illinois, Mis- souri and other middle western states, eventu- ally settling in Cass county, Mo., where he died at the advanced age of ninety-two years. Of the three sons and five daughters born to his mar- riage all are living, of whom N. Hildebrant is the third.
Owing to his father's migratory disposition, the early life of Mr. Hildebrant was somewhat unsettled, but he nevertheless managed to ac- quire a practical education in the public schools of the states in which the family lived. Up to 1859 he assisted his father with the care and management of the farms, and during that year branched ont into an independent farming expe- rience with more or less satisfactory results. In 1862 he engaged in the soda manufacturing business in Boonville, Mo., and in 1883 located at Gilroy, Cal., where he continued his former occupation until transferring his business inter- ests to San Miguel in 1883. Since then he has
John Killefaucher
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been an interested and active participator in the events of his adopted town, and has acquired a reputation for business judgment and unques- tioned integrity. He is the owner of a residence as well as his business plant, the latter of which is valued at $10,000, and brings in a yearly profit of about $5,000. Mr. Hildebrant is also agent for the John Wieland firm of brewers, as well as the California Bottling Company of San Francisco. He ships large quantities of goods all over this part of the state, and is one of the most active in the line in California. As a Re- publican of the true blue order he has promoted the interests of his friends, but has himself never desired or worked for public office.
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