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 69
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100
J. D. ESTY.
The agricultural resources of Santa Cruz county have brought a competence to Mr. Esty, who owns a finely cultivated ranch of thirty-four acres near Soquel. He was born in New Bruns- wick, July 28, 1849, and is a son of J. B. and Sarah (Kitchen) Esty, the former of whom was a lawyer and farmer, and died in 1883. Of the children born to these parents seven are living, and besides J. D. there are George, Manda, Sherman, Harriet, Eliza and Alwilda.
Until his eighteenth year Mr. Esty lived on the home farm, but his growing ambitions were not content with the limitations by which lie was surrounded. For three years he tried his luck in the city of Boston, Mass., and there- after spent some time in Maine, in which state he followed the trades of carpenter and black- smith. In 1880 he came to California and lo- cated on his present farm, one mile east of So- quel, where he has since engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Mr. Esty is a large and commanding man, well posted on current events. A stanch supporter of the Republican party, he is one of the best known politicians in his neighborhood, and, in addition to filling a term of six years as supervisor, has held various other offices within the gift of his fellow-citi-
zens. Fraternally he is identified with the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
In September, 1875, Mr. Esty was married to Cora L. Lurano, who was born in Maine in 1857, and of their marriage there are two chil- dren, Lee B. and Seward.
WILLIAM HENRY ELY.
Something of the steadfast determination of the Revolutionary heroes appears in this pioneer of Santa Cruz, and his career is not unlike what might be predicted of one whose grandfather was a soldier at Bunker Hill. James Ely, the father of William Henry, and a son of that John Ely who served on the above historic field, com- bined the occupations of farmer, miller and butcher, and, with his wife, Fannie (nee Hunt), dwelt at Rome, Oneida county, N. Y., where their son, William Henry, was born September 21, 1828. The mother died when her boy was seven years of age, and subsequently the father married Rebecca Knox, by whom he had two sons. In 1842 he removed to Kendall county, Ill., but soon afterward had the misfortune to contract a cold while hunting deer (then plenti- ful in the Prairie state). Erysipelas resulted, causing his death when his son was a lad of fourteen.
An uncle in Buffalo, N. Y., took charge of the orphan boy, who took up the trade of a machin- ist. On completing the same, he returned to Illinois, where for three years he worked in a woolen factory at Joliet. From the small salary of $30 a month his wages were gradually raised to just twice that amount, and people spoke of him as a promising young man. Although al- ways contented, whatever his lot, the active dis- position and native mother wit which later en- abled him to accumulate a fortune prompted him to seek the new country of California, and its golden fields, rumors of which had at that time reached him. With a companion of his own age, he started west March 27. 1849. On this journey through a country of hard travel, they found further trials from the danger of attacks from Indians and thievish white men, both more numerous than congenial. At last, after having buffeted with snow and rain, heat
489
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
and cold, they took up winter quarters on the upper Missouri, minus money and minus most of the other comfortable things of life.
The young traveler's efforts were favored with a measure of success. as is usually the case when one is determined and resolute. Borrow- ing $20 from a friendly well-wisher, he bought corn in the country and sold this at an advance of $10 to emigrants passing through, continu- ing in this way until he had acquired $75. With this money he bought an outfit and provisions of the simplest sort. May 2, 1850, he took up the line of march once more, with the watch- word, "California or die." Passing over swollen streams and tracts of country from which the grass was so burned that the horses could make but scant meals, they reached Fort Kearney, where they found a store. Only things impera- tively needed were hought, and for those a high price was paid. Thence they pushed on to the west, arriving at Hangtown July 27, of the same year. They were wearv and footsore from walk- ing much of the way, ragged and shoeless, but the strong constitution and stanch will pre- vailed, and the persistent spirit of the young travelers shone as undaunted as ever.
Meeting an acquaintance of the year before. Mr. Ely accepted an invitation to take dinner with this friend, and then shouldered his blanket and rifle, and walked to Georgetown, where he secured work with Squire Lee at $200 a month. As soon as he had earned money with which to buy necessary provisions, etc., he started for the north fork of the Yuba, where gold was said to be plentiful. Instead of arriving at the desired destination, he became lost in the mountains and wandered for forty-eight hours without food, sleeping on the rocks around which moun- tain lions and Indians roamed. Finally he reached a town and after a time arrived at the gold fields, but when he was successful in strik- ing gold at Downieville, the coming of a freshet washed away all of his gold and possessions. In December of 1851 he left Downieville with $2,550 and crossed the Goodrich mountains (where the snow was four feet deep); he even- tually reached Marysville and from there went to the Green valley in Sonoma county. From there he went to Tulare county, participating in
the Indian war, and remaining nine years. From there he came to Santa Cruz. His next venture was raising potatoes, but after having fifteen thousand bushels ready for the market the pricc dropped and they could not be sold at any amount. Yet the same strong spirit which has done so much to build up the city of Santa Cruz. and which now enables him. at the age of sev- enty-four, to keep hale and hearty and conduct large interests, was then his. He began cattle- raising, on the shares. with Capt. John R. Cooper, of Monterey, and thus succeeded in get- ting a start. In a few years he found he had acquired enough money to permit him to in- dulge in a trip to the east. The voyage was made to New York, where he took the overland route to Cleveland, Ohio. There, February 6. 1857, he married Mary Catherine, daughter of Moses and Mary Ann Arner, and a native of Cuyahoga county, Ohio. Their wedding trip was a journey to the far west, where they still ahide, the bride of that day becoming the truly noble woman, the loving wife and mother, and the center of a large circle of enduring friends.
After engaging in the cattle business until 1869, Mr. Ely settled in Santa Cruz and em- barked in merchandising. In 1883 he built a house and a mill adjoining, on Front street, where he conducted business until October 14, 1001. He is the sole owner of the East Santa Cruz Street Railway, which he built from East Santa Cruz to Upper Plaza. In 1875 he erected a three-story block where the courthouse now stands. Later he sold the lot for $15,000 and moved the building to Front street, where it now stands. Sunnyside ranch, which he also owns and has improved, comprises ninety acres on Mission street. In politics he is a Democrat. Though he has served the city as councilman, he has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote himself to business pursuits. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the lodge and encampment of Odd Fellows, and in religions views is liberal.
Mention must be made of the children, all honored members of society, whom Mr. and Mrs. Ely have reared: One of the family. James Wesley died in boyhood, but the others were spared to maturity. The oldest son, Frank Wil-
490
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
liam, who le a mereil at of San Francisco, mar- ried Enuna Smith, and has two daughters, Mabel and Vivian. Viola A. is the wife of Tru- man Thayer, by whom she has three sons, Homer W., Oscar and Truvin W. Mendora C., Mrs. A. L. Wright, has three children, Howard A., Beulah B. and Minnie B. Lula O., Mrs. B. J. Lloyd, deceased, was the mother of six chil- dren, Olive K., Myrtle B., Arthur W., Pearl M., Lewis C. and Leslie L. George Henry married Sadie Ross and has four children, Ruby K., Fay, William R. and George F. Pearl May is the wife of Edmund Dias and has four children, Edmund J., Edith, Ethel and Pearl A. All of the children have gone into homes of their own excepting Nellie May, who remains with her parents and affectionately ministers to their comfort in the twilight of their life.
OZRO M. ELLIS.
That merchants form the backbone of the community is in no wise disproved by the enter- prising career of Ozro M. Ellis, whose general store in Soquel is regarded as one of the land- marks of the town, and which has been supply- ing the residents of the village and county with necessary commodities with uninterrupted dili- gence ever since 1887.
Mr. Ellis is one of the foremost among the sons of Maine who found their greatest field of usefulness in this county, and he was born May 20), 1838. His father, Isaac F. Ellis, was a farmer during his active life, and through his marriage with Susan S. Powers, also a native of Maine, reared to years of usefulness and matur- my several children, of whom the following are Tuing: Eva E., Lottie P., Lucy E., Edwin W., Osceola, Eunice and Ozro M.
On the little home farm in Maine Ozro M. Ellis lived until his twenty eighth year, after which he engaged in the merchandise business in Fort Fairfield. Me., for sixteen years. He came to California in 1882 and located on a ranch of sixty acres near Soquel, where he farmed and raised stock with fair success until 1887. For the first years of his association with mercantile affairs in Soquel he carried a com- plete line of hardware, but in 1805 devoted his
stock entirely to general merchandise, under the firm name of O. M. Ellis Company.
The marriage of Mr. Ellis and E. A. Barnes occurred in 1869, and the two children of the family are Leslie L. and Bessie, the former of whom is with his father in the store, while the latter is the wife of Clarence E. Mason. Mr. Ellis is a Republican and an Odd Fellow, and he is deservedly popular and widely known in the county. Possessing shrewd business sense and a pronouneed desire to please his many cus- tomers, lie is also discerning in the selection of his stock, and manages to fill the all around wants of his patrons.
JOSEPH D. ENRIGHT.
One of the foremost dairymen of Santa Cruz county, and also one of the best known citizens in his neighborhood, Mr. Enright has a ranch of one thousand acres eight miles west of Santa Cruz. upon which is conducted a dairy un- equalled for neatness and thrift. From 55,000 to 65,000 pounds of cheese are manufactured yearly, and a general farming industry main- tained that yields its enterprising owner a hand- some additional income. A prominent Republi- can, Mr. Enright has taken an active part in the political undertakings of his locality, and has served as supervisor from 1804 to 1808. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, and has been a member of the Santa Cruz band for the past twenty years.
A native son of California, the boyhood days of Mr. Enright were spent on his father's farin in Santa Clara county, where he was born De- cember 7, 1867, and where he received his pre- liminary education in the public schools. James Enright, who was born in Ireland, emigrated from his native city of Cork to the United States, and in 1846 crossed the plains, settling in Santa Clara county. He was a prosperous farmer in the country of his adoption, and lived on his well improved property until his death in 1804. Ile was a Democrat in politics, and a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church. To himself and wife, Margaret (Duncan) En- right, were born eleven children, of whom the following are living: Mary A., Mrs. Robinson;
191
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Frances, Mrs. Murphy; Margaret, Mrs. Mc- Comb; Ellen, a sister of the order of St. Domi- nic: James E .; Joseph D .; John B .; and Mary L.
Mr. Enright received his education in the public schools of Santa Clara College, and be- came an excellent farmer under his father's able instruction. He became identified with Santa Cruz county in 1892, and his present success would indicate that he had found a satisfactory permanent place of residence. His wife, Anna (Inkeep) Enright, is a native of Santa Cruz, and was born in 1868. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Enright, James and Merle.
WILLIAM WALLACE CLARK.
The appointment as chief of police of Santa Cruz, which was tendered Mr. Clark May 5. 1902, on the expiration of the term of Mathew Rawley, did not bring him into work that was unfamiliar to him, as he had served a previous term of two years in the office, having been ap- pointed May 15, 1886, to succeed Joseph W. Scott. His experience as deputy sheriff, which position he held in addition to that of deputy assessor, also proved helpful to him in bringing him into acquaintance with the duties of the more important office. His belief in Republi- can principles has never narrowed into partisan- slip, and in the discharge of his duties no politi- cal motive is ever allowed to enter.
In Bureau county, Ill., Mr. Clark was born February 17, 1858, being a son of William Wal- lace and Harriet M. (Drew) Clark. His father, who was born in Danville, Caledonia county, \'t., in 1825, was a son of James Clark by his union with Mrs. Lucretia (Foss) Howard. In his native town, in 1847, W. W. Clark, Sr .. mar- ried a daughter of John and Eliza (Crow) Drew. Her grandfather, John Crow, was the first white man to settle in Buffalo, N. Y., where he estab- lished his home about 1800. Going to that city as a school teacher, John Drew eventually be- came principal of the schools of that city, and there met Miss Crow, a native of that city. She died at thirty-seven years, and many years later he passed away in St. Louis, when seventy years old. Their daughter, Harriet M., began to teach
school at fifteen and continued in the occupation until her marriage.
As early as 1853 W. W. Clark, Sr., came to California via the isthmus and remained eight months. Both on the outgoing and returning voyage he experienced the dangers of shipwreck and the suffering incident to the Panama fever. On his return cast he settled in Bureau county, Ill .. where he helped to put up many buildings and held various offices. The success of his un- dertakings enabled him to acquire a valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which he later sold and moved to Kewanee, and there for a year engaged in shipping cattle and hogs. His next location was in Grinnell, Iowa, near which city he bought three hundred and thirty-three acres of wild land, the bringing of which to a high state of cultivation required his close at- tention for many years. On the farm he erected a residence that cost $2,000. Other substantial buildings were also erected. All through his work he made his motto, "The best crop and the best cattle." The farm was so highly culti- vated that its appearance and financial returns charmed Horace Greeley to such an extent when on his western tour that he returned to the cast and gave out the famous advice, "Go west."
In spite of his successes in Iowa Mr. Clark never forgot the few months he had spent in California, and in the spring of 1874 he again came to the coast, where he and his family vis- ited friends and made a tour of inspection. Of all the places he visited none impressed him so favorably as did Santa Cruz, and accordingly he settled here. About the first work he secured was that of building bridges at $3.50 a day. after which he began contracting for bridge buikling. Next he turned his attention to the dairy business, at first renting a ranch and atter two years purchasing the property. Later he spent a year on the More ranch, and then re sumed contracting and also did some building for himself. His last years were spent in renfe- ment and he died in 1808. Il was a mjn w charitable disposition, an carnet Chr sit, a believer in the best educational facilities and for some years a trustee of schools. This Link there were the following children. Melde >. who ched at five and one half years; fames. the
!
492
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lives at Stockton, Cal .: William W., Jr., of Santa Cruz: Mary C., deceased; John F., who is en- gaged in the drug business at Stockton; Gene- vieve, deceased; Charles P., a jeweler, who mar- ried Harriet E. Bennett: Minnie C., deceased: Warren S., of Tulare; and Carlton B., deceased. Besides rearing their large family of children and fitting them for positions of honor, Mr. and Mrs. Clark adopted several orphans for whom! they cared until old enough to fight life's battles alone. One of these, Elbert W., is a leading physician of Grinnell. Iowa, and has officiated as mayor of that city, and also as a trustee of Towa College.
William W. Clark, Jr., as a boy was interested in farm work and he proved a capable assistant to his father, both in Iowa and California. After coming to Santa Cruz he was engaged in the transfer and express business, continuing the same until he was appointed chief of police and later was appointed deputy sheriff and deputy assessor. He has not married, but makes his home with his mother, whose declining years his thoughtful attention renders pleasant and happy. In religions views he is of the Congre- gational faith and contributes to the mainte- nance of that organization in Santa Cruz.
GEORGE BUTLER.
To George Butler belongs the unique distinc- tion of being the most extensive cucumber grower and shipper in the state of California. On his well developed ranch, just west of Santa Cruz, this succulent vegetable grows in its greatest luxuriance, and the greenhouses, meas- uring 800x600 feet, and covered with seven thousand feet of glass, send forth shoots which in time yield a weekly average of from one hun- dred to one hundred and fifty dozen. The San Francisco market is not only supplied to a large extent, but Boston, New York, Philadelphia. Chicago, Salt Lake City and Portland, receive large consignments during the entire year. In addition, Mr. Butler is devoted to floriculture. and his grounds and hot beds contain the rarest examples of flowers to be found in any country. He is a past master on the subject of these two
industries, as well as a successful and scientific general agriculturist.
A native of Sussex, England, Mr. Butler was born January 19, 1850, a son of Abraham and Lucy (Almond) Butler, the latter of whom was a descendant of the Archbishop of York, who figured so prominently in English history at the beginning of the fifteenth century. Abraham Butler was also a native of Sussex, and in his younger and middle life was extensively en- gaged in fruit raising. At present he is retired from active business life, and, at the age of eighty-eight years, is enjoying the competence acquired by his industry. All the children born to Abraham and Lucy Butler are living, George being the only one in America. Their names are Lucy, William A., Thomas, George and Clara.
Previous to coming to America in 1890, Mr. Butler acquired a common school education in Sussex, supplemented by a business education covering one year. He was married in 1876 to Eliza Smith, who was born in London, England, and who is the mother of one child, George P. Mr. Butler landed in Canada from Europe, and after a short sojourn in Halifax, came direct to California, locating in the Sacramento valley. Here he farmed and raised fruit with consider- able success for ten years, locating on his pres- ent place near Santa Cruz in 1900. He is very industrious, has a thorough understanding of his chosen occupations, and is possessed of per- sonal attributes which win friends and increase trade
JAMES A. BROWN.
James A. Brown, a retired and honored citi- zen of Boulder Creek, Santa Cruz county, was born in the state of Rhode Island, March 16, 1828, a son of Zoeth Brown, who, in his young manhood, married a Miss Aldrich. To the par- ents were born four children: Wilbur K .; Rhoda, now Mrs. Smith; Zoeth; and James A. Zoeth Brown was a drayman in Providence, R. I., and did so large a business that he was obliged to employ fifteen men
Equipped with a common school education and some practical business experience, James
James Haters .
495
HHISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
A. Brown came to California in 1851, by way of Central America, landing in San Francisco. where he engaged in the draying business until 1804. In the latter year he came to Boulder Creek, where he has since lived retired, and where he owns a comfortable home and a small orchard. He has also invested money in other town and county property, and is one of the well-to-do men of the community.
In Rhode Island, in 1849, Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Frances F. Stone, a na- tive of Massachusetts. They became the parents of nine children: Charles, deceased; Mary; Emma; Julia; Sarah; Henry; Albert, deceased: Frank, and Lillian. Mr. Brown is a Republican in politics, but has never allied himself with office seekers. Fraternally he is associated with the Masons. He is much respected by all who know him, and has many friends in his adopted town.
JAMES WATERS.
Throughout the entire Pajaro valley no name is more familiar to the people than that of Mr. Waters, who as an early settler of Watson- ville and as a pioneer in the apple and straw- berry industry has established a reputation both enviable and merited. He is a descendant of a colonial family of Maryland, his great-great- grandfather receiving from Lord Baltimore a grant of land that is still in the possession of the family. His father, Joseph Waters, was born on this old homestead, and from there moved to Baltimore, where he followed the carpenter's trade. The wife and mother, who was Elizabeth Jane Ayres, descended from Scotch forefathers, and died in young womanhood, leaving a son, James, and a daughter who died at seven years of age.
In Somerset county, Md., James Waters was born October 18. 1828, and as a boy attended the public schools of Baltimore. During vaca- tion months he learned the carpenter's trade under his father. In June, 1849, he embarked on the brig, Osprey, for California via Cape Ilorn, and after a long and tedious voyage ar- rived in San Francisco February 1. 1850. The first employment he secured netted him St an
hour. After a year in the city, during the spring of 1851 he went to the mines on the south fork of the American river, and later followed mining in other parts of the state with fair success. However, he soon tired of the uncertainty and hardships of a miner's life and returned to his trade in San Francisco. His first misfortune came to him with the failure, in 1855, of the banking house of Page, Bacon & Co., where all of his savings were deposited. This Ieft him nothing but a claim on the bank, which he sold for $500 and then came to Santa Cruz. For a time he had charge of Major Hensley's saw mills, located on the present site of the powder mills. In 1857, in connection with Thomas Beck, he began contracting and build- ing in Santa Cruz. A contract to rebuild the Catholic church and parsonage brought him to the Pajaro valley in 1859, and at once he was favorably impressed with the surroundings and prospects afforded settlers in this fair spot.
Close investigation deepened the first favor- able impressions, and in 1860 Mr. Waters bought his present homestead in Watsonville and embarked in the nursery business, which he has since successfully conducted. For a time he continued as a contractor and builder, working as such in Watsonville and also throughout Monterey county, but finally the demands of the nursery business grew so great that he found it profitable to devote to it his entire attention. In 1860 he bought forty acres and set out over two thousand apple trees. These were doing well when in 1862 an over- flow of the river washed them away, not even one tree being left in the large orchard. The failure of this enterprise discouraged him and he sold the place. However, he still cherished a belief in apples as a profitable industry for the valley, and after a time he determined to make another effort. In 1867, in company with J. A. Blackburn, he set out five acres to nursery stock, the two continuing together until 1873. when Mr. Waters purchased his partner's inter est. Some time later he bought twenty seven acres from Captain Sudden and moved the nur series to that tract, on the corner of Sudden and Fourth streets, Watsonville. A short time after ward he purchased fifty acres adjoining the
28
196
IHISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Sudden tragt, which he put out to strawberries. After about eight years he planted the fifty acres to orchard and it is now under cultivation to apples. Finding twenty-seven acres not suffi- cient for his nursery demands, he purchased fifty-two acres near the Pajaro depot, Monterey county, and moved his plant there. Since then he has purchased enough more land to increase the whole to eighty acres. The enterprise is known as the Pajaro valley nurseries. The pres- ent popular variety of strawberry, now so universally grown, was originated by Mr. Waters and named "Linda" in honor of his wife. From his nursery have come nearly all the trees in this and adjoining counties. It has been his ambition to propagate only the finest grades of fruit, and as a result of his caution in this respect there are today thousands of acres of fine bearing trees which make Pajaro valley fruits command the highest prices in the market. Besides shipments to San Diego and other California points, fruit trees are shipped by Mr. Waters to Oregon and even to Australia. About 1875 he sent east and purchased a few strawberries of the Cinderella variety, the total planted covering about five acres. He shipped the first strawberries from Watsonville to San Francisco. Finding the venture a success he began to sell plants and since then has sup- plied many hundred acres of various kinds of strawberries. It is estimated that there are six hundred acres in the valley at this writing. Be- sides the fruit shipped from the valley many tons are dried here every year by Thomas Beck, the successful evaporator.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.