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 78
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The marriage of Mr. Bennett and Dove Mc- Cubbin occurred in Fresno county, Mrs. Ben- nett being a native of Hancock county, Ill., a daughter of Thomas B. McCubbin, at present living a retired life in Illinois. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, of whom Clifford, the oldest, is eleven years old, while Lorina died at the age of three months. Mr. Bennett has many interests aside from his regu- lar business, and as a relaxation from business cares may go to his farm of eighty acres, or his farm of three hundred and sixty acres, where are raised grain and fruit. He is interested in
the Citizens Bank of Paso Robles, of which he is vice-president, and he owns business and residence property aside from that in which his store is located. His residence, located on the corner of Spring and Seventeenth street, is a pleasant and commodious one, and his home is the center of extended hospitality and good fellowship.
WILLIAM CASEY.
In agriculture, which Mr. Casey is making his occupation in life, he is meeting with a fair degree of success and at the same time is pro- moting the general development of Monterey county through his energetic application and intelligent efforts. Since he came to his pres- ent ranch near San Lucas he has worked inde- fatigably and with gratifying results, and at this writing cultivates about twelve hundred acres of land, most of which is utilized in the raising of grain. A feature of his farm is the raising of stock, his specialty being cattle and horses of good grades. Thirteen hundred and sixty acres of land are used for grazing pur- poses, thus affording ample pasturage for his herds.
The fact that Mr. Casey is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West indicates that he is a native Californian. He was born in Cas- troville, Monterey county, March 2, 1863, and at six years of age accompanied his father, Jere- miah Casey, to Long Valley, where he grew to manhood and received common-school advan- tages. On selecting an occupation he chose that of agriculture and has since devoted his attention to the same. In 1890 he removed from Long Valley to San Ardo, Monterey county. and for three years made his home on a ranch there, after which he settled on the property where he now resides. In 1800 he was united in marriage with Miss Katie Hoalton, by whom he has four children, Ada. Mary, William and Henry. The family are connected with the Ro- man Catholic Church of San Ardo, and con- tribute to its maintenance, as well as to chari- ties under its control and supervision. The success which Mr. Casey has already attained is a hopeful indication of future prospects. for
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le is stilllos caming onan, with life and its oppor- tunities before frem, and there is little doubt Woit his energy, perseverance and sagacity will Vring Tim affair measure of success.
J. Q. BUFFINGTON.
If entire life of Mr. Buffington has been jen in California, and since 1870 his home Ihre been in San Luis Obispo county. His father, Abram C. Buffington, a pioneer of 1849. now living in Los Angeles, has been identified with the progress of the state during the past half century and has witnessed its remarkable development from a rough mining region to one of the foremost states of the Union. While the family were making their home in Nevada county, Cal., the subject of this sketch was born in 1850, and he was reared in that and Marin counties, receiving his education in district schools. In early manhood he bought land from James Cass on Little Cayucos creek and established a dairy. At a later date he added to his property until his possessions finally ag- gregated four hundred and eighty acres, the larger part of which was used for the pasturage of his stock. In his herd he had sixty milch cows and forty head of young animals. The Stock was of the best Jersey strains.
To the acquisitions of land he had previously made, Mr. Buffington added in 1890 by the pur- chase of the Knuckalls farm of two hundred and ·eventy-six acres, lying on Old creek, and ad- joining his other land. This gave him a total wereage of seven hundred and fifty-six. Since 1800 he has resided on the Knuckalls place, where he has built a good house, substantial lairy buildings and barn. An orchard of bear- mg trees adds to the value of the property and contributes to the transformation of the place into one of the ideal country homes of San Luis Obispo county. At this writing he farms one hundred acres and has a dairy of forty cows.
When the life of Mr. Buffington is viewed from the standpoint of a citizen, we find him to be a man desirous of discharging every duty in owes his community. While he is a worker in the interests of the Republican party, he has out sought office for himself, nor has he cared
for prominence in local affairs. By his contribu- tions of money he assisted in building the tele- graph line from San Luis Obispo to Cayucos. His service as a trustee of Central school dis- trict proved helpful to the best interests of the district from an educational standpoint. In 1881 he was one of the ten charter members of the Presbyterian Church of Cayucos, in which he has since officiated as a ruling elder and is now superintendent of the Sunday school. If there is anything for which Mr. Buffington may be said to stand especially as a citizen, it is for good churches and good schools. He believes the prosperity of our nation is depend- ent upon these two forces, and that they should therefore be guarded and fostered by all who love their country. Another principle for which he labors and of which he is an earnest cham- pion is the temperance cause. For many years he was chaplain of the lodge of Good Templars · at Cayucos, and in other ways he has promoted prohibition principles. In 1870 he married Miss Mary Cook, a sister of Mrs. Neil Stewart, of San Luis Obispo county. They became the parents of nine children, six of whom are living. namely: Arthur W., Alexander C., Abram S .. Marietta, Elizabeth J. and Grace H. Those deceased are Mary E., William A. and James Q).
M. H. BROOKS.
With the laudable object of improving the educational opportunities of his sons, Mr. Brooks has moved into town, and is at present living a retired life in Paso Robles. All of his active life has been spent on a farm, and he has not entirely abandoned the idea of ending his days on the broad expanse of his well-improved farm of three hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of this town. He is a westerner by birth, having been born in Linn county, Ore .. May 30, 1855, in which county he received such education as his arduous home duties per- mitted. llis father, Joshua Brooks, was a man of considerable ambition, and in order to find the best possible place to conduct his farming enterprises moved around the country more than do most men thus employed. He was born
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in Huron county, Ohio, and from there removed to Jowa, later taking up his residence in Texas, which large and resourceful state was his home for ten years. In 1850 he crossed the plains to Linn county, Ore., where he farmed with average success, and in 1881 came to San Luis Obispo county from Colusa county, and set- tled near Paso Robles, where he died in 1800, at the age of seventy years. He was a devout member of the Baptist Church, and after his removal to California was ordained as a min- ister in that denomination, and from that time till his death was active in that work. His wife. Mary (Hackley) Brooks, was born in Indiana, a daughter of George Hackley. The latter was also somewhat of a migrator, removing from Kentucky to Indiana, and from there to Ore- gon in 1852, going by way of ox-teams in a train of emigrants.
M. H. Brooks is the oldest of four daugh- ters and three sons born to his parents. He was reared to farming and to the assumption of early responsibility. In 1860 he came to Sutter county, Cal., with his parents, settling on rented land until 1881. He then came to the vicinity of what is now Paso Robles, but which then had no suspicion of a town, and bought three hundred and twenty acres of land, and raised thereon wheat and grain. His years of toil have resulted in a goodly share of worldly possessions, some of which consist of stock in the Bank of Paso Robles and in the Farmers' Alliance, a business association in this city, of which he is a director. He is fraternally associ- ated with the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order, and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Politically a Democrat, he has chosen rather to devote his energies to the per- haps slow but sure methods of farming in pref- erence to the uncertainties and annoyances of political office.
To the common sense and helpful attributes of his wife Mr. Brooks correctly attributes a goodly share of his success in life, for Mrs. Brooks is a woman of whom her family and friends are indeed proud. She was one of the children born to John Sawyer, a West Virginia blacksmith, and in her youth was christened Virginia E. In 1885 Mr. Sawyer removed from
the oil fields of Volcano, W. Va., settling near Paso Robles, where his death occurred in 1900, at the age of seventy-nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have been born two bright and interesting sons, John Clinton and Charles El- bert, aged respectively twelve and ten years. Their parents approve of a thorough education for the boys, and are prepared to give them every advantage within their power.
JOHN H. BRAY.
An English-American who has impressed his worth upon the community of Long Valley, Monterey county, is John HI. Bray, the owner of many acres of land, and the promoter of the general prosperity of this part of the county. He was born in Cornwall, England, August 27, 1851, and when nineteen years of age left the paternal farm and embarked for the more pro- lific chances to be found in America. He lived for a time in New Jersey, and then tried his luck for a couple of years in Michigan. The further west he went the better he liked it, so in 1873 he decided to go way to the coast. For seven years he worked in the New Idria mines of San Benito county, Cal .. then spent a year on the farm where he now lives. Still intent upon making his fortune in mining, he went to Nevada, but after three years of experimenting decided that after all the life agricultural had its compensations and particular benefits, so re- turned to his former home on the farm. This was in 1885, and he has since been a part of the progressive farming district which has yickled him more than expected returns.
The farm of Mr. Bray consists of seven hun- dred and twenty acres, one hundred and sixty acres of which are comprised in the home prop erty. The watering facilities are excellent, and the owner is engaged in general farming, and makes a specialty of cattle, hogs and chickens. Mr. Bray is a Republican in politics, and has been deputy assessor four years, and road com missioner for several years. lle is fraternally connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is a charter member and one of the organizers of the Knights of Pythias in Monte- rey county, in which organization he has been
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representative wythe grand lodge, being the first to fill that oportant position.
The Wihr of Mr. Bray was formerly Nellie Smith. of England, and who died in California March 28, 1801, in her forty-fifth year. Mrs. Bray was the mother of four children, viz .: Bes- ale. John, Albert and Nellie N. Mr. Bray is a practical farmer and good business man, and his common sense ideas on public questions are ap- preciated and considered.
WILLIAM A. BAKER.
The ambitious nature of William A. Baker has found an outlet in many lands and in many occupations, and the fact that to-day he is an agriculturist in the Jolon district, one of the fertile spots of Monterey county, is but another proof of the universal appreciation of the solace and peace offered by mother nature to the world-worn sons of men.
From a father who was a ship carpenter Mr. Baker acquired early notions of life on the rag- ing main, and when ten years of age set out as a cabin boy on the bark H. Snow. While still very young he visited for long periods Italy, Spain and other countries on the way to the Orient, taking on loads principally at the ports of Hong Kong and Shanghai, and delivering them in England. After a few years of season- ing he became an accomplished tar, and familiar with all things of a nautical nature. He was then engaged with his father in the ship build- ing yards in Maine, and under the able instruc- tion of his sire became familiar with the con- struction as well as management of ocean craft. For the following years he was a carpenter aboard different vessels, and with the breaking out of the Civil war left his ship in New York City and enlisted in the battalion of engineers, Company K, and served until the close of the war as a carpenter and repair man. The war ended, he settled in Whitestone, N. Y., and fol- lowed the carpenter's trade until 1866.
In the spring of 1866 Mr. Baker started over- land to Fort Bridge, and during the winter camped in the vicinity and herded stock. In the pring of 1867 he renewed his journey west, ar- making in due time at Los Angeles, from where
he went to Wilmington, and for a year managed the old National Hotel, the only one in the place. He then went to Eureka for the winter, and in the spring to Stockton, where he worked in a wagon shop for a couple of years. From 1881 until 1886 he acted in the capacity of bridge foreman for the Southern Pacific Rail- road Company at Chico, Butte county, Cal., and in the latter part of 1886 came to Monterey county and bought eighty acres of his present ranch in the Jolon district. At the end of four years he added to his possession forty acres. and in 1800 leased the ranch and went to Pa- lermo as bridge foreman, remaining until 1896. In the meantime he had bought an addition to his ranch, of one hundred and sixty acres ad- joining, and since quitting the railroad business has lived and prospered in his country home. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres, devoted principally to wheat, and to the culti- vation of a small orchard.
July 30, 1871, Mr. Baker married Susan J. Crooker, who was born near Bath, Me., April 18, 1843, and who came to California with her father in 1850. They located in Marin county, where Mrs. Baker lived until her marriage. Of this union there has been born one daughter. Ida, the wife of Ira Young. Mr. Baker is a Republican, but all his political labors are in the interest of friends, as he himself cares noth- ing for office. Fraternally he is connected with the Oreville Lodge No. 103, F. & A. M.
ABRAHAM COSTELLO.
Through his connection with various official positions Mr. Costello is well known to the peo- ple of his home town, Watsonville, and is inter- ested in movements for the benefit of his native California. He was born at Gilroy. Santa Clara county, January 7, 1869, and was the only child born to the union of John Costello and Emily S. Ames. Ilis father, who deserves recognition among the self-sacrificing pioneers of the '50s. was a native of Elmira, N. Y., and at an carly age went as far west as Illinois. Ile became the owner of a farm in Mellenry county, that state, and also followed the carpenter's trade. With a hope of finding a favorable location on the
Wallace M. Pence
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Pacific coast, in 1852 he came with others over the plains with ox-teams, and arrived in Port- land, Ore .. after three months en route. His first wife was Wealthy A. Farnam, daughter of Truman Farnam, but she died in 1855. leaving two daughters. The elder, Clarissa, died in childhood; the younger, Ella, is the wife of William T. Eipper.
Coming to California in 1853, John Costello followed the carpenter's trade for a short time in San Francisco, and then was similarly occupied at San José for two years. On settling at Gil- roy, he rented land in the Pacheco mountains and embarked in the cattle and sheep business. For some years all went well. His flocks and herds flourished and brought good prices in the market. However, the drought of 1863 affected him injuriously, as it did all stock-raisers in the west, and so many of his head of stock died that the profits of previous years were swallowed up in the losses of that unfortunate period. Dis- couraged as to agricultural and stock-raising prospects, he decided to resume work as a car- penter, and so settled in Gilroy, where he found employment. Soon he became interested in the fruit business and bought a small ranch in the valley. During 1888 he came to Santa Cruz county and ten years later retired from active business. At that time he settled in Watson- ville, where his death occurred when eighty- three years of age. A man of energy and judg- ment, he accumulated considerable means after coming west, and in spite of the many discour- agements and reverses that met him at different points in his career, he left a competence at his demise. Since then his widow, who was for- merly Mrs. Sarah Hatch, and who became Mir. Costello's third wife, has made her home with her stepson, Abraham, in Watsonville.
During his boyhood Abraham Costello be- came familiar with ranch pursuits and learned the best methods to be pursued in the raising of fruit. Later he took up the painter's trade, but has not followed it to any great extent, as his attention has so far been largely given to his duties as deputy constable, constable, deputy marshal and deputy sheriff, which various offices he has held about eight years. He is a member of the Eagles and the Native Sons of the Golden
West and is also connected with the Labor L'nion.
WALLACE M. PENCE.
Among the members of the legal profession in Salinas, Wallace M. Pence is not only one of the most prominent and successful, but he is as well one of the most cultured and widely read men in Monterey county. A native of Oquawka, Henderson county. Ill., he was born March 27, 1860, a son of R. T. and Elizabeth (Conger) Pence, the latter a descendant of an old Quaker family of Pennsylvania. On the paternal side. Mr. Pence is of Pennsylvania-Dutch extraction. and his father was one of the early and success- ful farmers of Henderson county, Ill., of which he had the distinction of being the first judge.
The education of Mr. Pence was acquired in the public schools and the Western Normal School at Shenandoah, lowa, from which he was graduated in 1884 with the degrees of Bach- elor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. He sub- sequently taught school in the same college for a year, after which he removed to California and engaged in educational work in Creston and Cayucos, San Luis Obispo county, and in Guadaloupe, Santa Barbara county. At the expiration of two years he had decided upon the profession of law for a life work, and to strengthen tlie foundation upon which to buildl his knowledge of the same, entered the Univer- sity of Kansas, where he took a complete course in the unusually short time of two years. Upon returning to California he farmed for two years at Parkfield, and while there became interested in politics, and served as county deputy assessor. Upon locating in Salinas in 1892 he was ad- mitted to practice before the bar of the supreme court of the state. and this has since been his preferred field of activity. The majority of the important cases requiring adjustment have been brought to him, and he has an extensive and wealthy clientage throughout this entire section. His responsibilities extend to the management of the Monterey Abstract Company, in which he owns most of the stock, and is the chief pro- pelling force. A Republican in politics, he lends the weight of his influence on the side of
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municipal purity. and in all ways endeavors to elevate the standard of his adopted town. He i- prominent in the Baptist Church and is super- intendent of the Sunday-school.
January 4. 1893, Mr. Pence married Carrie Beeman, daughter of an attorney who died before her marriage. To Mr. and Mrs. Pence have been born two sons, Juarez Beeman and Harold Titus.
WILLIAM CALLIHAN.
There are very few citizens now living in Wat- sonville who have been identified with the his- tory of the town for a longer period than has William Callihan, one of the honored pioneers of the Pajaro valley. He was born in Harris- burg, Pa., in 1829, a son of Thomas and Rosella Callihan. Educated in the schools of his native city, he was prepared by thorough schooling and careful home training for such responsibili- ties as life had in store for him. When in his early manhood he went to Illinois, where he se- cured employment in the smelters at Galena. However, to an ambitious mind the narrow and restricted opportunities of that city seemed to illy repay the arduous labors of days and weeks, so he regarded the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia as affording the opening he so greatly desired. During 1850 he came to this new country and tried his luck at mining in Eldorado county.
It was during December of 1852 that Mr. Callihan settled in Watsonville. That same year had proved remarkably profitable for po- tato raisers and he at once decided to engage in the industry for himself. From J. R. Hill he rented some land on the banks of the Pajaro river and began to plant and cultivate his crop. As it happened, however, almost every settler had decided to raise potatoes, so in 1853 the country was flooded with potatoes. Every one had them to sell, and no one wanted to buy. This overproduction entailed a serious loss upon all and it was years before some of the ranchers recovered from the disastrous results of that long remembered potato season. Mr. ( allihan not only lost his work, but money be- sides, as he could not dispose of his crop.
During 1854 he returned to the mines, but at the expiration of a year resumed potato-raising. selling one hundred and sixty sacks, for which he received three and one-half cents a pound. His crop had to be hauled to the coast, then taken by means of a coast boat to a vessel (there being no wharf), and thus at large ex- pense transported to San Francisco. Besides potatoes he raised grain and beans. Somewhat later he began to buy and sell as a commission man, and with the means thus gained he in- vested in city and country property. By slow and steady advance, without speculation of any kind, he amassed a competence, and has suffi- cient to prove every comfort for his remaining years.
Among the local enterprises which owe much to the presence and aid of Mr. Callihan may be mentioned the Watsonville Gas Company, or- ganized in 1871, with the following officers: Henry Jackson, president: George Pardee, sec- retary; A. Louis, treasurer; and L. Sanborn, C. Ford, G. Trafton, L. Alyn and W. Callihan, directors. At a subsequent election of officers Mfr. Callihan was chosen president, and while holding that position he had charge of the dis- posing of the company's stock.
ROBERT W. EATON.
To live in the midst of the unequaled fertility of the Pajaro valley is to have a broad outlook, and to aspire to great things. Here, as else- where, there are specialties in horticulture and agriculture, and he who. can so marshal his forces as to excel in the production of any de- sired commodity may be sure of an extended appreciation and an income commensurate with the extent of his operations. Mfr. Eaton has thirty acres of land in his home ranch half a mile from Watsonville, one hundred and twen- ty-five acres in berries, and two hundred and twenty acres in apples. However, it is as a berry grower that he is best known, and his statements on this particular branch of horti- culture are received with the confidence due his extended researches. He is conversant with the growth of the industry from the introduction of water in 1879 up to the present time, and he has
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watched with increasing interest the develop- ment from a few isolated patches to an industry which is able to supply the greater part of the San Francisco market, as well as a portion of that of Los Angeles and many surrounding towns.
.A native of Pittsburg. Pa., Mr. Eaton was born June 27. 1846, a son of John and Matilda (Kyle) Eaton, natives respectively of Bedford. Pa., and Ireland. John Eaton was a silversmith by occupation, and removed to Douglass county. Kans., in 1858. where he located on a farm, dying in 1888. Robert W. Eaton came to Cali- fornia in 1874, and after investigating the pros- pects in different parts of the state located in Watsonville in 1875. In 1870 he married Annie Van Tries, of Pennsylvania. and of this union there were born six children, all of whom are living: Frank E., Orrin ()., Roy T., Carl W., Minnie M. and Robert H. Mr. Eaton is a Re- publican in national politics, and has been a member of the school board for twelve years. Fraternally he is associated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is a member of the Christian Church, and is one of the most substantial and influential citizens of the Pajaro valley.
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