Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 104

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

USA > California > Santa Clara County > Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California > Part 104

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BAPT. JAMES SCOTT, deceased. No history of GOLOS Santa Clara County would be complete without

special mention of one of its earliest pioneers, the subject of this sketch. He was born in Woolwich, England, January 20, 1811. His parents, William and Martha (Davidson) Scott, were natives of Scotland, his father serving in the English army and his mother residing in England at the time of his birth. His early boyhood was spent in attendance upon school, but at the youthful age of fifteen years he went to sea, thus beginning an eminently success- ful career. A bright and intelligent youth, of indus- trious habits, his strict attention to his duties soon won the confidence of his superiors. While yet in his teens, the vessel to which he was attached was wrecked on the barren coast of Nova Scotia, and though he was but a common seaman at that time, it was his forethought, intelligence, and energy that extricated the crew from the difficulties surrounding them. It was the display of such qualities as these that led to his promotion, at an early age, to the position of Sec- ond Mate, and from this time he rose rapidly in his profession, the age of twenty-four years finding him in command of one of the finest merchant ships under the English flag.

He followed his profession with honor and credit until 1849, when he came to San Francisco. He ar- rived when the gold fever was at its height, and he sought for wealth in the mines. His experience in the mines was not that of many who were disappointed in the results of their labor; on the contrary, his suc- cess was remarkable. On some days he secured as

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much as $3,000 from his claim. After amassing quite a competency, he returned to San Francisco, where he became a hotel man, opening to the public one of the largest hotels then in the city. In 1853 his brother William (whose biography appears in this volume) joined him in San Francisco, and upon his arrival Mr. Scott sold his hotel interests and accompanied his brother to the mines. He was again successful in his mining ventures, coming, however, with his brother during the following year to Santa Clara County, where he purchased 120 acres of land, immedi- ately beginning its improvement and cultivation. Thus commenced a useful, active life of eighteen years in this county, and during that period the same qualities which won recognition in his earlier pursuits gained for him the respect of his fellow-citizens. A wide experience and sound business principles assured his success in this as in other undertakings. His active life closed December 18, 1872.

His wife, formerly Miss Ann Lambert, a native of England, departed this life several years previous to his death. Their two children, William and Ann, are also deceased. In 1863 Mr. Scott visited Scotland, and upon his return to Santa Clara County was ac- companied by his sister, Miss Elizabeth Scott, who was born September 22, 1822. On the twenty-eighth of December, 1863, she became an inmate of her brother's home, where she has since resided, and of which she is the present owner. This property is lo- cated on Scott Lane, in the Jefferson School District, about one and one-half miles from the business center of Santa Clara. Her farm contains ninety-five acres of the original 120 acres owned by her brother. The land is beautifully situated and is very productive. Twenty-six acres are in strawberries, of the Long- worth and Sharpless varieties, four acres are in rasp- berries, while the remainder, with the exception of a small tract planted with fruit trees, is devoted to the growing of hay and grain. Artesian wells supply a plentiful amount of water for irrigation and other purposes.

Another member of this family was Thomas Scott, who came to the United States, and, enlisting in the Twenty-sixth Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, Colonel Owens commanding, was killed in battle in '63.

SIRT K. BENNETT. The subject of this sketch makes his home at the junction of the San Francisco road with the Saratoga and Al- viso road (Milliken Corner), three miles west of Santa Clara, in the Milliken District, where, in con-

nection with his sister, Glora F., he owns a beautiful orchard property of thirty acres, upon which he has a comfortable cottage home. His orchard has not yet come into full bearing, being but of a few years' growth; but, by the intelligent care which he is be- stowing upon it, Mr. Bennett is laying the foundations for one of the finest fruit ranches of the county. The trees are about one-half prune, and the other half peach, apricot, and cherry, in nearly equal pro- portions, with a few varieties of other fruits.

The subject of this sketch was born in Monroe County, New York, in 1857, and is the son of William K. and Melvina (Hart) Bennett, both of whom are now deceased. Mr. Bennet's boyhood was spent upon a farm and in attending school, but being of an ener- getic disposition, and of ingenious mind, he entered into other occupations. Among them were those of cooper, and engineer in controlling and running sta- tionary engines. He followed these various pursuits until 1857, when he came to California and located at Santa Cruz, where he worked at farmning, teaming, and coopering for a year or more. He then removed to San Benito County, and entered quite extensively into the business of stock-raising. Being young, intel- ligent, and ambitious, he was soon assured of success, and continued the business for six years. But the complete isolation of his family and the sickness and death of his child induced him to change his residence to a settled country within the confines of civilization. He decided to make Santa Clara County his home, and located on the property described at the beginning of the sketch. Mr. Bennett is a young man of active and industrious habits, which, combined with intelli- gent and public-spirited views upon matters pertain- ing to the welfare of his section and county, make him a desirable acquisition to the community in which he lives. He is connected with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, being a member of San Lorenzo Lodge, No. 157.

He has two sisters living, both of whom are resi- dents of this State. Miss Glora F. Bennett, a highly educated and accomplished lady, is a teacher in the State Normal School at San Jose, and Mrs. Sarah Spaulsbury, the wife of Edgar Spaulsbury, an attorney at law, residing in Santa Cruz.

Mr. Bennett was united in marriage with Miss Grace Ingham, the daughter of Joseph Ingham, of San Jose, on the first of January, 1880. They have one child living: Ruth H., at the present time (1888) seven years of age.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

ATRICK C. MOORE. Among the successful men of Santa Clara County is the subject of this sketch, a brief resumé of whose life is as follows: Mr. Moore was born in Middleton, County Cork, Ireland, in 1836, his parents being William and Han- nah (Collins) Moore, who were natives of the place of his birth. He was reared and educated in college until the age of sixteen years. His father was a farmer. Young Moore then accompanied relatives of his family to the United States. Soon after his arrival in New York he went to Hartford, Connecticut, and there engaged as a clerk in the store of J. S. Curtis & Co., for whom his brother was bookkeeper, and was there about a year, after which he went to West Ash- ford, same State, and learned the percussion-cap busi- ness; next he went to New Britain, Connecticut, and became an apprentice to the trade of a moulder in a foundry. He was engaged in this calling until 1856. In the latter year he came to California, by the Isth- mus route. While at Panama he was wounded by a shot in his right arm, during a riot. He landed in San Francisco in April of that year. Soon after- ward he engaged in farm labor for Hutchinson & Green, near Sacramento, after which he was employed in steamboating on the Sacramento River. He then took up the occupation of a miner at Long Bar, on the Yuba River. In 1857 he went to Siskiyou County, where he stayed until 1858, engaging in prospecting, mining, and farm labor; was also a clerk in a hotel a portion of the time. In the latter year the Fraser River mining excitement induced him to make a venture in that direction, and he joined the "grand army" that were seeking their fortunes in the new gold-fields. This venture ended in a failure, and he returned to California and resumed the more quiet occupation of farm labor until 1861. He then en- gaged in the milk business in San Francisco-a busi- ness that he successfully conducted until 1863. In this year he came to Santa Clara County and located in San Jose. Soon after his arrival he entered into business as a peddler and teamster between San Jose and New Almad. n. With the exception of one year, in which Mr. Moore rented and cultivated the farm of Abraham Weller, at Milpitas, he was engaged in the above-named occupations until 1886. During the latter year he purchased a block of land on the corner of the Almaden road and Orchard Street, in San Jose, upon which he erected two dwelling-houses, a black- smith shop, and store. He established himself as a grocer, and has also in the same building a well- conducted and first-class saloon. In addition to his

property at this point, Mr. Moore also owns six lots and cottage-houses in the city of San Jose. He came to California with little or no means, and has by his industry and straightforward business dealing ac- cumulated a fair share of this world's goods. He is an intelligent and enterprising citizen, greatly in- terested in the progress and prosperity of the county. In politics he is a liberal and conservative Democrat. In 1882 Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Mary O'Niell, daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Carroll) O'Niell, who were natives of Ireland, but residents of Ontario, Canada West. Mrs. Moore was born in Canada, and came to California in 1874. They contemplate a tour of Europe, Canada, and the States in 1889.

COHN W. MEADS. Among the prosperous agri- culturists of the Alviso District we mention the subject of this sketch. His highly cultivated farm of 100 acres is situated on the corner of the San Jose and Alviso and Alviso and Milpitas roads, six and a half miles north of San Jose, and two and a half miles south of Alviso. The land is all under cultiva- tion, fourteen acres being in orchard, producing prin- cipally apples and pears, but also the other varieties of fruit grown in this section, for family use. There are twenty acres of strawberries of the Sharpless and Cheney varieties, and twelve acres of asparagus. The rest of the farm is devoted to stock purposes, and the production of hay and grain. Water is plentifully supplied by two artesian wells, one of which is 740 feet in depth, flowing from eight to ten inches above a seven-inch pipe, and the other of 250 feet in depth, flowing two inches over a seven-inch pipe.

The subject of this sketch was born in Baltimore, Maryland, in 1834. His parents were William A. and Mary Jane (Amos) Meads, both natives of Balti- more. His early life was devoted to the acquiring of an education (for which good facilities were affordcd), and to the learning of his father's calling, that of gardener, he being extensively engaged in raising vegetables for the Baltimore market. Mr. Meads continued in this work until twenty-four years of age, when he determined to seek his fortune in the new El Dorado. He accordingly took the Panama route for California in 1858. Arriving in San Francisco, he proceeded to Santa Clara, in May of that year, and engaged in farm labor. After spending about two

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and a half years in working for others, he rented 240 acres near Milpitas, which he successfully devoted to the production of hay and grain. He made that place his home for six years, and then purchased the land heretofore described, and took up his residence thereon in 1866. He at once commenced its cultiva- tion and improvement, and now has one of the really fine places of the county. He has erected a comfort- able cottage home, which is surrounded by beautiful trees and pleasant grounds, and in which he lives the life of a prosperous tiller of the soil in this favored spot.

Mr. Meads married, in 1862, Miss Agnes Emmer- son, the daughter of Captain Charles Emmerson and Rosalla (Mckenzie) Emmerson. They are natives of Maine, but residents of San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Meads have six children: Walter A., Alfred, Alice M., Norman L., John W., and Daisy.

Mr. Meads has taken a high standing among his associates as a man of integrity and intelligence, and the long acquaintance, established by a residence of thirty years in the county, have but won him increas- ing respect and confidence. He is one of the Trustees of the Alviso School District, being Clerk of the dis- trict-a position which he has filled with credit for the past four years. He is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Politically, he is identi- fied with the Republican party, taking a great interest in all public affairs.

LEMENTE COLOMBET, deceased. This gen- tleman, one of Santa Clara County's early pio- neers and most respected citizens, was born at Nice, France, August 4, 1817. He left his native land in 1842, and went to South America, remaining in Buenos Ayres for one year, when he sailed around Cape Horn, visiting Chili, Peru, and Bolivia. On the fourteenth of June, 1844, he arrived in Monterey, California, with Captain Cooper. He at first worked at his trade, that of tanner, in Monterey, then Santa Cruz, and San Jose. He afterward engaged in buy- ing stock, as well as merchandising, driving his cattle to Sacramento and the mines. In 1849 he opened a store in San Jose, which he conducted for some time.

In January, 1851, he was married to Miss Ann Kell, a daughter of Thomas and Margaret (Murphy) Kell, and a granddaughter of Martin Murphy, Sr. Mrs. Colombet had come to California from Missouri, in 1846, having previously removed from her birth-

place, Canada, to Missouri, with her parents. In the year of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Colombet went to Mission San Jose, where Mr. Colombet engaged in viticulture and wine-making. In 1856, at the Annual Fair of the California State Agricultural Society, held in San Jose, he was awarded the premium for Claret wine, the first premium for wine ever awarded in Cali- fornia. He also engaged in conducting a store of general merchandise at the mission, living there until 1856, when he purchased the Warm Springs property, in Alameda County, from the original Spanish owner, Mr. Higurera, and removed there with his family. Here they resided until 1869, when he sold the prop- erty to A. A. Cohen, who, later, sold it to Senator Stanford. Having property in San Jose, Mr. Colom- bet removed here with his family, where he resided until his death, in September, 1885. On the twenty- fifth of August, 1878, he was stricken with paralysis, and for seven years was a sufferer; losing the use of his right side, he was unable to move about. He was a man of integrity and high moral character, and commanded the respect of all who knew him.

Mr. and Mrs. Colombet had eight children, of whom one died in infancy: Joseph, the eldest, is the executor of his father's estate, and now City Treasurer of San Jose; Thomas, Clemente, Peter J., Annie V., Louis N., and William A., all residents of San Jose. Mr. Co- lombet was a member of the Pioneer Association of San Jose.

OSEPH FOSTER, residing upon the San Fran- cisco road, about three and a half miles west of Santa Clara, in the Milliken District, is the owner of twenty-five acres of productive land, ten acres of which are devoted to the culture of fruit, consisting principally of peaches, although the orchard also furnishes apricots, apples, pears, and plums. Fifteen acres are planted with vines, which produce different varieties of table grapes, such as the Tokay, Muscat, Cornichon, Black Ferrara, and Black Morocco. This fertile soil is a light adobe, mixed with gravel.

The subject of this sketch was born in 1822, at Dunham Park, Yorkshire, England. His father, Abra- ham Foster, was a native of the above-mentioned place, and his mother, Mary (Kay) Foster, was born in Todmerden, Yorkshire County. Joseph's boyhood was spent in acquiring an education, and in mercantile work. He graduated at the Baptist College at his birthplace, and, while yet a youth, became a strong

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believer in the Christian religion. At the early age of sixteen years he commenced his labor in its cause as a volunteer preacher, and so earnest and successful did he become in this work that he was known far and wide as the " Boy Preacher." At the age of nineteen years he was regularly ordained as a minister of the Baptist Church, and, although still engaged in other pursuits, he officiated regularly in the pulpit.

In 1843 he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Crowther, daughter of Richard Crowther, of Yorkshire County, and granddaughter of the Rev. James Aston, of Lockwood, Yorkshire, England. In the same year he left his mercantile business, and engaged in clerical and statistical work for railroad companies and other corporations. This work he continued un- til 1845, when he came to the United States. Land- ing at New York, he proceeded to Illinois, and took up his residence on a farm about ten miles from Elgin. Here he commenced a career as a pioneer farmer and preacher, ever being a most active and earnest worker in the cause of Christianity, as well as in the establishment of schools and in all enterprises that tended to elevate the moral standard of that pi- oneer day.

During the five years that he spent here he preached the gospel nearly every Sunday, being compelled to hold his services in log school-houses, barns, and often in the open air. In 1850 he removed to Clinton County, Iowa, where he continued his labors, both temporal and spiritual, ever to the front with open hand and ready assistance for the sick, needy, and distressed. Always in the advance guard of civiliza- tion, he changed his residence, in 1879, to Cherokee County, Kansas, where he continued his work as a farmer and a minister. In the year following his re- moval to Kansas, he suffered a severe misfortune in the visitation of a cyclone, which destroyed all his buildings, including his house, and all his farm imple- ments and machinery, the family barely escaping from the wreck with their lives. This severe loss was met with the fortitude and patience of the Christian. Soon afterward Mr. Foster came to California, and estab- lished his residence upon the farm which he now oc- cupies, and which he intends to make his home dur- ing his declining years. Since his coming to this county, he has manifested a deep interest in all that pertains to the growth and development of the section in which he lives, as well as in the education and morals of the community. He was one of the organ- izers and founders of the Emanuel Baptist Church of San Jose, serving as a pulpit supply until the regular

pastor was installed. It is a fact to be noted as in- dicative of the man's unselfish character and disinter- ested motives, that through all his ministerial life and labors he has received for his services no compensa- tion save that of the consciousness of good deeds per- formed. That by his devoted labor much good was effected, cannot be doubted when one remembers the great need of Christian services, and the great diffi- culty in procuring them in the pioneer settlements of forty years ago. He may well be content to spend his remaining years in his pleasant home, feeling sure of his Master's " well done " at the close of a life de- voted to that Master's cause.

Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Foster: Richard C., aged (in 1888) forty years; Will- iam A., married and residing at Laporte, Iowa; Mary Jane, the wife of Dell C. Scott, of Delaware County, Iowa; and Arthur, who married Miss Ella Hamilton, of Indiana.

BOHN MILLIKIN, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, in 1807. The first five years of his life were spent there, and his father in 1812 re- moved his family to Licking County, Ohio, becoming one of the carliest settlers of that State. The son, John, was there taught all the duties of an agricultural life, and spent his early manhood in that work in his native county. In 1832 he married Miss Nancy Heron, a native of the same county. Three years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Milliken went to La Salle County, Illinois, where they established their home on a rich prairie farm. But Mr. Millikin's love of a frontier life soon prompted another move, and in 1837 his residence was changed to Iowa, where he settled in what was then known as the Black Hawk Tract, and continued his work of tilling the soil and raising stock. He was there during the ex- citing times of the Black Hawk War, and was a vol- unteer in the same.

In 1852 he became one of the large army of emi- grants who were straggling across the plains to Cali- fornia. Soon after his arrival in this State, he settled his family in Santa Clara County, on eighty acres of land, located on the San Francisco road about three miles west of Santa Clara, on what is now known as Millikin's Corner. Then commenced a useful life (spent in the cultivation of his farm), which lasted for twenty-five years, his death occurring in 1877. Early

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inured to hard labor, and possessed of a large amount of energy and a strong will, none of the obstacles always to be encountered in a frontier 'life seemed to daunt him. He was always in the vanguard of the army of pioneers, who cleared the way for the hosts who fol- lowed and built up the great centers of American civilization. Mr. Millikin, by virtue of his long resi- dence in the county, was well known and highly re- spected. Naturally he was deeply interested in the marvelous development which he had witnessed, and was ever ready to assist in every way in his power in bringing about that development.

By the death of her husband, Mrs. Millikin was left with seven children, viz .: Samuel, whose sketch appears in this connection; James, a resident of Santa Cruz County; David C., a resident of Los Angeles County, who married Miss Mary Nash, of Santa Clara County; Thomas B., a resident of Lompoc, Santa Barbara County; Elizabeth, the wife of James Turner, of Gilroy, Santa Clara County, but now residing in Fresno County; Mary, the wife of John S. Henning, of Santa Clara, now living at Lompoc; and Margaret, the wife of Augustus Hollet, of San Jose, also living at present at Lompoc.

Mrs. Millikin was left to her children for five years after the loss of the father, her death occurring in Santa Clara County July 3, 1882.

AMUEL MILLIKIN resides on the San Fran- cisco road, about three and a half miles west of Santa Clara, in the Millikin District, where he owns 100 acres of rich and well-cultivated land. His tract originally contained 160 acres, but 60 acres were disposed of by sale a few years ago. Of the 100 acres, 47 acres are in vines, yielding a large product of wine grapes of the Zinfandel and Matero varieties. The remainder of the farm Mr. Millikin devoted to the pro- duction of hay and cereals, and to stock-raising.

He dates his birth in Licking County, Ohio, March 12, 1833. He is the son of John Millikin (a sketch of whose life is to be found in this history) and Nancy (Heron) Millikin. His father was a pioneer farmer in Ohio, Illinois, Iowa, and California, and the son was schooled in early life in his father's business. Coming to California with his father, in 1852, he has since made his home in this county and in the district in which he now lives.

On the fourth of April, 1869, Mr. Millikin was united in marriage with Mrs. Christina Nash, the

widow of Patrick Nash, of Santa Clara County. Three sons have been born from this marriage, viz .: Samuel E., born August 2, 1870; George F., born September 4, 1872; and John D. S., born Novem- ber 26, 1876. Of Mrs. Millikin's children by her former marriage, there are living (in 1888) Robert P. Nash, born December 30, 1855, who married Miss Kate Martin, of Santa Cruz; Mary Nash, born June 13, 1858, the wife of David P. Millikin, of Santa Clara County; Anna J. Nash, born January 10, 1860; Thomas Nash, born July 21, 1862; and Charles C. Nash, born March 28, 1865.

Mr. Millikin's long residence in the county has made him one of its best-known citizens, while it has inspired him with the interest in and regard for his home surroundings only to be found in those who have grown up with a country. As a good citizen and a successful agriculturist, he is a useful member of the community. His success is due to natural intelli- gence, energy, acquired business habits, and a thorough understanding of his business, rather than to any ad- vantages in youth, for they were made impossible of attainment by residence in frontier States.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 104

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 844

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844