Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 106

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 106

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

Houghton, who died in San Jose. In 1849 the eldest brothers, Asa, Robert, and Jacob, came with their families overland to this State, and all spent the first winter in Los Angeles. Asa settled in Stanislaus County, leaving it to come to this county in 1861. Robert went to the mines at Rough and Ready, and, after remaining there less than two years, became a pioneer of Santa Clara Valley. Jacob first made Stockton his home, but settled in this county in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Garrigus came by way of the Isthmus in 1851.

Melvin L., whose name heads this sketch, with his brother, Laban H., and their father (his mother died in Iowa in 1847), in 1852 followed the older brothers, coming to the State overland. He was also accom- panied by his sister, Melinda and Lydia, with their husbands. The last one of the family to settle in the Golden State was Mrs. Houghton, who, with her hus- band and children, came overland in 1859. The year following his arrival, Melvin L. Gruwell spent in the mines at Sonora, and in 1853 he came to this county and took possession of his present home. Soon after his father died, November 25, 1853, at the ripe age of eighty-one years. Mr. Gruwell has now lived in the Moreland District thirty-five years, and owns 112 acres. His original purchase contained 178 acres, of which he sold a portion in 1887. The difficulties of obtaining a title were great. His first purchase was of a squatter right, but he was afterward obliged to buy out several claimants, who claimed the land under other grants. The ranch was formerly devoted entirely to general farming, but now about thirty acres are in orchard and vineyard.

On the twenty-ninth of March, 1855, Mr. Gruwell wedded Miss Sarah Jane Wear, who was born in Jackson County, Missouri. With her parents, William W. and Thurza Wear, she crossed the plains and mountains to this State in 1852, settling near Mount- ain View, of this county. Here both of her parents died, the mother about 1869 and the father in Sep- tember, 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Gruwell have ten chil- dren: Ruth E., the wife of Eben Vandine, of this county; Martha Ann and Lydia J., at home; William W., of Lake County, this State; Arthur J., of San Jose; Charles Lee, Thurza W., Lawrence C., Kate, and Lulu, all at their parents' home.

In politics Mr. Gruwell is affiliated with the Demo- cratic party. He is a member of the ancient and honorable order of Masons. A long and useful career in Santa Clara County has won for Mr. Gruwell the well-deserved respect of his fellow-citizens, as good

management and industry have won prosperity in business.

ORACE B. HALL, of Hamilton District, is the owner of a very fine vineyard of fifteen acres, located on the San Jose and Los Gatos road, near the railway crossing. He also has five acres in trees, principally prunes. Mr. Hall bought this twenty acres of choice land in 1880, when it was a part of a grain-field. He commenced at once the work of fitting his land for a vineyard, and in 1881 set the larger part of five acres with the Zinfandel grape. In 1883 he planted another five acres, one-half with Zin- fandel and one-half with Charbano grapes. Two years later he set the remaining five acres with Zinfandel, Charbano, and Cabinet Frank grapes. All these va- rieties are good yielders, as the following estimate will show: In 1886 the vineyard produced 120 tons of grapes, which Mr. Hall had made into wine, on shares, andfrom which he realized a net profit of $1,100. Owing to an unusual frost, the crop of 1887 was somewhat lighter than that of the preceding year, but nearly $1,100 was received, the fruit being sold on the ground.

Mr. Hall was born in Lincoln County, Maine, May 24, 1838. He is the son of Eben Hall, who was born in the same town (Jefferson). Eben Hall, Sr., the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, served in the War of 1812. The family trace their descent through several generations of American ancestry. Horace B. Hall was reared to a farm life, but in 1861 left his native home to come to the Pacific Coast. He reached San Francisco on the fourth of August of that year, and at once entered the employ of Emanuel Brothers, furniture manufacturers. He re- mained with this firm eighteen years, and that he was most faithful in the discharge of all duties is shown by the fact that after the second year he was placed in charge of the manufacturing establishment as foreman, a position which he held until he left the business.

He married, in San Francisco, in August, 1870, Miss Jennie Miner, who was born of Scotch ancestry, in Nova Scotia. Her failing health was the cause of Mr. Hall's removal to Santa Clara County, which was accomplished, as before stated, in 1880. This removal did not have the desired effect, for Mrs. Hall passed from this life July 16, 1883, dying of consumption, at the age of thirty-three years. She was a consistent

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member of the Presbyterian Church, and died in the strong faith of the true Christian. She was the mother of five children, of whom but two sons are now living. Roy, born in 1871, is now in San Fran- cisco, learning the machinist's trade. Norman, born in 1872, graduated at fourteen years of age at the Hamilton School, at San Jose.

Mr. Hall is identified with the Republican party. He is an active member of various orders, belonging to Abou Ben Adhem Lodge, No. 112, I. O. O. F., of San Francisco, and of Unity Encampment, No. 26. He passed the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and in the encampment, and is a member of the Grand Lodge of the State. He is also connected with Val- ley Lodge, A. O. U. W., of San Francisco.

RANK HAMILTON, one of the pioneer men of Almaden Township, is the proprietor of Val- ley View Farm, at the head of Union Avenue, in the Union District. He dates his birth in Summit County, Ohio, four miles from Akron, September 20, 1836. He is the son of James and Susannah (Snyder) Hamilton. The family removed from Ohio to Mich- igan in 1844, making the township of Florence, in St. Joseph County, their permanent home. The father died in the March following their settlement there, but the mother reached the ripe old age of eighty- four years, dying in 1878, in the place which had been her home for so many years. There, two unmarried sons and one daughter now live. Eleven children were reared to manhood and womanhood in that county. Frank Hamilton left the old home with its large circle of family friends, when eighteen years of age, to come to far-off California. Leaving New York, February 16, 1854, on the Atlantic steamer, George Law, by the Isthmus of Fanama, he reached San Francisco April 22, traversing the Pacific waters on the steamer John L. Stevens. He engaged in placer mining in Nevada County until June, and in July visited Santa Clara County. Later in the year he again worked at mining at New Orleans Flat, re- maining there for fourteen months, when he returned to Santa Clara Valley, and, investing in real estate, has since made it his home. His first purchase con- sisted of 160 acres, which adjoined his present prop- erty. Selling that tract, he bought 320 acres, of which he has retained 200 acres, and now occupies. At one time he owned what is now part of the Lone

Hill Vineyard. During 1864 and 1865 Mr. Hamil- ton was engaged in freighting, being the proprietor of a line between Sacramento, Virginia City, and Reese River. Often horses were attached to one wagon, which at times would contain a load of 25,- 000 pounds. Mr. Hamilton owned the finest team that was ever driven from Santa Clara County. He has been largely interested in wheat-raising, having as a renter worked many of the large grain ranches of the valley. He states that he has disbursed for hired labor alone, in the production of grain, over $75,000. The large ranch which he now owns is de- voted to general farming, there being this year (1888) 500 acres in grain. In 1870 Mr. Hamilton had the misfortune to lose his fine residence by fire, and as it was entirely without insurance the loss was a severe one, but with characteristic energy he at once had a house erected 20x30 feet, of which he took possession just eleven days after the fire!

In 1875 the subject of our sketch, for the first time in twenty-one years, visited his mother and her family in Michigan. On his return he brought back with him a car load of peppermint roots, which he planted in thirty-five acres about eight miles north of San Jose. A rise in the Coyote River nearly swept the entire field into the bay; still enough was left from which to manufacture 250 pounds of peppermint oil, which was sold at $3.00 per pound. He is supposed to be the only man in the State who has ever grown the plant or manufactured the oil.

He married, in 1861, Miss Alice Travis, a native of New York. Five children were born to them, of whom four are living, one son, Frank, having died in infancy. William was born June 26, 1862; Walter, August 26, 1864; Sadie, 1867; and Stella, April 22, 1880. The children are, as yet, members of their father's household. Mr. Hamilton is a member of Mt. Hamilton Lodge, San Jose, A. O. U. W. Polit- ically, he is identified with the Republican party.

HADDEUS W. HOBSON, senior partner of the clothing firm of T. W. Hobson & Co., is among the eldest of California's native sons, having been born in San Jose in 1850. His father, George Hobson, is one of the very few men now living who came to the State forty-one years ago, when, as he says, there was not a farm fenced in the Santa Clara Valley, and when the farming, such as it was, was nearly all performed by Digger Indians, who were

John Ballack!

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

controlled and driven like slaves by the Spanish ranch- owners. When Mr. Hobson came to San Jose, in 1847, it was but a miserable village, mainly occupied by Spaniards and Mexicans, whose best residences were adobe huts. After getting his farming interests started, two years later, he was the first man to sup- ply the inhabitants of the town with milk, and drove the first milk wagon ever seen on its streets. George Hobson and his wife, formerly Miss Sarah Speinhour, were both born in North Carolina, he in February, 1823, and she May 18, 1828. They both went to Missouri some years before their marriage, which took place January 10, 1847, and the following spring they started overland for California by the way of Fort Laramie and Fort Hall, with about sixty wagons in their emigrant train. They arrived at Johnson's ranch, near where the city of Sacramento now is, in October. Mr. Hobson and his young wife came to San Jose, but stopped only a short time, then went to Monterey -then the capital-and settled there until January, 1849, when they returned to San Jose, which has been their home ever since. The first two years of his resi- dence in California Mr. Hobson spent in the mines, and was quite successful. He and his companions washed out from one pocket $1,000 each in three days, and from a single pan of dust one of his companions washed out $886. Since 1850 until his retirement from active business, in 1883, Mr. Hobson was engaged chiefly in farming and stock-raising. The family have occupied their present home, on the street called by his name; since 1861. Two sons and four daugh- ters comprise the family of children. The two sons, T. W. and William B., compose the clothing firm of T. W. Hobson & Co. This large and prosperous business was established in San Jose, in 1875, by the firm of Obanion & Kent, and conducted by them until 1879, when T. W. Hobson purchased a third interest, the firm name being Obanion, Kent & Co. until 1882. Then Mr. Hobson, his father, and brother William B., bought the other partner's interest, and the firm took the present name, T. W. and William B. Hobson hav- ing entire control of the business. The store has an area of 60x135 feet, besides a work-room 34x40 feet; and the business embraces a large stock of ready- made clothing, gentleman's furnishing goods, hats, trunks, and valises, together with an extensive mer- chant tailoring department, with a large line of choice piece goods, imported and domestic. Each depart- ment has a foreman expert at its head. Goods are chiefly bought direct from the manufacturers, and in large quantities. The establishment employs, during

the busy season, ninety skilled salesmen and work- men. The sales for 1887 aggregated $152,000, and are running considerably heavier for 1888. T. W. Hobson is one of the charter members of the Native Sons of the Golden West, Lodge No. 22, organized in 1884, and composed of sons of the pioneers. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F.

William B. Hobson was born in San Jose, in 1857, attended school at the San Jose Institute, and com- menced business life as a clerk in the store in which he is a partner. In January, 1886, he married Miss M. T. Shaughnessy, a native of New York.

FOHN BALBACH, one of the oldest living and most respected citizens of Santa Clara County, was born in Mergentheim, Germany, February 13, 1820. When twenty-eight years of age he came to the United States, arriving in New York in May, 1848. Soon afterward he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and three months later to Harrisburg, Kentucky, where he obtained employment in a carriage manu- factory.

On reading General J. C. Fremont's flattering description of California, and of the great demand for blacksmiths in this new El Dorado, Mr. Balbach determined to try his fortune among the gold-seekers. On March 28, 1849, he, in company with nine others, started from Harrisburg for California, with a fine outfit of horse teams and wagons. When the party reached a point a hundred miles west of Fort Smith, owing to the inclement weather, the deep snow-drifts, and the lack of any road through the wilderness, they f .und it impossible to proceed farther with vehicles; so they exchanged their horses and wagons for pack- mules, loaded them with such articles as they most needed, and resumed their journey. They experienced some difficulty with their wild mules. The one car- rying all their sugar stampeded and never returned; another, when hitched to a tree, broke his neck! Despite these mishaps the emigrants reached Santa Fe in safety. Being advised to take the middle route, they made an attempt to do so, but, meeting with insurmountable obstacles, were obliged to retrace their steps, losing two weeks' time thereby. They then proceeded by the Gila River and Fort Yuma route. On reaching the Colorado River they found it very high, and had considerable trouble to get their mules to cross. The travelers numbered thirty people, with sixty mules. They hired some Indians to assist

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them. Rude rafts were constructed, their luggage placed on them, and the mules swam by the sides. Most of the mules were taken across before night, but the majority of their owners had not crossed over. Taking advantage of this fact, the Indians stole all but four of their mules that night! In crossing the swol- len river the raft on which Mr. Balbach and two others were being ferried over came to pieces and they were precipitated into the raging flood. Each clung to a piece of the wreck, and his two comrades easily reached the opposite shore; but Mr. Balbach, just having recovered from an attack of fever, was too weak to stem the current, and succeeded in reaching the shore only after a most desperate struggle for life, a mile below. By heroic effort he reached the camp, but was so exhausted that he swooned, and lay in a state of syncope for many hours. Upon recovering consciousness he learned of the loss of their mules. Despair well-nigh overcame him when he thought of the long, perilous journey through a desert country, and scanty rations of food and water. To make this journey on foot in his weak condition was impossible; he gave the owner of one of the remaining mules his gold watch and chain and such other valuables as he possessed for the privilege of riding a part of the time.

After great hardship and suffering the subject of our memoir reached Rowland's Ranch, near Los An- geles, on August 10, 1849. Here he remained several months to recuperate and earn something with which to continue his journey to the mines. At the end o this time the proprietor of the ranch fitted Mr. Bal- bach out with horse, saddle, and bridle, and he started, in company with two other men, for the mines up north. Arriving at San Jose one December evening, he got permission to stop overnight with a Spaniard occupying an adobe hut, and picketed his horse on a vacant lot. In the morning horse, saddle, and bridle had been stolen; and, having neither means of con- veyance nor money, Mr. Balbach was compelled to abandon the trip and seek employment, which he soon found, and he never resumed his journey to the mines.

After working a short time he established himself in business, carrying on general blacksmithing at first, but gradually changing to the manufacture of wagons, buggies, and carriages. In the spring of 1852 Mr. Balbach manufactured the first plow made on the Pa- cific Coast, having neither pattern nor guide. The following year he built fifty plows. His carriage bus- iness steadily increased, and has yielded him a com- petence. The factory, situated on the corner of

Second and Fountain Streets, is now chiefly managed by three of his sons, who are skilled mechanics in the several departments of the business.

Mr. Balbach married Wenna Benner, a native of Germany, on November 15, 1854. They have six sons and three daughters living; one son is deceased.

Mr. Balbach has served two years as a member of the City Council of San Jose, and five years as a member of the Board of School Trustees.

SOBERT McCUBBIN. Among the owners of large grain-farms we note the subject of this sketch, whose fine farm, of 290 acres, on the Alviso and Mountain View road, is about two miles southwest of Alviso, six and one-half miles north- west of Santa Clara, and five miles east of Mountain View. This extensive ranch, with the exception of a small orchard, is devoted to the growing of hay and grain, and the raising of stock, the latter including some fine horses of the Norman and Clydesdale breeds. Four artesian wells furnish all the water needed for stock and other purposes.

Mr. McCubbin was born in Wigtonshire, Scotland, in 1832. His parents were Robert and Martha (Pet- tigrew) McCubbin, both natives and residents of Scot- land. During his youth, which was spent upon a farm, he received such education as was afforded by the common schools. When but seventeen years of age he left his native country to seek his fortune in the United States. Upon landing at Boston, Massa- chusetts, he went to the country to seek work on a farm. This he obtained a short distance from the city. He afterward went to Caledonia County, Ver- mont, and there remained until the following year, when he went as far west as Galena, Illinois. There two or three years were spent in teaming.

He resolved to visit California, and chose the Nic- aragua route. He arrived in San Francisco in the autumn of 1853, and soon went to Santa Cruz County, where a year was spent in various pursuits. In 1854 he came to Santa Clara County, and here engaged in well-boring with John Dunbar, they being among the first to engage in that enterprise. In the year follow- ing his coming to this county he rented land near Santa Clara, and cultivated it for four years, then changing his business for that of the sheep-raiser and wool-grower. This work occupied his attention for about two years. In 1861, in partnership with John Snyder, he purchased 1,200 acres of land three miles

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southwest of Mountain View. This immense tract was successfully devoted to the cultivation of wheat until 1870, in which year he removed to his present location, he having purchased the land from John An- derson in 1868.

In 1864 Mr. McCubbin was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bubb, the daughter of William and Mary Ann (Gibson) Bubb, of Mountain View. Seven children have blessed this union, viz .: William, who resides at Honolulu, Sandwich Islands; George, who makes his home in Tulare County; Alexander, Mattie, Robert, John, and Mary, who are members of their father's household.

Mr. McCubbin is an intelligent, progressive, and public-spirited man, whose industry and sound busi- ness qualities have insured him success in his calling. Politically he is a Republican, but is conservative and liberal in his views. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., being associated with Santa Clara Lodge, No. 238.

Gospo WIGHT DURKEE, JR., resides on the Sara- toga and Mountain View road, in the Collins School District, about five miles west of Santa Clara, and the same distance southeast of Mountain View. Here he owns thirty acres of highly culti- vated fruit land, which is destined, under Mr. Durkee's care, to become very productive. Twenty acres are devoted to an orchard, which furnishes peaches, apri- cots, and prunes. Ten acres are planted with vines, which yield fine table grapes of the Muscat variety. Mr. Durkee has found the grapes very remunerative. The majority of the fruit-trees are yet young, but as showing the productiveness of the soil under such intelligent care as is given in this case it is worthy of note that five-year-old peach-trees of the Salway variety in 1887 yielded 150 pounds of fruit to the tree. The fruit readily brought three cents per pound, thus realizing $7.50 per tree. Mr. Durkee has a pleasant, comfortable cottage home, with good and substantial out-buildings upon his property.

The subject of this sketch was born in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1858, and is the son of Dwight and Sarah (Davis) Durkee. His father is a resident of St. Louis, while his mother was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. Mr. Durkee's boyhood and youth were spent in school. Still, at an early age, he entered mercantile pursuits, and in 1878 left his home for Colorado, where he en- gaged in the hardware business. There he remained until 1882, when failing health compelled him to seek

its restoration in a more genial climate. With this purpose in view he left his business and came to Cali- fornia. He easily discovered the charms of one of the most beautiful and fertile sections of the State, and decided upon Santa Clara Valley as his home. He purchased the property heretofore described, and soon commenced its cultivation and improvement. In his work he has been eminently successful. He is a man possessed not only of the intelligence neces- sary for success in any undertaking, but also of the patience which is indispensable to the proper atten- tion to the details of horticulture. As a result of these conditions, his orchard and vineyard give promise of being among the finest in the section.

His pleasant home and his labors are shared by his wife, formerly Miss Sarah Martin, with whom he was united in marriage in 1887. Mrs. Durkee is the daughter of James Martin, of San Jose.

ERRY CURTIS, residing on the Doyle road, one-fourth of a mile south of the Stevens Creek road, is quite extensively engaged in horticult- ure. His fine orchard, of forty acres, was entirely planted by himself, after his purchase of the property, in the autumn of 1881. Tree-planting was com- menced in the first year, and each year the size of the orchard was increased, until now it is complete, the youngest trees being two years old. The leading fruit is French prunes, of which there are 1,600 trees, besides 700 peach, 375 apricot, 200 cherry. A family orchard comprises apple, pear, walnut, almond, and other trees. A vineyard contains 3,000 vines, which are very productive. To show the fertility of the soil, and the good management which Mr. Curtis exercises over his fruit interests, we niention the re- sults of 1887. The apricot trees (then five years old) yielded 200 pounds to the tree, or a total of over thirty- six tons, which sold for about $1, 100, while the fruit of the peach-trees, only 100 of which were of bearing age, realized $800.

Mr. Curtis came to this county from Chickasaw County, Iowa, where he had lived and been engaged in operating a farm for seventeen years. This fine property, of 200 acres, entirely improved by himself, he yet owns. He was born in Grafton County, New Hampshire, July 23, 1842. He was reared to a farm life, but upon reaching the age of seventeen years he struck out for himself, by starting for Texas, with $3.00 in his pocket. During his year's residence in

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Texas he was engaged in herding stock. He then went to Floyd County, Indiana, and there made his home, marrying, in 1863, Miss Vina Holman, of that county. After spending some time in visiting in New England, he established his home in Chickasaw County, Iowa. As before stated, he was for many years a resident of that State, leaving it to come to this county. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have six children: Willie, Leila, Mitchell, Mary, Albert, and Frank.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 106

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