Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 108

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

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Mr. and Mrs. Lester have four children living: Alice L., Nathan S., William W., and George E. Emma, the fourth child, died October 16, 1886, at the age of five years and three months.

Mr. Lester and his wife are members of the Con- gregational Church of Ledyard, Connecticut. He is a man of thrift and economy, as his present pros- perity shows, and has been fortunate enough to secure a good share of this world's goods. Is a Republican in his political sympathies.

AMPBELL T. SETTLE, President of the Far- mers' Union, owns and occupies a beautiful home on the corner of Willow Street and Lincoln Avenue, in the Willows. He there owns fifteen acres of land, the last of a tract of 200 acres purchased by him in 1860, for $10 an acre for that which was in the Willows, and $20 for the cleared land. This land he cultivated for some years in grain, but when he felt the country was ready for it, Mr. Settle placed a good

example before the large landholders of California by dividing his place into ten-acre tracts, and selling them to people to plant out in orchards, in which di- rection he had already been a pioneer, having at dif- ferent times planted orchards on several parts of this tract. He was likewise prominent in building a street railway into the heart of this tract, connecting with the business center of San Jose. This enabled him to sell all these tracts at largely enhanced values, some as high as $1,000 per acre. One of the good results to the community from this was an increase of valu- able population, while the taxes, which were only about $50 on the whole tract, are now $150 on his fif- teen acres and improvements, while the income from that 200 acres in fruit is almost equal to that of the whole surrounding of San Jose at that time.

Mr. Settle was born in Jefferson County, Indiana, in 1825, his parents removing from Kentucky in 1812 and settling near Madison, Indiana. That country was a perfect wilderness at the time, the people re- siding there being obliged frequently to retire before the Indians, abandon their homes, and cross back into Kentucky, returning to their farms when these troubles had subsided. His parents were Henry and Jane (Thompson) Settle. His mother dying when he was but three years of age, his father removed in 1836 to Greene County, Illinois, about eighteen miles from Jacksonville, remained there until 1838, when he re- moved to Des Moines County, Iowa, where he lived until his death, in 1845. Mr. Settle remained on the farm until his twenty-fourth year, when he crossed the plains in 1849 to California. Returning in 1852 to Iowa, he removed the remainder of the family to Oregon, which he had visited on his first trip to the Pacific Coast. They remained in Oregon four years, raising wheat and stock and planting an orchard. Disliking the constant rains of winter there, he re- turned to California in 1857, coming at once to San Jose, and engaged in farming on rented land. In 1860 he purchased the 200 acres above referred to, on which he raised grain for several years. Mr. Settle early became interested in fruit-drying, being one of a company that owned an Alden dryer. They dried about fifteen tons of prunes and sent them to Chicago, probably the first shipment ever sent East. During that season there was an immense importation of prunes from Germany, which brought the price very low, they receiving but six cents to nine cents per pound, while freight was two cents per pound, leaving very small results to the grower.

Mr. Settle was married, in 1852, in Iowa, to Miss

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Ellen Cottle, of Burlington, that State. There were two children born to them: Josie, now the wife of Frank Strong, and living in Los Angeles, and one that died in infancy.

Mr. Settle is President of the Farmers' Union, a large mercantile establishment of San Jose. He is also interested in the Agricultural Works of San Jose. Is a member of Lodge No. 34, I. O. O. F., Republican in his political views, and a believer in a high protect- ive tariff. Mr. Settle was elected Mayor of San Jose in 1884, the first Republican elected to that office for fifteen years. He was largely supported by the best elements of the Democratic party.

F. ALLEY, whose orchard home is situated on the Almaden road, about two miles south of the court-house at San Jose, established his present residence in 1882, when he purchased the property of John Paine. Fourteen acres is set with fruit-trees, the larger part of which Mr. Alley himself planted. The leading fruits are apricots and prunes, although a general variety of fruit is produced. For irrigation a ten-horse-power engine is used, which is capable of throwing from a well 600 gallons per minute. The residence is commodious and conven- ient, embowered and shaded by beautiful plants and fine trees,-a typical rural home.

The subject of our sketch dates his birth at Nan- tucket, Massachusetts, in 1824. He is the son of Obed and Susan (Chase) Alley, and is able to trace his ancestry back to the Pilgrim Fathers. At Nan- tucket, in 1851, he wedded Miss Phobe Bunker, the daughter of Asa G. and Mary (Ray) Bunker. Her father was from an old New England family of En- glish extraction, while her mother was of Scotch de- scent. While yet a lad Mr. Alley became a sailor. From 1839 to 1851 he spent most of the time on whaling vessels, the scene of whose operations was the North Pacific. He passed every grade from a sailor be- fore the mast to master of a vessel. His last sea voyage was as master of the merchant vessel Maria of Nan- tucket, which, clearing at New York in November, 1850, made the port of San Francisco in June, 1851. Off Cape Horn the vessel was held back by head winds fifty-six days. The season of 1851 was spent in placer mining in Calaveras County. Thence he went to Contra Costa County, where his wife, coming by the Isthmus route, joined him in March, 1853. He made his home in that county until 1874, much of the

time being engaged in public business, serving either as County Treasurer or County Assessor for ten years. He was also engaged in stock and dairy farming while a resident of Contra Costa County. After re- moving to San Francisco, in 1874, he was employed for several years as deputy in the offices of the County Treasurer, Assessor, and other county officials.

Mrs. Alley is well-known as a natural or magnetic healer. She was in active, successful practice in San Francisco for eight years,-a practice lucrative and pleasant, because of the good she wrought in hun- dreds of cases. She now confines her practice to the friends who come to her home for treatment. Both Mr. and Mrs. Alley are, to a certain degree, resting from their labors, and leading a somewhat retired life. Their only child, Susie, is now the wife of Willis D. Eitel, who resides at the homestead and manages the property. Mr. and Mrs. Alley are members of the San Jose Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. Mr. Alley is identified with the Republican party, with whose principles he is thoroughly in accord.

RAUL LARSON, one of the most extensive wool producers of the county, owns forty and one-half acres, situated on the northeast corner of the Kifer road and Wilcox Lane, in the Jefferson Dis- trict, two miles northwest of the business center of Santa Clara. His ranch is devoted principally to the raising of hay and stock, the latter comprising 200 head of nearly full-bred Merino sheep, which yield annually about four pounds of fine wool per head. About three acres are devoted to fruit trees, princi- pally Bartlett pears, with the addition of a few apples and plums. Two artesian wells furnish a plentiful supply of water for all purposes.

Mr. Larson is a native of Denmark, having been born near Aalborge, June 6, 1831. He is the son of Lars Paulson and Anna (Anderson) Paulson, both natives of Denmark. His father died when he was but three years old, and his mother married Gre- grais Nelson. At the age of seven years the death of his mother left him to the care of his step-father, who, despite the boy's tender years, put him to the hardest tasks of farm labor, at the same time depriving him of all schooling facilities. This continued until he was twelve years old, when he was taken to live with his uncle, James Andersen. In this happier home he re- mained for two years, and then sought work on farms. This he obtained and engaged in for four years. After

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reaching eighteen years of age he devoted five years, with the exception of one year spent in the military service, to learning the carpenter's and cabinet-maker's trades. He thoroughly mastered these trades, and until 1858 worked at them in his native country. In the last-named year he came to the United States, and, landing at New York, proceeded directly to Mil- waukee, Wisconsin. He stayed there, however, but two months, before going to Racine, in the same State. That city he made his home for about two years, en- gaged in working at his trade. In the autumn of 1858 -after having worked at various things, such as farm- ing, railroading, and lumbering-he went to Memphis, Tennessee. Four years were spent there in the work of a wheelwright. During the last year of his stay in Memphis, Mr. Larson was subjected to considerable persecution, and, had it not been for his usefulness as a wheelwright, he would have been forced to enter the Confederate army. When the taking of Memphis by the Union troops enabled him to go North he em- braced the opportunity, taking a cargo of sugar to St. Louis in the autumn of 1862. After disposing of his sugar he spent a few months in East St. Louis, and then went to Columbus, Kentucky, where he estab- lished himself as a wheelwright. While there he was also employed in the government works at building and repairing gun carriages.

In the autumn of 1863 he took the Isthmus route to California, and, soon after his arrival in San Fran- cisco, opened a wheelwright's shop, which he con- ducted for two years. Changing his residence to Dublin, Amador Valley, Alameda County, he there conducted profitably the same business until 1870, when he entered into sheep-raising and wool-growing, near Livermore, in the county above mentioned. Success attended his efforts during the first five years, his flocks increasing from 800 to over 5,000 head. Then came a series of years, in which his losses were very heavy, and, discouraged by these reverses, in 1879 he sold out and removed to Santa Clara County, and settled upon the property (described at the be- ginning of this sketch) which he had purchased two years before.

Mr. Larson never was married, and therefore has no family to record. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican, deeply interested in the public affairs of the country of his adoption. Enterprising, industrious, and honest in his dealings with his fellow-men, he is worthy of the respect in which he is held by his neighbors.

OHN P. KOCH, residing on Curtner Avenue, in the Willow District, is the owner of a splendid orchard, of eleven acres, which he purchased in 1885, paying $750 per acre. He is amply supplied for irrigation by a pump, which has a capacity of 800 gallons per minute, using a fifteen-horse power. This fine orchard is in full bearing, being seven years old this season (1888). It produces cherries, prunes, apricots, and peaches. In 1887 IOI peach trees yielded a crop which sold for $602. The fruit was exceptionally fine, averaging two and a half inches in diameter. The orchard, in 1887, yielded a revenue, above all expenses, of over $1,400. In 1886 Mr. Koch bought of the McGarry estate, a three-year-old orchard of nine and a half acres, in apricots and peaches. He also has an interest in one of the fine properties in the Sacramento Valley, of 100 acres, which is all in fruit.

Mr. Koch is a native of Holland, in which country he was born in January, 1855. He was reared and educated in Germany, but at nineteen years of age went to South Africa, where for several years he led an active business life. He was unfortunate enough to suffer a sunstroke, which made a change of some kind absolutely indispensable to a man of his active habits. He therefore left that tropical country and in February, 1885, became identified with the horti- cultural interests of Santa Clara County.

Mr. Koch married, in Capetown, South Africa, in May, 1878. The birthplaces of his three children in- dicate somewhat his active busy life, with its frequent changes of residence. His eldest child was born in Holland, the second in South Africa, while the youngest claims London as the place of his nativity.

Mr. Koch is a thoroughly enthusiastic horticultur- ist, understanding and enjoying his work. His or- chards were well started when he purchased them, and their thrifty condition and the abundant harvests which they yield are strong evidences of the good care which he gives them. His brother, Robert D. Koch (born in Holland, in 1864), owns and resides upon an estate of eleven acres, which adjoins his on the west. This property Mr. R. D. Koch bought of J. C. Arthur, in December, 1885, and for it he paid $4,500. The orchard is now seven years old, and comprises cherry, prune, pcach, apricot and a few plum trees. It is very thrifty, and has proved a prof- itable investment.

A sister of John P. and Robert D. Koch, Miss Ellie Ann Koch, owns ten acres on the corner of Plummer Avenue and the Foxworthy road. This

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orchard is four years old, and consists of peach, prune, and plum trees. Miss Koch purchased this property in March, 1888, paying for it $7,750. These three representatives of the Koch family may well be con- sidered fortunate in the possession of such valuable estates in so enjoyable a country as California, with its equable climate and fertile soil.

HOMAS KELTY, the owner of a fine grain farm of seventy acres, resides on the Almaden road, three miles south of the city limits of San Jose. He was born in County Roscommon, Ire- land, in December, 1840, and is the son of Garret and Honora Kelty. Coming to America, the land of pos- sibilities for a poor man, he landed at Boston, Decem- ber 22, 1868. Thence he went directly to Orange County, New York. In November of the same year he came to Santa Clara County, where he worked as a laborer upon rented land. He waited only to earn enough to buy a farm for himself. By economy and hard work, he was able to accomplish his purpose, in 1873, when he bought twenty-five acres, near his present home. Selling this property shortly, he bought, in partnership with Michael Ryan, 133 acres, which they divided in 1876. Mr. Kelty retained sev- enty acres, which he devotes successfully to the pro- duction of grain.

In 1876 he married Miss Amelia Cunningham, a native of Ireland. They have five children: Garrett, Mary, James, Thomas, and Jeremiah. The family are members of the Catholic Church. After his mother's death in Ireland, his father, with his family, moved to Cheshire County, England, where Thomas parted with them. Mr. Kelty was reared to a farm life, and never has followed any other occupation regularly. Coming to the United States a poor man, with no capital but strong hands and a stout heart, he now owns a good farm, for which he paid $100 to $125 per acre. He may justly feel that he realizes the re- ward of his labor in the fact that he is now in inde- pendent circumstances.

ILLIAM O. COTTLE was born in Burlington, Iowa, August 14, 1850. In 1854 he crossed the plains with his father, Ira Cottle (whose biogra- phy appears elsewhere in this volume), settling first near Evergreen, Santa Clara County, but after- ward in the Willows. There the father and son have

since resided. After attending the public schools, Mr. Cottle completed his education in the Vincen- haler's Commercial College, from which institution he is a graduate.

August 8, 1874, he was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Rountree, a native of Butte County, Califor- nia, who was born April 16, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Cot- tle are surrounded by three bright and interesting children: Zoe, Clara H., and Walter E., aged twelve, eleven, and three years respectively. Mr. Cottle is comfortably situated in the Willows, on eighteen acres of Santa Clara's choicest soil, which he has devoted to peach and prune culture. Politically he affiliates with the Republican party. He is a member of En- terprise Lodge A. O. U. W.

OBERT MENZEL, a dealer in hardware, tin- ware, house furnishing wares, and a plumber, of Santa Clara, was born in Prussia, June 16, 1848. At the age of twelve years he was brought to America by his parents, who settled at Mayville, Wisconsin, where he served an apprenticeship to learn the trade of tinner. He afterward worked at his trade at Milwaukee one year and five years at Chicago. In 1869 he came to California, being a pas- senger on one of the first trains that passed over the Union Pacific, landing at Sacramento, where he worked as a tinner until the following year; then coming to San Jose, he worked here until 1875, when he came to Santa Clara. Here he made his first venture in busi- ness as a hardware merchant. He has built up an extensive trade, and although starting out on a small scale, with only what little capital he had accumulated by his earnings, his business has so increased that he now employs, in its various departments, five men; and his success financially is the result of hard work and promptness in business,

Besides being an energetic business man, he has also taken an interest in the welfare and advancement of Santa Clara, and has served the public two years as a member of the Board of Trustees, three years as Treasurer, two years as a member of the Board of Education, and at this writing is serving his second term as School Superintendent. Politically he is a Republican. He is a prominent Free Mason, and is a member of Friendship Lodge, No. 210, A. F. & A. M., of Howard Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and San Jose Commandery, No. 10, K. T., all of San Jose. He has served his lodge five years as Worshipful Master, and

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at present is Scribe of his Chapter and Junior Warden of his Commandery.

In 1871 he was married, at San Jose, to Miss Ellen Teaford, daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Dull) Teaford, a native of Virginia. They have five children: Annie, Henry, George, Frank, and Pearl.

ILLIAM MURPHY, one of the prominent farmers in the Milpitas School District, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1824. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Brennan) Murphy, were natives of Westmeath County, Ireland, who emigrated to the United States about 1814, and in 1839 located in Des Moines County, Iowa, where his father followed the occupation of a farmer. Mr. Murphy was reared as a farmer upon his father's farm until twenty years of age; he then worked at the carpenter's trade for about three years, after which he worked as a boatman on the Mississippi River for a season ; returning to his trade, he followed that calling until 1859. In the latter year he came across the plains to California and located in Placer County, where he removed in September. He immediately took up the occupation of a miner, and was engaged as such, in Placer and other counties, until 1859. Leaving the mines, he went to San Francisco, where he married Miss Julia Aspal, a resident of that city, and shortly after moved to Santa Clara County, lo- cating in Santa Clara Township. Upon his arrival he began teaming and freighting, principally between Santa Clara and Alviso. In 1870 the death of his wife occurred, and shortly after he entered into farm- ing operations on the south side of the Milpitas and Alviso roads, about one mile west of the Milpitas road, upon the lands of Mrs. Mary Shaunnessy, the widow of Edward Shaunnessy, a pioneer of the county. In 1871 he married this lady, since which time he has been engaged in farm occupation. Mr. Murphy has a farm containing ninety acres, which he is devot- ing to general farming. His extensive vegetable cul- tivation occupies twenty acres, among which is ten acres of asparagus. He has also six acres of Sharpless strawberries, and six acres of orchard, the principal production of which are pears. This fruit matures finely, and is very productive upon his land. Under the above cultivation his lands require irrigation, and for this purpose he has two flowing artesian wells, one of which furnishes a magnificent supply of water, flowing fully six inches above a seven-inch pipe. The

remainder of his farm is devoted to hay, grain, and stock; among the latter he has some thorough-bred Norman and Percheron horses.

By Mr. Murphy's first marriage there are three children: George H., Mary E., and John W. Mary E. married Nicholas Whalen; they are living near Milpitas. George H. and John W., both enterprising and energetic young men, are residing at home and are conducting the farm operations. The failing health of Mr. Murphy during the past few years has compelled his retirement from active life; but his sons have proved themselves his able successors in the cul- tivation of these lands. Mr. Murphy is an intelligent and well-read gentleman, one who takes a great inter- est in all that pertains to the prosperity and growth of Santa Clara County. Himself and family are con- sistent members of the Catholic Church. Politically he may be styled an Independent, his intelligent criti- cism of public men and measures being well worthy of attention.

EDWARD MYALL was born in Dorsetshire, England, July II, 1812. His parents, Jeremiah and Ann (Kimber) Myall, were natives of En- gland. At the age of ten years he was put to work at the calling of his father, shoemaking, and was thus deprived of nearly all schooling facilities. He continued at this trade until 1830, when he came to the United States. Landing in New York, he was engaged at his trade until 1838, when he returned to England, and while there married Miss Rachel Law- rence, a native of Dorsetshire, England. In 1840 he returned to the United States and after working a short time in Maysville, Kentucky, located near Paris, Bourbon County, in that State, and engaged in business in the boot and shoe trade. In 1843 his wife and child joined him here.

Mr. Myall successfully conducted his business there for many years, rearing and educating a large family, and became one of the representative men of Bourbon County. In the years 1866 and 1867 he was a member of the Kentucky State Legislature from Bourbon County, an office which he filled to the credit of him- self and his constituents.

In 1878 Mr. Myall, feeling the need of a change of climate, and desirous of retiring from active business pursuits, came to Santa Clara County and took up his residence about a half mile west of the Santa Clara and Alviso road, in the Parker School District, about

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two miles north of Santa Clara, at which point he is the owner of eighty acres of productive land. With the exception of a small family orchard, his farm is devoted to the raising of hay, grain, and stock. Among the latter mention may be made of some thorough-bred Jersey cattle, also of full-bred trotting horses of the Hambletonian breed. He has two flow- ing artesian wells upon his land, producing an abun- dance of water for stock, domestic, and irrigation pur- poses. On his irrigated land is ten acres of alfalfa, which yields over five tons per acre each year. Mr. Myall has a comfortable cottage home, which he has surrounded by beautiful and well-ordered grounds, in which he takes a justly deserved pride, as it is mostly the work of his own hands. The beautiful shaded avenue leading to his house, the walks, roads, hedges, etc., are all improvements that he has perfected in the past ten years. The many rare and beautiful flowers and trees which he has collected and tended, show him to be a horticulturist of no mean order. In this work he has been ably assisted by his daugh- ter Elizabeth. Mr. Myall is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, taking a great interest in its welfare. He is also a member of Lodge No. 23, I. O. O. F., of Bourbon County, Kentucky. Politically he is Democratic. Mr. Myall's success in life, the high position he has held in the communities in which he has resided, has been the result of the straight- forward, manly qualities that are natural to his dis- position, rather than to any advantages he received from educational facilities in early life. He is a desir- able neighbor, and much respected in the commu- nity in which he resides.

D. STONE. Among the beautiful residence and productive orchard properties in the Hamil- ton School District is that of Mr. Stone, located on Moorpark Avenue, about three miles southwest of the business center of San Jose. The beautiful resi- dence, with about nine acres of land, is the property of Mrs. Stone; but adjoining this, on the east, is a highly productive orchard of fifteen acres, owned by Mr. Stone. This orchard is under the immediate supervision of Captain Cash, and shows great care and attention on his part in its cultivation. This orchard, with the exception of 150 walnut trees, is devoted to French prunes, the trees being six years old. Mr. Stone, in connection with his mother, Mrs. S. B. Stone, also owns forty-three acres located on

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 108

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