Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 121

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 121

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Mr. Ward was an active and enthusiastic Republi- can from the earliest history of the party, taking an active part in the Fremont campaign in 1856. He supported ex-Governor St. John in the presidential campaign of 1884, and is now as ardent a Prohibitionist as he was then a Republican. He is a member of Pacific Council, No. 474, American Legion of Honor. Mr. and Mrs. Ward and family are members of the Orthodox Friends' Church.

ETER BALL was born in La Salle County, Illinois, August 17, 1844. His father, Marlin Ball, is a native of Ireland, where he was born about 1807. He married there, and emigrated to Canada, where he resided a few years, when he moved to Buffalo, New York.

He afterward moved to Illinois and settled in La Salle County. In 1850 he, with his family, left Illinois, bound for California. They made the journey over- land to Sacramento, where they located. The next year he went into the hotel business, and during the big fire of 1852 was burned out, which severed his connection with that city. In the spring of 1853 he settled in Santa Clara County and took up 210 acres of what he supposed was government land, but which

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afterward proved to be a Spanish claim. When this fact became known, Mr. Ball bought the land from the parties, and quite a number of years afterward pur- chased 160 acres adjoining, which land is now in the possession of his son, Peter Ball. Martin Ball resided on the place until about 1875, when he moved to Santa Clara, where he has since resided. He is quite infirm in his old age, and, having had two strokes of paralysis, he is left in a very feeble condition. His wife died in 1878. She was the mother of five children, of whom four are living.

Peter Ball remained with his father up to the time he moved to Santa Clara, when he purchased of him the 160 acres mentioned, and 109 acres of the origi- nal purchase, which later on he sold again. The place is under good cultivation, with about fifty acres in vine- yard, all wine grapes, the most of which are coming into bearing. Last year, from about six acres that are four years old, the yield was about thirty-two tons. In 1882 Mr. Ball was appointed Deputy Assessor for Santa Clara County, which position he held for five years. In October, 1887, he was appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury to the position of United States In- ternal Revenue Gauger for the Fifth Division of the First District of California, in which position he now serves.

Mr. Ball was married, in 1868, to Mary E. Plunkett, who was born in Australia, a daughter of Richard Plunkett, of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Ball have a family of five children, three daughters and two sons.

RANK SCHILLING, manufacturer of guns and dealer in firearms and sporting goods, 27 El Dorado Street, settled in San Jose and opened his present business in the spring of 1862. By keep- ing the best grades of goods, honest methods in deal- ing, and diligent attention to business, he has built up a prosperous and growing trade, and made friends of his customers.

Mr. Schilling was born in Southern Germany in 1835. Before reaching his fifteenth birthday he crossed the Atlantic, arriving in New York in 1850. He visited a number of cities in the East and South, working at his trade of gunsmith, before coming to the Pacific Coast. He married Miss Dooty, in San Francisco. She is a native of Dublin, Ireland, but came to this country in her childhood. Their family consists of two daughters and three sons. Their eld- est daughter has been a teacher for several years in the

public schools, a portion of the time principal of the Fourth Ward School of San Jose. The eldest son, H. E., is assisting his father in business; and the second son, Frank A., after attending school four years at Santa Clara College, is studying law in San Jose; Raymond, the youngest son, is taking a course in the San Jose Business College. Mr. Schilling is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and of the Knights of Honor. Though always a hard worker, he is a remarkably well-preserved man, and has never required the services of a physician in his life. He owns a number of pieces of improved property in the city, including the store in which he carries on business.

OHN J. BERGIN was born in New York city, Feb- ruary 14, 1845. His parents, Richard and Catha- rine Bergin, were both natives of Ireland. Rich- ard Bergin left Ireland when he was a young man, and went to Liverpool, England, where he engaged in business for a few years, and along in the '30s came to the United States and located in New York. He was a business man of that city, and made it his home until his death, in 1884. His widow is still residing there. She was the mother of thirteen children, of whom only three sons lived to be grown. John J. Bergin was raised and educated in New York, where he lived with his parents until he entered the govern- ment service, in June, 1863. He enlisted in the thirty days' service in the gallant Sixty-ninth New York State Militia. After his time expired he again en- listed in the Fourth New York Heavy Artillery and served through the campaigns of his regiment until the close of the war, and was mustered out of service in October, 1865. He was with Grant in the Army of the Potomac from the time he left Brandy Station to the surrender at Appomattox. After his dis- charge Mr. Bergin returned to New York, where he remained until he came to California in 1871. He sailed from New York by way of Panama and arrived at San Francisco. He was married, in January, 1876, to Mrs. Francisca Price, whose maiden name was Walkinshaw. The ranch which belongs to Mrs. Bergin has 312 acres, of which seventy acres is in vineyard six years old. There is also twenty acres in orchard of various kinds of fruit of the same age. The remainder of the land is all under cultivation. In the year 1887 the vines bore about 250 tons of grapes, while the present yield will be nearly double.

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The orchard is in good bearing condition, and con- sists principally of apricots, French prunes and Bart- lett pears. The place is beautifully situated in the foot-hills about two and a half miles south of Mount- ain View. The grounds are very ornamental and beautifully laid out, there being on the place twenty- five orange trees, which were bearing a heavy crop when they were injured by the frost last winter.

Mr. and Mrs. Bergin have two children, a son and daughter. Mrs. Bergin was born in Mexico. Her mother was a Mexican lady, and her father, Robert Walkinshaw, was a Scotchman. She was a small child when her parents came to this country and has seen a great deal of early life in California. Her fa- ther, Robert Walkinshaw, was a mining expert and was sent from Scotland to Mexico to examine mines in that locality, and from there came to California in 1846 to examine the New Almaden mines, and up to 1850 served as Superintendent of the mines. He bought a farm about two miles west of the Almaden mines, where he lived nine years. He then bought a large tract of land called the Ynigo farm, which was owned by an Indian by that name. The Indian af- terward made his home with Mr. Walkinshaw, until he died, at the age of 110 years. Mr. Walkinshaw returned to Scotland, where he died in 1858. The farm was afterward sold, and Mrs. Bergin bought her present place in 1872.

A. COE, a member of the firm of Burns, Leiter & Coe, dealers in real estate, San Jose, Cali- fornia, was born in Madison County, New York, December 24, 1840. His parents were Sanford M: and Sarah (Bridge) Coe, both natives of Connecticut. Up to his nineteenth year he was reared at his birthplace and was educated in the public school and Cazinovia Academy. On leaving home in 1859 he went to Ripon, Wisconsin, where he engaged in the mercantile business by becoming associated with C. A. Peck in the firm style of Peck & Coe.

In 1861 the style of the firm was changed to that of Coe Brothers, his brother, A. B. Coe, succeeding William Peck in the business. Retiring from the firm of Coe Brothers in 1872, Mr. Coe engaged in the lum- bering business at Fairchild, Wisconsin, till 1875, when he went to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was the first to introduce the wholesale fruit business in that city, handling California fruit. In 1886, discon- tinuing the wholesale fruit business at Minneapolis,

he came to Santa Clara County and purchased a fruit ranch in the Willows, in the vicinity of San Jose, where, with his sons, Fred A. and Harry F., he is ex- tensively engaged in fruit-culture and in evaporating and shipping fruit to Eastern markets. Of the many rural homes and fine orchards for which the Willows is noted, in point of beauty and picturesque attrac- tion, there are none that excel Mr. Coe's residence and finely cultivated orchards. Mr. Coe is also ex- tensively engaged in real estate at San Jose, becoming associated, in 1887, with J. Burns and J. Leiter as Burns, Leiter & Coe.

November 10, 1862, he married Jennie A., daughter of Edward J. and Martha Smith. Three children were born to them: Alice J., wife of D. D. Brooks, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and the two sons before mentioned. Mr. and Mrs. Coe are members of the First Methodist Church of San Jose, of which he is . a class leader.

LPHONSE D. DERENNE was born in De- partment of Eure, France, August 7, 1839, his parents being Delphin and Victorine (Cati) Derenne. He was reared in the village of Ecardenville la Champagne to the age of sixteen years, and then went to Paris. Thence he went to London, and from there to New York, in 1862. Two years later he went to Mexico, and at the close of the war went back to New York. From there he went to New Orleans, where he remained two years, and in 1867 went again to Paris, this time to attend the great Paris exhibition. In 1868 he returned to New York, and from there came by way of Aspinwall and Panama to California. He remained in San Fran- cisco two years, then came to Santa Clara County, where he owned the ranch now the property of C. De Loutel, to whom he sold it. He then went back to San Francisco, and was a guide carrier there until 1887, when he returned to Santa Clara County. He has been an extensive traveler, and has seen a great deal of the world. In politics he is a Democrat.

A. P. DANIEL, of Fremont Township, is a native of France, born at Paris, June 9, 1822, his parents being Charles and Teresa (Snyder) Daniel. He was reared in the department of Ardennes, near the line of Champagne. From 1842 to 1849 he was a soldier in the army of France, in the second Chasseurs

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de Afrique, his service being in Algiers, wliere he gallantly performed his part. He returned to France after the expiration of his term of service, and in 1861, going to Havre, took passage in a vessel bound for New York. He soon come out to California, and has resided in the State ever since. He bought fifteen acres where he now resides, in 1868, at which time it was covered with brush. After three or four years of patient labor, he got his land in condition to cultivate, and he now has twelve and one-half acres of vines in thirty-five of the choicest foreign varieties, including red, black, and white table grapes. Half of the vine- yard is just coming into bearing, the rest all being ma- ture vines. He sells a great many grapes in the market, and manufactures wine from the remainder. He has three wine cellars, one of them under-ground. The place shows every evidence of the careful atten- tion given it by the proprietor.

Mr. Daniel was married to Miss Mary Röslar, a native of France, born at Strasburg, and daughter of John Pierre and Catharine Rösler. She was reared in Paris from the age of two years. Mr. Daniel is a Republican politically.

Co ILLIAM E. LENDRUM, druggist, 35 East Santa Clara Street, San Jose, has been in that business since November, 1887, having bought this store from O. J. Lynch, the business having been originally opened by Dr. Robert Ammen.

Mr. Lendrum is a native of California, having been born in San Jose in 1863. His parents were James and Ann J. (Reed) Lendrum, natives of Scotland, who immigrated to the United States in 1842. James Lendrum came to Santa Clara County in 1848, where he purchased several ranches and engaged largely in stock-raising and farming. He also had an orchard of twenty acres within one and a half miles of San Jose, planted in cherries, apples, pears, prunes, peaches, and apricots, set out in 1862. From this he realized large profits. He landed in San Fran- cisco in 1848, with a surplus of twenty cents cash on hand, and by industry, energy, perseverance, and economy, attending exclusively to his stock, farming, and orchard interests, he had accumulated by the time of his death, in 1885, an estate worth $300,000! He was a man of kindly instincts and generous im- pulses. Later in life, and when he had accumulated a competency, he traveled for about one and a half years, visiting most of the countries of Europe, as

well as Africa, and Australia, making the tour of the world, in which he expended over $7,000. His widow and four children are still living: The eldest is the subject of this sketch; Maggie E., graduate of the Van Ness Seminary; James, in school in San Fran- cisco ; Birney, attending San Mateo College.

The subject of this sketch attended the State Normal School up to the time of his father's death, when he took charge of the estate, managing the va- rious ranches. Having studied chemistry at the State Normal School, and having a taste for the profession, he purchased the drug store he now owns, and has since become proficient in its various branches. He employs as manager, Mr. Charles Terwilliger, a grad- uate of the Illinois School of Pharmacy.

Mr. Lendrum married, April 6, 1887, Miss Joseph- ine McMeekin, a native of England, her parents emi- grating from that county to California in 1870. He is a member of San Jose Court, Ancient Order of Foresters.

R. THOMAS KELLEY is a native of Illinois, born near Lincoln, Logan County, in 1836. His father, Alexander, and his mother, Lucinda - (Anderson) Kelley, moved into Illinois at an early date, and were married in that State in 1833. His father was a native of Kentucky and his mother of Ohio. They removed in 1842 from Logan County to De Witt County, settling near Clinton, occupying a farm, where they have continued to this day. Dr. Kelley attended the usual district schools there, com- mencing the study of medicine previous to the out- break of the war. He enlisted in the Union army in August, 1861, joining Company K, Forty-first Illinois Infantry, in which command he remained until his term of service expired, being mustered out on Sep- tember 8, 1864. His regiment served in the Army of the Cumberland, also in the Army of the Tennessee, participating in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Don- elson, Shiloh, siege of Corinth, in a battle on the Hatchie River, Coldwater, Massachusetts, siege of Vicksburg, at Jackson, Mississippi, on July 12, 1863, and with Sherman as far as Atlanta, previous to his March to the Sea. The only battle in which he was wounded during his whole term of service, notwith- standing that he was actively engaged in all the bat- tles in which his company and regiment participated, was at Jackson, Mississippi, on July 12, 1863, where he received a flesh wound in the thigh. Dr. Kelley

James D. Casten.

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was partially crippled for several years from this wound, receiving a pension during that time. When fully recovered, he neglected to call further for his pension money, feeling he no longer had a just claim on the government, and no longer signed and re- turned the vouchers. He enlisted as a private, was promoted to the First Lieutenancy of his company for gallant and meritorious conduct on the battle-field during the siege of Vicksburg, and more particularly during the battle at Jackson, Mississippi.

Soon after his return to Illinois he resumed the study of his profession, under the preceptorship of Dr. John Wright, of Clinton, Illinois; attended lectures at Rush Medical College, Chicago, during the sessions of 1869-71, graduating February 1, 1871. Removed in that year to Santa Clara County, California, engaging in the practice of his profession, to which he has since devoted himself exclusively.

Dr. Kelley was married, in 1859, to Miss Alice Leeds, of Ohio. She died while he was in the service, leav- ing one son, A. M. Kelley, now Principal of the public schools of Saratoga, California. In 1863 he was mar- ried to Mrs. Sarah Watkins, of Clinton, Illinois. Their four children are : Lessie, now the wife of C. H. Led- better, Jr., of San Francisco; Thomas D. Libbie, and Nannie, now living at the parental home and attend- ing school. Dr. Kelley is a member of John A. Dix Post, No. 42, San Jose, G. A. R .; of Lodge No. 125, Knights of Pythias, San Jose ; and of Mount Hamil- ton Lodge, A. O. U. W.

Dr. Kelley's father, his brother John, and two brothers-in-law, George Messer and William Kelley, were in the Union army during the war. His brother, and brother-in-law, George Messer, died in the service, and brother-in-law, William Kelley, was killed in the engagement at Dalton, Tennessee. Dr. Kelley is a Republican, and believes in the fullest protection of American industries.

AMES W. EASTIN. No history of the county would be complete without more than a passing mention of the man whose name heads this sketch. He is a pioneer of his State, county, and district, having come to the State in 1847, and settled in this county (in the Moreland District) in 1850.

He was born in Madison County, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 7, 1821, of an old Virginia family, whose his- tory dates from the coming of his great grandfather, Philip Eastin, from England to Virginia in 1750. With him came two or three brothers, who settled

in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Philip Eastin fol- lowed agricultural pursuits, which as a rule have been the occupation of his descendants. The grandfather of James W. Eastin was Stephen Eastin, who settled in Fayette County, Kentucky, about 1790. A few years later he removed to Madison County, the same State, and there improved a homestead adjoining the home of Green Clay, the father of Cassius M. Clay. He married, in Virginia, Susan Johnson, who was first cousin of Richard M. Johnson, who was Vice- President during the presidency of Martin Van Buren. They died at the old homestead. Stephen Eastin was wealthy and owned many slaves. Before his death he freed all his slaves except those who were helpless, and for these he made provision for care and maintenance.

The father of the subject of our sketch was Robert Johnson Eastin, who was born in 1788 in Virginia. He was a child four years of age when his parents settled in Kentucky, and he always lived in that State. In 1808 he married Miss Mary Elliott, who was also a native of Virginia. To them were born nine children, four sons and five daughters. Of this large family, besides the subject of our sketch, but one son and one daughter are now living. The son, John Walker Eastin, now lives in Logan County, Kentucky.

James W. Eastin, the subject of our sketch, was early trained to the duties of a farm life in Madison County, Kentucky, receiving his education in the schools of that county. When he reached his major- ity, he went to Lafayette County, Missouri, and there engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1843 he married Miss Rebecca A. Fine, who was born in Tennessee. Her father settled in Missouri while it was yet a Ter- ritory. Mr. Eastin led the quiet life of a Missouri farmer until stories of the wonderful climate and re- sources of California induced him to undertake the then long, tedious journey to the Golden State. May 9, 1847, with his wife and one child, and such simple household articles as could be stored in one wagon, with ample provision for the season to be spent on the way, they left Missouri. Reaching California September 10 following, which was before the discov- cry of gold, they thus became advance guards of the hosts who brought American civilization to this bright, sunny land.

The first money he earned in this State was by helping to build a house, receiving for his work $1.50 per day. He then engaged in keeping a boarding and lodging house, at which he accumulated some little money, when he commenced loaning money to the

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Spaniards, who used it for gambling purposes, taking horses and saddles in pawn, often doubling his loans in two or three days; and by the first of January, 1848, he had accumulated $230 in gold. He then entered into copartnership with a Maj. Daniel McDonald, and started a small store, but his partner dying in a few weeks after their store was opened Mr. Eastin closed up the affairs of the firm in May, and on the first of June he engaged in mining on the South Fork of the American River, remaining there until September, when he removed to San Francisco. Here Mr. Eastin bought a yoke of oxen and a wagon and engaged in teaming until April, 1849. He then left his family in San Francisco, and with a company of six men started for the mines. At Sac- ramento the party bought horses, which they packed and set out for the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River, remaining until August, when he returned to San Francisco. Again in October, he returned to mining in Oregon Gulch, near where Georgetown now stands. Here Mr. Eastin met with very good success. So rich indeed were the mines that he with three others took out $2,200 in three days, some nuggets weighing as much as four ounces. Notwithstanding his marked success in the mines, Mr. Eastin decided, at the beginning of the rainy season, about November I, to return to San Francisco, where he remained until May, 1850. After an un- successful prospecting tour in the mining regions he returned and soon after went to Santa Clara County, and located a claim of 160 acres, on which he settled in August, 1850, camping until October. The house which he then erected forms a part of his present habitation. The lumber for the original house cost Mr. Eastin $180 per thousand feet, and he paid a car- penter $12 a day to put up the frame, himself finish- ing the structure with a hatchet and saw.

Perhaps no other man in Santa Clara County has lived so long in the same house. He has improved 194 acres, a large portion of which he yet retains. One of the oldest peach orchards to be found in the State, was planted by him in 1855, and is yet in bear- ing. He has, in all, twenty-two acres in orchard, producing a general variety of fruit.

The good wife who braved the trials of the over- land journey of 1847, and who helped to build up the pioneer home, lived many years to enjoy the fruits of her labors, her death occurring March 15, 1883. She was the mother of five children, three of whom are living. Her eldest, Lafayette, whom she brought to California a child of two years, is now a prominent

citizen and trusted official of Ventura County, being an Attorney and County Clerk. He is a graduate of the University of the Pacific. John W. is a resi- dent of San Francisco, as is also Mrs. Mary E. Cran- dall, the only daughter.

Mr. Eastin has served his county in important official trusts, acting in the early years as Magistrate and Associate Judge. His acquaintance is large, and everywhere he is known as "Judge Eastin." His recol- lection of early events is most vivid, and often he is called upon to decide which is right of different opin- ions concerning matters nearly forgotten by others. As a writer, he is clear and forcible, and as a conver- sationalist most entertaining. In the old days he was a Whig, and an ardent supporter of Henry Clay. Since that party dropped from sight, he has been a Democrat. As an Odd Fellow, he is affiliated with Santa Clara Lodge, No. 52.

C. BAILEY, real estate agent, West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, has been a resident of California since 1851, and of the Santa Clara Valley since 1853. A native of Augusta, Maine, where he was born in 1830, he remained there until the age of seventeen years, when he graduated at the Bloom- field Academy. In 1851, at the age of 21 years, he came to California by way of Panama. At first he went to the mines, as did most immigrants at that time, working in the American and Yuba River placer mines. In 1853 he took charge of the ranch of a friend in the Santa Clara Valley. Later he steam- boated for about six years, going as high on the Sac- ramento River as Red Bluff, and for the California Steam Navigation Company between San Francisco and Alviso. He opened the railroad office at Santa Clara, and later at San Jose, for the San Jose and San Francisco railroad, on January 19, 1864 ; contin- ued with that road for three and one half years; was then engaged with John S. Carter in the grain busi- ness in San Jose for three years ; in 1871 was elected County Recorder, holding the office for two years, then elected County Treasurer for two years. In 1877 he accepted the secretaryship of the Felton and Santa Cruz Railroad Company, which he held for one year; had charge of the Farmers' Union, at Mont- erey, a branch of the San Jose Farmers' Union, for one and one-half years. In 1879 he engaged in the real- estate business with Mr. Boring, the present Mayor of San Jose, and in that year was appointed postmaster,

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 121

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