Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 124

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

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devoted some time to trading in stock. In the spring of 1857 he started across the plains for California. This season was a notable one on the plains. It was the year of the Johnston expedition against the Mor- mons, and this disturbed state of affairs, coupled prob- ably with the inciting of the Mormons, had made the Indians hostile toward the emigrants. Many trains had been robbed, and several murders committed by them. The train to which Mr. Parker was attached proceeded on its way without any serious trouble un- til they arrived on the Humboldt River, in Nevada. Here they found their further progress impeded by a large band of Indians. There was but one way that seemed practicable, and that was to fight their way through. In order do this, the emigrants banded to- gether and gave battle. The Indians were well armed and strongly posted in the willows and underbrush bordering the stream, and though the emigrants made several charges upon them, killing four and wounding several, they did not succeed in dislodging them. Night put a stop to further hostilities. When the morning came the emigrants were much relieved in finding that their foes had abandoned their position and retired to the mountains. From there their train pro- ceeded unmolested to California.

In the fall of this year Mr. Parker located at Mount- ain View, in Santa Clara County, where he rented land and engaged in farming and stock-raising for the following five years, after which he removed to Sonoma County, where he followed the occupation of farmer and fruit-grower until 1867, when he returned to Santa Clara County and purchased thirty-five acres of land on the Kifer road west of Santa Clara. (The place is now owned by Grandin Bray.) This land he improved and cultivated until 1885, when he sold that property and took up his residence upon six acres of land located on Scott Lane, about one mile west of Santa Clara. Mr. Parker is now the Superintendent of the well-known "Riverside" farm, located about two and one-half miles north of Santa Clara, a position which his long experience as a farmer, stock-grower, and orchardist, enables him to fill to the satisfaction and profit of its owner. He is a School Trustee in the Jefferson District, a position he has held for the past six years. In politics he is Democratic, and he is in- terested in the political affairs of the county. He is a member of Santa Clara Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., also a member of the Christian Church.

In 1857, while crossing the plains, Mr. Parker mar- ried Miss Martha Whitsitt, a native of Indiana, who was emigrating to California with her uncle. From

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this marriage ten children have been born, nine of whom are living, namely: William D., who married Miss Rebecca Leddy, daughter of Daniel Leddy, of San Jose; they are living in Santa Clara ; Jennie, who married R. M. Kifer, also living in Santa Clara; Jack- son, living at home; Louisa, who married Samuel Duff, living in Santa Clara; Annie, Solomon Lee, Josie, James, and Lena, who are residing with their parents.

EDRO DE SAISSET is a member of a distin- guished French family, and was born in the city of Paris in 1829. His father, Pedro Saisset, was educated in the Military Academy of France, and before he reached his seventeenth birthday was a Lieutenant in active service in Napoleon Bonaparte's army. His son earned the title of Admiral in the French navy by valiant services, and took a promi- nent part in the defense of Paris during the Franco- German War in 1871-72. He was subsequently elected a member of the General Assembly of France, and held the office at the time of his death. The subject of this memoir was graduated at the University of Paris in 1847, with the degree of A. B .; read law a year; in 1848 sailed for America; stopped four months at Rio Janeiro, then came by way of Cape Horn, on the brig Hector, to San Francisco, arriving July 2, 1849, having consumed 135 days in the voy- age.

Mr. Saissett married Miss Maria J. Palomares, a Spanish lady, and they settled in San Jose. Feb- ruary 28, 1882, Mr. Saisset incorporated the Brush Electric Light Company of this city, and was its first President. Through his energetic efforts, assisted by others, electric lighting has attained great success in San Jose, in spite of the many obstacles which had to be met and overcome, as is always the case with the innovation of a new idea. By considerable exertion

the Brush system was adopted for lighting the city, and so satisfactory has it proven that few cities in this country are as well lighted. The property of the company consists of the lot on North Fourth Street, on which stands their substantial brick machinery building seventy feet square, containing three steam- engines, aggregating 400-horse power, eight dynamos, and the equipment of tower, masts, wires, etc., with 200 lamps. The entire plant cost about $100,000. The whole machinery department has been changed and remodeled within the past year, and the latest

and best machines have replaced the former ones, so that in every detail the plant has no superior on the Pacific Coast. The electric light tower at the crossing of Santa Clara and Market Streets was the first erected, which was done by the citizens in 1881, and was bought by the Brush Company. It stands 208 feet above the street, is constructed of tubular iron, and supports a number of lamps, aggregating 24,000 candle-power, the largest light in the United States, and the third largest in the world. Besides this, there are twelve masts 150 feet high, supporting in all ninety lamps for lighting the city. The number of lights for all purposes has nearly doubled during the past year.

Before leaving Paris Mr. Saisset resigned his posi- tion as officer in the National Guard, but he still main- tains his allegiance to the country of his nativity, and is now serving the French Government as consular agent in San Jose. Mr. and Mrs. Saisset have a family of two sons and two daughters. Their elder son, Ernest Pedro de Saisset, has developed great talent for art, and is now in Paris studying under an eminent French master, with flattering prospect of taking high rank as a portrait artist in oil. Their other son is attending Santa Clara College. The elder daughter, Henrietta, has a diploma from the State Normal School, and the other daughter, Isabel, is taking a course in the same institution. Besides their beautiful home on South Market Street, Mr. Saisset owns a fine stock ranch of 3,313 acres in Al- ameda County.

UDLEY L. WATSON has been identified with Santa Clara County since March 17, 1879, the date of establishing his residence on Lincoln Avenue, between Malone and Pine Avenues, in the Willow District. There he erected one of the best appointed residences to be found in the neigh- borhood, and planted his five acres to cherries and plums. Until September 9, 1886, it was his home, when, selling for $5,000, he moved to San Jose. Jan- uary 1, 1884, Mr. Watson bought ten acres of land (a part of a stubble-field) near the head of Plumas Avenue, which he planted soon after with 1,000 peach and prune trees. Upon that property it is his intention to build a good residence and to make it his future home. Mr. Watson dates his birth in Exeter, New Hampshire, November 5, 1836, son of John and Betsey (Gilman) Watson, and twin brother

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of Daniel W. Watson, whose sketch appears else- where in this volume, and in connection mention is made of the family history.

Seeking a wider field and less rigorous climate, Mr. Watson came to this State, reaching San Francisco December 9, 1863. From fourteen years of age he worked at the carpenter's trade, though he has had other avocations since coming to this State. Janu- ary 27, 1865, in San Francisco, Mr. Watson wedded Miss Charlotte Ross, who was born in Groveland, Massachusetts. They have three children: The eld- est, Carrie E., is the wife of Wm. B. Irish, of this county; Frank is an attendant at the high school in San Jose; Ross is also a school-boy. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are attendants upon the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Mr. Watson is a Republican in politics, progressive and liberal in views upon all subjects. In his manner he is a real gentleman.

ENRY WALTERS resides on the Berryessa and Milpitas road (Capital Avenue), about four and one-half miles northeast of San Jose, and one and one-half miles south of Milpitas. He is the owner of sixty-four acres of land. His original tract was eighty-four acres in extent. Three acres of his land is devoted to orchard, producing nearly all vari- eties of fruit grown in his section. He has also two and one-half acres of grape-vines, bearing Mission, Charbano, and Muscat varieties. The remainder of his land is devoted to hay, grain, and stock-raising. The subject of this sketch was born near Baden-Baden, Germany, February 1, 1833. His parents, Louis and Catharine (Modcom) Walters, were natives of the place of his birth. His father was a miller, and to this calling Mr. Walters was reared, receiving at the same time such schooling as the common schools af- forded. In 1857 he accompanied his father's family to the United States, landing in New York. In 1858 his father and youngest sister came to California. Mr. Walters remained in New York, where he was engaged in the grocery business and wholesale milk trade.

January 1, 1860, he married Miss Amelia Langensee, daughter of Louis and Barbara (Roesler) Langensee, natives of Wurtemburg, Germany. On the fifth of the same month Mr. Walters and his bride sailed, by the Panama route, for California. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he worked in that city for two years,

one year at his trade as a miller and another year in a vinegar factory. In 1862 he came to Santa Clara County and purchased nine acres of land, near Ber- ryessa, which he planted with fruit trees and vines. Mr. Walters lived upon this place until 1869, and in October of that year he sold his orchard and purchased fifty acres of the land he now occupies. He afterward bought thirty-four acres adjoining his fifty-acre tract. Mr. Walters has been successful and has created a produc ive farm. He is an industrious and energetic man, and is deserving of such success as he has at- tained. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican, but is very conserva- tive and liberal in his views.

Mr. and Mrs. Walters have four children living, viz .: George Louis, Sophia, Amelia, and Charles H. So- phia married John Versor, and Amelia married George Yoell. They all reside in San Jose, except Charles H., who resides with his parents.

SCAR U. ALLISON is one of the native sons of California, who is devoting himself to fruit- growing in Santa Clara County. His place, on Pine Avenue, between Lincoln Avenue and Hicks Street, contains twenty acres, and is planted, ten acres in apricots, five acres in prunes, and five acres in peaches, all in bearing. This place yielded, in 1887, about $2,000. At that time he owned the place on the corner of Hicks Street and Minnesota Avenue, also a place near Campbell Station, of thirty- two and one-half acres, of which twenty-one and one- half acres were in fruit. These two latter places he has since sold.

He was born in Sonora, Tuolumne County, Cali- fornia, in 1855. His parents, Oscar and Catherine (Miller) Allison, came to California in the pioneer days of the State. His father, a native of New York State, came around the Horn in 1849, on the break- ing out of the gold excitement. His mother, a native of Massachusetts, came by way of Panama, with a married sister, in 1852. They were married in Tuol- umne County, California, in 1852, and have two chil- dren, Oscar U. and Marion, now living in San Jose. Their residence is now in Napa County. The subject of this sketch was educated in San Francisco, after which he learned the soda-water manufacturing busi- ness, in San Jose, in Williams Bros'. establishment, where he worked for seven years. He was for a time

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

engaged on his own account in business in Woodland, Yolo County, California.

In 1882 he was married to Miss Lola J. Coburn, daughter of William and Mary (Lupton) Coburn, a native of California, whose parents came to California at an early date in its history. They had one child, Charles, born July 21, 1884. Mr. Allison is a sup- porter of the Republican party, and of its views on the tariff question.

S. MOCKBEE was born in Santa Clara County, California, March 16, 1859, between old and new Mountain View. His parents, James W. and Clarissa Mockbee, were early settlers in this township. Jake, as he is familiarly known, was educated at the' public schools of Mountain View, and lived at home until he was fifteen years old. During the last four years he lived at home he was working, in connection with others, on a threshing-machine, bucking straw, when he weighed only seventy-five pounds. Was a mere boy, yet received full pay, and did as much work as anyone else. He was thus engaged with his father for two years, J. W. Lauer one year, Smith & Bubb one year, and McCubbin & Dale one year. When he was fifteen years old he started with John Haverty in the butcher business, and remained with him two years. He then served as an apprentice in the blacksmith trade, with G. W. Smith & Bro., with whom he worked for two years and ten months, completing his time. He then bought out the senior partner, G. W. Smith, taking a half interest in the business, under the firm name of Smith & Mockbee, which partnership continued three years. Mr. Mock- bee then bought the whole business, which he has run since. The shop was formerly on the old Smith property, but on the twenty-third of December, 1887, it was moved to its present place, on Castro Street, where Mr. Mockbee bought a lot in October, 1882.

Mr. Mockbee is what might be styled a self-made man, having had to earn his own way in the world when he was a small boy, besides being of some assistance to his parents. He has built up a fine business, having the appliances for doing general blacksmithing, also carriage and paint shops. He is a stockholder and Secretary in the Olympic Hall of Mountain View, and stockholder and Director in the Mountain View Canning Company. In 1884 he became a Mason and member of the Blue Lodge of Mountain View.

Mr. Mockbee was married, October 1, 1884, to Miss Emma Wagner, of Hollister, San Benito County, California. They have one son, Charles Henry, born April 15, 1886.

¿ILLIAM D. BROWN, Chief of Police of San Jose, is one of those men who by sterling worth and innate fidelity to duty has acquired the confidence of his fellow-citizens, and to that degree that he has not only been promoted to his present position by the suffrages of men in his own party, but has the active approval and support of hundreds of voters of opposing party affiliations. This is evidenced by the fact that he has won his way up from the ranks, and that, while his first election showed a majority of only ninety votes, at the next election it was 340, and at the election lately held (April 9, 1888) he received a majority of 1,062 votes.

His parents, William and Catherine (Daley) Brown, were natives of Ireland, who emigrated in 1840 to Australia, the subject of this sketch being born in Sydney, two weeks after the arrival of his parents. In 1849 they came to California, attracted by the prospects of fortune to be wrested from the streams and hill-sides by strong hands and willing hearts. The father went at once to the mines in Stanislaus County, remaining for about six months, while the mother established and kept the hotel known as the "Maid of Erin," on Broadway, near Ohio Street, in a building brought in sections that year from Australia.

In 1851 the subject of this sketch was brought to Santa Clara College by Father Nobili, then in charge of that institution, and remained there for one year, returning again in 1858, and remaining another year. There is hanging up in a modest frame, in Mr. Brown's office, a catalogue taken from the San Francisco Daily Herald, of July 14, 1852, of the exercises and pre- miums awarded, as well as the names of the pupils attending this examination. In this list is the name of William D. Brown, and among the other twenty- six pupils comprising the class are: Ignacio Alviso, Joaquin Arques, John M. Burnett, son of the first American Governor of California, John T. Calahan, Martin, Bernard, and Patrick Murphy. Mr. Brown appears as having taken a premium in the second class in the Spanish language, also in the third writ- ing class. The parents of the subject of our sketch, in order to be near their son, removed to San Jose, his father opening a butcher shop, the second one in the

F.r. Largent

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

town, while his mother engaged in the hotel business. His father purchased, in 1852, a ranch near what are now the Guadaloupe quicksilver mines, where he de- voted himself to farming and stock-raising for the re- mainder of his life, he dying there in 1854, and was buried in the old Mission Dolores Cemetery, in San Francisco.

The subject of our sketch worked on his father's farm until 1858, when he attended another year at Santa Clara College. He later worked at black- smithing and mining at the Guadaloupe and Hewri- quita quicksilver mines for a number of years; followed various occupations until he entered the service of the city in the Fire Department, being later appointed Special Officer of the American District Telegraph Co., working in conjunction with the regu- lar force; and on the death of Mitchell Bellew was appointed police officer. From this position he was promoted through the various grades until elected Chief.

He married, January 8, 1860, Miss Johanna Cun- ningham, a native of Ireland, and sister of Richard Cunningham, who now owns the San Bruno House, at San Bruno, California. They have had twelve chil- dren, of whom three died in infancy. Those living are: Johanna, now the wife of James Hogan, Super- intendent of American District Telephone Co., of San Jose; Katie, now the wife of Albert Richards, book- keeper for Edward Wail, of San Jose; Peter, now in business in San Francisco; and Tessie, William, Rich- ard, Virginia, Georgiana, and Bud, still under the paternal roof and attending school. Mr. Brown is a member of Mount Hamilton Lodge, of A. O. U. W., also of the American Legion of Honor, and of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is a member of the Democratic party.

P. SARGENT. The Juristac Ranch, owned by Sargent Brothers, lying in the southern portion of Gilroy Township, is one of the most interesting in the county. It contains over 7,000 acres of beau- tiful land, divided about equally between hill and valley. On the hill land are the famous "Tar Springs," as they are commonly known. Here are inexhaustible deposits of liquid asphaltum, which in places bubbles from the ground in the manner of water springs. For years the crude deposit has at-

tracted attention, as asphaltum is a valuable material in the useful arts. Some of the best specimens of paving in San Jose were made from the asphaltum obtained from the Sargents place, heating being all the preparation that is required before using. But there are many other purposes besides that of paving for which this substance is useful, and perhaps not the least important of these is its use in the manufacture of illuminating and fuel gas. A process for manu- facturing gas from it has been perfected by Mr. E. A. Holloway, of Gilroy, and as soon as his patents are procured, the system will be adopted in that place. Mr. Holloway has already demonstrated the practica- bility of the process by lighting the streets and busi- ness houses of Gilroy with asphaltum gas. This matter is further treated in another portion of this volume.

The ranch is principally devoted to stock-raising and dairying, though some attention is given to grain- growing. On this place there are about 1,500 Durham or Shorthorn cattle, Mr. Sargent preferring the cross of these two fine breeds of cattle. When he first en- gaged in the stock business in California, he handled only the common American and Spanish cattle, but since 1872 has been steadily introducing the Durham or Shorthorn. In that year he also engaged in dai- rying, and his dairy interests are now among the most extensive in the county. Two hundred and fifty cows are kept for this purpose, and an average of twelve flats per day are manufactured all the year round, the output sometimes amounting to seventeen or eighteen per day. The place is splendidly adapted to dairy purposes, and all appointments are complete. The La Brea Creek flows through the ranch, affording a never-failing supply of water for all purposes. On this tract spacious pleasure grounds are laid off in attractive form, and are annually visited by many gatherings of people who come for a day's pleasure. The Southern Pacific Railroad runs through the ranch, and lands passengers at the station, known as Sar- gents, close by which are the pleasure grounds known as Camp Sargent.

Mr. J. P. Sargent is a native of Grafton County, New Hampshire, born February 11, 1825. His parents, Jacob and Martha H. (Webster) Sargent, both came of old New England families. When a mere boy, he lost his mother by death, and he started in life for himself at an early age. After a year in Merrimac County, New Hampshire, he went to Mas- sachusetts, in 1843, and was there employed during the winter in driving a milk-cart for an uncle, Hon.

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J. W. Robertson, living near Quincy, and in the sum- mer in delivering ice in Boston. In 1844 he com- menced the ice business on his own account in Boston, in connection with his brother, R. C. Sargent, and there he laid the foundations of a prosperous business career. In 1848 they went West and located in Chi- cago for the purpose of engaging in the ice trade in that thriving city, and it is of interest to mention that they packed the first ice ever put up in Chicago.

The temptations of the great gold fever of 1849 were, however, too much for them to resist, and they sold out their business in the city by Lake Michigan, and crossed the plains to California. Locating at Weavertown, El Dorado County, they embarked in mercantile business and mining. In 1850 the subject of this sketch and three brothers engaged in the busi- ness of purchasing stock from immigrants, and into this business they drifted more and more until, in 1855, they closed out the store and gave their atten- tion entirely to stock. In 1853 Mr. Sargent came to Santa Clara County and located on the Los Angeles Ranch (now in San Benito County). In 1854 he re- moved to a tract near Soap Lake, and in 1856 to the Juristac Ranch, where he now resides. The stock firm of Sargent Brothers, of which he is a member, is composed of J. L., R. C., J. P., and B. V. Sargent. For this extensive business a vast acreage is required. They have 25,000 acres in one body in the San Joa- quin Valley, and other landed property there. In Monterey County, they have 24,000 acres in two tracts, and they have also a number of other small pieces of land, and on one of their tracts the town of Bradley, an important station on the Southern Pacific Railroad, is located.

Mr. Sargent was married, in Monterey County, No- vember 4, 1864, to Miss Agnes Bowie, a native of Montreal, Canada, whose parents came to California in 1857, locating at San Juan, where both have since died. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent are the parents of five children, viz .: James A., Ross C., Agnes, Ida, and Louisa.

Mr. Sargent is a man of marked business ability, as indicated by his progress, making his own start in boyhood, and rising unaided to his present position. He is a Republican, politically, and in 1872 was chosen on that ticket to represent this district in the Legislature of California. He has been for many years a Director of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultu- ral Society, and in 1877 was elected its President. It can truthfully be said of Mr. Sargent that, wealthy as he is, and having accumulated his fortune by his own

efforts, he has yet ever been free from everything of a sordid nature, and is known as a genial and whole- souled man.

FRANCIS E. BUCK, M. D., of Mayfield, is a native of Wapello County, Iowa, born on the eighteenth day of October, 1856. His father, Francis H. Buck, now deceased, was a physician and a graduate of the Western Reserve Medical College, Cleveland, Ohio. He located at Eddyville, Wapello county, Iowa, where he resided until his death. The mother of the subject was a native of Massachusetts, and her maiden name was Emily Campbell. She survives her husband. Francis E. Buck, subject of this sketch, was reared at Eddyville, and there commenced his education, and also attended Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa. From there he advanced to Oberlin College, at Oberlin, Ohio, and after this attended Booktelle College, at Akron, Ohio. After a year and a half there he commenced attendance at the West- ern Reserve Medical College, where he met some of the professors whose lectures his father had attended during his college days. From this institution he graduated March 8, 1879. He commenced prac- tice near Ottumwa, Iowa, with Dr. Gutch, an old res- ident of the community, but removed to Des Moines in 1881, and in 1884 came from there to California, locating at Mayfield in September. He now has an extensive practice. The doctor was married, in Iowa, to Miss Allie Belle Russell, a native of that State, reared at Glenwood, Missouri, and Boone, Iowa. They have four children, viz .: James Russell, Emily Hazel, Martha, and an infant unnamed. Dr. Buck has passed through all the chairs in the Mayfield lodge, I. O. O. F. He is a Republican in politics.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 124

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