Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 18

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 18

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In the fall of 1877 he took the management of the San Jose Daily Herald, which he retained until June, 1880. While the current of events had up to this time kept him in other business channels, his inclinations and ambitions had always tended towards the study of law, which he engaged in regularly in the fall of 1880, in the office of Archer & Lovell, for two years. In the fall of 1882 he was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court en banc, after the usual examination, and became a law partner of Judge Lawrence Archer, in the place of Mr. Lovell, who had retired, this asso- ciation continuing to this time. He was married on October 4, 1883, to Miss Sallie Trimble, a native of San Jose, the eldest daughter of John Trimble, lately de- ceased, one of the early pioneers of California and a veteran of the Mexican War. They have one child, Lawrence Archer Bowden, now about one year old.

Mr. Bowden has always been actively and earnestly interested in the political questions of the day, and while not devoting time belonging to his profession, to active politics, he has always given a warm support

to the Democratic party, and has been prominent in its councils. In recognition of his position and dis- interested party service, he has been nominated by the Democratic State Convention, recently held at Los Angeles, as one of the Cleveland and Thurman pres- idential electors for California.

BAINBRIDGE L. RYDER, attorney at law, is one of the rising and successful young lawyers of the Pacific Coast. He was born in the town of Natick, Massachu- setts, twenty-seven years ago. Mr. Ryder came to California for his health, arriving in the early part of January, 1882. On recuperating he employed his spare hours in reading law, and, later, entered the law office of Hon. T. H. Lane as a student, and was admitted to the Bar in February, 1885. In May, 1888, he was appointed court commissioner of the Superior Court of Santa Clara County. He is one of three attor- neys of the city who are recommended in the last "Bankers' Directory," by the bankers of San Jose, as competent and trustworthy attorneys to attend to legal business from abroad. Mr. Ryder was the instigator and prime mover in organizing the San Jose Board of Trade, which is now a large and thrifty body, composed of about all of the leading men of the city, with a membership numbering more than two hundred. By his experience in the practice of com- mercial law he was brought in contact with such bodies in other cities, and deemed such an organi- zation of vital importance to this city and county. Mr. Ryder is interested in the Reed Gulch and Golconda Extension mines, and owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, twenty-one miles south of San Jose, which he intends planting to orchard. He is also a member of the Ryder Shingle Company, owning a shingle mill in the Santa Cruz Mountains, situated about twenty-five miles from San Jose.

M. H. HYLAND, attorney at law, residing at No. 1 32 North Fourth Street, San Jose, is a most pleasing example of what might be termed a pre-eminently self-made man. Courteous in his home, frank and affable in his conversation and intercourse with his fellow-man, he is withal a clear-headed and successful business man, an able attorney, and a politician honored in the councils of his party. Born in Bos- ton, Massachusetts, in 1852, he was, by the death of his parents, Thomas and Jane (Leighton) Hyland, thrown upon his own resources at a very tender age. Leaving Boston at the age of nine years, he went to New Hampshire, where he worked on farms, and

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

later in Massachusetts for about six years. During that time he worked in Boston for about one year. In 1869 he came to California, remaining in San Francisco for a few months, when he came to San Jose, where he has remained almost constantly since that time. His first employment here was in a plan- ing mill, where he continued for about two years, gathering together sufficient capital to establish him- self in the poultry, fish, and game business. In this business he continued until 1882, making a fair finan- cial success In January, 1883, he accepted the posi- tion of chief deputy in the county clerk's office, hold- ing that position for two years, during which time he devoted his spare hours to the study of law. During all these years of labor and gradual advancement in life, Mr. Hyland had been studying privately and im- proving his mind, gathering together the elements of a self-acquired education. In January, 1885, he was admitted to the Bar by the Supreme Court of the State. He has since that time been engaged in the practice of law and in looking after his varied in- terests.

He was married, in 1878, to Miss Annie E. Jami- son, a native of Clay County, Missouri, her parents having moved to that State from Kentucky. In 1864 they came to California, crossing the plains in the regulation ox-team wagons.

Mr. Hyland is a member of San Jose Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F., and is secretary of that Lodge. He is also secretary of the Odd Fellows' Hall Association. He is a member of the Democratic party and secre- tary of the Democratic County Committee.

SAMUEL ALPHONSO BARKER was born in Kenne- bec County, Maine, July 26, 1833. His paternal an- cestors were English, and those on his mother's side were Scotch. His family is one of the oldest in the country, his people having come to America about seven years after the Mayflower. The family in this country is descended from two brothers, Noah and Carr Barker, the latter being the ancestor of the subject of this sketch. His descendants settled in Maine, while it was still a part of the province of Massachusetts. Mr. Barker's maternal ancestors were also early in America. His mother's father was a Revolutionary soldier, and it was while on the marclı to Canada, under Arnold, that he selected the tract of land upon which he afterwards settled. This tract was afterwards a part of the city of Hallowell. He engaged in ship-building for a few years, and then removed to the neighboorhood of Reedville, where he

purchased a farm and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. This farm is still in possession of his de- scendants. The subject of this sketch was educated in his native State, and, in 1854, commenced the study of law in the office of Judge Josiah H. Drummond, who has since been attorney-general of the State. In 1857 Mr. Barker was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State of Maine. He practiced his profession successfully for ten years in his native State, and in 1867 came to California, being attracted hither by a desire to renew his health, which too close application to business had impaired. He had chosen Santa Clara County for his residence and came di- rectly to San Jose.

He here resumed the practice of his profession, selecting the department of counselor rather than that of advocate. He has confined himself as nearly as possible to probate and commercial cases and cases involving the title to lands. His sound judgment and knowledge of the law, especially in the depart- ments which he had selected for his specialties, brought him a large and lucrative practice. · The ac- curacy of his opinions in regard to the investment of capital attracted to him many clients, who have trusted implicitly to his judgment and his integrity, and have never had occasion to regret their confidence. In all questions touching estates of deceased persons and the laws affecting real-estate titles, Mr. Barker is con- sidered an authority. He is a member of the Bar of the Supreme Court of the State and of the United States District Court. He is att rney for the Board of Trade of San Jose, and of the Garden City Sav- ings Union. He was married, April 5, 1858, to Sarah E. Parshley, of Maine, and has three children: Charles A., now assistant manager of the San Fran- cisco Lumber Company; Frank P., deputy recorder and auditor of Santa Clara County, and Alfred, now a student at the California Military Academy, at Oakland.

FRANK M. PFISTER .- This gentleman, the son of Adolph Pfister, was born in San Jose in 1851. In early youth he attended the public schools, and the Gates Institute, then the Santa Clara College, for two years, after which he was three years at the Univer- sity at Ann Arbor, Michigan, from which institute he graduated as an attorney at law, in 1874. After his graduation Mr. Pfister returned to San Jose and con- tinued his studies of the statutes of California for a season, after which he went to Inyo County and com- menced the practice of law, remaining there during a

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part of the years 1875-76. He then returned to San Jose and formed a co-partnership with J. J. Burt, in the practice of law, later drifting into the manufact- ure of lime, of which work Mr. Burt took especial charge, while Mr. Pfister became drawn into political life, being elected county treasurer in 1882. He remained in this office for the term of two years. Then, not wishing re-nomination to a position of such undue responsibility for the amount of recom- pense, he became a candidate for the office of city justice of San Jose, being elected in 1884. That office he held for two years, then became justice for San Jose township, which position he now holds.

Judge Pfister is yet interested with Mr. Burt in lime works in Santa Clara County, near the Guada- loupe mines. These works are of a capacity of one hundred and forty barrels per day. There are also works in San Benito County, near Tres Pinos, of a smaller capacity.

Judge Pfister has always been identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of the San Jose Parlor, N. S. G. W.

JUDGE JOSEPH BASIL LAMAR is a descendant of old Huguenot ancestors, who settled in Charleston, South Carolina, in colonial days. Both his grand- sires-Lamar and Winn-were soldiers in the War of the Revolution. The Judge has a highly prized relic of those times,-a gold watch which strikes the time, which his grandfather Winn carried during that war, and was on his person when he was taken prisoner by Lord Cornwallis at Camden, South Carolina.

Judge Lamar was born in Georgia in 1827, edu- cated and reared in his native State, and studied law and was admitted to the Bar before he was twenty-one years of age, by special act of the Legislature. After practicing a short time he came to California. Start- ing from home in company with five other young men, they halted at New Orleans, where they met Gen. Mirabeau B. Lamar, second president of the republic of Texas, and relative of the Judge-who advised the party to make the trip through Mexico. And, furnished with letters of introduction to prom- inent persons at the principal cities, and a good stock of information and advice from him, they crossed the gulf to Vera Cruz, and made the trip overland, visit- ing the city of Mexico and other points of interest, and consuming three months en route. Embarking at Mazatlan, they sailed for San Francisco, where they arrived April 24, 1849. Mr. Lamar and his

companions, like most of the immigrants of that day, were gold seekers and went into the mines.

Mr. Lamar settled in Mendocino County in 1854. In 1858 he was elected to the Legislature from Sonoma County. While serving in that body the fol- lowing year, Mr. Lamar prepared and introduced the bill organizing Mendocino County; and in 1860 he was elected to represent the new county in the Leg- islature. In 1866 he was elected county judge of Mendocino County; he served one term-four years- and then resumed his law practice, in which he has been engaged ever since. In 1876 he was appointed attorney for the Board of State Harbor Commissioners, and held that position four years. In 1883 he set- tled in San Jose, where he has ever since been en- gaged in the practice of his profession.

WM. P. VEUVE, one of the junior members of the Bar of San Jose, was born in that city on the twenty- eighth day of March, 1853, under the shadow of the old juzgado, or town hall, in which the ayuntamiento, or town council, held its sessions in the days when, under Spanish and Mexican rule, the city was a pueblo, known as San Jose de Guadalupe. Located in the center of the plaza, or square, the adobe houses of the pobladores, or founders of the pueblo, faced the juzgado from the four sides of the plaza. In one of these primitive dwellings, the residence of Donna Juana Pacheco, the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day. The exterior of Donna Pacheco's adobe house might not have indicated that it was the abode of opulence, yet the owner was the widow of a poblador whose lands were measured by leagues, and whose cattle were numbered by hundreds.

The hospitality of the native Californians was proverbial, but at no hacienda in the land was there a warmer welcome for stranger or friend than at the casa of this good old lady. Dead these many years, may she have found the "ever-during" gates of Heaven as widely open as were always the doors of her humble abode on Market Street, in the pueblo of San Jose.

Mr. Veuve's father, Eugene L. Veuve, is a native of Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, of Huguenot ances- try, and came to America in 1845, landing at Mobile, Alabama, where, after a brief sojourn, he went to New Orleans, and from there, in 1849, made the overland journey to California, through New Mexico and Ari- zona, in .an emigrant train. Escaping the perils of "field and flood" and Indians, he reached Los Angeles

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in the winter of '49." He remained there about six months, and then joined the tide of travel setting northward to the mines, arriving in San Jose in the spring of '50. Here, struck with the natural advan- tages of the place, he decided to locate for the prac- tice of his trade, that of watchmaker and jeweler, and at once opened a shop on Market Street, near the old juzgado. Mr. Jackson Lewis arrived in San Jose about this time, and he and the elder Mr. Veuve are the pioneer watchmakers of the city.

Mr. E. L. Veuve's wife, and the mother of Wm. P. Veuve, was born in the County Kildare, Ireland, and went to Chili, South America, when a young girl. Her maiden name was Eleanor Nugent. Upon the discovery of gold in California, the exodus from Chili to the New El Dorado bore her thither, with many other pioneer residents of all parts of the State. Her husband (she had married a Mr. Pettit) had left Chili in a sailing vessel with all his worldly possessions, and she was to follow afterward by steamer and join him in San Francisco. But one disaster after another overtook him. He was shipwrecked off the coast of Mexico, and lost a valuable stock of goods that was a part of the ship's cargo. He was taken down with fever, and, while lying sick and helpless in a strange land, was robbed of his money. But after many hardships he reached San Jose, whither his wife had gone, but only to be stricken with cholera, of which terrible scourge he died.

Mr. Wm. P. Veuve's parents were married in San Jose, in 1852, and have ever since then resided here. Their old homestead, facing Market Plaza, was built about the year 1854, and is one of the ancient land- marks in that part of the city. About this time there was established a public school in a rude building on the plaza, and a Mr. Erle presided over its destinies. To this school. went the subject of this sketch when but a child, accompanying his elder half-brother, who was a regular attendant at its exercises. The school was afterwards transferred to quarters on Washing- ton Square, Mr. Erle continuing to be its principal teacher. Under this pioneer school-master of San Jose it was not a case of Spare the rod and spoil the child, for he was an exponent of what might be termed muscular tuition. Young Veuve continued to attend the public schools of his native city until 1868, when he entered Santa Clara College, from which institution he was graduated in 1874. His

studies there were not, however, continuous, for they were interrupted by a two years' engagement with the firm of Auzerais Brothers, as their book-keeper. After receiving his degree in the classical course, but not immediately, Mr. Veuve commenced the study of the law in the office of Thos. H. Bodley, Esq., an old and well-known practitioner at the Bar. In April, 1877, he was duly licensed to practice by the Supreme Court of the State, and from that time he has de- voted himself to his chosen profession, practicing at the Bar or presiding on the Bench.

At the general election of 1880 he was elected city justice and police judge, being one of only two suc- cessful candidates on the Democratic ticket. In 1882 he was re-elected to the same office. Mr. Veuve was the first incumbent of this office, and in the beginning of his first term experienced considerable difficulty in administering its jurisdiction, owing to defects in the law creating it. The Legislature, however, at the suggestion of Mr. Veuve, passed a remedial measure, and thereafter no trouble was encountered. In 1884, having received superior inducements from friends in the county of San Luis Obispo, he resigned his office and took up his residence there. The ties, however, which bound him to his native city were so strong that, after an absence of about two years, he returned to San Jose, where he has since continued to practice law, with ever-increasing success.

In 1881 Mr. Veuve married Miss Jennie Wilson, and a little girl, named Vida, is the result of their union.

He has a half-brother, H. H. Veuve, who is of the firm of A. Vignier & Company, French importers, San Francisco, and a younger full brother, A. L. Veuve, who was for a long time manager of the Pa- cific Manufacturing Company, at Santa Clara, and who is now engaged in managing the affairs of the Shasta Lumber Company, in Shasta County.

Mrs. Mary C. Hoffman, widow of the late Herman Hoffman, is a half-sister of Mr. Veuve, whose parents, still living, hale and hearty in their old age, reside with her on Guadalupe Street, in San Jose.

In politics Mr. Veuve is a Democrat, active and prominent in his party's councils.

He is a member of Los Gatos Parlor, No. 126, N. S. G. W., and takes great interest in the success of this distinctively Californian Order.

PRESS. ...

T `HE first newspaper published in Santa Clara

County was issued in 1850, by James B. Devoe. It was called the State Journal, and was discontinued on the adjournment of the Legislature, in 1851.

In January, 1851, the San Jose Daily Argus was published during the senatorial campaign. It was in the interest of John C. Fremont.

San Jose Weekly Visitor. This was the first per- manent newspaper in San Jose. It was commenced June 20, 1851, by Emerson, Damon & Jones. At first it was Whig, but in October it changed over to the Democracy. In August, 1852, its name was changed to the

Register, and was published by T. C. Emerson and Givens George, with F. B. Murdoch as editor. In 1853, Murdoch having obtained control of the Register, its name was changed to the

San Jose Telegraph. In 1860 the Telegraph went into the hands of W. N. Slocum, and in 1861 it was changed to the

San Jose Weekly Mercury, with J. J. Owen and B. H. Cottle as proprietors. In November of that year the

Daily Mercury was started in connection with the Weekly, but was discontinued in 1862. In 1869 J. J. Conmy came into the firm, and in August of that year the publication of the Daily was resumed, but discontinued in 1870. Mr. Conmy retired from the firm this year. In 1871 Cottle sold out his interest to Owen. In 1872 Owen, having purchased the Daily Guide, again resumed the publication of the Daily Mercury in connection with the Weekly. Soon after, Cottle again bought a half interest in both papers, but again sold to Owen, in 1874. In 1877 it was incorporated under the style of the Mercury Printing and Publishing Co., Mr. Owen holding the majority of the stock. In 1884 he sold his interest to C. M. Shortridge, proprietor of the Daily Times, and the name of the paper was changed to the Times- Mercury. In 1885 F. A. Taylor entered into nego- tiations for the purchase of the paper, but the trans-

action was not consummated. In the meantime the name was changed back to the Daily Mercury. At this time it absorbed the Daily Republic.

CHARLES M. SHORTRIDGE, the present editor and proprietor of the San Jose Daily and Weekly Mercury, was born at Pleasant Grove, a small hamlet near Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, on the twenty-fourth day of August, 1857. He came to California when a small boy. He first stopped at Nevada City, where he worked until he had saved a few dollars, when he came to San Jose for the purpose of attending the public schools, which had a great reputation for efficiency. Not having money enough to support himself while attending school, he hired out to the San Jose Gas Company as a lamp-lighter, for a salary of $28 per month.

Having completed his course at the public schools with honor, he went to work in the office of the Daily Mercury as general utility boy, sweeping out the office, running errands, and doing whatever was to be done. While attending school he had selected journalism as his future profession, and determined to master the business in all its departments. Hav- ing no money of his own, and no rich relatives to start him in business, he was obliged to commence at the bottom of the ladder. But when he had placed his foot on the first round, he fixed his eye on the top, and never rested until he was there. While working as office boy he familiarized himself with the details of the composing room and press rooms. He worked his way into the business department, keeping the books and collecting the bills, and over- seeing the mailing and subscription department, and thence he went on the local staff. He continued with the Mercury for seven years, until 1883. He was then twenty-six years old, with all the informa- tion in regard to the newspaper business that he could acquire in San Jose, and determined to start for himself. He had no money, but was full of prac- tical ideas which he had worked out while with the Mercury.

He severed his connection with this paper, and

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went into the real-estate and insurance business. This was for the purpose of keeping the "pot boiling" until he could perfect his plans. Some of the busi- ness men and capitalists of San Jose had watched young Shortridge's career, and had been favorably impressed with his talent, pluck, and perseverance. He had many offers of lucrative positions, but he would not turn aside from the aim of his life. He succeeded, after some time, in securing financial back- ing sufficient to purchase the Daily Times, paying $5,500 for it. He immediately enlarged it, and, at great expense, secured the exclusive right to the morning telegraphic dispatches for San Jose. Many of his friends looked on with dismay at what seemed to them to be the most reckless extravagance, while his enemies and journalistic rivals prophesied speedy bankruptcy. But the young man was hewing to the line he had laid down for a guide after careful meas- urement. What seemed to his friends as recklessness was, in fact, the result of the soberest kind of thought. He was simply exhibiting the nerve necessary to the proper execution of his plans. This was in 1883.

In 1884 he secured control of the stock of the Mer- cury Printing and Publishing Co., and, in less than two years from the day he walked out of the Mer- cury office a poor boy, with scarcely a penny in his pocket, he walked back again as its proprietor. He combined the Times and Mercury, added new mate -.. rial and presses, and proceeded to make the new journal twice as good as either of them were before. His expenses were greatly increased, but the income was in a much larger proportion. In 1885 he ab- sorbed the Republic, a morning paper which had been started that year. This plan of combining forces is one of the peculiarities of Mr. Shortridge's journalistic career. He wastes no ammunition in fighting com- peting journals. If a paper develops enough im- portance to become a rival, he absorbs it; but unless it has this importance he ignores it.

During Mr. Shortridge's ownership of the Mercury, more special editions have been issued than during all the former history of journalism in San Jose. These specials run from sixteen to sixty-four pages, generally profusely illustrated, and always in the interest of the material resources of the county. Mr. Shortridge is now, 1888, thirty-one years of age. He is a ready speaker, a Republican in politics, devoted to the principle of protection for American industries, and a firm believer in the future greatness of the Santa Clara Valley, the "garden of the world."

The Semi-Weekly Tribune was issued by Givens George, July 4, 1854. In 1855 it was published by George & Kendall. In 1859 it was sold to George O'Dougherty. In 1862 and 1863 it was suppressed for eight months by order of General Wright. In 1863 it was purchased by F. B. Murdoch, who changed the name to the

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 18

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