Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 40

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 40

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He was a strong man, physically and mentally, and, although much interested in general public affairs, he always refused political official position. At one time he served as a Director of the Santa Clara Val- ley Agricultural Society, and at his death was one of the stockholders and a Director of the San Jose Sav- ings Bank. While yet in his prime, his useful and active life was brought to a close on the seventh of May, at Baltimore, Maryland, while visiting his only hrother, John Ogier. His remains were brought back to his home and interred in Oak Hill Cemetery at San Jose. In his death his family sustained the loss of a kind husband and father, and the community that of a prosperous citizen, who was willing to use his prosperity for the advancement of public welfare.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

ON. JOSEPH R. WELLER is one of the pio- neers of Santa Clara County, a sketch of whom is of great interest. He was born near Washing- ton, in Warren County, New Jersey, October 10, 1819. His parents, Peter R. and Elizabeth (Smock) Weller, were natives of that State. When he was about the age of five years, his father emigrated to Livingston County, New York, where he was engaged in farming, in which occupation the Judge was reared until the age of nineteen years. His education at this age was limited to the common schools of the district. From this time he commenced to educate himself, and for two and a half years was a student at the Temple Hill Academy, in Genesec, New York, under the tui- tion of Prof. Horatio N. Robinson, the celebrated author of mathematical text-books. He afterwards taught in the public schools and attended the Ithaca Academy, and while there was selected by the Board of Supervisors of Livingston County as their repre- sentative teacher to attend the State Normal School at Albany. He graduated at this school in 1846. He was then engaged by Colonel W. W. Wadsworth as an associate with Henry Willey, to take charge of an agricultural college in the Genesee Valley, a posi- tion which he occupied until the failing health of Mr. Wadsworth compelled a discontinuance of the enterprise. He also at this period devoted consider- able attention to the study of law. In the spring of 1849 he was employed as a teacher in Prof. H. M. Boehm's private seminary on Staten Island, New York, in which occupation he continued until May, 1850, when, under the influence of the gold fever, he left New York on the brig John French for California, reaching the mouth of the Chagres River after a stormy passage of thirty-six days. He and his com- panions crossed the Isthmus, and, after suffering a delay of six weeks at Panama, embarked on the ship Columbus for San Francisco, at which place he arrived August 7, 1850. After a short stay in that city he located in the mines at Coloma, El Dorado County, but ill health compelled an abandonment of his min- ing prospects, and in the spring of 1851 he came to Santa Clara County. Upon his arrival he located on the Charles Weber Ranch, and there remained until his health was restored. After engaging in various occupations, among which was a trip to the mines in Mariposa County with produce, he rented a farm from James Murphy, and for the next two years was en- gaged in farming operations. In May, 1853, he set- tled in Milpitas upon a fine tract of land, where he has since resided. This farm now comprises two

hundred and sixty acres of an original tract of four hundred acres in extent. With the exception of a small orchard, he devotes his land to the growing of hay and grain, and stock-raising. Of the latter he has a dairy of twenty-five cows. He is also quite extensively engaged in raising some of the finer breed of horses, particularly thoroughbred trotting-stock, at the head of which is his well-known stallion "Orion," which is a descendant of the famous horse, " Elmo." In 1872 he purchased six hundred acres in the hills east of and about five miles from Milpitas, which he still owns. In 1855 Mr. Weller organized the Milpitas School District, and was appointed one of its Trustees, a position which he held continuously until 1879. The Judge was elected in 1856 to the office of Justice of the Peace, and held that office until 1878. He was also one of the Associate Judges of Santa Clara County. In 1878 he was elected as a member of the State Constitutional Convention, and assisted in framing the present Constitution of the State.

Judge Weller is a strong and consistent Republican in politics, taking a great interest in all political mat- ters affecting the prosperity of the county. He is a man of progressive tendencies, and decided character, an earnest advocate of all public and private measures that tend to the advancement of the welfare and morals of the community. He is well known through the county, and is one of its most esteemed and re- spected citizens. He is a member of the Presby- terian Church; was one of the original founders and organizers of that church in Milpitas, and has ever since remained one of its strongest supporters.

In 1860 Judge Weller married Mrs. Marian W. (Hart). Battey, the widow of Jonathan Battey, who was a native of New York. Her parents, Solomon and Lucinda (Palmer) Hart, were residents of Madi- son County, New York. From this marriage, two children have been born: Marian Elizabeth, and May Lucinda. Of Mrs. Weller's children by her first mar- riage there is living Henry G. Battey, who married Miss Addie Russell, of Santa Cruz, and is now re- siding in Douglas County, Washington Territory.

AMES FINLEY. There is nothing so decidedly characteristic of the American people as their ability to turn their hands quickly to different occupations, and at the same time make a success of

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them. It is this facility which makes this country the home of invention, and places our people at the head of progress. A gentleman who exemplifies this fact very fully is Mr. James Finley, the Superintendent of the County Almshouse, a man of no common order.

He was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, in 1845, the son of William and Eliza (Hanna) Finley, his father being of Scotch descent and his mother of English. His father was a farmer, and at this calling James was reared, until at the age of eighteen he left the farm and went to flax-dressing, becoming foreman of the flax-mills. In 1867 he came to the United States, going to Painesville, Ohio, where he worked for Stores, Harrison & Co. in their nurseries. In 1868 the greater promise of California tempted him hither, since which time he has been a resident. After visiting the southern portion of the State he came to Santa Clara County, and took a position as engineer in the Saratoga Paper Mills, learning there the trade of paper-making, and continuing at it for four years. After leaving Saratoga he was engaged for a year in the redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in the tannery business. He then went to Sonoma County, acting as engineer there for two years. On his return to San Jose, Mr. Finley entered the machine shops of Joseph Enright as an engineer, also acting as sales- man and traveling agent. In 1880 he entered the fire department of San Jose as an engineer, and was so engaged until March, 1885, when he received the appointment of Superintendent of the Santa Clara Almshouse, a position which he still retains. A de- scription of this institution appears in another portion of this work, hence it will not be necessary to say further. than that, under the able management of Mr. Finley, it is considered one of the best-conducted institutions of the kind in the country. His esti- mable wife acts as matron, and worthily scconds her husband in the conduct of affairs. It should be stated, however, before dismissing the subject, that under Mr. Finley's management the institution is self-sus- taining. In the management of the almshouse Mr. Finley displays ability of no mean order, as it is a large and important institution. He gives universal satisfaction in his position. In 1884 he visited Los Angeles County, where he purchased forty acres of fine orchard and vineyard land, thinking then of making his residence there. He is still the owner of this, excepting only six acres deeded to his father-in- law. In 1881 he married Miss Sarah E. McGary, the daughter of Garret W. and Catherine (Sparks) Mc-

Gary. Her father was a native of Kentucky, who came to California in the days of '49. Her mother was a native of North Carolina, who came to Cali- fornia in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Finley have two children, Bessie, born September 24, 1882, and William J., born September 26, 1884.

In politics Mr. Finley is Republican, of consistent principles, believing in the protection of American interests and industries. He is a member of the American Legion of Honor, in high standing.

ICHAEL BELLEW resides on the south side of the Milpitas and Alviso road, on the east bank of the Coyote Creek, in the Milpitas School District, about three miles east of Al- viso, and one mile west of Milpitas. There he is the owner of ninety-three acres of land, ten acres of which are devoted to fruit culture, comprising apricots, Ger- man prunes, plums, pears, apples, peaches, and cher- ries. He has also three acres producing strawberries of the Sharpless variety, while in his extensive vege- table cultivation he is using twenty acres, upon which he raises onions, carrots, potatoes, etc. There are also 43 acres devoted to asparagus. The remainder of this land, with the exception of 12 acres of blackber- ries, is devoted to hay, grain, and stock. Of the lat- ter he has a dairy of forty milch cows, also twenty head of horses of the Normandy gray Messenger stock. A fine artesian well furnishes a six-inch flow of water over an eight-inch pipe, giving all the water needed for irrigation and stock purposes. Mr. Bellew is also the owner of one hundred and twenty-eight acres of land on the north side of the Alviso and Milpitas road, lying on the west bank of the Coyote Creek. Twenty acres of this land are devoted to aspar- agus, five to strawberries, and twenty to the production of various market vegetables. The remainder of this place is used for hay, grain, and stock. There is also a good artesian well on this place.

The subject of this sketch was born in Meath County, Ireland, in 1830. His parents, Michael and Mary (Clinton) Bellew, were natives of that county. In early life his schooling facilities were limited. His father was a cattle trader and drover, in which calling he was reared until eighteen years of age. He was also during this time made familiar with farming op- erations. The knowledge gained by Mr. Bellew in these years of stock-raising and farming have been of

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great assistance in after years. In 1848 he accompa- nied his uncle to the United States, landing in New York. From there he went to Massachusetts and was engaged as a farm laborer in various places in that State for about three years, after which he re- moved to Seneca County, New York, and followed farming occupations until 1853, when he came to Cal- ifornia, via the Nicaragua route, arriving in San Fran- cisco in January. After a short visit to Santa Clara County and the mines, he returned to that city, where, after a short stay, he located in the mines in Butte County, and for several months was engaged in an unsuccessful pursuit after wealth. Disgusted with his want of success, he entered the Government employ at Mare Island, where he worked until August, 1861, when he took up his present residence upon land lic had purchased the previous year. Since that time Mr. Bellew has followed the calling of farmer. Energy and industry, combined with a well-poised intellect and natural business tact, have insured his success, and he now owns some of the finest lands in his sec- tion. He is a well-known and respected member of the community in which he lives. Catholic in religion and Democratic in politics, in both relations he is strong and consistent. In October, 1858, he married Miss Eliza Kenney, the daughter of Edward and Mary (Tracy) Kenney, who were natives of Roscommon County, Ireland. By this marriage six children have been born, five of whom are living, viz .: William F., John H., Mary E., Catherine R., and Joseph M. In the management of his extensive farms, Mr. Bellew is ably assisted by his sons, above mentioned.

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OBERT GLENDENNING, deccased.

The

subject of this sketch was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1824. His parents were Joseph and Margaret (Messer) Glendenning. His early youth and boyhood were spent on his father's farm. His educational advantages were those afforded by the common schools of his home. Having improved well such advantages as the schools he attended af- forded, he succeeded in fitting himself for a teacher, to which vocation he devoted several years after leav- ing the farm.

In 1847 he went to Australia, where he engaged in stock-raising for about three years. During his resi- dence in Australia, he was united in marriage, on the thirty-first of December, 1849, to Miss Margaret

Howie, the eldest daughter of Rev. James Howie and Mary (Carr) Howie. Mr. and Mrs. Howie were na- tives of Scotland, who emigrated to Australia in 1847. Mr. and Mrs. Glendenning, the parents of our subject, were passengers on the same vessel, and from the ac- quaintance and friendship formed at that time sprung the marriage of Robert Glendenning and Margaret Howie.

On the day following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Glendenning started for California. Upon their ar- rival in San Francisco Mr. Glendenning engaged in teaming, but soon afterward came to Santa Clara County, in the autumn of 1850. He bought out the squatter's right of an English occupant of what was supposed to be Government land, located about three miles west of Santa Clara, on what is now the Home- stead road. At the time that Mr. Glendenning pur- chased the farm upon which Mrs. Glendenning and the younger members of the family reside, it was mostly covered with brush and large trees; and while soil was productive, yet he and all others of the early pioneers of the Golden West, labored hard to clear and cultivate the wild land, and endured many hard- ships in years of drought (such as 1864), so well remem- bered by the pioneers. After these lands had been improved and buildings erected upon them, the owners of the Alviso grant made claim to the property, and Mr. Glendenning was compelled to purchase their right, paying $30 per acre for two hundred acres, after having paid other parties for the land!

Many of the pioneers were so discouraged at having to buy the land, having paid other parties for it, that they abandoned their farms after having improved them more or less, and sought homes elsewhere. Mr. and Mrs. Glendenning, though much discouraged, went earnestly to work to again purchase their home.

In his death, which occurred April 23, 1868, his wife and children lost a faithful friend and protector, and the community an esteemed citizen. After his death Mrs. Glendenning, with her young children, the oldest being but sixteen, continued to endeavor to pay for the home, and with an carnestness of purpose and a never-tiring zeal succeeded, after years of toil, in paying for the old home. In accordance with Mr. Glendenning's wishes, when the children reached the age of majority one-half of the estate was given to Mrs. Glendenning, containing the house and other buildings, and the remaining half was divided equally among the six children. Sixty acres of the property is in vines and orchard, the remainder being utilized for the production of hay and grain.

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for some time in the Danish navy. After leaving the Danish navy he went to Germany; from there he sailed around Cape Horn to Valparaiso, and remained on the coast for some time; and from there he came to San Francisco in 1863. After spending some time at that place he went to the mining districts at Em- pire City, Nevada, where he worked in a mill for about six months, when he returned to San Francisco and bought a restaurant, which he conducted for about a year, when he again went to the mining dis- tricts at Virginia City, where he worked as chief cook in hotels. After remaining there some time he re- turned to his old calling, the coasting trade, where he served as cook and steward for a ycar. In 1870 he made a visit of a few months to his old home in Den- mark, returning to San Francisco and again engaging in the restaurant business. Among his ventures in this line was the establishment of the Arcade Restau- rant, on Sixth Street, which he conducted till 1874, when he made a second visit to Denmark. Upon his return to San Francisco he opened the Empire Res- taurant, on Second Street, which he kept till 1886, when he came to Santa Clara County and took up his residence upon the land heretofore described. Bringing to his new pursuits the habits of industry and economy, and the business knowledge gained by long experience in many places and occupations, he is assured of success in his present enterprise.

In 1874, while Mr. Scott visited his home, he mar- ried Miss Bodil Josephine Marie Rasmusfen, daugh- ter of Hans Jacob and Maren (Nielsen) Rasmusfen, natives of Lollard, Denmark. Four children were born to them, of whom but one is living, William Valdemer, aged (1888) seven years.

EVI I. GOODRICH was born in New York city on the first day of January, 1822, of the old Puritan stock, and able to trace his geneal- ogy not only beyond Cromwell's time, but even to those who had sprung from the union of the brave and gallant Charlemagne and the fair Hildegarde. His parents died when he was very young, and his early life was spent with relatives in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Here he obtained a common-school education, and learned the carpenter's trade with his cousin Horace, with whom he combined afterward as the firm of Horace & Levi Goodrich, builders. The first business venture of his own was made be-

fore he was nineteen years old, viz., the designing of the residence of E. W. B. Canning, in or near Stock- bridge, about which time there occurred an incident that showed him his latent power, and directed his life's career. Miss Catherine M. Sedgwick, the tal- ented author, while visiting Europe was charmed with certain styles of house architecture, which she saw during her travels. The bay-window, especially, captivated her fancy, and on her return she deter- mined to have one in her home in Stockbridge. At that time there was not a bay-window, nor an archi- tectural drawing of one, in America. Miss Sedg- wick described the window as well as she could to the superintendent of the desired improvement, who for days studied and worried over the design he was trying to make, and finally got sick without having accomplished anything. Young Levi Goodrich, who was employed upon the building, hearing the matter discussed among the older workmen, and being a keen, close observer, began to develop ideas of his own on the subject. Thus, when the master work- man was unable to go on, he remarked to his Cousin Horace,-

"I think if Mr. - had done this," explaining his plan as he spoke, "the window could be built."

"Levi," replied his cousin, surprised at the exhibi- tion of ability in this embryo architect, "could you do it? If so, it would be a tall feather in your cap." "I think I can," was the modest but self-reliant answer, and to work he went with the enthusiasm and perseverance of genius.

Aided by the descriptions of Miss Sedgwick, he drew the plans (which were in his possession at the time of his death) and constructed the window to her entire satisfaction.

"Nature designed you for an architect," said the wise woman ; "do not disappoint her; make its study your life work," and forthwith she gave him a letter of introduction to the then well-known architect of New York, Mr. R. G. Hatfield. With this gentle- man Mr. Goodrich studied, and laid the foundation for his professional success in New York city, as elsewhere.

In 1849, inoculated with the "gold fever," then raging in the Eastern and Middle Atlantic States, he closed up his business and sailed from New York in the ship Loo Choo, which was bound for California via Cape Horn. He had with him a large quantity of finished building material, which he sold at a good profit, upon arriving at San Francisco, September 16 of the same year, thereby foreshadowing the far-seeing

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executive and financial ability for which he was after- ward so eminently distinguished. Before he left the vessel he began the practice of his profession, be- ing called upon to draw plans and specifications for a three-story wooden building, which was speedily erected upon the corner of Washington and Kearney Streets, the present site of the old Hall of Records. Thuis was the first work wrought in San Francisco by a professional architect. After the lapse of a couple of months he came to San Jose by way of Alviso. This voyage across the bay, which required three days, was taken in a small sailing craft. He reached San Jose, his future home, afoot, and his first work in his adopted city was the building, the following spring, of an adobe house at the junction of Santa Clara and Lightstone Streets, making the adobes from clay taken from the site of the present Auzcrais House. When the ancient juzgado (or court-house) was torn down, he constructed from the same material (adobe, of which it was composed) a large building at the northeast corner of Market and Santa Clara Streets, for John Hoppe. During the succeeding thirty-five years, the following prominent and elegant buildings in the Garden City have sprung from his fertile brain and trained hand, viz .: The First Presbyterian Church, a large portion of the Convent of Notre Dame, Knox Block, a large number of the public-school buildings, the court-house and county jail, the Bank of San Jose, Martin Block, the present Normal School, the University of the Pacific, and many others of equal importance, besides numerous elegant private resi- dences both in San Jose and the surrounding country. In fact, the reputation of Mr. Levi Goodrich as an architect of pre-eminent ability extended over this vast State, as is attested by the court-houses and jails of Montercy and San Diego Counties. In the now flourishing capital of the latter, Horton's Bank and the Masonic Temple were also of his designing. As has been aptly and eloquently said, "The study of architecture with Mr. Goodrich was no bread-and- butter trade; it was a charm and fascination.

"No poet or painter ever basked in the ideals of beauty, no singer was ever entranced by the har- monies of sound, more than he with the laws of sym- metry and proportion. To him the Corinthian cap- ital, or Doric column, or Lombardian portico was a poem and song. Twice he visited the Old World to drink in the genius that poised the dome of St. Peter, grained the arches of Cologne, or lifted up the spires of St. Paul."

In 1852 he was elected a member of the Board of

Supervisors, but would consent to serve only one term.

Two years later he married Miss Julia Peck, of San Jose, by whom he had one son, Mr. E. B. Good- rich. This young man, after a six years' training in the Edward's Place school, Stockbridge, Massachu- setts, returned to California, entercd his father's of- fice and studied his profession, working with his father, and finally succeeding him.

During the interval between Mr. Levi Goodrich's two visits to Europe, as previously mentioned, he discovered, in 1870, the valuable quality of the stone in the now famous Goodrich quarries, situated south of San Jose, on the Almaden road, which he pur- chiased the same year. These quarries are composed of a peculiar sandstone, which has become famous among architects for the evenness of its texture and the rich beauty of its color. These two characteris- tics render it particularly valuable for ornamentation, while its durability and wonderful fire-proof qualities make it most desirable for general building purposes. Critical analysis and comparison have been made by leading experts of Europe, who pronounce it the most valuable deposit of building stone in the world. The supply is inexhaustible. Among the buildings in which this stone is used in Santa Clara County, are the State Normal School, the Lick Observatory, the University of the Pacific, the new City Hall of San Jose, the Exhibition Hall of the College of Notre Dame, and the Leland Stanford University. The quarries are represented in San Francisco in the Pio- neer Building, the Union Club, the History Building, Lachmann Block, the Starr King Memorial, the Chil- dren's Playhouse at Golden Gate Park, and many other prominent piles, including the Masonic Temple at Oakland.

The second marriage of Mr. Goodrich, which was sol- emnized on the fifteenth of January, 1879. was when he wedded Mrs. Sarah F. Knox, a lady of intelligence and refinement, and one of the most distinguished women in the State. Remarkably social in disposi- tion, loving in heart, liberal in sentiment, and coura- gcous in living up to hier highest convictions of right and duty, this union proved a rarely happy one; and although, when contracted, each had passed what is considered the romantic period of life, their pure sen- timent and loyal affection for each other proved a marriage in its most sacred sense. For years Mrs. Goodrich has devoted her time, her money, and her social influence to the cause of equal rights for women, claiming that for them the right to use the

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 40

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