Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 41

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 41

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

ballot was the foundation of the justice, freedom, and dignity of citizenship so long denied them. In this noble and heroic effort her husband ever stood by her, shoulder to shoulder, with his generous en- couragement and ardent sympathy. Nothing less could have been expected of this man, with his rug- ged, sincere nature, great intelligence, and poetic sen- sibilities. Added to his intellectual vigor, and to his integrity of purpose and action, was a heart as tender as that of a loving child, and a sunny temper whose genial rays were felt alike by friend, neighbor, and employe. His appreciation of the beautiful in fine art was akin to his love of music; he practically dem- onstrated the latter by his skill as a flutist.

In 1886, full of the honors and comforts which had followed in the wake of his indefatigable zeal and labor, he retired from his profession, dividing his time between the development of his quarries and the beautiful home now so inexpressibly dear to him.

April 2, 1887, while on a visit to San Diego with his wife, after a day of enjoyable sight-sceing, in which he, doubtless, overtaxed his vital forces, he was stricken with apoplexy while sitting beside his wife at the dining-table of the Horton House. He was in- stantly removed to a bed and physicians summoned, but "the silver cord was loosened," and in a few min- utes, although surrounded by every loving care and attention, his spirit departed. He was beloved, hon- ored, and mourned by all within his vast circle of friends. Verily the work of his hands praises him, and the elegance of the city of his adoption is his proudest monument !

NICHOLAS G. LUKE resides on the San Fran- cisco road, in the Millikin School District, about two and a half miles west of Santa Clara. His residence, a neat cottage, is upon a fine orchard prop- erty of twelve acres in extent, fully improved and under a high state of cultivation. The trees in this orchard are about equally divided among apricots, Bartlett pears, and French prunes. There is a row of olive trees completely surrounding the tract. Bc- tween the pcar and prune trees he has planted grape- vines of the Muscat of Alexandria and Flaming To- kay varieties. Mr. Luke is an enthusiast upon the fruit culture of Santa Clara County, and takes a just pride in the success he has achieved in producing this beautiful orchard. He is also an equal owner with

Thomas H. Heist, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, of thirty acres of land located on the southwest corner of the Saratoga and Alviso road, and Reed Lane, in the Millikin School District, about one mile north of his residence. This land will be fully improved by these gentlemen at an early date, by being planted with a varied assortment of the best fruit-trees suited to its location, climate, etc.

OHN Q. A. BALLOU. Mention must be made of one of the oldest orchard properties of Santa Clara County, upon which the subject of this sketch resides. It is located on the San Jose and Milpitas road, in the Orchard School District, about two and a half miles north of the business center of San Jose, and is of forty acres in extent. Upon this place are eighteen acres in orchard, producing peaches principally, but also pears and other varieties of fruit. The balance of this well-known tract is devoted to hay. Of late years Mr. Ballou has not devoted the attention to this tract as in former years, on account of his having extensive farming and fruit lands in other sections of the county, one of which is one hundred and forty-two acres, on the San Jose and Alviso road, one and a half miles north of San Jose. He devotes this land entirely to hay, grain, and stock. Among the latter may be mentioned some excellent draft horses of the Norman breed. Five artesian wells furnish the required water, one of which is worthy of special mention, being five hundred and thirty feet in depth, having a seven-inch pipe. This well flows one thousand gallons per minute, nearly one and a half millions of gallons in twenty-four hours. The force of the water is sufficient to raise itself thirty- five feet above the surface. Among other properties owned by Mr. Ballou are ten and a half acres in San Josc, bounded by Empire and Jackson and Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets. This property is in orchard, producing peaches and apricots. There is also an artesian well at this point, which furnishes a good supply of water. He is also the owner of eleven acres, lying on the north side of Julian Street between Terraine Street and the Guadaloupe. This is devoted to the production of hay. Upon his home farm Mr. Ballou has erected a fine two-story residence, in which he has all the comforts that constitute a well-ordered home.

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He was born in Hartland, Windsor County, Ver- mont, March 26, 1827. His parents were Otis and Lydia (Chamberlain) Ballou. His father was a native of Rhode Island; his mother was born . in New Hampshire, and was the descendant of one of the Revolutionary patriots. In 1834 his father moved his family to Cheshire County, New Hampshire, where the subject of this sketch was reared. His early life was spent in schooling, but at the age of fourteen years he entered the employ of the well- known boot and shoe manufacturers, G. N. Far- well & Co., of Claremont, New Hampshire. His brother-in-law, Lewis Perry, was a member of the firm. Mr. Ballou was of an industrious, energetic, and ambitious disposition, and at the age of twenty- two had risen to the position of foreman of the man- ufacturing department. He continued in this employ until March, 1849, when he left Boston on the ship Sweden, which was bound around Cape Horn for California. This vessel carried about one hundred passengers, and was commanded by Capt. J. G. Cotting. Among the passengers, mention may be made of the following well-known citizens of Califor- nia: L. P. Treadwell, a prominent merchant of San Francisco, and Colonel Warren, the well-known edi- tor of the California Farmer. From San Francisco Mr. Ballou went to several mining points in the State, but finally located at Downieville, Yuba County, where he remained until 1852, at which time he re- turned East,but came back to California the same year, accompanied by his brothers, Warren S. and Charles O., and his brother-in-law, Corydon Gates. They took up their residence at Downieville. There the subject of this sketch remained until March, 1853, when he came to Santa Clara County. After a short stop here he went to Monterey County and located on a tract of land, intending to make his home there, but this land proving to belong to one of the many Spanish grants which plastered this State, he abandoned the project and returned to Santa Clara County in 1854, where he followed various occupa- tions until the fall of 1855. Then he purchased an interest in the nursery of E. W. Case, and remained in that business connection until 1857, at which time he moved to his present residence, and established the nursery business there, which he conducted until 1863.

Mr. Ballou has for years been considered one of the best posted men on fruit cultivation in Santa Clara County, and he is well deserving of this honor, having devoted years of time and study in obtaining

the best results with the varied products which this soil would bring forth.

In 1864, while on a visit to his New England home, he married Miss Catherine J. Kimball, daughter of Timothy D. and Jane Alice (Mann) Kimball, resi- dents of Claremont, New Hampshire. By this mar- riage two children have been born, viz .: Allis K. and George H.

Mr. Ballou is a member of the Masonic fraternity and affiliated with Lodge No. 10 of San Jose. He takes a great interest in the political affairs of the day, and is a strong and ardent Republican. In 1866 Mr. Ballou was elected as a Supervisor of his district. He has always been a public-spirited and progressive man, and has entered into various industries which have helped to build up this county, among which may be mentioned the San Jose Fruit Packing Com- pany, of which he was one of the original stock- holders, and from 1879 exercised a controlling interest in the affairs of the company, until 1882, when he sold out to San Francisco parties. The many enterprises of this character that have taken Mr. Ballou's time have caused him to somewhat neglect fruit-culture, and it is doubtful whether he will ever again resume his former life as a leading orchardist.

ZRO RANDALL was born in Topham, Orange County, Vermont, July 15, 1825. His father died in his infancy, and the continued sickness of his mother left him to the mercies of the world, and he was bound out to Hale Grow, a farmer resid- ing near the place of his birth. His term of servi- tude was to extend until he reached the age of twenty- one years, but the ill treatment he received caused him to leave Mr. Grow long before that age. When sixteen years old he ran away from his guardian, but was induced upon the promise of better treatment to return. He then staid until he was eighteen, when he left, and until 1853 was working at various pur- suits in Vermont. In this latter year he came by the Isthmus route to California. Immediately upon his arrival in San Francisco he left for El Dorado County, where he was engaged in mining until 1861. In this year he came to Santa Clara County, and engaged in the lumber business here and in Santa Cruz County until 1865, when he sold out his interests, and for the next four years was engaged as a foreman in con- structing the San Jose Water Company's works. In

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1869 he purchased an orchard in the Willows, upon which he lived until 1873, when he sold out and re- turned to the redwoods, and was engaged for a year in the lumber business. In 1874 he rented one hun- dred and nine acres of land east of Berryessa, after which he purchased the same place and conducted farming operations until 1887. In this year he pur- chased twenty acres of fine orchard property at Berry- essa, upon which he is now residing. This place is fully improved and very productive. Ten acres are devoted to apricots, while two and one-half acres are in French prunes. There is also about one acre each of apples, peaches, and cherries, and he has a few trees of plums, pears, almonds, etc. A productive vineyard of five acres is producing grapes of the Zin- fandel variety.

In 1868 Mr. Randall was united in marriage with Annie McClain, a native of Canada, but a resident of Santa Clara County. From this marriage have been born six children: Mary Elizabeth Frances, Arriette Anna, Stasia Loretta, Lillie Cecelia, Teresa Isabel, and Ida Lucy. Mr. Randall was in his early youth deprived of nearly all the advantages of a schooling, but he is a man of good sound sense, and energetic and industrious habits, which have enabled him to achieve success and gain a fair share of this world's goods.

ect AVID S. BOYCE was born in Huntingdon County, Province of Quebec, Canada, August 18, 1838. His father, Edward Boyce, was a na- tive of Wexford County, Ireland, while his mother was of German descent. His early life was spent on his father's farm, receiving at the same time a fair educa- tion. When seventeen years of age he went to Toronto and there engaged in the carriage and wagon-making trade until 1858. He then came, via the Isthmus route, to California, arriving at San Francisco in Sep- tember of that year. Soon after his arrival he pro- ceeded to the mines in Tuolumne and Calaveras Counties. He was engaged in mining until 1859, in which year he located at Redwood City, San Mateo County, where he worked at his trade until 1863; in that year he located at Milpitas. He worked at his trade at that and other places until 1867, and in that year established a shop in Milpitas. In 1868 he took, as a partner in his business, Edward Topham (whose

sketch appears in this volume), since which the firm has been known as Boyce & Topham.

In 1870 Mr. Boyce was married to Miss Annie Cottle, daughter of Orville B. and Sarah (Marshall) Cottle, residents of Santa Clara County." Four chil- dren have blessed this union, viz .: Sarah Elma, Helen Sylvia, Clara Edna, and Edward Orville. Mr. Boyce is a member of the Ancient Order of United Work- men; is a stanch Republican in politics, taking an intelligent interest in the political questions of the day. In business he has been successful.

The firm of Boyce & Topham is well-known through his section of the county. They are black- smiths and carriage-makers, and they have in their well-regulated works all the appliances for the manu- facturing, as well as the repair, of wagons, farm and agricultural implements. They are the manufact- urers of the well-known Milpitas fruit-wagon; also the inventors and manufacturers of a weed-cutter and cultivator combined, which bears their name. The American gang-plow is another important article which their establishment turns out. A steam en- gine furnishes the motive power in running the saws, lathes, etc., used in their business. Their works be- ing located in an agricultural scction, they are well patronized, as they deserve to be.

HARLES C. SMITH, of the firm of Phelps & Smith, real-estate agents, No. 13 South First Street, San Jose, has been a resident of Cali- fornia since 1859, and of Santa Clara County since 1860. He was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1838, on his father's farm, where he worked and attended school up to the age of seventeen years. He then decided to come to America, arriving in New York in 1856, and remaining there until 1859, being engaged mostly in blacksmithing. In 1859 he came to California, becoming interested in farming, stock- raising, and vine culture, and at the same time con- ducting a blacksmith and wagon-repairing establish- ment at Evergreen, in Santa Clara County. There he remained twenty-seven years, during which time he accumulated a competency. In 1887 he removed to San Jose, where he entered into partnership with Henry Phelps in the real-estate business, his long and successful career of farming and vine culture hav- ing given him a full knowledge of real-estate values in Santa Clara County. Mr. Smith has a ranch of

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one hundred and forty-two acres, of which thirty acres are in wine grapes, the remaining portion, ex- cept a small orchard, being devoted to hay and grain-

Besides his ranch, Mr. Smith has property inter- ests in San Jose, and is a large stockholder and presi- dent of the Union Mill and Lumber Company, of Santa Cruz County. He is a stockholder in the San Jose Agricultural Works, as well as in the Hotel Vendome. He has a fine residence on the corner of Eleventh and St. John Streets, where he has also built two other fine cottages, which he rents, much improving that immediate locality, and has other property interests. Mr. Smith is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen, giving his support liberally to any public enterprise that promises to add to the growth and prosperity of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley. He has been School Trustee in his district for several terms. He is a Republican and a full believer in the value to our industries of a pro- tective tariff.

He was married, in 1861, to Miss Mary Pfeiffer, a native of Germany, who came to California in 1855 with her parents. They have ten children: Charles C., now managing his father's ranch; Katie, who is married and living in San Jose; Frank J., engaged in shipping cord-wood from the Santa Cruz Mountains to San Jose; William and Julius, attending High School in this city, and Henry, Oscar, Maud, Louis, and Walter, also attending the public schools of San Jose.

OHN TRIMBLE (deceased) was born in Mont- gomery, now Warren, County, Missouri, Febru- ary 17, 1828, the son of John and Margaret (Turley) Trimble, natives of Kentucky, who emigrated to Missouri with the pioneers of that State. A few years after his birth, his parents moved with him to Callaway County, same State, where he was reared as a farmer, receiving such an education as the primitive schools of that period afforded. When war was dc- clarcd with Mexico, he enlisted in Colonel Doniphan's regiment, the First Missouri Cavalry, and rendered active service. His regiment left Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, June 27, 1846, and made an overland march to Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they joined the command of General Kearney, and took part in the conquest of that territory. He was engaged in the battles of Sacramento and Bracito, and participated

in all the service done by his regiment. The regi- ment was mustered out at New Orleans in 1847, after which Mr. Trimble returned to his home in Missouri. After following farming there until the spring of 1849, he crossed the plains with ox teams to California, ar- riving at Lassen's ranch, on the Sacramento River, in September of the same year. After a few weeks spent in the mines in Shasta County, the young pio- neer came to Santa Clara County, and, in company with Samuel Q. Broughton and Robert Bailey, em- barked in farming operations at Berryessa.

In the spring of 1851 Mr. Trimble went to mining in El Dorado County, but after a six months' trial of his enterprise he returned to his farm, and remained there until the fall of 1852, when he embarked upon a steamer and went back to Missouri. In 1853 he married and returned with his bride to California, across the plains, bringing with him about three hun- dred and fifty head of cattle, which he drove to this valley. His partner, Mr. Broughton, accompanied him in this stock enterprise. Mr. Trimble was then successfully engaged in extensive stock-raising and farming operations until 1857, when he sold out and purchased the place upon which his widow now resides, comprising two hundred and fifty acres of land located on the San Jose and Milpitas road, in the Orchard School District, about five miles north of San Jose. These lands Mr. Trimble profitably cul- tivated and improved, planting fifty acres in orchard, comprising pears, peaches, apricots, apples, prunes, cherries and plums. He became also an extensive grower of strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, continuing also in extensive farm operations and in stock-raising. Among his early and chicf improve- ments, mention should be made of three artesian wells, which yet produce an abundance of water for irrigation and other purposes.

April 20, 1853, in Callaway County, Missouri, Mr. Trimble married Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Mar- tin and Jane (Miller) Miller, residents of that county. Mr. Miller was a native of St. Louis, Missouri, and his wife of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Trimble had seven children, five of whom are living, namely: Sarah R., who married Nicholas Bowden, an attorney at law, and resides at San Jose; Margaret J .; Mary Frances, who married Albert K. Whitton, and now resides in this county; Mattic M., and John R., residing at the "Trimble Home" with their mother.

In December, 1885, Mr. Trimble was stricken with paralysis, from which he partially recovered, but in the following summer he was again attacked by the

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disease, and died from the effect of a third stroke, September 16, 1887. Mr. Trimble's long residence in Santa Clara County gave him extensive acquaintance, and his sterling worth and upright character brought him the esteem and respect of all.

HOMAS PYLE, one of the early pioneers of this State, and a man who, until the time of his death, which occurred August 1, 1853, was prominently identified with the history of California, encountering many perils and hardships, but in it all acting the gentleman and laying the foundation of comfort and competence for his family, is the subject of this brief biographical sketch. He was born in Kentucky, March 1, 1810, his parents being Edward G. and Mary Rosanna Pyle, themselves also natives of the same State. During Mr. Pyle's youth his parents emigrated to Illinois, where his father followed the vocation of farmer and surveyor. Mr. Pyle was brought up to the calling of farmer, his education being limited to what was afforded by the country schools.

For several years he farmed in Illinois and Indiana, and later in Missouri, until on May 26, 1846, he started overland for California, arriving at Sacramento, in this State, on October 20 of that year. He at once joined the little force under General Fremont, and was engaged with that gallant commander in all the stirring events of that date. He accompanied the general to Los Angeles, finally, where he was dis- charged on the pacification of the country, when he returned to his family, and engaged in the business of stock-raising in Tuolumne County.

In 1850 he came to Santa Clara County, transfer- ring his stock interests hither, and carrying on at the same time the general business of a farmer upon the same land still occupied by his widow. This is lo- cated on the King road in the Pala School District, about three miles east of the business center of San Jose. Mr. Pyle was an industrious and energetic man during his life, one of the leading citizens of this section of the State, always at hand in every moment when his presence could be of benefit. He was a member of the Vigilantes in 1852, who did such great, good work for the law-abiding citizens.

Mr. and Mrs. Pyle had four children: Edward G., born May 26, 1838, who married Miss Margaret Hanney, a native of Scotland; they reside on the old homestead. Mary, born October 26, 1839, married

Wm. C. Overfelt, since deceased; she lives on a por- tion of the old homestead. William Henry, born April 18, 1842, married Miss Mary A. Fisk, a native of Maine; they reside at Los Angeles. The fourth is John Francis, born December 31, 1844, who married Miss Margaret E. Houston, of Santa Clara County, and now resides on a portion of the old homestead. This homestead originally consisted of four hundred and ten acres, being purchased by Mr. Pyle on locat- ing in this valley, and being a part of five hundred acres, tract No. 47. Before his death he sold ten acres of this tract, the remainder being divided up amongst the children, except seventy-two acres reserved with the old homestead. This is devoted to the growth of hay and grain.

After the death of her husband Mrs. Pyle, in 1858, married Daniel Tanner, a resident of Santa Clara County. A large part of the great hardships of the early days necessarily fell upon the women, and these pioneer ladies can relate exciting accounts of their trials and sufferings. While Mr. Pyle was in the service under General Fremont, he left his wife and young family alone in Tuolumne County, with but scanty supplies of sustenance. Indeed, at one time they were brought to such a strait that, had it not been for the kindness of the Indians, who shared with them their game and acorns and such other food as they had, they would have perished. But it was a trial that had to be borne, as the needs of country always come first. It should be stated further, that Mrs. Pyle was the daughter of Levi and Mary Good- win, natives of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Ohio at an early datc. Her parents afterwards went to Indiana and finally to Illinois, where they died, in an honored old age.

ILLIAM WRIGHT, one of the pioneer agricul- turists of Santa Clara County, dates his birth in Harford County, Maryland, March 18, 1826. His parents, William and Mary (Spencer) Wright, were natives of that State. Of their six children, the subject of this sketch was the fourth child. At the age of fifteen years he left home to learn the miller's trade. Sickness compelled him to abandon that work. He then, not long after, entered a mercantile establish- ment, conducted by his brother, in Havre de Grace, where he remained as a clerk until January, 1849, at which time he contracted the gold fever, and in com-

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pany with seven others, young men from the same town, started for California, the New El Dorado. Go- ing to Philadelphia, they joined the "Gordon Asso- ciation," after visiting New York city, where they remained about three weeks. The company was di- vided, one division to go overland, and one, number- ing one hundred and thirty, to sail by way of Cape Horn. Mr. Wright and his friends from Havre de Grace joined their fortunes with the last-mentioned party, all sharing alike in the purchase of a complete outfit of provisions, mining tools, tents, etc. Before reaching San Francisco the company broke up, but the party of eight, including Mr. Wright and his friends from his town, held together.

A few incidents connected with the voyage, and mining life later, have sufficient interest to be worthy of mention, and are given in Mr. Wright's own words. The vessel left New York city February 6, 1849. Forty-eight days passed before reaching Rio de Janeiro. Forty-five days the ship was becalined off the Cape of St. Roque, during which time she did not make five degrees. In entering the port of Rio Janeiro during the darkness of a stormy night, the ship barely escaped being wrecked on the rock-bound shore; it was a narrow escape. In that port ten days were passed in provisioning and taking in water sup- plies. Finally, upon sailing, through the carelessness or indifference of the captain, thirteen of the party were left on shore. The turning of Cape Horn brought them into midwinter (June). The vessel, to have sea room, amid the severe snow-storms in- cident to the season, made sixty-one degrees south. No port was made between Rio Janeiro and San Francisco, and toward the last all were placed upon a short allowance, both of water and food. Sep- tember 12, after a voyage of over twenty-four thou- sand six hundred miles, covering seven months and six days, the party, with glad hearts and joyous antic- ipations, landed at San Francisco. Their surprise can hardly be told at finding their thirteen friends waiting to receive them. They had secured passage from Rio Janeiro after a delay of but few days, and beat the old ship several days into San Francisco. Mr. Wright had only $4.00 in his pocket, with no meal to be obtained, or lodging, at less than $1.00 for the poorest; so he was obliged to seek employ- ment at once. Strong-handed and willing, with the demand for labor at big pay, he was always employed at various occupations, during a stay in the city of sufficient length to earn enough to buy supplies for a campaign in the placer diggings. With his friends

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 41

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