Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 42

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 42

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(the original party made up at home) he embarked in a small schooner for Stockton, where they hired an ox team to carry their tent and traps to a camp on Woods Creek, sixty miles away.

The rains made the journey through the flooded and muddy country slow and tedious. Some days not more than three miles were traveled. Brush had to be cut and pressed into the mud to make a founda- tion for blankets before sleeping. Eight days brought the party to camp. A few days later they moved a short distance, to Woods Creek. There, in their tent and a log cabin built by themselves, the winter was passed, but continuous rain kept them from doing much. Running short of provisions, they paid at the rate of $1.00 per pound for flour, pork, salt, or anything in the way of food. Scurvy in one of the party compelled the paying of $4.00 per pound for potatoes. Spring opening, some of the party re- turned East, some to San Francisco, and some to other points. In the early summer Mr. Wright, and those who remained with him, moved to the Tuol- umne River, where Mr. Wright bought into a com- pany, in what was called the " Missouri Bar," a gold claim. Here they worked all summer, until the month of September, digging a canal and building a dam, preparatory to turning the course of the river. When they had about completed their labors in this direction, a freshet came and overflowed everything, and carried the dam away, thus destroying what they had labored so hard to accomplish. Then four or five of the party went a little farther up the river and built a wing dam.

At this time Mr. Wright left the river and went to a place called "Chinese Camp," for dry diggings, where he built a house, and, with a partner, went into the mercantile business in the winter of 1850-51. This was a very dry winter, there not being sufficient water for the miners to work. In consequence a great many engaged in hauling goods to the camp, and there offered them for sale for less than what Mr. Wright had paid for his goods in Stockton. This was up-hill business. The roads being in good condition, enabled a great many to engage in it. In the spring Mr. Wright bought out his partner, and during the summer closed the business altogether. In November he came down to Santa Clara Valley, and with a partner bought the place where he now lives. He then returned to Stockton, and made ar- rangements preparatory to working the farm. He bought a team and farming implements, and drove across the mountains back to the valley. Not being

James Landrum

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familiar with the art of farming, they hired a man to come with them, at a salary of $100 per month, to teach them what to do. In the course of a year Mr. Wright bought out his partner, and has made this his home up to the present time. The ranch orig- inally contained one hundred and sixty acres, and Mr. Wright has added to it one hundred and sixty acres more, making in all three hundred and twenty acres, principally a grain and stock farm, with only a few acres in vines and trees. In April, 1863, after having lived on the place for fifteen years, he returned East to his native town, and there, on the twenty- eighth of September, 1863, was married to Helena Treadwell, a daughter of Dr. Samuel E. and Ann Treadwell, of Havre de Grace. They have two chil- dren, Dora T. and William T.

AMES LENDRUM, deceased. Among the well- known and representative farmers of Santa Clara County was the subject of this sketch, a brief resumé of whose life is herewith given. Mr. Lendrum was born June 4, 1833, in Fermanagh County, Ire- land. His parents, William and Margaret (Lendrum) Lendrum, were of Scotch descent, but natives of the county in which he was born. His early life was spent upon his father's farm, where he was schooled to those practical and industrial pursuits that were so essential to his success in after life. He also learned the trade of a gardener, and was educated in the common and important branches of English studies. In 1854, at the age of twenty-one years, he emigrated to the United States landing in New York, and from there went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he established himself in the dairy business. After a two years' successful prosecution of this enterprise, he returned to New York and entered into the grocery business with his cousin, George Lendrum. This en- terprise was brought to a close in 1857 by a disas- trous fire which destroyed their store and stock of goods, leaving him without a business, and with very limited means.

On February 18 of this year he married Miss Ann Jane Ried, the daughter of Alexander and Eliza (Birney) Ried, who were natives and residents of Ty- rone County, Ireland. Immediately after this mar- riage Mr. Lendrum and his bride sailed by the Pana- ma route for California. Arriving in San Francisco in April of that year, and after a short stay in that

city, he came to Santa Clara County and located in San Jose, where he worked as a gardener and nursery- man for Isaac Hillman. In 1857 he purchased three hundred acres of land, known as the Silver Creek Ranch, and there engaged in farming, stock-raising, and dairy business until 1863, when he purchased twenty acres of land just east of San Jose, on what is now known as Mclaughlin Avenue. After remain- ing there for a few months, he purchased three hun- dred acres of land located on the east side of the same avenue, and south of the Alum Rock road, upon which he took up his residence, and commenced its improvement and cultivation. Upon this farm he re- sided until his death, which occurred in February, 1885.

Mr. Lendrum was well and favorably known in this county. He was a man of strict integrity and was honest and straightforward in his dealings. These qualities, coupled with his energetic and industrious habits, enabled him to acquire large and valuable es- tates, also valuable city property. He was a consist- ent member of the Methodist Church, and his daily life was such as gained him the respect and esteem of his associates, who joined his family in sincerely mourning his death. His widow is now (1888) resid- ing on the old homestead on Mclaughlin Avenue, where she is enjoying the comforts of the wealth which the well-directed efforts of her husband have left to her disposal. A large portion of this home- stead land has recently been platted and sold for res- idence property, while the remainder is still used for farm productions.

Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Lendrum, four are living, viz .: William Edward, who married Miss Josephine McMeckin, of San Jose; he is a resi- dent of San Jose, where he is engaged in business as a druggist; Margaret Emily, who is residing on the old homestead; James George, residing in San Fran- cisco; and Birney Alexander, residing at his mother's home. Lizzie, the eldest, was born February 1, 1861, and died April 25, 1879.

OHN A. HORNBERGER, grain dealer, No. 20 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, has been identified with the material and business interests of the Santa Clara Valley for the past twenty years. He was born in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, in

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1838, but was brought up in Lancaster County in that State, his parents removing there when he was six years of age. He attended school at that place for some years, and later assisted his father in the iron- forging business, rolling mills not then being in exist- ence. This he continued up to the age of twenty-two years. In 1860 he left home and came to California, settling immediately in the Santa Clara Valley, where he engaged in farming, which occupation he has fol- lowed almost continuously since that time up to the last two years. During that time he passed one year, parts of 1863 and 1864, in mining pursuits in the mines of Silver Mountain, town of Monitor, Califor- nia. Not meeting with success in that venture, he returned to Santa Clara County, purchasing a home at Mountain View, and renting land. He engaged ex- tensively in farming in that neighborhood. In 1870 he added the occupation of grain-buying, continuing in both lines of business until within the last two years, when he gave up farming and has since devoted himself exclusively to his grain-purchasing interests.

In 1869 Mr. Hornberger was married to Miss Kate Miligan, a native of Ireland, whose parents removed to the United States, settling in New York, when she was but an infant. To this marriage there have been born three children, two of whom died in infancy. One, a son, John A., Jr., is about to terminate his school days and enter the grain business with his fa- ther, taking charge of the grain warehouse at Mount- ain View, California. The primary education of this son was received at the public schools of Mountain View, after which he passed one year at the Oakland Military Academy, and two years at the University of the Pacific. Mr. Hornberger, while devoting his energies actively to his business operations, and not taking an active part in political matters, has yet found time to devote to the educational interests of his district. He has represented the Mountain View District as School Director for the past eleven years, and while much of his time is now spent in San Jose he yet finds opportunity to fulfill the duties of that office, which his friends still insist must rest upon him. A man of magnificent physique, of massive brain and generous impulse, John A. Hornberger has achieved a satisfactory success from his efforts in life, his Ger- man ancestry and American instincts being prominent factors of that end. His parents were John and Mary A. (Boughter) Hlornberger, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. The life of his father was mostly passed in developing the iron interests of his na- tive State, where he died in 1867, being buried in

Johnstone, Pennsylvania. Mr. Hornberger's mother still lives in Marietta, Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania.

AR. ROBERT CALDWELL, for the past twelve years one of the most successful physicians of San Jose, has been in the active study and prac- tice of the medical profession since 1864. Born at Independence, Missouri, in 1845, he came with his parents at a very early age to San Jose, where he at- tended Santa Clara College up to the age of nineteen years. Commencing the study of medicine in 1864, he continued it for two years, under the preceptorship of his father, Dr. A. B. Caldwell, at San Jose. At the end of this time an expedition was fitting out to build a telegraph line along the Pacific Coast through then Russian America, across Behring's Straits, and through Siberia and Russian Europe to St. Petersburg, in case the Atlantic cable, then being in course of con- struction, should prove a failure, and he joined the ex- pedition as one of its acting surgeons. Starting in 1866 and returning in 1868, costing the Western Union Telegraph Company $3,000,000, its objects and labors were rendered unnecessary by reason of the successful laying and operating of the Atlantic Cable. There were one thousand men and several ships en- gaged in the expedition, about a thousand miles of survey made through Russia and Siberia, and nine hundred miles of line constructed in British Columbia. After more than a year of perfect isolation from all knowledge of the outside world pa sed in Siberia and among the Esquimax, they were recalled.

During his absence in Siberia, and after his return in 1868, Dr. Caldwell continued the study of medicine, graduating in 1869 in the Medical Department of the University of California. After practicing about a year with his father in Santa Clara, he made a tour of Europe, visiting the hospitals and attending medical schools in the further study of his profession. After a rest at home for some months he made a trip to Yokohama, Japan, visiting also various places in China. He became for one year surgeon of the Costa Rica, a steamship of the Pacific mail service running from Yokohama through the inland sea to Shanghai, then settling at Nagasaki, on the island of Kiusiu, where he enjoyed for four years a very successful practice among its foreign residents. On the death

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of his father in 1876 he returned to San Jose, where he has devoted himself exclusively to his practice since that time.

He was married in November, 1876, to Miss Lulu Stevenson, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Ste- venson, natives of Kentucky, where her father died in 1863, the family removing to California in 1874. They have three children, Roberta, Arthur E., and Louise. Dr. Caldwell is a member of the Garden City Lodge, No. 134, I. O. O. F., and of Enterprise Lodge, No. 17, A. O. U. W. He is a member of the Medical Society of the State of California, and also a member of the California Academy of Science of San Francisco. He usually supports the Democratic party on questions of national policy.

The parents of the subject of our sketch were Dr. A. B. and Mary Ann (Combs) Caldwell, natives of Kentucky, who removed to Independence, Missouri, in 1843, returning to Kentucky in 1849, in which year Dr. A. B. Caldwell came to California. He engaged in mining at various places, built the first house in Nevada City, California, and there conducted mer- cantile business for two years. He sold out his in- terest there and returned to Kentucky for his family, bringing them to Santa Clara County in the fall of that year. There the family has continued to live, Dr. A. B. Caldwell engaging in the practice of medi- cine, until his death, in 1876.

HARLES PARKER. Among the rich and pro- Gaisa ductive farm properties in the Jefferson School District, that owned by Mr. Parker is worthy of mention. He has fifty-four acres, under a high state of cultivation, fifteen acres of which are produc- ing onion seed; twelve acres are devoted to berry culti- vation, producing strawberries of the Longworth and Sharpless varieties. The remainder of this land, ex- cept eight acres planted with onions, is devoted to hay, grain, and stock-raising. One fine artesian well, flowing three inches over a seven-inch pipe, furnishes all water needed for irrigation and stock purposes. Mr. Parker's farm is located in the district above named, on Wilcox Lane, one-half mile north of the Kifer road, and about three miles northwest of Santa Clara. The subject of this sketch was born in Jack- son County, Missouri, March 20, 1845. His father, William Parker, was a native of Kentucky, and his

mother, Sarah H. (Wilson) Parker, was a native of Maryland. They were married in Kentucky, and in 1838 moved to Missouri, where his father engaged in farming and stock-raising, to which calling Mr. Parker was reared until he was eighteen years of age, receiv- ing at the same time such an education as the com- mon schools afforded. In 1863 he left home and started West, and for the next four years was engaged as a teamster for the different freighting companies between Kansas City and Santa Fe, New Mexico. In 1867 he returned to Missouri and located in Jack- son County, where he rented a farm, and followed the occupation of a farmer until 1871. In this latter year he came to Santa Clara County, and located on the Kifer road, on the place now owned by W. H. Ireland, and about a mile southeast of his present residence, where he remained until 1877, when he purchased the farm before described.

Mr. Parker is an energetic and progressive citizen, and one who is respected and esteemed by the com- munity in which he resides. He is a liberal and con- servative Democrat, and is identified with the best elements of his party. He is a member of Santa Clara Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In January, 1870, he married Miss Elsie T. Mason, daughter of James C. and Mary (Staples) Mason, residents of Jackson County, Missouri. She died February 1, 1871. Mr. Parker's second marriage was to Miss J. J. Hudson, a resident of Santa Clara County, whom he wedded in November, 1876. She is the daughter of William D. and Mary A. (Haun) Hudson. There is one child, Ethel H., born by the second marriage.

EORGE P. BULL resides on a fine tract of land & west of the San Jose and Milpitas road, on the west bank of the Coyote Creek. This tract comprises 177 acres, located in the Orchard Dis- trict, about three miles north of San Jose. His land is all under a high state of cultivation and very pro- ductive. Twenty acres are planted with strawberries of the Sharpless variety, seven acres with raspberries, and three acres with blackberries. Forty acres are devoted to the production of various kinds of vegeta- bles, and the remainder of the farm, with the excep- tion of a small orchard, is used for raising grain and jay, and for pasturing stock. It is Mr. Bull's inten-

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tion in the immediate future to devote 100 acres to the culture of small fruits. One fine artesian well furnishes plenty of water for all purposes. This splendid farm shows the care and attention which Mr. Bull gives to it, and ranks among the best in the district.

The subject of this sketch enjoys the honor of being a native Californian, dating his birth in this county, August 24, 1853. His parents were Dr. George H. Bull and Mrs. Liberata (Ceseña) (Fisher) Bull. His father was born in Troy, New York, and was the son of Judge Archibald Bull, of New York. His mother is a native of Mexico, and of Spanish descent. She came to this State in 1844, with her husband, Capt. William Fisher, who died not many years afterwards. Mr. Bull's father came to Califor- nia in 1850, and established himself in the practice of medicine in San Francisco, and later in Santa Clara County. In 1852 he married Mrs. Fisher, and at his death, which occurred in 1854, he left to the care of his widow their only child, the subject of our sketch. In 1856 his mother married Cæsar Piatti, a native of Italy, and a pioneer of California, to which State he came in 1849.

Mr. Bull's educational advantages were of the best. After completing the course of study in the Santa Clara College, he became proficient in civil engineer- ing and surveying, a profession which he followed until 1874, at which time he entered the employ of Daniel Murphy, as foreman of his extensive farm and stock ranches near Gilroy (now owned by Daniel M. Murphy and Mrs. Morgan Hill). After being thus engaged for about a year, he married, June 20, 1875, Miss Elizabeth A. Murphy, the daughter of James and Ann (Martin) Murphy, whose history appears in this volume.

He then engaged in farming and stock-raising on lands near Gilroy, and on his father-in-law's home property in San Jose Township. In this work he remained about two years, and then went into the grocery business in San Jose for three years. Re- turning to agriculture, he again took charge, with his brother-in-law, D. J. Murphy, of the lands last men- tioncd, and over which he had before exercised a partial supervision. He was thus employed until, in 1884, he establised his family upon the property where they now live, which was his wife's portion of her deccascd father's estate.

Mr. and Mrs. Bull have three children, viz .: George L., born July 19, 1876; James R., born June 29, 1878, and Anita B., born August 5, 1883. Mr. Bull is Dem-

ocratic in his politics, but liberal in his views on all political questions. He is greatly interested in, and always ready with time and means to advance, the prosperity and welfare of his section.

AMES THOMAS COURTNEY dates his birth in Salem, Massachusetts, November 1I, 1835. His father, James E. Courtney, was a native of Meath County, Ireland. His mother, Catharine (To- bin) Courtney, was born in Quebec, Canada East. Until the age of seventeen years Mr. Courtney at- tended school. In 1840 the family moved to Cayuga County, New York, where James T. resided until he came to California, in 1859. In 1852 he engaged himself as a locomotive fireman on the railroad from Auburn to Syracuse, New York. After two years of this work he was employed on the Erie Canal, and by his industry and attention to business became the owner and captain of a canal-boat before he was twenty-one years of age. He continued this occupa- tion until 1857, when he entered the railroad employ and learned the trade of engineer, at which he worked until 1859. In that year he came by the Isthmus route to California and located in Tehama County, engaging in farm work and teaming, after which he went to Butte County, where he was an engineer in a lumber mill until 1862. He then made a trip to Oregon, and for some months was prospecting for gold on the Powder River. Not meeting with the desired success, he returned to California, and located in Santa Clara County. For the next seven years Mr. Courtney was engaged in various occupations. He worked at farm labor, and was also an engineer in Moody's Mills. In 1866 he was the proprietor of the St. George Hotel, and in 1887 occupied the same position in the United States Hotel. In 1868 he was one of the builders of the first steam laundry erected in San Jose. In 1869 he entered into business as a well-borer, an occupation which he has successfully and profitably conducted since that date.

In 1870 Mr. Courtney was united in marriage to Miss Annie Coughlin, a native of Ireland. From this marriage there are three children, viz .: James E., John H., and Mary C., all of whom are living with their parents, and now (1888) attending school. Mr. Court- ney is an industrious and practical mechanic, and by his attention to business and square dealing has se-

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Mrs. Glendenning and her entire family are mem- bers of the Baptist Church. Of the seven children born to Mr. and Mrs. Glendenning, all but one are living, and have homes near the old homestead. Joseph G., the eldest, married Miss Harriet Turner, of Santa Clara, and resides on his portion of the home- stead; Mary C. the wife of Geo. Crittenden, with their two sons, reside on the farm just north of the home- stead; James E. married Miss Gussie Farley, of Santa Clara, and with their two children, son and daughter, reside on the Homestead road near Santa Clara; George W. makes his home with his mother and takes charge of her farm. Maggie C. married William E. Burrell, of Alviso (now deceased), and with her little daughter lives with her mother; and Ella L. is en- gaged as a teacher in the Los Gatos High School.

R. JOHN S. POTTS, for years considered one of the most prominent and successful physicians of San Jose, has been identified with the history and interests of Santa Clara County since 1875. Born September 2, 1840, near Mexico, Missouri, near which town his father owned and operated an exten- sive farm and stock ranch, he early developed that keenness of perception and decisiveness of action which have made his mature life so marked a success. He early attended the public school of his native town, entering at the age of seventeen years the University of Missouri, at Columbia, where he re- mained almost four years, and where he would have graduated in a few months in the class of 1861 had not the breaking out of the Civil War not only put an end to his studies but to the very existence of his alma mater for a period of several years. Under the influence of the military ardor then ablaze throughout the land, he, with many of his college associates, en- tered the military service, where he remained several years. After leaving the army he decided on and commenced the study of medicine, attending first the St. Louis Medical College, and later the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Keokuk, Iowa, where he received his degree. He afterward attended lectures at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New York, passing several winters in attending lectures and gaining clin- ical experience in thè hospitals of that city. Return- ing to Mexico, Missouri, in 1869, he devoted himself energetically to the practice and further study of

medicine, his efforts being followed with well-earned success professionally and financially.

Reports from California conveying special climatic attractions to Mrs. Potts, they made a trip to this coast. A short time spent in Santa Clara County decided them as to their future residence. Settling in San Jose in 1875, Dr. Potts resumed the practice of medicine, where his abilities and success soon ad- vanced him to the first rank among the leading phy- sicians. In 1880 he visited Europe, where, besides making the grand tour, he devoted much time to his profession in the hospitals at Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Paris, Berlin, and Vienna. He returned to California with the feeling that the climate and at- tractions of the Santa Clara Valley were decidedly unexcelled. Resuming practice, he has at the same time taken an active interest in the various move- ments for the development of the material interests of this county. One of the originators of the Board of Trade, he helped to make that organization the means and channel through which to disseminate abroad a knowledge of the great resources and un- bounded attractions of this county. One of the first also to realize the value of a really first-class hotel, possessing accommodations sufficient for the coming tide of tourist travel, and adapted in the ele- gance of its appointments and beauty of its sur- roundings to the needs of such a class, he threw him- self into the breach, expended his money, patience, and energy, talked, wrote, and traveled until at last the magnificent Hotel Vendome became an estab- lished institution. The election of Dr. Potts to the presidency of the Hotel Vendome Company is an assurance of the permanent success of that institu- tion, and of the maintenance of the hotel in a style commensurate with its opportunities.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 42

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