Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 47

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 47

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A. M. Leonard.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

commenced dairying on his own account, being quite successful, until he sold out, in 1869. He then took his family for a visit to the old home in Vermont, his parents having died in the meantime. In the sum- mer of 1870 he returned to California, coming to the Santa Clara Valley, where he purchased the "Fred Hall Ranch," containing 5,400 acres, in Hali's Valley, at the foot of Mount Hamilton. He engaged in stock-raising on this ranch until 1883, when he sold this property and has since lived in San Jose, his resi- dence being at 442 South Fifth Street.

Mr. Shafter has been a Republican since the for- mation of the party, first being a member of the Free- Soil party from its organization. Mrs. Shafter had two half-brothers, who did good service in the late Civil War, one of them now enjoying a pension from the government on account of disability caused by service at Port Hudson, Louisiana. Her grandfather was in the Revolutionary War from Massachusetts. The grandparents of both Mr. and Mrs. Shafter were among the early pioneers of that section of Vermont.

ENFERVEY MORGAN LEONARD, manager and one of the directors of the Bank of Santa Clara County, at Santa Clara, was born in the town of Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, February 9, 1836. His father, Robert B. Leonard, was a native of Massachusetts, and of English-Welsh extraction, whose ancestors came to America previous · to 1650, and settled in the eastern portion of the Massachusetts Colony. They were prominent iron manufacturers, their first forge being erected in 1652. His mother, nee Abigail Sampson, was also a native of Massachusetts and of English ancestry. She was a lineal descendant of Abram Sampson, who emi- grated to America from England in 1629 or 1630, and who was a brother of Henry Sampson, one of the Pilgrims who came from England in the May- flower. The Sampsons were numbered with the most prominent men of those carly times.

Mr. Leonard was reared and educated at his native place, where for a time he was employed in his fa- ther's blacksmith shop. Not liking this occupation, young Leonard, at the age of seventeen years, en- gaged in school-teaching at the neighboring town of Chesterfield. Soon afterward, however, he abandoned school-teaching and engaged with a boot and slioe manufacturer as a cutter, in which capacity he con- tinued until his nineteenth year. At this period of his

youth he was seized with a spirit of adventure, and thus embarked for the Pacific Coast by way of Nic- aragua, arriving at San Francisco in 1855. He spent two years in gold-mining on Humbug Creek, Siski- you County, and though quite successful at mining he was forced to abandon it on account of rheumatism. He next embarked in farming near Santa Clara, and in 1861 purchased two hundred and eighty acres of the Quito Ranch, which he improved and owned un- til 1875, selling which he became a resident of Santa Clara.

During the late war Mr. Leonard took strong grounds on the side of his country, and in 1861 en- listed in the Redwood Cavalry Company stationed at Santa Clara, ever ready to respond to the call of the State of California. Enlisting, he became Or- derly Sergeant; six months later he rose to the rank of Captain, and two years later was promoted to Major of the First Cavalry Regiment California State Militia, commanded by Colonel Taylor.

In June, 1875, he with others incorporated the Bank of Santa Clara County, and was made one of its Directors, and was for a short time Chairman of its Finance Committee, when he was chosen as its Man- ager. Previous to his becoming connected with the Bank of Santa Clara County, in 1874, he became as- sociated with the San Jose Savings Bank, which went into liquidation in 1880, when, being its President, he carried it through the crisis of that year, paying the depositors in full, and returning also to the stockhold- ers a large share of their investment. In 1882, when it became necessary to quiet the titles of the old Mex- ican land grant, the Los Animas Rancho, containing many thousands of acres,-which by its divisions and subdivisions, including the corporation of Gilroy, had become involved in confusion, and his adaptability to unravel the most intricate business problems being recognized by Judge David Belden,-he was by him appointed, with two other gentlemen, commissioner to partition that body of land, which required nearly two years to accomplish, the partitioning of that rancho being the most difficult ever made in the State. With his numerous other business connec- tions he is one of the Directors of the Garden City National Bank of San Jose, he being one of its incor- porators when organized in 1887. He is also Vice- President of the Central Milling Company of San Jose, which has a system of eleven flour mills in the counties of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, and Monterey, representing over a half million of dollars. Politically, Mr. Leonard is

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a Republican. He was a member of the Board of Supervisors of Santa Clara County for nine success- ive years, 1872 to 1881, acting as its Chairman a portion of the time.

In May, 18-, Mr. Leonard was married, at Mil- pitas, to Miss Adelaide L. Hart, who died at Santa Clara in 1882, leaving three children: Marion A., a student at the University of the Pacific; Lelia L. and Hervey H., attending the High School at Santa Clara. In September, 1884, Mr. Leonard was united in marriage, at Santa Clara, with Miss Ada May Hollenbeck. He is a member of Santa Clara Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F.

In briefly sketching the life and business career of our subject, mention has only been made of a few of the more prominent events of his life. While he has been blessed by Providence in his affairs above the average citizen, it requires but a glance over the years of his business life to discover the secret of his sue- cess. In all his transactions may be seen that fine mental equipoise, keen perception, firmness of pur- pose, and integrity of character which everywhere mark the successful man in every land.

R. MILLS, capitalist. Among the capitalists of San Jose must not be omitted the subject of this sketch, one of the earliest pioneers of Cali- fornia, for many years actively identified with her mercantile interests, and a resident of San Jose since 1872. Born in Delaware County, New York, May 4, 1823, he received a grammar-school education, re- moving, at the termination of his school days, to New York City, where he engaged in the drug business. In this he continued until 1849, when, attracted by the wondrous tales of fortunes so readily gathered among the foot-hills of the Sierras, he, with a party of young men, formed a company, purchased the schooner Olivia, fifty-seven tons register, making with her the voyage by way of the Straits of Magellan to San Francisco. Their vessel, which was the second small- est ever arriving in San Francisco from such a trip, was laden with an assorted cargo such as they deemed would be best adapted to the needs of the new coun- try. They arrived in San Francisco on July 3, 1849, spending a glorious Fourth under the shadows of the sand hills of Yerba Buena.

Selling out their schooner and cargo, Mr. Mills at once entered the wholesale grocery business, merging that into the wholesale liquor trade in 1852. In 1852,

during one of the largest fires of those days, he was burned out, causing a loss of over $40,000. In 1849 he erected a large two-story building on Clark's Point, the lumber costing him $350 per thousand feet. This was the first building erected in San Francisco which had sash doors. In this business he continued, operating heavily and being one of the largest importers, until failing health required him to close up business in 1872, when he removed to San Jose, where he has since resided. Mr. Mills and partners in 1856 oc- cupied, on Sacramento Street, San Francisco, two stores, cach thirty feet by one hundred feet, having a basement and two stories above. The basement and two floors above were filled with goods to their ut- most capacity.

In that year, when murder and erime seemed to have no restraint at the hands of the law, an outraged community arose and purged itself of its most ag- gressively vicious elements. The Vigilance Commit- tee took possession of the upper floor of the building occupied by Mr. Mills and his associates in business, and virtually placed not only that building but the whole street fronting that block in a state of siege. The committee took possession of the keys of the stores, instituting search at regular intervals to see that no one secreted himself or any material by which the Vigilantes could have been blown up in their " fort " on the floor above. Neither Mr. Mills, his as- sociate, nor employes were allowed ingress or egress without the proper countersign. This was called Fort Gunny. Gunny sacks filled with sand were piled up around the sides of the building, the street was barricaded, neither teams nor pedestrians being al- lowed to pass without authority. All this time Mr. Mills and his associates were more or less favorable to the intentions of the committee, but their business was brought to a stand-still. This continued for more than six months, resulting in a loss to the firm of fully $50,000, for which the firm was promised redress, but never received a dollar! They did not realize it at the time, but they could have made the city of San Francisco pay for these losses.

Mr. Mills was the former owner of the ranch on which are situated the present Azule Seltzer Springs. These were originally developed by him under the name of Mills Pacific Seltzer Springs, which were later sold to Mr. John W. Ryland. He is a stock- holder in, and Director of, the First National Bank of San Jose. In the early days of San Francisco Mr. Mills was for about four years member of the State Militia in a company of Light Dragoons. He

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is an original and always a consistent Republican, having been a Whig before the organization of the latter party. His parents were natives of New York State, passing their lives in Delaware County.

ARTIN J. TAAFFE, of Fremont Township, is one of the enterprising young men of Santa Clara County. He is a native of San Fran- cisco, and son of William P. and Elizabeth Uva (Murphy) Taaffe. His father was for years a large wholesale merchant, and again carried on business in Santa Clara County. His death occurred in San Francisco. The mother of the subject of this sketch was a daughter of Martin Murphy, Sr., whose portrait adorns this work, and who, as the leader of that noble party of settlers of 1844, did so much toward estab- lishing the authority of the United States over this section, and made for himself and his descendants a name that will always hold a high place of honor in the history of California. Martin J. Taaffe was but two years of age when his parents removed to Santa Clara County from San Francisco, and he was reared at their residence, the old Martin Murphy homestead, near Mountain View. He was educated at Santa Clara College, and then went to work superintending the extensive farming operations on the old home- stead. Seven months later, in 1887, he came to his present location, on the farm of the Taaffe heirs, con- sisting of 4,400 acres, in which he owns an undivided one-fourth interest. He farms 1,100 acres, and calls this tract Rose Hill Farm. The location of this farm is certainly a desirable one. From it a commanding view may be obtained of a large portion of the Santa Clara Valley, while the bay, Oakland, a part of San Francisco, and a part of several neighboring counties, may be plainly seen. The Adobe Creek runs through the place, and numerous never-failing springs supply an abundance of water for all purposes. The new residence, constructed in 1888, at a cost of over $5,000, occupies probably the most beautiful natural building site on the ranch, being on a level, shelf-like spot, well up on the hill-side. There is, however a large spring higher up, from which water for domestic purposes will be obtained, and brought to the house by means of pipes. About 800 acres of the tract is cut for grain, wheat being the principal crop, and a fair average is about twelve sacks to the acre, though as high as twenty-one sacks to the acre have been cut. Barley averages between fifteen and sixteen sacks to

the acre. An average of hay is two tons per acre. Mr. Taaffe conducts his farming operations on modern principles, and has an orderly appearing and well- kept ranch.

ICHAEL LYNCH, Superintendent of the grounds and greenhouses at the Timothy Hop- kins place, is a citizen of Santa Clara County, residing near the line of San Mateo. He was born in County Meath, Ireland, and at the age of six- teen years he began to acquire a practical knowledge of floral gardening. When eighteen he went to En- gland, and for five years was employed in his profession at the Bancroft, Beachley, and Ollerton places, at Liverpool. In 1868 he came to America, and was lo- cated at New York until 1871, when he came to Cali- fornia via Panama, arriving at San Francisco February 22, 1871. Two years later he came to Menlo Park, to take charge of the grounds of Major Rathbone, Con- sul at Paris. After five years there he accepted a similar position with L. L. Robinson, at Antioch. He was there two years and seven months, and was then employed by J. C. Flood to take charge of the laying out and ornamentation of the grounds of his Menlo Park place. These beautiful grounds, which outshine any on the Pacific Coast, and are not sur- passed in beauty in the country, are the results of the taste of Mr. Lynch, who had carte blanche while there engaged, and the place is a monument to his ability in his profession. In September, 1886, his services were obtained by Mr. Hopkins, and he now has charge of the Menlo Park and California Street (San Francisco) places. Mr. Lynch was married in New Jersey on the day he started for the Pacific Coast, to Miss Mary Payton. They have eight children, namely: James, Mary, Joseph, Michael, Jennie, Ed- ward, John, and Rose.

OHN WENSTROM was born in Skone, Sweden, in 1835, his parents being Paul Olsen and Bengta (Swanson) Wenstrom, also natives of that place. He was reared to farm life until the age of eighteen years, receiving at the same time such an education as the common schools afforded. In 1853 he entered into a five years' apprenticeship as a blacksmith. Af- ter serving three years his master gave him his papers. He then established a carriage and blacksmith shop

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of his own. In 1857 he married Miss Johanna Nel- son, daughter of Mons and Margaret Nelson, natives of Sweden. Mr. Wenstrom successfully conducted his business until 1869, in which year he emigrated to the United States. Shortly after his arrival in New York he proceeded to Boston, Massachusetts, and after working for a few months at that place he removed to Lawrence, Kansas. After working for about two years at his trade, he established a shop in Lawrence and entered into business on his own account. He conducted this shop for one year, and then rented a farm near Lawrence, upon which he took up his resi- dence. He established a blacksmith shop on his farm and engaged in farming and blacksmithing until 1876. In this latter year he came to California and located at Salinas, Monterey County. Afterward he estab- lished a blacksmith shop at Gabilan, where he re- mained till 1878. He was the postmaster at Gabi- lan during his two years' residence there. In the fall of 1878 he removed to San Jose, and after some months working at his trade he entered into partner- ship with Alexander Gutt, in the hotel and saloon business. He also engaged in the same business with his brother. In March, 1882, he removed to Alviso, where he established a blacksmith and carriage re- pair shop. Mr. Wenstrom, since the latter date, has been a resident of Alviso, and by his energetic and indus- trious habits, and honest dealing, has firmly established himself in business. He is a thorough mechanic, a master of his calling, and well supported by the community in which he resides. In his po- litical views he is Democratic. He has served three years as a School Trustee in his district. Mrs. Wenstrom died in 1875. To them were born nine children, five of whom are living, viz .: Nels Peter, Teckla, Ellnora C., Hilma U., and Jennie M. Teckla married Charles Olsen, and resides near San Jose. The other children are living at home.

OIIN E. FISHER, Secretary of the Santa Clara Valley Land and Loan Association, at No. 45 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, was born near Woodland, Yolo County, California, January 17, 1864. He received his primany education in the public schools of Woodland, and later attended the Univer- sity of the Pacific for five years, graduating in 1884. He, with his mother and her family, removed to San Jose in 1875. On November 1, 1884, he took charge

of the books of Mr. R. L. Higgins, in the real estate and insurance business, and May 25, 1885, he bought an interest in the business. On February 9, 1886, the firm incorporated under the name of the "Santa Clara Valley Land and Loan Association," of which Mr. Fisher became the Secretary. He is a member of Palo Alto Parlor, No. 82, N. S. G. W., of San Jose. Mr. Fisher's parents were John H. and Arabella M. (Gladstone) Fisher, both natives of Pennsylvania. His father came to California in 1854, where he en- gaged in agriculture and stock-raising in Yolo County. He died in 1867. There were born to them three daughters and one son: Clara, Hattie, John E., and Eva. Hattie, the wife of Frank D. Lauter- man, of Los Angeles, died March 5, 1888, leaving an infant daughter. She was a graduate of the Univer- sity of the Pacfiic. The subject of this sketch and his two sisters still occupy the maternal home. Their residence is on University Avenue, University Grounds, near the Alameda. The family still retain their agricultural interests in Yolo County.

OHN T. GRANT. One of the best orchards in the Berryessa District is the thirty-acre tract owned by Mr. Grant. This orchard is located at Berryessa, on Capital Avenue, about four miles north- cast of the business center of San Jose. Twenty acres of this land were planted in 1884, and the rest in 1887. This orchard contains the following trees: 1,000 apricots, 800 peaches, 800 French prunes, 150 plums, and a few trees each of nearly all varieties of fruit grown in that section of the county. His land is admirably located, and can be irrigated by water from the Penetencia Creek. The orchard is under a high state of cultivation, and is destined to be very productive. It is worthy of mention that three-year- old apricot trees in 1887 yielded over $120 per acre.

The subject of this sketch was born in Oneida County, New York, December 18, 1851. His parents, John T. and Clementine (Smith) Grant, were natives of that State. In 1855 his father removed to Miami County, Kansas, where he purchased land and en- gaged in farming until his death, in 1886. Mr. Grant was reared to the calling of his father, receiving such an education as was afforded by the common schools. He conducted his farming operations upon the old homestead until the death of his mother, which occurred in 1878. In that year he came to California, and after a visit to Santa Clara County went to San

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Joaquin County, and there worked for his brother, George W. Grant, for about two years, or until the fall of 1880. He then returned to Santa Clara County, and engaged in work on the Berryessa road, for Smith & Flickinger, in orchard culture. (Dr. China Smith, the partner of J. H. Flickinger, was his uncle.) In 1883 he purchased the twenty acres of his orchard property, and commenced its improvement. In 1886 he purchased the ten acres adjoining, and took up his residence upon the same. In December of the same year he married Miss Hattie E. Fickett, daughter of Dr. Stillman H. and Elizabeth (Stevenson) Fickett, of Stockton. Mrs. Grant's father is a pioneer of California, a prominent and well-known dentist in Stockton. Mr. Grant is an enterprising and energetic young man, well schooled and versed in orchard culti- vation, and bids fair to become one of the leading orchardists in his section of the county. In politics he is a Republican, and takes a great interest in the future welfare and prosperity of the county.

R. JOSEPH UNDERWOOD HALL, one of the leading physicians of San Jose, and since the early '50's a practicing physician in California and Nevada, has his residence on North Third Street, and his office in the Beach Building, corner of East Santa Clara and Second Streets, occupying the same conjointly with Dr. W. S. Thorne, with whom he is associated in the practice of medicine. The subject of this sketch was born on December 8, 1822, at Glasgow, Barren County, Kentucky. His grandfather, Judge John Hall, emigrated from Penn- sylvania, and was the first pioneer that entered the wilderness of Barren County, then Warren County. His father, Michael W. Hall, was one of the judges of the quarter sessions court of Barren County for some years, having succeeded his father, and also represented his county in the Kentucky Legislature several terms. Dr. Hall received his literary education at Glasgow, and studied medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. George Rogers of that place, subsequently continuing his medical studies at Louisville, taking his first course of lectures there, at the Jefferson Medical Col- lege. The excitement following the discovery of gold drew him to California, where he arrived in 1852. He settled then at Orleans Flat, engaging in the practice of medicine, and becoming at the same time interested in mining and ditch speculations. He was President of the Eureka Canal Company, subsequently

consolidated with the Miners' Ditch, until 1858, during which year he returned to Kentucky, going thence to Philadelphia, where he completed his medical course at the Jefferson Medical College, graduating at that institution in 1859. He then returned to Kentucky and spent one year with his relatives and friends in that State. During the war he was in charge of the Post Hospital at Lexington for two years, there hav- ing an extensive surgical experience. In 1862 he re- turned to the Pacific Coast, locating on the Comstock Lode, where are to be found the most extensive silver mines of the world. Here also was a large field for surgical work, owing to the great number of accidents of daily occurrence in the mines.

In 1865 he returned to Glasgow, Kentucky, where he was united in marriage to Miss Kate B. White, whose parents, Thomas J. and Sarah (Frances) White, were also natives of Kentucky, their ancestors having removed thither at an early date. Upon his return from Kentucky to the Pacific Coast, he was appointed Surgeon-General of the State of Nevada by Gov- ernor Blaisdel, serving eight years under his adminis- tration, and was re-appointed by Governor Bradley, serving four years.

The children of Dr. Hall are nine, namely: Leon M., now pursuing a course in mechanics at the State University at Berkeley; Joseph U., at present attend- ing Cooper Medical College in San Francisco; Graily H., Pearl W., Kate B., Beatrice, Grace A., E. Mercedes, and Hal V., the latter six occupying the paternal home and attending school at San Jose.

APT. JOSEPH E. WILLIAMS was born on Prince Edward Island, March 25, 1830, but left there when a mere boy, and when twelve years old went to sea as a fisherman, and about a year later came to the United States, and shipped on board of large ships engaged in foreign trade at Liverpool, London, and the East Indies. He fol- lowed this for several years, and was in the coasting trade until twenty-one years old, when he was given the command of the ship Corinne, engaged in the coasting trade in summer and lying by in the winter. He had command of this ship for two or three years. After this he became an officer on a packet ship cn- gaged in carrying passengers and merchandise, and sailed to nearly all the Atlantic ports of Europe, as well as of the American coast. He was engaged in this business five or six years, and then became mas-

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ter of a merchant ship, in which business he continued up to 1870. He then went to San Francisco, and for a time was engaged in business there. In 1881 he went to Sierra County, California, and took charge of a minc, and after remaining there five years returned to San Francisco. In 1887 he purchased his present place, a part of which, however, he bought the year before. The place contains forty-two acres, of which fourteen are in orchard, mostly in Crawford peaches and Moorpark apricots. He has a small family or- chard, also a vineyard of fifteen acres, consisting of Muscat and choice wine grapes, the vines and orchard being six years old. Captain Williams' ranch is situ- ated at the corner of the county road, Castro Street, and Bailey Avenue.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 47

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