Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 49

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 49

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JOSEPH BARTON, deceased. The Bartons were a military race of people, brave and honorable in all their dealings. In the early settlement of the country, when wild animals were plentiful, and the Indians troublesome, many times have they been an- noyed by them, and on certain occasions have been

in places of imminent peril and danger to their lives.

Joseph Barton was born in Wilson County, Tennes- see, December 17, 1820. His great-grandfather came over from England, and bound out his two boys, who were half-brothers, returned to England, and was never heard from since. One of these sons married and reared a family of seven children, four sons and three daughters, of whom one, Gabriel Barton, was the father of Joseph Barton. Gabriel Barton was com- monly called Colonel Barton, and at one time he was sheriff of Wilson County. He was an intimate friend of Samuel Houston, and during one of the unpleasant affairs in which Houston became impli- cated,-a duel,-Barton acted as Houston's second and manager of the affair.

Mr. Barton married Jane Johnson, a Tennessee lady, and native of Wilson County, who reared a family of eight children-five sons and three daugh- ters. Mr. Barton died July 8, 1862, and his wife in 1857.

Joseph Barton was the eldest child of his father's family. He was reared in his native county, and re- ceived such education as he could from the district schools, which, in those days, were primitive. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to live with his grandmother, who had a large plantation and a number of slaves, and no one to manage the estate for her. Mr. Bar- ton did this in a very creditable manner, and remained with his grandmother until 1850. He then started for the Golden State, making the journey across the plains, packing their luggage on the backs of mules; and, after being on the road for about four months, landed within the lines of California. He went into the mines of Yuba County, where he remained one winter, but was taken with the rheumatism and com- pelled to leave the place. He went to Sacramento, and came from there to the Santa Clara Valley, where he engaged in gardening with William T. Mc- Clellan, afterward his father-in-law. After working at this for a short time, he removed to Stevens Creek, and settled on a strip of land which he pre-empted from the government. He afterward purchased 160 acres more adjoining the claim he had; also another piece of 50 acres, making in all 320 acres.

He was married in 1859, on the second day of December, to Lavinia C. McClellan, who was born in Cass County, Missouri, January 22, 1840, and came to California with her parents in 1849. At the time Mr. Barton moved upon his place it was as nature made it. He went to work cutting down the trees

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and brush that covered the land in great abundance, and commenced making other improvements. In 1872 the house that was first erected was moved to the site of the present house, and was remodeled, with extensive improvements and additions. The place has at the present time 109 acres, which is all under cultivation. Twenty acres of it are in vine- yard. There is a small orchard of various kinds of fruit, which is twenty-two years old, and is one of the first orchards set out in this section of the country. Mr. Barton's death occurred February 5, 1883. He left a widow and five children : Jennie E., wife of W. L. Palmer of San Jose, Alice M., Annie, Grant, and Ruth. There are also three children deceased. Frank died June 1, 1868, at the age of two and a half years. Kate died July 13, 1881, nearly nineteen years old, and Florence died December 5, 1881, in her third year.

Joseph Barton was a man highly respected by the community, and greatly admired by his many friends. He was a very industrious man and sacrificed his life for the good of his family. He was a devoted mem- ber of the Advent Church of Santa Clara, and in former years, while in Tennessee, was a member of the Masonic order, but during his residence in Cali- fornia never renewed his relations with it. Although a Southern man by birth, yet, during the late war, while he had brothers in the Confederate army, he was a firm Union man and a devoted supporter of the national government. He was outspoken in his manner. He at one time, together with others in his neighborhood, bought a cannon and afterward a na- tional flag, which were placed at Mountain View. He took a great interest in educational matters. As his own education was somewhat limited, he having greatly educated himself, he was much interested in the district school, and endeavored to give his children the best education his means permitted.

NDREA MALOVOS owns and resides upon Goto an extensive farm and orchard property of 286 acres, known as the "Light-house Farm," and situated in the Midway School District, lying half a mile east of the San Jose and Alviso road, about five and a half miles north of San Jose, and three and a half south of Alviso. He is largely in- terested in horticulture, having 140 acres in orchard, producing principally peaches of the "Lemon Cling- stone" variety. This large orchard also furnishes

cherries, prunes, plums, apricots, apples, pears, and quinces. Seven acres are in grapes of the Verdal variety, sixty acres in asparagus, and the remainder in hay and grain. Mr. Malovos is also interested somewhat in stock-raising. There are five artesian wells on this farm, most of them flowing freely, but to increase the water supply he has erected fine steam pumping works, with a capacity of from 1,500 to 2,000 gallons per minute. Mr. Malovos employs a large force of men to carry on the extensive enter- prises of his immense orchard, having from ten to sixty men, as the exigencies of the season require. He hires none but white labor, being opposed to any labor element that does not tend to enrich and build up the country of his adoption. With characteristic energy, he has erected one of the finest residences of the section, surrounded by beautiful and extensive grounds, and filled with all the comforts and luxuries of modern life.

The subject of this sketch was born in Giuppana, Dalmatia, Austria, October 18, 1845. He is the son of Pietro and Margerita (Gassivoda) Malovos, both natives and residents of the place of his birth. In youth he had fair opportunities for acquiring an ed- ucation, of which he availed himself. He lived on his father's farm until fourteen years old, at which age he entered the marine service. He followed a seafaring life until 1862, when he located at Mata- moras, Mexico, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. Here he engaged in lightening stores from vessels lying off the mouth of the river to the landings. He found this work very profitable. It was during Maximilian's occupation of Mexico and the War of the Rebellion, and as this was a neutral port, business was brisk. Beginning with one small schooner, Mr. Malovos soon increased the number to five, the largest of which he himself commanded. The closing of the war and the restoration of peace in Mexico threw open the neighboring ports, and thus destroyed Mr. Malovos' business. After suffering heavy losses, he closed up his affairs in 1868, and came to this State, arriving in San Francisco on the eighth of April of that year.

He came directly to Santa Clara County, and here spent the two following years in various pursuits. In 1870 he took possession of the ranch upon which he now lives, and at once commenced its cultivation and improvement, with the results of which we have spoken in the beginning of our sketch.

In the same year he was united in marriage with Mrs. Maria J. G., a daughter of Domingo and Mag-

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dalena Alviso. They have nine children, viz .: Mich- ael G., Peter, Marcus, Andreas, Stephen, Magdalena, Margerita, Catarina, and Delfina.

As a man of intelligence and enterprise, as one who is bound to carry through to a successful issue each enterprise in which he engages, Mr. Malovos is well known. Coming to this country from one so entirely different in manners and customs, he has yet become thoroughly identified with his new home, making his residence here pleasant and profitable for his asso- ciates, as well as for himself.

(PHRAIM H. WADE. Among the successful mechanics of San Jose is the above-named gen- tleman, whose blacksmith and carriage repair shop is located on the corner of Orchard and Willow Streets. Mr. Wade established this shop in 1877, and since that date has successfully and profit- ably conducted the same. He is the owner of his shop, residence, and three lots at this point. He also owns a fine orchard property on Madden Avenue, just west of the Meridian road. This orchard, containing nine acres, was purchased by him in 1884, and im- mediately planted with apricots and French prunes. Great care and attention on his part has produced one of the finest orchards in that section. Mr. Wade was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, April 3, 1839. His father, John H. Wade, was a native of Massa- chusetts, and a descendant from the old Puritan colonist of New England. His mother, Catherine (Claus) Wade, was a native of Germany. His father enlisted in the United States service, and was Drum Major in the Fifth United States Infantry, stationed at Detroit, Michigan, to which place he moved his family. This regiment was actively engaged in the Mexican War, and Mr. Wade was wounded. In the spring of 1848 he came North and went to Newport Barracks, Kentucky, where he died from the effect of his wounds, in that year. In 1852 Mrs. Wade and family came to California and located in Benicia, where she engaged in the dairy business, which, with the assistance of her children, she successfully con- ducted for several years. In 1854 the subject of this sketch entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Com- pany at Benicia, as an apprentice to the blacksmith trade. He worked at this calling until 1858. In that year the Fraser River mining excitement induced him to try his fortunes in the mines. This proved a failure, and he returned to Benicia and resumed his

work for the Pacific Mail Company until 1863. For the next .two years he was employed in the United States Arsenal at Benicia, after which, in 1865, he went to Mare Island and was employed in the United States Navy Yard until 1872. In this latter year he returned to the East and entered the Boston & Albany Rail- road machine shops, at Springfield, Massachusetts, where he was employed until July 4, 1876. He then returned to California, and shortly after located in San Jose, where he worked in Mckenzie's Foundry for about a year. He then established the shop before mentioned. Mr. Wade is an enterprising and success- ful mechanic. He is well known and respected in the community in which he resides. He is a strong and consistent Republican, taking a deep interest in all questions and public movements that affect the pros- perity of his section and county. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being asso- ciated with Enterprise Lodge, No. 17, of San Jose. December 21, 1870, Mr. Wade's mother died at Val- lejo, California. In 1876 Mr. Wade was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary J. (Connors) Davis, a resi- dent of San Francisco. From Mrs. Wade's previous marriage there is one child living, Fannie Davis, who married James Lively, now residing in Fresno County.

APTAIN CHRISTIAN FIELDSTED, resid- ing on the corner of Emory and Myrtle Streets, near the University of the Pacific, San Jose, has been a resident of California since 1849, and of. San Jose since the fall of 1853. He was born in Frederickstad, Norway, October 18, 1822, and at- tended school at his native place up to the age of fifteen years. In 1836 he commenced going to sea, and followed that life for seventeen years, visiting almost every part of the globe. During the last few years he was captain of his own vessel and part owner of two others. In 1848-49 he made a trip from Boston to San Francisco as first mate of the brig North Bend. On arriving in San Francisco, like al- most every man who came to California in that year, no matter what his previous occupation, he tried the mines for a while. In two months he was so success- ful as to make money enough to purchase the schooner Two Brothers, which he bought at a low figure. He made a trip with her to Oregon, where he discovered in Shoal Water Bay an oyster-bed, the first oysters found on the Pacific Coast. On his return trip he brought to San Francisco 1,700 baskets of oysters,

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each holding a little over a half bushel. Oysters were then selling at an ounce ($16) a basket. He sold a few baskets at that price, and was offered $20,000 for the cargo. Not thinking that amount sufficient he planted them at North Beach, which was a very un- fortunate move, as the sand from the surf destroyed the whole lot! He was then relying on the judg- ment and advice of a Cape Cod man, whom he em- ployed at $500 per month, and supposed to be a practical oyster man, but who really knew little about the business. Captain Fieldsted himself had no knowledge of the oyster business. On his next trip the whole cargo of oysters were spoiled in a thunder-storm off Point Reyes. Arriving from his third trip, San Francisco was burning, so he planted his oysters in Mission Creek, where they were stolen and marketed before he returned from his fourth trip, when he had a partner who understood the business. On that trip they made $7,000 each, and the next trip, being the fifth, he brought 2,700 baskets, which he planted off Rincon Point, where they were de- stroyed by drum-fish. In trying to harpoon a drum- fish he fell overboard, and as a consequence was dis- abled for several months. Thus ended his oyster experience ! A party who went into the same busi- ness about the time Captain Fieldsted left it, is now a millionaire, from money made in bringing oysters to San Francisco! After regaining his health he pur- chased a ranch in the Santa Clara Valley, for which he had to pay three different claimants, at different times, finally getting a perfect title. There were in the ranch 156 acres, situated four miles east of San Jose. This ranch he kept until 1882, when he sold it and removed to his present residence, near the Uni- versity, where he has since resided. His ranch was devoted to fruit, grain, and hay.

In 1846 he was married to Miss Emily C. French, of Southhampton, New Hampshire. She died in 1880. In 1882 he was married to Miss Nancy Waterman Winsor, a native of Providence County, Rhode Island. Captain Fieldsted is in his declining years, enjoying the comforts of a pleasant home. Having no active business interests, he passes his time happily in the society of his friends and his cultured and charming wife, surrounded by all that renders life desirable. Mrs. Fieldsted's parents were Andrew and Lydia (Winsor) Winsor, both natives of Rhode Island. Their ancestors emigrated from England in the time of Roger Williams. One of her ancestors, Joshua Winsor, was with him one of the original owners of what is now Providence, Rhode Island. Captain

Fieldsted's parents were Jacob and Gerta (Anderson) Fieldsted, both natives of Norway. His father was in his early days in the war between Sweden and Nor- way, ending in 1814, a Lieutenant of Infantry. In later years he was a civil officer in Frederickstad, his position corresponding to that of Alcalde of a town in the early days of California. The family are attend- ants at the Congregational Church.

NTHONY P. LOGAN is a son of Alexander Logan, who is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, where he was born in 1813, and removed with his parents to Lexington, Missouri, at an early date, being one of the pioneer settlers of that place. In 1839 he married Miss Sarah Easly, a native of Asheville, North Carolina, by whom he has eight children. The first born was George S., who now lives on his own farm at Alma. Their second child was Jane M., born in 1842. She married Vincent Ricketts, and died in 1865; is buried in Lexington, California. Their next was Hester A., who was mar- ried in 1862 to L. A. Whitehurst, and is now living in Gilroy. Anthony was the fourth child, and was born in 1846. Fannie M. was born in 1848; in 1871 she married J. S. Whitehurst, and is now living at the Willows. William P. Logan was born in Lexington, Missouri, in 1850, and-lives at Santa Maria, California. The two younger children were born in this State.

In 1852, the health of Mr. Logan's father failing, and hearing such fabulous tales of the climate and gold of this State, he sold his farm, and in company with his family crossed the plains. Leaving Lexington, Mis- souri, in May, they arrived in San Jose the following September. Anthony P. Logan was at that time a child of but six years of age; still he retains a vivid recollection of that memorable trip. His father bought sixty acres in the Willows, which was then a wilderness of brush. He soon sold out to a Mr. Cole, and moved to the Santa Cruz Mountains, on account of his health. He finally settled about three miles from the town of Lexington, which he had named after the city of his nativity. He still resides there, and his wife, who died in March, 1887, is buried near by.

In 1874 the subject of this sketch bought eight acres of land in the Willows, which he has since planted mostly to Hungarian prunes, they being best cultivated for Eastern shipping. The crop averages about $1,200 a year. He also, with his

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brother, owns 200 acres near Alma, this county, which he is planting to apples and pears, expecting to ship the fruit to Mexico and China, where there is a great demand, In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Susan E. Kneedler, of San Jose, a daughter of John Kneedler, of Pennsylvania, and Martha (Sparks) Kneedler, a native of England, who came to this State in 1856.

Mrs. Susan E. Logan has one brother, Fulton S. Kneedler, now living at San Diego, and two sisters, Misses Effie and Blanche, both living with their parents at the Willows. Mr. and Mrs. Logan have one child, John A., who was born November 18, 1876. He is attending the public school at the Wil- lows. Mr. Logan is a member of Garden City Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F. In politics he is independent, with Democratic proclivities. Mr. Logan's maternal grandfather, Stephen I. Easly, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and a son and son-in-law of men who fought side by side under General Washington in the Revolutionary War. His paternal great-grandfather and his oldest son were killed at Yorktown, fighting under La Fayette for freedom. Mr. Anthony Logan's grandfather Logan was a companion of Daniel Boone in settling up Kentucky. He belongs to a family of pioneers of valor and of nerve, many of whom de- voted their lives to the advancement of civilization, while others died in their country's cause.

RANT BROTHERS. Theodore F. Grant was born in Boston, Massachusetts, February 22, 1828. His father, Charles Grant, was a native of Boston, and his grandfather, Moses Grant, was one of the Colonials who went out in the Boston har- bor, where they boarded the English ships and threw the cargo of tea overboard. Charles Grant and his wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Richards, after- ward moved to Roxbury, which is now Boston, where they died, the former in 1856 and the latter in 1871. They reared a family of five children, of whom four are living-three sons and one daughter. The boys were reared in Boston, educated at the high schools, and grew to manhood. In 1846 Theodore went to Maine and located at Portland, where he kept a lamp store. He furnished the people with lamps and camphene, which at that time was the principal mode of producing light. He remained there three years, when he closed his business and started for Califor- nia. He sailed from Portland in the schooner Ortolan,

a sixty-five-ton vessel, which is probably the smallest vessel that ever made the trip to the Pacific Coast. The vessel left Portland in November, 1849, sailed through the Strait of Magellan and Smith's Chan- nel, and arrived at San Francisco in June, 1850. The trip was a rough and dangerous one for so small a vessel; she was reported in San Francisco to be lost the day before she arrived. The first thing Mr. Grant did was to take charge of a store-ship belonging to Hawley & Stirling, where he remained until fall. He then entered the Montgomery House as clerk, where he remained until August, 1851, when he came to the town of Santa Clara. Here he clerked for Fletcher Cooper in general merchandise business until 1857. He then hired the post-office from another man, who had received the appointment, and in connection with it opened a stationery and periodical depot. Thus Mr. Grant was virtually postmaster of Santa Clara during his residence there up to 1858; also was Treas- urer of the town. He removed from there to San Jose, and was Treasurer of that city and Deputy Re- corder, which position he filled two years. In the fall of 1859 he came to his present place, where he and his brother have since resided. Theodore F. Grant was married in 1865 to Margaret Shaw, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in 1859. They have two children-a son and daughter.

George H. Grant was born in Roxbury, Massachu- setts (now Boston), July 2, 1826. When he was four- teen years old he entered the auction store of Horatio Harris & Co., one of the largest auction houses in Boston, where he served as chief clerk until January, 1851, after being there eleven years. He then started for California, sailing from New York to Chagres, a port on the Atlantic side of the Isthmus of Panama, and from there crossed the isthmus on mules, and up the Chagres River in canoes to where he took a steamer for San Francisco. He entered the wholesale commission store of George Shaw & Co., and was with them one year. He then went into the grocery busi- iness with S. C. Bradshaw, under the firm name of Bradshaw & Co., which partnership lasted a little over a year. At this time he bought 200 acres of land at Point Reyes, in Marin County, and invested in a small fishing smack, in which he put in a year's provisions, farming implements, etc., and started for the fishing place. On the way there he was wrecked during a heavy storm, in what is called Drake's Bay, and lost everything he had on board. This disaster to him discouraged the enterprise. He returned to San Francisco as soon as possible and then came to this

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valley, where he has since remained, having first come to the place about six years previous to his brother's arrival. The ranch contains 357 acres, with about 100 acres under cultivation. It is situated in the foot- hills in Fremont Township, about four miles southwest of Mountain View.

BEORGE ROBERTS, residing on Stockton Ave- nue, corner of Julian Street, San Jose, was born at New York Mills, near Utica, New York, May 22, 1832. He attended school near Utica until nineteen years of age, when he engaged in farming and various other occupations until 1860, and then removed to California, coming by way of Panama. In 1844 his parents removed to Osceola, Lewis County, New York. Here he worked for a time on his father's farm, and in 1848 went to work on the Erie Canal, driving horses, where he remained two years. In New York city he drove stage on the East Broadway line for two years, when he returned to Osceola, where he remained until 1860. Upon his arrival in California he engaged in mining in Omega, Nevada County, which he followed for three years, when he established a mercantile house and did a large business, mostly in mining supplies. His busi- ness extended over a large area, taking in the sur- rounding camps for twenty miles. He packed his goods on mules and horses to the cabins and mines of his customers. After actively conducting this bus- iness for six years, he sold out and came to San Jose, where he invested largely in real estate, engaging also in a wholesale and retail store, and for a short time kept the Lick House in San Jose.

In 1874 he sold out these interests. Then, with Fred Adams, he organized the Lompoc Valley Land Company and removed to Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, becoming Secretary of the company. He also engaged in business, keeping a general merchan- dise store, including drugs, dry and fancy goods, boots and shoes, etc. All the company's lands were sold at large prices, and at present (1888) are worth three or four times the price for which they were sold. Mr. Roberts owns a number of farms in that valley, and much of the town property. The farms are rented to farmers who raise English mustard, beans, corn, po- tatoes, and summer crops. Most of the yellow mus- tard used in the United States comes from that valley, there being shipped from San Francisco to New York, England, and other countries over 100,000 tons annu-

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 49

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