Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 50

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

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ally. They also raise immense quantities of beans of all kinds. Mr. Roberts, having large real estate inter- ests in San Jose, returned here and purchased his present home. He married Miss Nancy Green in Osceola, Lewis County, New York, in 1851. She was a native of Otsego County, New York.

Mr. Roberts has always been an interested and ac- tive Republican, voting for Fremont in 1856. His parents, John and Sarah (Bowers) Roberts, were born in England, where they married and came to the United States in 1827. Mr. Roberts has two sisters- Eleanor, the wife of H. S. Williams, a farmer in Shasta County, and Sarah, the widow of Christopher Stilman, residing at Clark's Mills, New York State. Mrs. Roberts' parents were Seymour and Phebe (Rob- inson) Green, natives of New York State, where they passed their lives and are now buried in Osceola, New York. Mr. Roberts' father still lives at Clark's Mills, New York, and is now (1888) eighty-one years of age. His mother died and was buried there, in 1852. Mr. Roberts has an orchard of thirteen acres on Taylor Street, near King Street, San Jose. This is set out to apricots and prunes in about equal quantities, with a few plums and peaches. It is all in full bearing.

HELVY HOOD KIFER was born in Louis- ville, Kentucky, November 9, 1842. His father, John Kifer, was a native of Pennsylvania, and his mother of Kentucky. In 1845 they removed to Jackson County, Missouri, where they bought a farm on the Santa Fe road, twelve miles from Inde- pendence, and lived there eight years. In 1853 they sold their farm and came to California overland, mak- ing the trip with ox teams. They left Missouri in April and reached California in November. Two of Mr. Kifer's sons had preceded him to this State- William coming in 1849, and Thomas in 1850. They were located near Santa Clara, and Mr. Kifer made his home with them for a while, and afterward located on the Murphy Ranch, on Adobe Creek. He sup- posed he had settled on government land, and it later fell into the hands of the Murphys, when Mr. Kifer was obliged to abandon it. He then located at Mountain View, where he purchased a place from a man named Rice, which afterward turned out as the other place did, this time falling into the hands of John Sullivan. While living there Shelvy, the sub- ject of this sketch, bought his present place, after which his parents moved on it and made their home

M. Britton

PHOTOENCONP

Residence of F. F. Britton.

Orchard. PROPERTY OF F. F. BRITTON. ( IN THE WILLOWS.)

Residence of Mrs. Jane M. Britton.

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with him for four or five years, when they returned to Mountain View, where his father died in January, 1873. His widow still lives, and resides with her children. She reared a family of eight children, of whom five are now living. Shelvy remained with his parents until 1860, and two years later he went to Montana, where he was engaged in prospecting for six months in the mines. He then returned to Santa Clara County. Since he purchased his place he has lived on it, with the exception of two years spent in Monterey County, where he was engaged in farming. His farm contains seventy-five acres, all under culti- vation, thirty acres being in wine grapes, four and five years old, and a family orchard of 500 trees four years old. The remainder of his land is in hay and grain. The place is located two and a half miles south of Mountain View. He erected a handsome dwelling- house in the spring of 1888. He was married in 1870 to Isabella Smith, a native of Nova Scotia, who came to California a few years before her marriage. They have five children: Susie B., Flora M., Lillian, Shelvy H., and Anna. They lost one-Johnny-who died in 1886, aged twelve years.

ARTIN BRITTON was born April 12, 1820, near the banks of the St. Lawrence River, Jef- ferson County, New York. Much of his youth was spent in Chicago, where his father, Hiram Britton, at one time owned a large tract of land, in what is now the heart of that city.

Martin Britton wedded Miss J. M. Pierce, in Wis- consin, March 21, 1849, and in 1861 came across the plains to California, living in San Francisco and Oak- land about two years. They became residents of Santa Clara County in 1863, and on November 10, 1 866, established their residence at the Willows, hav- ing lived previously at Santa Clara. Martin Britton came to California on account of failing health, and was much benefited. On arrival his entire capital did not exceed $100. He became the owner of a valuable tract of land, which is now occupied by his widow and son, he having died April 18, 1886.

Mrs. Britton now occupies the fine residence just completed before his death. Mr. Britton was among the first men at the Willows who turned their at; tention to horticulture. He was a careful man, and a successful fruit-grower. In 1878 he sold the fruit from 465 prune trees, covering four and one-third acres, for $1,800, the age of the orchard being but

five and one-half years. In 1879, $1,400 was realized; in 1880, $3,200. In 1881, the family being on a visit East, not as good results were obtained; but in 1882 the crop brought $3, 110, and in 1887, $1,850.

ZRANK F. BRITTON, one of the representative horticulturists of the Willows, resides on Cherry Avenue. He dates his birth in Richland County, Wisconsin, February 5, 1855. He is the son of Mar- tin and Jane M. (Pierce) Britton, and from his early remembrance has been a resident of California, and has thus witnessed its marvelous development. With his father he became early interested in fruit-growing, and has much to do with showing the wonderful ca- pacity of the climate and soil of Santa Clara County, combined with intelligent and skillful management, for producing a variety of fruits for the markets of the world. He is an enthusiastic believer in prunes, as the fruit of all fruits for our horticulturists, although he raises other fruits. Of the 3,000 trees on the fifty acres bought in 1887, and owned by himself and his wife's father, 2,600 are prune trees. From three acres of cherry trees, he has sold the crop on the trees at an average of nearly $1,000 per year.

Mr. Britton went East for his bride, wedding Miss E. M. Gates, daughter of R. S. Gates, of Fort Atkin- son, Jefferson County, Wisconsin, on the nineteenth of November, 1884. In all efforts to build up the material interest of Santa Clara County, Mr. Britton lends a helping hand. A member of the American Horticultural Society, he is interested in that particu- lar industry, while politically he is for protection, and a firm Republican.

ERNHART SCHULTE, residing on the Coyote Creek, in Midway District, four miles north of San Jose, is the owner of a fine residence prop- erty of over twenty-five acres. This place he purchased in 1878, it then being a part of a grain field. All the improvements, buildings or otherwise, have been made by him. An orchard, comprising cherry, apple, peach, pear, and other fruit trees, covers fifteen acres.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Schulte are natives of Germany, but have lived in the United States for over forty years. The latter was born March 13, 1831, and the former, January 1, 1822. After coming to the United

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States, and landing at New Orleans, Mr. Schulte went to St. Louis, where he lived for two years, going thence to Quincy, Illinois, where, in 1850, he was married. A few years were spent in that city, and then Mr. and Mrs. Schulte removed to St. Paul, Min- nesota, which was then but a small village. There, in what is now known as West St. Paul, they took up 160 acres of government land, which they im- proved and lived upon for many years. After the close of the war, they came, via Panama, to this State, and spent their first winter in San Francisco. Mr. Schulte soon purchased 640 acres of railroad land in the San Joaquin Valley; and this magnificent tract he converted into a grain and stock ranch, which he still owns. In 1879 they removed from that property to their present home in this fertile valley.

Mr. and Mrs. Schulte have four children living- three daughters and one son. Mrs. Louisa Hay and Henry, are residents of Tracy, in the San Joaquin Valley. Mrs. Caroline Feihman lives on the parental homestead, five miles from Tracy, and Clara resides with her parents. One daughter, Annie Maria, died in 1887, at the age of twenty-four years. Henry Schulte, with his brother-in-law, John Hay, is en- gaged at Tracy in the manufacture of combined har- vesters, which were invented and patented by Mr. Hay and himself.

Mrs. Schulte is a consistent member of the Metho- dist Church. Mr. Schulte, in local politics, is bound by no party nominations, but votes for good men- not for parties. In national politics he is identified with the Republican party. A life of industry and economy have made Mr. Schulte a prosperous land owner, and a man of influence, while the many genial traits of this kind-hearted, worthy couple, have caused them to be regarded as the best of neighbors and the truest of friends.

CAPTAIN JOHN P. CROSSLEY was born near e Middletown, Connecticut, April 9, 1882. His father, David Crossley, was an Englishman who came to the United States when about fifteen . years of age. Ile married Maria L. Chamberlin, a native of Connecticut, and they made their home in that State, and both died there. He was a weaver, and was connected with the Crossleys, manufacturers of the celebrated Crossley carpets, of English and American manufacture. There were nine children in the family who grew to maturity, of whom four sons

followed the sea. One of the daughters, Mary Ann Crossley, married Charles Van Pelt, a nephew of C. C. Vanderbilt, on his mother's side. They came to California in 1848 or 1849, in the schooner James L. Day, with the steamer Confidence in frame on board. Charles Van Pelt and his brother John were pioneer steamboat-men in California. They put the Confidence together in San Francisco, and ran her on the Sacramento River, which is said to have been the first steamboat to run on that river.

John P. Crossley was reared in Connecticut, and there received his early schooling. When eight years of age he began taking his first lessons as a seaman or steward on the rivers and Long Island Sound. He then went before the mast and served in this capacity on different vessels for nine or ten years. When sev- enteen years old he was mate of a vessel, and at nine- teen years of age was master of one. From that age he was master of seventeen or eighteen different sail- ing vessels and steamers. During the late war he was in the transport service, and carried the first cargo of mules for General McClellan's army about the time he was moving his troops to Fortress Monroe. He was in Butler's expedition up the James River, as master of a transport, carrying supplies. At the point where General Grant crossed the James River with his army after the battle of the Wilderness, the pontoon bridge was lashed to Captain Crossley's ves- sel, which was anchored in the river. Seventy-two hours was consumed in effecting the crossing. Dur- ing the whole war he was more or less connected with the Government service.

He then continued sea voyages, engaging in the merchant service, visiting most of the continental ports of Europe, the West and East Indies, China, Japan, and African India. He has had an interest in the different vessels he commanded. In October, 1885, he concluded to abandon the sea, and in April, 1886, bought his present place of forty acres in the Cupertino District in Santa Clara County. He has built a handsome residence and other buildings. When he purchased the place it was all in vincs, but the following winter he planted 400 trees, principally French and silver prunes and almonds, besides a few other varieties. In 1887 he had thirty-five tons of grapes, from which he made 5,300 gallons of wine, which he sold the following spring.

Captain Crossley was married in 1857 to Nancy Jane Mason, daughter of Nathaniel Mason, of Somer- set, Massachusetts. They have four sons and one daughter, viz .: Clarence S., a steel-plate engraver and

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pen sketcher, of Providence, Rhode Island ; John P., Jr., Mabel B., W. Ernest, and Nathaniel M. They lost two children in infancy, also a son, the eldest, Herbert C., who was lost at sea July 31, 1883, being at the time a mate on his father's ship. He went out in a small vessel with two seamen and a passenger to visit the reefs on the shore of Agincourt Island, thirty miles north of Formosa, to see if there were any out- lying dangers. The small boat was in sight of the large vessel until the current carried the large ship out of sight. The small boat and its crew were never seen after that, although search was instituted by lis father, who spent thirty days there, and other small steamers searched along the shore at the same time, and also several United States and Chinese war ves- sels; and, although the sea was smooth and weather fine at the time and for several days, still no tidings have ever been heard from them!

APTAIN THOMAS B. ADAMS owns a five- acre orchard property on Race Street, on the " Sansevain Villa " tract, in the Willow District. This place he bought and took possession of in February, 1885, the orchard having just come into bear- ing at that time. The buildings and improvements have all been made by Captain Adams. The fruit trees are now in a very thrifty condition, and com- prise white cherry, apricot, and egg plum trees in about equal numbers. In the season of 1887 (the first year in which the orchard was in full bearing), $1,000 was realized from the entire crop. In the same sea- son, the fruit from one-half of an acre of white cherry- trees was sold for $490. These facts are mentioned to give an idea of the thriftiness of this young or- chard.

The subject of our sketch was born in Washington County, Maine, in 1836. He commenced a seafaring life as a sailor boy in the merchant marine, and from this position was promoted rapidly, reaching the hon- orable position of master mariner at the youthful age of twenty-two years. He has navigated every sea known to commerce, and for over twenty years has been in the Pacific trade.

At Eastport, Washington County, Maine, in 1865, he was united in marriage with Miss Annie A. Chal- oner, who was a native of Lubec, of the same county: The family home was established at Trescott, Wash- ington County, and retained until, in 1873, they re- moved to Calais, Maine. There they resided for four

years, when they came to San Francisco, which city was their home until, as before stated, they became residents of Santa Clara County.

The captain had visited this coast before 1875, in command of merchant vessels from New York city. The last ship he sailed in the Atlantic merchant marine, the Hesperus, was lost on the passage from St. Mary's, Georgia, to the Rio de la Plata. Clearing from St. Mary's March 9, 1875, she encountered a gale in mid-ocean, and foundered, though kept afloat by the most strenuous exertion on the part of the captain and his crew. She was abandoned 350 miles north of the Bermuda Islands, the crew being rescued by an Australian bound vessel, and later transferred to a Norwegian steamer. This vessel landed them at Havre, France, whence by a sail vessel they reached New York. By this misfortune Captain Adams was quite a heavy loser, being impoverished to the extent of $8,000. It caused not only financial trouble, for the great mental strain, the suffering, and responsi- bility, brought the first gray hairs to his head. Soon after, the captain, in obedience to a summons by tele- graph, came overland to San Francisco, and took command of the IV. C. Parks, a vessel in the Hono- lulu trade. Since that date he has sailed as master of different vessels in coasting and foreign trade from San Francisco, and thus called the Pacific Coast his home for two years before he brought his family from the East.

Captain Adams enjoys the reputation of being one of the most successful ship masters living, and has always had the confidence of his employers. Though he has a home where life can well be passed pleasantly, his long life on the ocean has weaned him from the plodding one of a landsman. His seasons for rest and recruiting his energies are spent in his pleasant home, but his vocation is still that of a thorough seafaring man. His only child, Annie Louise, born in Septem- ber, 1868, is yet at her parental home.

Captain Adams is identified with the Republican party. He is interested in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Washington Lodge, F. & A. M., of Lubec, Maine.

ILLIAM BOOTS is the owner of one of the largest and most productive farms in Santa Clara County. It is magnificent in extent, containing 640 acres, and is situated on the Alviso and Milpitas road, in the Alviso District,

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about six miles north of San Jose, and three miles southeast of Alviso. An orchard of twenty-three acres produces principally plums and French prunes, but also to a much smaller extent nearly all the varie- ties of fruit grown in that section. To the culture of strawberries of the Sharpless, Cheney, and Longworth varieties, six acres are devoted. Asparagus is ex- tensively cultivated, thirty acres being occupied by this vegetable. The remainder, and by far the larger part, of this ranch is used as a hay and grain farm, and for stock purposes. Mr. Boots is interested in stock-raising, and owns some fine thoroughbred racing horses of English stock. He is also largely interested in raising draught horses from American stock. Eight artesian wells, ranging in depth from 250 feet to 600 feet, furnish the water. Three of these wells are worthy of special mention, as having a flow of nine inches of water over a seven-inch pipe. The well, from which the water for domestic use is taken, upon being capped, displays great force, and throws water from a small nozzle attached to an inch hose fully forty feet high. The family residence is a fine and commodious one, and is surrounded by well-ordered grounds.

The subject of our sketch dates his birth in 1825, and is the son of James and Sarah (Stringer) Boots, who were residents of Jefferson County, Ohio. His father was a native of South Carolina; his ancestry, whose nationality is not positively known, came to the American colonies at an early period in the his- tory of our country. His mother was a descendant from the original Penn colonists of Pennsylvania. His father emigrated to Ohio in 1814, being one of the pioneers of that State. He engaged in farm- ing, and to that work the subject of our sketch was reared. His educational advantages were ex- tremely limited, he never having received more than 100 days' schooling in his life. His father's failing health compelled him to take charge of the farm and its interests, and thus to aid in the maintenance of the family. This care fell upon him when he was but seventeen years old, yet he fulfilled these arduous duties most faithfully and successfully. He remained on his father's farm until 1851, when he left home to come to this State. Reaching St. Louis in the autumn of that year, he there engaged in various occupations, starting from there on the overland trip in the spring of the following year. He arrived in the Sacramento Valley on the fourteenth of August, 1852, and after a short stay there went into the mines. It required only a five days' trial to convince him that mining

was not his vocation, and he abandoned it to return to farm labor, in which he engaged until fall. He then came to Santa Clara County, sick and destitute of money, but there were left to him an indomitable will to do, and courage which nothing could daunt. After almost six months of weary sickness and suf- fering, he was able to resume work, and for the next six months was engaged in farm labor for wages. At the expiration of this time he rented land, and com- menced the raising of grain. A thorough knowledge of agriculture, combined with energetic and traincd habits of labor, and a strict attention to business, soon assured his success, and in 1862 he was able to purchase land at his present location, upon which to base his future operations. Since then he has, from time to time, added to the acreage of his farm, until now (in 1888) he is justly considered one of Santa Clara's most prosperous and successful agriculturists.

In 1859 Mr. Boots married Miss Mary E. Hough, of Syracuse, New York. They have three children, all of whom are yet members of their father's family at the old homestead. Their names are: Charles T., Mary E., and William.

Mr. Boots is one of the most widely and favorably known citizens in this section. He is ready to give his help to all enterprises of real merit that will ad- vance the interests and welfare of his community. He is what is called a self-made man, and is certainly most deserving of that description. His position, when he became a resident of this county, and the one which he holds now, when compared, give evi- dence as to the courage and industry which must have filled the intervening years. He is a strong and con- sistent Republican, and during the late war was an ardent supporter of the Union. He takes a deep interest in the welfare of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is a member.

ARK CALKINS is the owner of an orchard farm in the Berryessa School District, located on the Milpitas and Berryessa road, about four and a half miles northeast of San Jose, and two and a half miles south of Milpitas. His property con- tains thirty-four acres, and is devoted to fruit culture. The orchard contains 1,700 French prune, 1,200 apri- cot, 500 peach, and 75 cherry trees. There are also a few vines, which produce table grapes of the Muscat, Tokay, and Sweetwater varieties. Mr. Calkins has made the cultivation of raspberries of the Cuthbert

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variety a profitable branch of the industry, as his bushes yield largely and five months of the year. - Al- though the orchard is young, that it promises to be among the best the following estimate will show: In 1887, from the two-year-old apricot trees, the crop of green fruit sold for $45 per aere, while in the same season, the fruit from the peach trees of the same age realized $85 per acre. Water is found in abundance on this farm at a depth of 60 feet, and from a ten-inch well 10,000 gallons a day can be procured. A com- fortable cottage home and substantial out-buildings complete the aspect of prosperity which this property wears. Adjoining this farm is a splendid orchard of 74 acres, containing over 8,000 French prune trees. This property belongs to Mr. Calkins' brother-in-law, F. M. Smith, but is in the charge of Mr. Calkins. His success in the management of these large inter- ests elearly proves his thorough knowledge of his business.

The subject of our sketch was born in Lincolnshire County, England, near Brigg, on the twenty-first of March, 1843. He is the son of George and Mary (Markham) Calkins, who emigrated to the United States in 1845, and located at Brockport, New York. There they made their home for a few years, when they went as far west as Wisconsin, and settled in Wal- worth County. There they engaged in farming, and to that work the subject of our sketch was reared, at the same time receiving a good common-school educa- tion. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself by renting and working land in Wisconsin. Engaged in agriculture in that State, he spent almost twenty years, leaving it in 1882, to come to this State. He located in Santa Clara County, and soon after bought twenty acres of land on the Hostetter road, in the improvement and cultivation of which he spent eighteen months. At the end of that time he sold the place to J. G. F. Berghauser, and purchased his pres- ent homestead, upon which he has since resided. He has entered thoroughly into his horticultural work, and is destined to rank among the leading fruit- growers of the county. Politically, he is a Republican, and has held several offices of trust in the gift of the people. In Wisconsin, he held the responsible posi- tion of Town Treasurer of Richmond, and also served two terms in the same town as Supervisor. Indus- trious, liberal, and public-spirited, he is a desirable acquisition to his community.

Mrs. Calkins was formerly a resident of Wisconsin, in which State, in 1878, Mr. Calkins married her. She was Miss Ida L. Smith, the daughter of Henry

G. and Charlotte (Paul) Smith, natives of New York, and pioneers of Wisconsin. Two children have been born in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Calkins, one of whom, Lena M., is living.

RS. SUSAN E. TILDEN. Among the repre- sentative people of Alviso is the subject of this sketch, a brief history of whose life is as follows: Mrs. Tilden was born in New York city, No- vember 7, 1832, her parents being Jacob and Lydia (Brower) Ortley. Her father was a sea captain by profession and a large ship owner. His sudden death from cholera in 1833 left the care of the family upon her mother. The latter, December 28, 1837, married Daniel Harker, a contractor and builder of New York city. His son by a former marriage was Joseph Harker, a resident of the Everett House, New York, for twenty-five years. Daniel Harker died in 1842, leaving two children, Charles H. and Louisa. Feb- ruary 17, 1852, Mrs. Harker started with her family for California, taking passage in the elipper ship Racehound for a voyage around Cape Horn, and her death occurred on this voyage, when the vessel was off Cape Horn, May 4, leaving Mrs. Tilden and her younger half-brother and sister in a comparatively unprotected state. Upon her arrival in San Francisco, with characteristic energy and independence, she de- cided to provide for herself. Her brother, J. J. Ort- ley, of Alviso, took charge of her half-brother. She kept her half-sister with her, and for the following years, until 1856, supported both by clerking and the millinery business.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 50

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