Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 60

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 60

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In 1887 Mr. Galpin sold his property at Claremont and bought a place between Los Gatos and Alma, at Lexington, Santa Clara County. He has a fine ranch of 250 acres, on which he carries on stock-raising, grain and fruit culture. It is his intention to plant the whole place to fruit. He practices law in San Francisco in partnership with John T. Doyle, of Menlo Park, and W. G. Zeigler, his nephew, under the firm name of Doyle, Galpin & Zeigler, their office being at the southeast corner of Sacramento and Montgom- ery Streets.

His only criminal case was the defense, in conjunc- tion with H. E. Highton, Esq., of the son of Mayor Kalloch, indicted for murdering Charles De Young, a

former editor of the Chronicle. In the contest in 1886 between the Republican and Democratic parties for representation in the Board of Election, Mr. Galpin rendered efficient service to the Democratic party. He argued at Washington before the Land Depart- ment and before the Supreme Court of the State, on behalf of the State, the question of the State's owner- ship of land below high-water mark, within the limits of a pueblo. For years he has been and now is coun- sel for the property-holders, in the various actions brought, to collect the Montgomery Avenue Bonds. He is also at present counsel for the Western Union Telegraph Company.

OHN HOURECAN was born in County Long- ford, Ireland, June 23, 1831, a son of John and Mary (O'Reilly) Hourecan. His father died in Ireland in 1843. Ten years later, in 1853, his mother, with three of her children, sailed for America. She located in Philadelphia, where she made her home till the time of her death. John Hourecan remained in Pennsylvania and New Jersey until 1856, when he emigrated to California. He sailed from New York, and after a successful sea voyage landed in San Fran- cisco, on the twenty-third of December of that year. He shortly after went into the mines at Albany Flat, in Calaveras County, where he remained until the sixteenth of April, 1857. Having worked there a sufficient length of time to satisfy his taste for mining, he came to Santa Clara County and went to work on the Laurel Wood Farm for Burtis and Thornburgh, and remained with them for over two years. He then rented a farm of Michael Dawson, near Santa Clara, and worked on it for two years. At the expiration of this time he formed a co-partnership with James Sulli- van, and rented 100 acres of the Laurel Wood Farm, and seventy acres on James Minton's place, which they worked on shares for a year. In May, 1863, he bought eighty acres of land on the Saratoga Avenue, near Saratoga, and moved on it the ninth of Septem- ber following. The land was all under heavy timber and brush, with the exception of nine acres partly cleared. By almost constant and incessant toil, backed by the pluck of a true Irishman, he, in the course of time, converted the place from its wild con- dition to its present high state of cultivation, with not a stump anywhere within a foot of the surface. There are twenty acres of vines, consisting of Matero, Zin- fandel, and Mission varieties, ranging from four to

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eight years old. He has heretofore raised considera- ble barley and wheat up to the present year, when ev- erything of this nature was converted to hay. There" are about five acres of excellent pasture land. The vines for the year 1887 averaged, both young and old, about three and one-half tons to the acre. The present year he will have about seventy-five tons of hay.

Mr. Hourecan was married in 1865, to Ann C. Wright, a native of Ireland, who came to California in 1857. They have a family of three children: Mary F., Agnes J., and Thomas J., all of whom are residing at home.

OHN C. HUTCHINSON was born in Columbia County, Georgia, July 5, 1821. His father, James, and his mother, Martha (nee Culbreth), were both natives of Georgia. His father went from Georgia to Texas in 1837 and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Houston, where he died. John accompanied his fa- ther to Texas, and soon thereafter was placed in a private school in Georgia, where he obtained a fair education for those days. After his father's death he bought a farm of eighty acres near Houston, and lived there till 1852. He was married in 1846 to Margaret Thompson, a native of England, who came to Texas with her parents when a young girl. She died about two years after, leaving two daughters, one of whom subsequently died. In 1852 he sold his farm and came to California, making the journey overland through New Mexico, starting March 1, andI arriving in this valley in Sept mber. He was in poor health, and neither himself nor his friends expected he would survive the trip. He took up a piece of land between Saratoga and Mountain View and began to make im- provements. He also went into the mountains and made lumber for a year or two, using two ox teams. In 1856 he bought an interest in a lime-kiln about half a mile south of Saratoga. He afterward bought out the company owning the lime-kiln and pre- empted 160 acres of land on which the kiln was situ- ated. He sold his place near Mountain View in 1857. He ran the lime-kiln about two years, supplying the Guadaloupe mines with lime until they found and be- gan to burn their own lime. He ceased making lime in 1859, and turned his attention to clearing and farm- ing his land. Occasionally he sold small pieces of this land, the last sale being made in 1884, when he dis-

posed of it all. The same year he removed to Saratoga and engaged in mercantile business, in which he con- tinued till 1887. He was appointed Postmaster at Saratoga, May 17, 1886, which position he has satis- factorily filled to the present time.

Mr. Hutchinson married again in 1868, Mrs. Matilda Potter, a native of Illinois. She died in 1879. She had two children by her first husband and three by her second. Two of the latter (daughters) are still living. In politics Mr. Hutchinson is an ardent Democrat.

RTHUR BERRYMAN was born in Cornwall, England, April 22, 1834, where he was reared and educated in the common schools. His mother died when he was about ten years old, and his father died there in 1857. In 1854 Arthur left England and located in Sykesville, Carroll County, Maryland. The next spring he went to Minersville, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the coal region, and in 1855 he came to California, and located in Amador County. In 1857 he left California and went to Chili, and then, in 1862, to Bolivia. From Bolivia he went to Peru early in 1864, returned to California in August, the same year, and for a time mined at the Alınaden and New Idria quicksilver mines. He re- mained at the New Idria mines from December. 1865, until 1876, employed in various capacities, when he went to San Francisco, where he remained for two years. In 1878 he went to British Columbia, where he remained six months, and then returned to San Francisco. In December, 1878, he went to Lower California, but returned to San Francisco in May, 1879. In a short time he went to the Guadaloupe quicksilver mines, in Santa Clara County, where he remained until May, 1882, when he came to Los Gatos, and went into the hotel business as proprietor of the Los Gatos Hotel, formerly known as the Ten Mile House, on the old stage road running from San Jose to Santa Cruz. When he assumed charge of the hotel it con- tained but nineteen rooms, but a year afterward it was considerably enlarged by the addition of a two- story building, twenty-eight by one hundred feet, the old hotel now forming the south wing of the build- ing. The hotel now contains forty-one sleeping apart- ments, and is well furnished throughout. In Septem- ber, 1887, he gave up this business, and soon after engaged in the real-estate and insurance business, under the firm name of A. Berryman & Co.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

EDWARD MACABEE, son of Andrew and An- geline Macabee, was born in Montreal, Canada, August 15, 1832. His parents were both na- tives of Canada, and died there. The Macabec family is an old one in Canada. Edward was seven years old when his father died, and he made his home with his brother and sister. When sixteen years old he went to Malone, Franklin County, New York, where he lived until 1864, following farming. He was mar- ried February 4, 1855, to Matilda Francis, a native of Canada. In 1864 he came to California with his family, and located in San Jose. In 1867 he returned to New York, but came back to San Jose after being there ten months, and again engaged in farming, which business he followed until 1883, when he came to Los Gatos and bought the hotel then known as the Cole- man House, but now the Alpine House, and took possession of it November 15 of that year, and has run the hotel ever since. It was built in 1881 by James Coleman, is two stories high, and contains twenty-four rooms. It is situated on a five-acre tract of land in East Los Gatos, on the San Jose and Los Gatos road. They have eight children, viz .: Zephire, Carrie (wife of L. Pinard, of San Jose), Mary, Flora, Delia, Edward, Andrew, and Ernest V.

ALIJAH PRICE, of San Jose Township, is a native of Staffordshire, England, born in 1818, his parents being Isaac and Mary Price. When he was in his fifth year, the family emigrated to America, locating in Southern Illinois. There the father died, and the family removed to Cincinnati, where the subject of this sketch was principally reared. Thence they removed to Franklin County, Indiana, and from there to Shelby County, same State, and then to Hamilton, also in that State. Here Mr. Price resided until October 18, 1883, when he removed to California and located in Santa Clara County. He has a fine place of thirty acres on Stone Avenue, near San Jose, which he had purchased before moving here, February 24, 1883, from Mr. Williams, executor of the Stone estate. Previous to that date it had been devoted to agriculture alone, but in March, 1883, Mr. Price set out over 800 apricot and prune trees, and has since planted 600 more trees-apricots, prunes, and peaches. He also has an acre of table grapes. Besides this estate Mr. Price has also a residence and business property in San Francisco, which are valua- ble on account of being desirably situated.

In earlier life Mr. Price was for many years one of the lights of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Illi- nois, having been ordained in its ministry at Spring- field, in 1850, by Bishop Scott; but in 1873 he asso- ciated himself with the United Brethren Church, and came to the coast with a transfer from the Lower Wabash Conference of that denomination, which he still holds, as there is no regular congregation of his church nearer than Sacramento. In his political views he is a Republican.

Mr. Price was married in Hamilton, Indiana, to Miss Barbara Daubenspeck, a native of Fayette County, that State. Their two eldest children, W. A. and Isaac N., volunteered in defense of the Union during the last war, and died in the service. There are still eleven children living, namely: John W., who resides in Wyoming Territory; James P., who is living in Douglas County, Illinois; Mary Shrader, living in Shelby County, Illinois; Sarah A. Shrader, who re- sides in Wichita, Kansas; W. N., L. C., and Charles E., residing in Douglas County, Illinois ; Candace Nixon, in Montgomery City, Missouri; Alice Reed, in Douglas County, Illinois; and M. E. and M. C., in Santa Clara County, California.

L. TAYLOR. On an extensive ranch like that of Palo Alto, where valuable race-horses are bred and cared for, there is no more important position than that of chief horseshoer, where a thorough and accurate knowledge of every detail of the business is required. This position at Palo Alto Ranch is held by the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Taylor is a native of Michigan, born at Jackson, September 2, 1849, his parents being J. H. and Mary (Dixon) Taylor. In 1854 his father came out to California by way of Nicaragua, and located at San Lorenzo. Having decided to make that place his permanent home, the family came out to join him in 1856. In Alameda County the subject of this sketch grew to manhood, learning his trade at Liver- more. After completing a thorough apprenticeship, he continued his trade at Livermore as a journey- man until. 1881, when his skill at his craft secured for him his present position at the Palo Alto Ranch. Mrs. Taylor's maiden name was Amelia Pink. She was a native of New York. They have three chil- dren: Rodman, Charles, and Edwin. Mr. Taylor is a member of Mountain View Lodge, A. O. U. W.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

HARLES D. AUSTIN, supervising architect of the Leland Stanford, Jr., University buildings, succeeded W. A. Rodman, of Boston, in that capacity. Mr. Austin was educated at the Mas- sachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, and com- menced life as a civil engineer, afterward entering the employ of Shepley, Rutan & Coolidge, architects of the university. He entered upon the duties of his present position May 1, 1888.

actor R. H. C. MOREY, of the real-estate firm of Morey & Rogers, came to Gilroy in August, 1867, for the purpose of pursuing the practice of his profession and securing a climate more favorable to health. Dr. Morey is a native of New York State, born in Oneida County, August 15, 1826, his parents being John and Fannie (Atkins) Morey. His father was a Methodist minister. When the doctor was four years of age, the family removed to Ohio, where the father was engaged in ministerial labors, and at the age of twelve years they removed to Illinois, locating in Fulton County. He received his educa- tion there and commenced the study of medicine under the guidance of Dr. Lance, of Marietta, Fulton County. He attended lectures at Rush Medical Col- lege, Chicago, graduating in 1854, after which he be- gan practicing at Geneseo, Illinois, and continued there until his failing health caused him to make a trip to California in 1858. From Sierra County, Cal- ifornia, he went to Oregon and located at McMinn- ville, where he engaged in practicing till December, 1859, when he returned to Illinois and remained eighteen months. In 1861 he again came to Califor- nia, locating at Knight's Landing, on the Sacramento River, where he remained until he came to Gilroy. He established the drug business here the next year after coming, in which he continued until the fall of 1887. Since that time he has been engaged in real- estate business. He was married in Geneseo, Illinois, to Melissa A. Hobbs, a native of Maine. Her father, a physician, died in Maine, and her mother resides in Gilroy. Dr. Morey's father resides in San Jose, where his mother died in 1887.

The doctor is a member of the Masonic Order and belongs to Chapter and Commandery at San Jose. Politically he is a Democrat. Dr. Morey has one of the curiosities of California in what is known as the " Cloth of Gold " rose tree. It was planted by him,

from a slip, in 1872, and now covers an area of thirty feet in diameter, and is fifteen feet high, and the body measures thirty-two inches around its base.

EWIS C. FERGUSON, who has an important part in the management of the Palo Alto Ranch, is a member of one of the old families of Santa Clara County. He was born at Volcano City, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, October 19, 1852, his par- ents being Asa and Parthenia S. (Anderson) Fergu- son. Lewis C. was reared to the age of eight years at the family home, near Old Gilroy, and there com- menced his schooling, finishing his collegiate course at Oakland. He engaged with a Front Street firm in San Francisco as entry clerk, and was for some time associated in that capacity with wholesale houses on that and California Streets. He became connected with the Manhattan Life Insurance Company and general mining offices on Montgomery Street, and remained with them until 1885, when he came to the Palo Alto Ranch. Besides the details of the busi- ness transactions, he has immediate superintendence of the grounds. In politics he is a Republican, and for a number of years was identified strongly with political clubs in San Francisco.

COEURWIN A. DAVISON. One of the most im- portant industries of Santa Clara County, and especially of the southern portion, is that of cheese-making, which was commenced here some thirty-five years ago. Since that time it has grown to large proportions, with many establishments contributing thereto. The leading portion among these is held by what is known as the Bloomfield Dairy, situated about three miles south from Gilroy, and conducted by Erwin A. Davison.

Though the history of cheese manufacture for the market in this locality dates back over a third of a century, the true story of the progress of the indus- try may be gathered from the relation of what has been accomplished by the Bloomfield Dairy in less than eleven years of time. The dairy was originated by Henry Miller, the owner of the land, in 1869, and it was operated with average success until the fall of 1875, when Mr. E. A. Davison, a man reared in the business in the celebrated dairy district of Herkimer County, New York, came out to take charge. He

Agrilesson

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made an unexceptionable quality of cheese, but was surprised to find that it brought, in common with other California cheese, six cents per pound less than that made in the East. There being no difference in the quality, he determined to have the highest price for his produce that was paid in San Francisco mar- ket. Sending East and obtaining the materials simi- lar to those used there for that purpose, he com- menced making his own drums, and imitating in size and style the Eastern cheese. This done, he went to the commission merchants and demanded that his cheese be sold at the advanced price. The answer to this demand was that if he persisted in making drum cheese, not a pound of his manufacture would be sold in the San Francisco market. For this reply he was not unprepared, however, and informed the commis- sion men that he would not only continue to make the drums, but would open a house in San Francisco, and make such terms that he would sell every pound of cheese made in Santa Clara Valley. It was no idle boast, and the commission men were soon brought to their senses. His cheese has since sold for from five to six cents more than the market price of the California article, and from this source alone, in a little over ten years, he has made what in many districts in the old States would be called a handsome fortune. He found no trouble in marketing all he made, and the next thing was to keep the supply up the year round, that a new custom would not have to be built up annually. This result was, of course, to be accomplished by the handling and feeding of the cows. Few dairymen at that time thought it necessary to pay much attention to the feeding of their dry or milk stock, but he thought differently from the start. The first four years after coming here he supplanted the green feed by planting corn and beets; but after that time he began sowing alfalfa, on which, with bran, he has since relied, sometimes feed- ing as much as three hundred tons of bran per year, and has thus continually kept up the flow of milk, while other cows were dry. An inspection of his bills shows the receipt of sixteen cents per pound for his manufacture, while California cheese is quoted ten to eleven cents. It will thus be seen what intelligent effort, with good business qualifications, may accom- plish. Eight hundred acres of land are used for the purpose of the dairy, and the 350 cows on the place supply the milk for the manufacture of 130,000 pounds of cheese annually. The original stock was purchased from Mr. Miller in December, 1887, by Mr. Davison. A tour of the dairy farm shows the same

attention to every detail that has been mentioned in connection with the business management of the pro prietor. Nothing is lacking that should be there, and everything is in its place. The arrangements for water and for feeding are excellent. Much credit is due the man who has given to Santa Clara County the model dairy farm of California.

Mr. Davison is a native of Herkimer County, New York, born January 25, 1842. His father, Andrew Davison, was likewise born in Herkimer County. His mother, whose maiden name was Maria Hemp- stead, was also a native of the Empire State.

Erwin A. was reared in his native county, and, as his father was a dairyman, he may be said to have been brought up to that business from childhood. On arriving at manhood's estate, he embarked in the dairy business for himself, and three years later re- moved to Cattaraugus County, New York. There he engaged in cheese manufacture, continuing until re- moving to California, in 1875. He was married in New York State, January 1, 1861, to Miss Orphia Farrington, a native of Herkimer County, and daugh- ter of Harvey and Anna (Fabill) Farrington. Her mother died when she was a child. Her father after- ward removed to Canada, where he was heavily en- gaged in cheese manufacture. He was an authority in matters pertaining to the business, and was presi- dent of the Canadian Dairyman's Association. He was the particular friend of L. B. Arnold, late of Rochester, New York, and was his tutor, and to the interest taken in him by Mr. Farrington, Mr. Arnold attributed his success in life.

Mr. Davison is a member of the Masonic Order, re- taining a connection with the lodge at Franklinville, New York. He is also a member of Olean Chapter, Olean, New York, and is a member of the Merchants' and Bankers' Insurance Society.

ON. ISAIAH A. WILCOX owns and resides upon a farm containing sixty-one and a half acres of very productive land, situated in the Jefferson School District, two miles northwest of Santa Clara. These lands are in good cultivation, and bear witness to the intelligent care bestowed upon them. The orchard contains 6,000 trees, being chiefly Bartlett pears and French prunes. Among these trees, onions and strawberries are extensively cultivated, while thirty acres are devoted exclusively to the cult-

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ure of strawberries, of the most approved and produc- tive varieties. In this connection it is worthy of men- tion that Mr. Wilcox is one of the pioneers of the small-fruit producers of the State of California. The years of labor and study and the unlimited means which he has devoted to this industry justly entitle his beautiful lands to the name of "Experimental Gardens." There are also six acres of alfalfa on the place, from which the yield is very bountiful, five crops of hay being taken from the land annually.

Mr. Wilcox dates his birth in Herkimer County, New York, September 16, 1822. His parents, Asa and Clarissa (Nichols) Wilcox, were natives and resi- dents of the county of his birth. His father was a farmer, but was also engaged in a general mercantile and other business enterprises, and in these pursuits the subject of this sketch was schooled. He received as good an education as the institutions of learning of that day afforded, and at the age of twenty years engaged as a teacher in the public schools. In this work he was most successful, as was proven by the fact that he was twice elected Superintendent of Schools in his native county. When twenty-four years of age, he entered the office of Judges Loomis & Nolton, attorneys at law, in Little Falls, New York, and commenced the study of law. Being an ardent and ambitious student, a too close attention to his studies caused a failure of health, and he was com- pelled to abandon this pursuit. From this period until 1852 he was engaged in various occupations, but partly of a class that would enable him to travel more or less, and among them was a cod-fishing voy- age to the banks of Newfoundland in 1849, for the improvement of his health. Soon afterward he re- sumed his law studies, but, his health not being re- stored, he was compelled finally to give up all thought of his cherished ambition, and in 1852 he started for California via the Isthmus route.

Arriving in San Francisco, and unable to engage in work congenial to his tastes and education, he started on foot for the mines, and aided in opening up new districts in Nevada County, known as Little York, Wauloupe, and Red Dog. He followed min- ing with varying success for about one year, when want of strength compelled him to change his em- ployment, and he returned to San Francisco. Thence he went to Alameda, where he worked for Chipman & Aughenbough, the founders of that town, and be- came their foreman. While there, he assisted in mak- ing the first survey of town lots in the place. He also spent some time in the redwoods north of Oak-

land, making shingles, posts, and rails. Although hampered by ill health and defective eyesight, nothing daunted, with indomitable courage and persistent in- dustry he engaged in several enterprises in Alameda County, among which was the establishment of a nursery in Alameda, in partnership with Henderson Luelling, who brought the first fruit-trees to this coast. They purchased 500 acres of land, embracing the district now known as Fruit Vale, for orchard pur- poses. The title of these lands becoming involved in litigation, they were not fully improved, as intended.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 60

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