Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 66

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 66

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

and is situated three miles from Mayfield, by the county road. All the improvements have been made by him, and the place now presents a tasteful and ornamental appearance. He has about seventy-five fruit-trees of different varieties, planted in 1885, and about sixty vines; both fruit and vines are for family use.

Captain Wilson was married, at San Francisco, on Thanksgiving Eve, 1881, to Miss Mary Nicholson, a native of San Francisco, and daughter of John Nichol- son, who came to this coast in 1849, and afterward embarked in mercantile life in San Francisco. Polit- ically, the Captain is a Republican.

CHARLES B. POLHEMUS was born in Bur- lington County, New Jersey, in 1818. He at- tended school until twelve years of age, when he began to learn the drug business, at which he served four years, receiving his diploma as a pharma- cist. In February, 1836, at the age of seventeen, he went to South America, and lived in Valparaiso, Guayaquil, Lima, and Payta, at the latter place being United States Consul for four years. He was in the commission business in these different places as clerk, book-keeper, and at Payta as principal of an estab- lishment. When the gold fever broke out in Cali- fornia, Mr. Polhemus came here and established a branch of Alsop & Co., of New York and South America, one of the largest American houses in South America. In this house he continued fourteen years, doing a commission and banking business. In 1864 he became interested with Donahue, Newhall & Pol- hemus, in the San Francisco and San Jose Railroad, which they guaranteed and subsequently owned. This they worked up to 1867 (in the meantime build- ing a branch to Gilroy), when they sold out to Stan- ford, Huntington, Hopkins & Co., now the Southern Pacific Railroad. In becoming interested in this road, he had to purchase the ranch of Commodore Stock- ton, comprising about 2,000 acres, of which he still owns IIO acres, half of it being in the city of San Jose. He has several ranches in the county, aggre- gating about 1,000 acres of the most valuable land in the county, much of it being in San Jose. Between 1850 and 1860 Mr. Polhemus was Consul in San Fran- cisco for Chili, and also for Peru.

Mr. Polhemus lives on Stockton Avenue, in a house brought from New York city, in 1849 or 1850, with sixteen other houses brought at the same time around

Cape Horn by Commodore Stockton. They were built of first-class material, in sections, and set up on their arrival in California.

Mr. Polhemus was married, in 1852, to Miss Matilda Murphy, a native of New York, now dead. To this marriage three children were born, one of whom died in infancy. Those living are: Mary Josephine and George B. Mr. Polhemus is a member of Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., of Mount Holly, New Jersey, a lodge of which his father was one of the founders. His father was Montgomery Polhemus, a merchant and land-owner in New Jersey, son of Major John Pol- hemus, a soldier of the Revolutionary Army. In Mr. Polhemus' drawing-room hangs a steel engraving of his grandfather, a fine-looking old gentleman in the dress of that time, with the following inscription: " Major John Polhemus, U. S. A., Commissioned as a Captain by Order of Congress, Nov. 22, 1775; pro- moted to a Majority at Valley Forge. The Jersey Blues, organized by his father-in-law, John Hart, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, found a patriotic commander in him." He was born May 25, 1738, and died on the ninety-fourth anniversary of that day! Mr. Polhemus' mother was Miss Ann Van Zant, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, who died in 1842.

In 1867 Mr. Polhemus negotiated for himself and three associates the purchase of 180,000 acres of land in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, at $1.50 per acre, of which they have sold 20,000 acres. They are still selling this land in bodies at from $20 to $50 per acre.

DOLPH PFISTER. This gentleman, one of the earliest California pioneers, came to this State in 1847, in Colonel Stevenson's regiment. This regiment was intended for the conquest of California and for its later colonization, the troops taking along not only their muskets and arms, but implements of agriculture. It was brought around Cape Horn in three vessels chartered by the United States for the transportation of this expedition, viz .: the Thomas Perkins, Susan True, and the Loo-choo. The former vessel, on which Mr. Pfister embarked, arrived February, 1847, being the first ship of the ex- pedition to reach San Francisco. This regiment re- mained in service until the fall of 1848. Part of it went to Lower California, having some engagements with the Mexicans, and part went to fight the Indians in

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the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Pfister was with the Regimental Band at this time at Monterey, the State capital. The regiment was mustered out of service in 1848, about the time of the discovery of gold by Marshall, and Mr. Pfister went to the mines in El Dorado County, usually returning with pockets full of gold in the winter to San Jose. But in the spring of 1849, perceiving that the population would be much increased by the discovery of gold, and that other in- terests would prosper, Mr. Pfister built a hotel, com- pleting it in 1850. He paid $500 per thousand for lumber, bricks, and other materials in proportion. This was called the Washington Hotel, and was con- ducted by Mr. Pfister for several years, after which he sold it to his partner and engaged in the mer- cantile business, commencing in 1854, and continu- ing until about 1885. He did a most extensive busi- ness, keeping all kinds of goods and supplying stores to the farmers. There being no banks here at the time, Mr. Pfister accommodated many people by taking care of their money, etc. Many miners and others left money and valuables with him, perhaps not calling for their property for years, always to find their trust secure and their valuables in good order.

Mr. Pfister was born in Strasburg, Alsace, in 1821, attending the schools of that section during his youth. He traveled for several years in France, Germany, Italy, and finally left Paris for New York, arriving in 1844, where he remained two years before joining Colonel Stevenson's regiment. He had learned the mercantile business in his father's and other business establishments.

In 1850 he was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Glein, a native of Hesse Cassel, Germany. A brother of Mrs. Pfister had come to California in 1843, re- turning to Europe in 1848, and taking with him the first gold ever taken from California to Europe. In 1850 he returned to California, bringing with him his sister, who later became the wife of Adolph Pfister. A pleasing coincidence in this connection is worth repeating: Mr. Pfister had known Mr. Glein intimately in Naples, Italy, and expected to meet him in Paris, but happened to miss him, although they lived on the same street for a year, each seeking the other without success. Imagine the surprise and gratification of both, when in the very first house Mr. Pfister entered in San Francisco, in 1847, the first man he met was his old friend Glein! This house was a long, low adobe, in which was a hotel, saloon, bakery, etc., owned by a man engaged in blacksmithing. When, in 1850, Mr. Pfister married the sister of his old friend,

there was only one church in San Francisco, and in this the ceremony was performed. Six children have blessed this union: Frank M., now the township justice of San Jose Township; Emily, residing with her parents; Henry A., engaged in mercantile busi- ness in Santa Clara; Matilda, wife of Henry L. Schemmel, of San Jose; Adele, wife of Ernest Lom- ber, manager of Gray's Music Store in San Francisco; Herman C., engaged in the hardware business.

Mr. Pfister retired from business about three years ago, and now enjoys the results of a well-spent life. He was twice elected Mayor of the city of San Jose, and with the salary of that position he founded the San Jose Free Library. He has always supported the Democratic party, voting for Douglas in the cam- paign of 1860. He is President of the San Jose Free Library, and also of the Paul O. Burns Wine Com- pany.

HIEF JAMES BRADY. San Jose possesses a deservedly high reputation for the excellence of her public works, and for the efficiency with which the different departments of her civic government are carried on. One of the most impor- tant of these is the Fire Department, of which James Brady is the Chief Engineer. He has been con- nected, for the last thirty years, with the fire depart- ments of the principal cities of the Union, including Baltimore, Washington, and New Orleans, and for the past twenty-two years continuously occupying a position in connection with that department in San Jose.

A few words about that department, which · has been largely built up by his assistance, will be in point. It has forty-one men on its pay roll; has two steam fire-engines; one patent Hayes' truck, second- class; one hand truck in reserve; six hose-carts, car- rying an average of 800 feet of hose apiece, and one hose-cart in reserve, carrying 650 feet. The pay of the Chief is $50 per month; of assistant engineers, $20; engineers who run engines, $100. Drivers own and feed their horses at their own expense, and re- ceive $100 per month. There are 127 fire-plugs be- longing to the city, and two belonging to the State, located in the Normal School grounds. There are also four large water cisterns in central locations, three of them supplied from the city water works, and the other from an artesian well.

Chief Brady was born in Ireland, in the famous

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County of Cavan. His parents died when he was very young, and he came with his sisters to the city of Baltimore when eleven years of age, and there served his time as a painter, working at his trade in Washington and New Orleans. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, he returned to Baltimore and en- rolled himself in the loyal Maryland militia, being soon called actively into service in defense of the lines before Washington and Baltimore. The memorable battle of Gettysburg was one in which Chief Brady took part. He returned from the army after the es- tablishment of peace, and in 1866 came to California, making his way at once to San Jose. Here he fol- lowed his profession of painting, immediately joining the Fire Department, with which he has been ever since connected.

Chief Brady was married in April, 1886, in San Jose, to Miss Nellie Owens, a native of this city. He is now reaping a well-merited reward for his con- tinuous labors and close attention to both public wel- fare and private business; is the owner of considerable choice real estate, and is esteemed and valued in all circles of society. He is a member in good standing of Knights of Labor, San Jose Lodge, and also of Enterprise Lodge, No. 17, of the A. O. U. W.

REDERIC W. KUNZ, of the Wholesale and Retail Bottling Agency of the Fredericksburg Brewing Company, No. 135 West Santa Clara Street, San Jose, has been in business in San Jose for eleven years. He was born in Hesse, Germany, in 1848, where he received his education in the public schools, and then learned the trade of cabinet-maker. At the age of seventeen years he decided to cast his fortunes in America, arriving in New York in 1865, just at the close of the Rebellion. He remained in New York State about eleven years, during which time he worked at his trade of cabinet-making six months in Texas. In 1877 he came to California by way of Panama, on which trip he was wrecked on the steamer San Francisco between Panama and Acapulco. The passengers were rescued in life-boats, coming on the next steamer to San Francisco. He came imme- diately to San Jose, where he has since remained. He has, by his careful work in bottling the Freder- icksburg beer, and by the completeness of all the de- tails of his cellar, built up quite a reputation for these goods, while his personal integrity has made him popular and given him a large trade. Mr. Kunz was

married, in 1871, to Miss Frederika Meyer, a native of Hanover, Germany. They have no children. He is a member of the Allemania Lodge, No. 178, I. O. O. F., of San Jose, and also a member of the San Jose Turnverein. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias, and was elected Major in the Uniform Rank.

AMES A. CLAYTON. Few men are so well known in Santa Clara County as James A. Clay- ton, who came to San Jose on the twenty-fifth day of August, 1850, and has been a leading citizen of the county ever since.

Mr. Clayton is a native of England, born in Derby- shire, October 20, 1831. He came to the United States with his parents in 1839, they settling in the lead mines of Iowa County, Wisconsin, in 1840. His parents, John and Mary (Bates) Clayton, were both natives of New Mills, Derbyshire, England, his father having been a lead miner in his native country, fol- lowing this occupation, in conjunction with farming, during most of his life, while the mother's parents were farmers. John Clayton and his wife resided on a farm in Wisconsin, near Mineral Point, up to the time of their death, Mrs. Clayton dying in 1853, and Mr. Clayton in 1857, at the age of eighty years.

To this worthy couple were born twelve children: Joel, who died in Clayton, Contra Costa County (the town having been named for him). He brought to California, in 1850, a train of emigrants, his brother, the subject of this sketch, coming with him. He was largely concerned in coal mining, owning also a ranch of 800 acres, covering what is now the town of Clayton. Charles, who came to Oregon in 1847, and to California in 1848, before the gold mines were dis- covered, died October 4, 1885. He had been a Mem- ber of Congress, Surveyor of the Port of San Fran- cisco, and held many prominent positions in that city and in the State, being one of the leading Republi- cans for over a quarter of a century.

In company with his brother Joel, as before stated, James A. Clayton crossed the plains to California in 1850. They were eighty-seven days making the journey from the Missouri River to Placerville, then called Hangtown. Stopping a few days at the mines, he was then employed as clerk for his brother, Charles Clayton, in Santa Clara, who had been a resident of the valley since 1848. Here he remained until Feb- ruary, 1851, when he returned to the mines, working there until the following November, when he went to

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Australia and tried his luck at the mines there. In August, 1852, Mr. Clayton, not yet of age, returned to California, residing, for a short period, in Stockton, but came again to Santa Clara County, in January, 1853, being employed as clerk in Santa Clara until he permanently settled in San Jose in 1856. Here he purchased a photographic gallery, located on Santa Clara Street, near Market, removing, later, to Spring's Corner. This establishment Mr. Clayton conducted about thirteen years. In 1861 he was elected County Clerk of Santa Clara County, and re-elected in 1863. In 1867 he established a real-estate office, continuing in that business to the present date.

Mr. Clayton was married in March, 1860, to Miss Anna L. Thomson, a native of Indiana, her parents, Robert P. and Amy F. (Brown) Thomson, having come to California in 1857. From this marriage were born seven children: Mary E., wife of C. W. Gates, of Los Angeles ; Edward W. and Willis S., partners of their father in the real-estate busi- ness ; Grace Elizabeth, who died in infancy ; Ethel, born in 1868, who, with her brother Willis, grad- uated at the University of the Pacific, Willis in 1884, and Ethel in 1886; John J., born in 1870, now attending school, and Florence, born in 1876.

Mr. Clayton is a large property owner, but confines himself strictly to his business of real estate, loan and insurance agent, and real-estate auctioneer, and makes the loaning of money for capitalists a specialty. He is a member of San Jose Lodge, No. 10, F. & A. M., also a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since 1857, and is a Trustee of the University of the Pacific; was a Lay Delegate to the Methodist Episco- pal General Conference held in New York in 1888. Has been a Republican since 1858, and was one of the Alternate Delegates for the State at Large to the National Republican Convention at Chicago in 1888. He believes in the protection of American industries.

EORGE B. POLHEMUS. The importance of a man's life is not always to be measured by the events that have transpired during its course, but rather by its tendencies, and the effect it has upon the world. It is for this reason that the possession and cultivation of land is of an importance far beyond what would be imagined by one who looks only upon the surface and watches for brilliant effects. The landed proprietors, men who have the means and op- portunity to conduct affairs upon a large scale, and

with an eye to the future, are of first necessity to a nation's progress and genuine prosperity. In this class must be reckoned Mr. George B. Polhemus, the subject of this sketch, the proprietor of the Cerro Alegre Rancho, near Coyote Station, on the Southern Pacific Railroad. He owns 805 acres, which has been often spoken of by old Californians as the jewel ranch of the State for its size, being so elegantly situated (with rich alluvial soil, etc.), and being one of the few pieces of property where the avaricious farmer has not ruined the picturesqueness of the landscape by de- spoiling the land of its natural growth of magnificent oaks for a small return of wood. He also leases from the Piercy estate 3,300 acres more, all lying in a body and furnishing unlimited opportunity for develop- ment. Here Mr. Polhemus carries on dairy ranching upon the largest and most successful scale. He has 300 head of graded cows, of nearly all milk-producing breeds-Ayrshires, Shorthorns, Jerseys, and Hol- steins. He also keeps a separate herd (from dairy) of Holstein-Friesian cattle, numbering about fifty head, of which sixteen are imported cows, all four- year-olds, and the rest are Eastern and California bred, all registered. The dairy lands are composed of 300 acres seeded to alfalfa, 100 acres sowed to oats, 40 acres planted to pumpkins, 15 acres to mangel- wurzel beets, and 12 acres to carrots. Paddocks of 20 acres each are used for calves and thoroughbred cattle, seeded to alfalfa and rye grass, and 100 acres half hills and half meadow, quite low and wet, used as night pasture for dairy cows. Of the balance of the dairy ranch 100 acres are seeded to barley for horse feed, while the rest of this magnificent estate (3,300 acres of hill pasture, fine grazing land) supplies range for the animals. Water is secured in great abun- dance for irrigation and other purposes, by a Byron Jackson centrifugal pump, which derives its supply from a shaft twelve feet square and twenty feet deep, with two ten-inch artesian wells in bottom sixty feet deep. This water supply has been commented upon by experts as something of a mystery, it being so great, having been measured at 5,000 gallons per minute, and when running most economically, and forcing through 4,000 feet of thirteen-inch sheet-iron pipe, which is laid under ground through alfalfa fields, the measurements were 3,400 gallons per minute. Water is taken from pipes by risers of same size. Such is a slight account of this splendid ranch, which affords an unusually fine instance of what may be effected in California by energy and knowledge of the subject. Mr. Polhemus bought it in Nov., 1884,

A. Edgar Ocharne.

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from the Wilson estate. We look for important re- sults from the great enterprise which he has founded at Coyote, both in the way of raising fine animals and in the accomplishment of a still greater success in the making of butter and other dairy products, as in his business all kinds of improved machinery are in op- eration. It is a matter in which the county is deeply interested. Mr. Polhemus was chosen for the State Assembly by the Republican party at their conven- tion in 1886; and, notwithstanding the district was strongly Democratic, he was defeated by a very few votes only. He has given up his political aspirations, and devotes himself entirely to his magnificent prop- erty.

Mr. Polhemus is a native of California, born in San Francisco, January 21, 1857. His earlier education was pursued in San Francisco, under Rev. Dr. George Burrows, who took twelve students to prepare them for a college course at Cambridge, but after devoting some years to study, mostly under this noted teacher, he decided to give up his college course, having thus laid the foundation broad and deep of an education which time and experience are bringing to a ripe fru- ition. He was married in January, 1887, to Miss Jennie Ryder, daughter of George W. Ryder, of Santa Clara Valley.

EDGAR OSBORNE, M. D., Ph. D. The suc- cessful efforts that are being made at the pres- ent day for the amelioration of the lot of the indigent, the insane, and the feeble-minded, are something of which too much can hardly be said. It is only of late years that any general attention has been paid to the subject. A number of learned and philanthropic gentlemen, chiefly medical men, have studied the matter and by the rearing of institutions for the care and treatment of the weak-minded, have accomplished a good that is shown most clearly by the surprisingly great success that has been met in reliev- ing these mental disorders and in many cases entirely curing them. Upon this coast the California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble-minded Children, an institution located on the extreme western borders of the town of Santa Clara, and which is described elsewhere in this volume, is a worthy representative of what is being done. Though founded but a few years back, and not yet as extensive as it will be later, it is acknowledged to be one of the best managed and most successful on the continent, the appointments and

arrangements being admirable, and the most perfect system prevailing throughout.

The superintendent is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this article. Dr. Osborne was born near Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, February 23, 1856, his father, Mr. Antrim Osborne, being the proprietor of the Waterville Woolen Mills. When the subject of this sketch was between five and six years of age, his father purchased the Rose Valley Woolen Mills property, in the same county, removing his family thither, and there Dr. Osborne received his preliminary education, from private tutors and at the public schools. He next attended the district Gram- mar School, going thence to the Pennsylvania State College (military), in Center County. Here he took a four years' course in science, for two terms being the assistant of the professor of that department. He next went to the University of Pennsylvania (Medical Department), graduating March 12, 1877. For one year after this he remained at practice in Philadel- phia, at the same time pursuing a special course in the hospitals. He then removed to Media, Penn- sylvania, and began the practice of his profession. In 1879 Dr. Osborne graduated in the Department of Philosophy, of the University of Pennsylvania, taking the degree of Ph. D., being the youngest man to obtain that degree at that time. While in Philadelphia Dr. Osborne was connected with the Presbyterian and the Philadelphia Hospitals, and at this time was the first resident physician to the Odd Fellows' Home. Subsequently he became semi- officially connected with the Pennsylvania Training School for the feeble-minded. For the following eight years, in addition to his other professional work, he occupied the chair of Natural Sciences in the Media Academy, being also the organizer of the De- partment of Physical Culture, and establishing a gymnasium.

In October, 1886, Dr. Osborne, having attracted general attention by his studies of the subject of the care and treatment of the feeble-minded, was elected to succeed Dr. B. T. Wood in the office of Superintend- ent of the California Home for the Care and Training of Feeble-minded Children, assuming charge on December 1, 1886, proving himself the right man for the position by the admirable manner in which he at once brought the institution to a high state of effi- ciency.

Drawing from a thorough knowledge and a wide experience, he is creating a higher plane of success. Dr. Osborne is the only physician engaged in this

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work on the Pacific Coast, and is in charge of the only institution of the kind west of Nebraska. Under his hands there are now IIO children, and there are fully 150 applications for admission on file, waiting the completion of enlargements now contemplated.

Dr. Osborne was married on September 7, 1880, to Miss Margaret H. Paxton, the daughter of Col. J. C. Paxton, of Marietta, Ohio. They have no children, but have adopted a niece, who lives with them. Mrs. Osborne is the matron of the institution. Dr. Osborne is a member of the Delaware County Medical Society, of the Pennsylvania State Medical Society, of the National Medical Association, of the American Asso- ciation of Medical Superintendents, and of the Media Institute of Science. He was also the organizer and the President of the Media Medical Club. By his original researches and independent treatment of medi- cal and scientific subjects, he has made a name for himself in the line of new discoveries, and is cited as an authority in the lines that he has made especially his own. He is a hearty, whole souled gentleman, whom it is pleasant to meet, affable and courteous, and a favorite with all. In church matters the doctor and his wife are Presbyterians. He is also a member in good standing of the Masonic Order, namely, of George W. Bartram Lodge, No. 298, Pennsylvania; of Howard Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., and San Jose Commandery, No. 10, K. T., in San Jose. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F., and is District Deputy Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He is also a member of the Delta Tau Delta Frater- nity, a college society with a very large membership in this country.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 66

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