Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 68

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 68

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Madam Lamolle is a native of Luchon, Department of Haute-Garonne, France, who came in her early

youth to the Pacific Coast, and here remained. Emile J. Lamolle was born in Eureka, Nevada County, Cal- ifornia, in 1859. He received his education at Santa Clara College. From that school he went to San Francisco, where he learned the business of machinist, finishing the apprenticeship at the Union Iron Works. He continued at this business until five years ago, when he returned home and took an interest in the Lamolle House. Mr. Lamolle's father, Bernard La- molle, a native of France, died in 1869. Madame Lamolle has one daughter, Marie, now the wife of H. Pfister, who is in the grocery business in Santa Clara.

R. W. H. HAMMOND. Dr. Hammond was born in Ashland County, Ohio, in 1851. He was reared on his father's farm, attending the public schools during their winter sessions. His parents, Philip and Mary (Ensinger) Hammond, were natives of Pennsylvania, but emigrated to Ohio in 1848. In 1864 they removed, with their seven children, to the vicinity of Fairfield, Iowa, and engaged in farming. Dr. Hammond taught school in Iowa for about three years, his mind being directed meanwhile to the study of medicine, and all his energies being bent in acquir- ing means to enable him to prosecute his studies. In 1871-72 he attended the State Agricultural College of Iowa, taking first the general and later the mathematical course. He taught school again in 1873, and the next year came to California, where he also at first engaged in teaching. In 1877 he entered the Medical Depart- ment of the University of the Pacific (now the Cooper Medical College) in San Francisco, graduating in 1879. His abilities were recognized, and he was made Demonstrator of Anatomy at the college, at the same time practicing his profession. As his duties called for about six hours a day in dissections and demon- strating, and as he was a young physician, he was sent on many night calls by the older practitioners, and the close application began to tell on his health. Upon the earnest advice of Dr. Lane, he went to the Sand- wich Islands, where he spent one year, holding the office of Government Physician on one of the islands, and carrying on his profession at the same time. When he decided to return to America, the Board of Health of the kingdom, of which the late ex-Premier Gibson was President, offered him an increase of salary, but as his health was materially improved, the Doctor prepared for his return.

Just before leaving for the Sandwich Islands he

368

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

was married to Miss Mattie B. Snyder, daughter of John and Martha (Kifer) Snyder, pioneers of Santa Clara County.

Dr. Hammond opened his office in San Jose, Feb- ruary, 1883, and has since practiced here the profes- sion of medicine and surgery with great success. He has lately purchased, in partnership with a friend, a fruit ranch of seventeen and a half acres in bearing trees, ten acres being in French prunes, about three acres each in apricots and peaches, and the balance in cherries and pears. He is a Director in the Argonaut Land and Development Company, a corporation for the purchase and improvement of real estate. He is also a member of the San Jose Building and Loan Association. Dr. Hammond is the County Physician for the county of Santa Clara, holding the office now for the second term. He is a member of the State and county medical societies, and also a member in high standing of Garden City Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F., being a Past Grand, and also of Triumph Lodge, No. 47, Knights of Pythias. He is a Republican in politics, and an emphatic believer in the protection of all American industries.

esta

R. R. E. PIERCE. This gentleman, who holds a high and worthy position in the ranks of the medical profession of San Jose, was born in St. John, New Brunswick, in 1856, leaving there, however, with his parents in the following year and going to Boston. He there attended the various public schools, and finally graduated in the Medical Department of the Boston University in 1879. For three years he was a student also of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He practiced his profession for about five years in Melrose and Boston. In 1884 he came to San Jose, where, in partnership with Dr. Breyfogle, he has since carried on his professional work. This partnership, which had been arranged previous to Dr. Pierce's departure from Massachusetts, was continued until the pressure of other duties compelled Dr. Brey- fogle to retire from the active calls of his profession. Since that time Dr. Pierce has successfully conducted the united practice.

His parents were Robert and Fannie L. (Brittain) Pierce. His father was born in Ruthin, Derbyshire, Wales, in 1832; his mother in the same year, in St. John, New Brunswick. Dr. Pierce has three brothers, the elder a manufacturer, and the other two merchants, of Boston. His father was for thirty years a leading

dry-goods merchant of Boston. He died in 1887. His mother is still alive and is living at Melrose, Massachusetts. Dr. Pierce married Miss Fannie M. Parker, of Newtonville, Massachusetts, in 1880. They have no children. He has been interested in fruit lands, but now devotes his time exclusively to the practice of his profession, in the ranks of which he has risen to a high standard, and is regarded as a sound and able practitioner. Dr. Pierce is a consistent Republican, and believes in the full protection of American interests. He is a public-spirited and highly esteemed citizen, learned in his profession and of wide experience.

ecto R. ALBERT M. BARKER, formerly of the firm of Gunckel & Barker, dentists, at No. 17 South First Street, San Jose, was born in Wal- worth County, Wisconsin, in 1859, and when one year old his father removed to Dodge County, Minne- sota. He attended the local schools and worked on his father's farm until 1875, when he came to Califor- nia, and settled in San Jose, where for three years he attended the University of the Pacific. At the end of that time he began the study of dentistry with Dr. Gunckel, with whom he was associated as pupil for three years, when he became a partner in the business, which they conducted for seven years, or until January I, 1888. when he purchased Dr. Gunckel's interest, and has since continued the business alone. He was married, in 1884, to Miss Minnie Wing, a native of Peoria, Illinois. He has a vineyard of forty acres (interested with J. B. Wing) on the Saratoga and Mountain View road, about eight miles from San Jose, all set out to wine grapes, and in bearing since 1887. He has devoted himself exclusively and continuously to his business profession and built up a large practice solely by his own exertions. His parents were Silas and Mary (Collins) Barker, both natives of Potsdam, New York.

L. BRADLEY, who came to California in 1850, from his native State, New York, became in- terested in mining and water-ditches in Placer County, remaining there until 1873, when he came to Santa Clara Valley and purchased 220 acres on the Stevens Creek road. This he cultivated, partly in grain for thoroughbred stock, planting sixty acres in fruit-trees, thirty of which are French prunes, ten

Orrin Crittenden

369

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

in almonds, ten in apricots, and ten in cherries and plums. This orchard is in partial bearing. Mr. Brad- ley's live stock was thoroughbred Durham and Short- horns.

Mr. Bradley was fully identified with the interests and development of Santa Clara County, being one of the original stockholders and directors of the First National Bank of San Jose; a life-member of the Santa Clara County Agricultural Association; a promi- nent member of the Masonic Order, and a broad- gauge man generally in matters of public interest. He served a term as State Senator for the Senatorial District in which Placer County is situated. He also took a very active part in the development of the stage road from Sacramento City to Carson City, Nevada, which preceded the building of the Central Pacific Railroad, and was interested in the railroad which followed, and, as fast as it was completed, took the place of the stage road. He sold out his interests in 1873, to his associates, Stanford, Hopkins, Crocker, etc.

He was married to Miss Mary Reed, a native of New York, and to this union were born nine children, all but the two youngest dying in infancy and early youth. He dicd in 1880, his wife in 1885, and both are buried with their children, in Oak Hill Cemetery, near San Jose.

The business of stock-raising and fruit-culture, es- tablished by Mr. Bradley, is continued by his children, under the supervision of E. C. Flagg, who was mar- ried to Miss Lenora Bradley, the eldest living child of Mr. Bradley, on November 15, 1882.

HE REV. ORRIN CRITTENDEN. The sub- ject of this sketch, an honored citizen of Santa Clara County, well known in religious circles throughout the State, was born in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, February 3, 1814. In the schools of the old "Bay State" he received such an education as was common to the New England boy of not wealthy parentage in those years. Studi- ous and earnest, he made the best of his limited opportunities, and all his life he has been quite a student. Possessed of an inquiring mind, vigorous intellect, and retentive memory, he has been enabled to overcome the disadvantages arising from a lack of a liberal education in his youthful days.

When twenty-two years of age, like so many of the best New England stock, the subject of our sketch

went westward, and in the State of Illinois lived from the autumn of 1836 until 1852,-the larger part of the time being spent in Calhoun County. In early man- hood he was converted to the cause of Christ, and in 1847 was ordained in the ministry of the Missionary Baptist Church. Entering zealously into the work of winning souls, he labored faithfully in the Master's vineyard, until, in 1852, he closed his labors in Illi- nois, and crossed the plains and mountains to this sunny land. In February, 1853, he made a claim of the land in Fremont Township, upon which he has ever since resided. His homestead, which contains 160 acres, is one and a half miles from New Mountain View, near the road leading to the bay. When he located his land, Mr. Crittenden intended to improve a homestead, upon which his family could live, and by the income of which they could be maintained. As for himself, he looked forward joyously to a life devoted to preaching the gospel without price,-a life of missionary work. Those plans have never fully " materialized," on account of circumstances entirely beyond his control. During his early residence in the county, Mr. Crittenden devoted two years to mis- sionary work, entirely at his own expense. A part of this work was the organization of a church of forty members at San Juan. Two more years he acted as colporteur for the Philadelphia Baptist Publication Society, in connection with his missionary work, and for this labor he received some pecuniary aid.

As his land became valuable, claimants under Mexi- can grants appeared, and endeavored to gain posses- sion of his homestead, as well as of those of other settlers in his neighborhood. This contest, passing through the local courts, was decided at the end of eight years in the Supreme Court at Washington, in his favor. Naturally, this litigation absorbed all his time and income for years. Notwithstanding these obstacles, Mr. Crittenden has devoted much of his time to the spreading of the "glad tidings of great joy which shall be to all people." When not regularly established over any church, he has ever been ready to respond to all calls, which could, consistently with his duty to his family, be heeded. At the camp-meeting north of Healdsburg, on Russian River, he assisted in the conversion of forty souls. In connection with the Cumberland Presbyterian ministry in the San Ramon Valley, he participated in a series of revival meetings, where grand results were achieved. This is, perhaps, not the place for a detailed history of his ministerial work, neither can space be given to detail; but suffice it to say that what he could do has been well and

370

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

cheerfully done. As a helper to all, without regard to creed, no man has been found more ready, even at the sacrifice of personal interests, to respond to all calls, than he. He is a man of strong religious feel- ing, and one who counts nothing as gain, unless it tends to God's glory. Though well past the three- score years and ten allotted to man, and not possessed of robust health, he is filled with an ambition for the carrying on of the Master's work that many a young man might envy, and will devote the few years left to him to preaching the gospel, and to that auxiliary work,-temperance. He is an ardent advocate not only of temperance, but also of prohibition. Cleared from financial trouble, he is no.v free to give his at- tention to his chosen work.

Mr. Crittenden has experienced more than the usual trials of the pioneer, for he had hardly recovered from the effect of the litigation for the possession of his home, when an overflow of Stevens Creek swept over his farm, and did damage that years of toil, with his diminished income, no more than repaired. This hap- pened in January, 1880, and in July of the same year his fine family residence, with its furniture, and a library which he had spent forty years in collecting, was de- stroyed by fire ! These losses created an indebted- ness of $7,000, which it took years of industry and economy to liquidate. The original entry of 160 acres is still retained by the family, and perhaps no better land can be found in the county. A fine orchard for home use furnishes almost every variety of deciduous fruit. At the present writing the farm is devoted almost entirely to the production of hay, which it yields bountifully. A large expenditure has been made to prevent the recurrence of the disastrous flooding of 1880.

Of Mr. Crittenden's family we record that he mar- ried Virginia Caroline Smith, a native of St. Clair County, Illinois, October 4, 1870. She was a widow, and the mother of two children, Albert and Olive, who took the name of their stepfather. Olive died April 22, 1873. By the second marriage there have been three children: Elmer Orrin, who died April 10, 1888, in his eighteenth year; a daughter, that died in infancy; and George, a promising lad, now fourteen years of age. He is his father's assistant in the man- agement of the farm, and has been carefully reared and educated, with the expectation of taking a col- legiate course, should his health permit. The death of Elmer was a specially severe loss to his parents. He had been trained and educated with great care, and was a bright, studious youth, a loving son, and

the pride of his parents. He was beloved by all who knew him, and his death was felt to be a common bereavement. He had the faith of the Christian, and was a devoted member of the Missionary Baptist Church. His loss was a very hard blow for the family, but was borne with the Christian fortitude which had sustained them through many trials less severe.

Albert Crittenden married Miss Alice Williams. They are well settled in life, having their home not far from Mayfield.

azHOMAS VANCE, Captain of the Nightwatch of the Police Force of San Jose, is at present (1888) the veteran of the force, having joined it in June, 1872. He was born near Jackson, Ten- nessee, in 1826. His parents having died during his early childhood, he was brought up by an uncle, Thomas McKnight, who removed to Mississippi when Thomas Vance was about thirteen years of age. He remained there until about eighteen years old, work- ing on his uncle's farm and attending school, when the opportunity offered. At that age he went to New Orleans, and after remaining there four months he joined, early in May, 1846, the Second Louisiana In- fantry, commanded by Colonel I. N. Marks. They proceeded to Point Isabel, on the Rio Grande, and marched up to where Brownsville now is. The com- mand remained on the Rio Grande while the Mexican War lasted, when they returned to New Orleans. On being mustered out he returned to Tennessee, where he again devoted himself to farming until 1860, when he came to California, settling immediately in the foot-hills, near Los Gatos, in Santa Clara County. Here he engaged in teaming and lumbering until 1870, when he came to San Jose, becoming Deputy Sheriff under N. R. Harris, then Sheriff of the county. He remained in that position two years, at the expira- tion of which time he joined the police force, with which he has been connected ever since, working his way up from patrolman to his present position. The fact that Captain Vance has been re-elected each year by the Mayor and Common Council is full evidence of his valuable and faithful service during that time.

He was married in December, 1849, to Miss Sophia Jane Smith, of Jackson, Tennessee. They have three children: Laura E., wife of Thomas Beck, of Berry- essa; Mary A., wife of T. J. Rivers, of Los Angeles; Jessie S., engaged in teaching in Los Angeles County. Captain Vance has an orchard of four acres, planted

371

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

in prunes and apricots, just coming into bearing. He is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and also a member of the Mexican War Veterans' Asso- ciation, and pensioner of that war.

EWITT C. VESTAL. This gentleman, who is one of the successful pioneer horticulturists of Santa Clara County, owns sixty-five acres of valuable land fronting on Twelfth and Rosa Streets, in San Jose. This tract is now platted and subdivided, and the map is on record. About fifty acres of the land is in fruit, viz .: 2,000 apricots, 800 cherries, 800 egg plums, and 300 peach-trees, practi- cally all in bearing. In 1887 there were produced from this orchard 250 tons of apricots, 15 tons of cherries, 15 tons of egg plums, and 5 tons of peaches.

Mr. Vestal was born in Yadkin County, North Carolina, in 1836. His parents, Asa and Elizabeth (De Jarnatt) Vestal, were natives of North Carolina, his father's ancestors, Quakers, having come over from England with William Penn, settling in what is now Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where one branch of the family still owns and occupies the origi- nal house. His mother's ancestors were French Hu- guenots. Mr. Vestal's father, who was a wagon and carriage manufacturer, removed, in 1839, to Jackson County, Missouri, following his trade in connection with farming. In 1849 he sold out and crossed the plains to California by the usual means of transpor- tation-the ox team. The company was about six months on the way, starting on the first day of May, and reaching the Sacramento Valley the twenty-ninth of October, 1849. Mr. Vestal and his father left the family and went to the Feather River, where they engaged in mining, in which operations they were quite successful. They started, in May, 1850, for the Santa Clara Valley, and after encountering some de- lays on account of high waters in the San Joaquin River, finally settled in the spot where Mr. Vestal now lives, paying $100 an acre for about ten acres. The father bought, later, seventeen acres more than half of the 500-acre lot, No. 15, which, of course, contained much less than 500 acres, at $20 an acre. Both parents. died within three weeks of each other, the mother in December, 1883, the father in January, 1884, and both near the age of eighty-three years.

In 1854 Mr. Vestal entered the University of the Pacific, a member of the first class organized in that now famous institution, and was a member of the

class when it graduated in 1858-the first class to graduate in California. He then commenced the study of medicine with Dr. A. J. Spencer, of San Jose; but in 1861, at the firing on Fort Sumter, he gave up his studies and helped to raise two companies of infantry, under Colonel, afterwards Major-General, Carleton. They enlisted under the promise from Sec- retary Stanton that they would be transferred to the Potomac, but instead were sent to Arizona. Mr. Vestal was engaged, with his command, until 1863, in fighting Indians and protecting the route to Califor- nia from the depredations of Texas Confederates. He was then compelled to resign on account of dis- ability incurred in service, and did not regain his health until 1870. Meanwhile, he was appointed ap- praiser of public lands by the Council of San Jose, attending to this office until 1869, since which time he has devoted himself to fruit-growing. From 1867 to 1876 he was a member of the Common Council of San Jose.

In 1873 Mr. Vestal was married to Miss Sallie I. Hall, a native of Texas, her parents having removed from North Carolina to Texas, and in 1853 to Cali- fornia. There are of this union eight children: Hall, Clinton, Bruce, Laura I., Valona, Maxwell, Marian, and Marguerite.

Mr. Vestal is a member of the I. O. O. F., being the first member initiated in Garden City Lodge, No. 142; was also the first initiated in San Jose En- campment. He is also a member of Phil Sheridan Post, No. 7, G. A. R., San Jose; is a Republican in politics, having cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1860; believes in the protection of American industries, and is a member of the National, State, and County Hor- ticultural Societies.

ENRY REINHARDT, deceased, one of the early settlers of the Hamilton District, was born in Mulhausen, Province of Alsace, Germany, July, 1818. In his native land, in 1844, he married Miss Rosalie Weiss, who was born in the same prov- ince in 1822. Mr. Reinhardt was reared to a farm life in Germany. In 1849 he visited the United States, spending some time in New York city and Albany, but not finding an opening to suit him he re- turned to the old country after a few months. There he was engaged in dairying and farming until 1857, when, with his wife and six children, he embarked for America, landing at New York city. After spending

372

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

three months in Philadelphia they came by way of the Isthmus to San Francisco, reaching that place in the autumn of the same year. Two years, as a renter, he occupied the family homestead where he lived so long, his crop of grain raised in 1859 paying in full for the land which he bought in 1860. The 160 acres (the homestead) fronts on the Santa Clara and Los Gatos road, three miles south of Santa Clara. All the improvements on the place were made by Mr. Reinhardt. He was a systematic, frugal, and ener- getic man, living a most worthy life, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He was at the time of his death a member of the German Methodist Church. He died December 1, 1883. His widow now resides at No. 78 South Third Street, San Jose. She is the mother of sixteen children, six of whom are living: Mrs. Lena Munch, Santa Clara; Emile, a resident of Salinas City, Monterey County; Otto A., who resides upon the old homestead; Mrs. Emma De- Witt, of San Jose; Mrs. Matilda Fruhling, of San Jose; Martha F. lives with her mother. Mrs. Rein- hardt owns a number of residences and other city property in San Jose.

010 OUIS S. CAVALLARO. It is usually the case that some few men engage in the different departments of manufacture. The result is seen in the increase of their business and the popu- larity of the products turned out. To illustrate this, may be cited the name of Mr. L. S. Cavallaro, man- ufacturer of, and dealer in, fine Havana cigars, to- bacco, pipes, etc., at No. 38 North First Street. He has been a resident of San Jose since 1873, has been in business since 1878, and in his present location since 1884. He makes a specialty of fine hand-made goods, employing only the best white labor and watch- ing the product most closely to keep it up to standard. He imports his Havana tobacco direct from Cuba, via New York, and in some brands uses a Connecti- cut fuller with a Havana secd-wrapper. The "Vol- cano" is his best brand, a straight Havana cigar of great merit. It has met with popular approval, and he uses only the best material, put together by the most skillful workmen, employing in all seven men. The market is largely in this county, although there are an increasing number of customers in the sur- rounding counties. Mr. Cavallaro manufactured 200,- 000 cigars in 1887, and will probably make a quarter of a million in 1888, judging by the trade at the time

of writing. He does his own traveling, and always comes up to or goes beyond representation.

Mr. Cavallaro is a native of Italy, born in 1856, and came to New York in 1870. There he learned the cigar business in a factory on Pearl Street, which was operated by Cubans, and from them he learned the popular Cuban methods of preparing the tobacco and finishing the cigar. In 1873 he came to San Jose and has resided here since.

He was married, in 1880, to Miss Mary Augusta Hoon, of this city. They have two children, Domenico and Genevieve C. His residence is at No. 48 North Sixth Street, built by him in 1888. He is a member of San Jose I.odge, No. 34, I. O. O. F .; of San Jose Camp, No. 9, Patriarchs Militant; is a member and Treas- urer of the Druids; is a member of the Italian Be- nevolent Society; is a Lieutenant of the San Jose Hussars ; and a member of Triumph Lodge, No. 40 (Uniform Rank), Knights of Pythias. Mr. Cavallaro is a worthy example of our citizens of foreign parent- age, a true American in sentiment and feelings, and one who does honor to the chosen land of his adop- tion. Coming here with no inherited wealth except a stout heart, a clear head and trained hands, he has gradually forced his way to the front. Liberal in his dealings, and public-spirited in all beneficial causes, he has by attention to business and strict integrity built up a trade which is rapidly increasing.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 68

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