Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 73

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 73

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September 14, 1869, he was married at Santa Clara, to Miss Mattie, daughter of Dr. James E. Treadwell, deceased, and nee Annie Stamp. She was born at Havre de Grace, Maryland. They have two children: Elsie B., who is completing her musical edu-

cation at San Francisco under her cousin, Miss Marie Withrow, who recently finished her studies in Europe, and Ralph V., a student in the Santa Clara public school.

Politically, Mr. Withrow is Republican. He has been a member of the School Board of Santa Clara four years, and Town Treasurer two years. In 1876 he was made an 'Odd Fellow in True Fellowship Lodge, No. 238, I. O. O. F., Santa Clara, of which he is still a member, and has held the office of Treasurer for eight consecutive years.

C. RIDDELL. It is only in the last few years that the great advantages of the Uvas Valley have been receiving general attention, but what has been done there of late indicates what it is capable of. There is probably not a ranch in Santa Clara County, of anything like similar size, which shows to such an extent the progress of improvements as that of D. C. Riddell. This ranch, containing 865 acres, has a beautiful and picturesque location, and its natural beauties have been so enhanced by art that it seems almost as if perfection had here been reached. Two hundred acres of this is plateau land, and to this Mr. Riddell has devoted his attention, principally. The land belonging to the ranch stretches from the table land up and over the hills, which lend a charm- ing background to the view of the place, looking from the road. This hill land is used for grazing, into which he is gradually drifting, but merely as a side issue. All of the valley land is used either for fruit, hay, or pasture. In hay-raising he does not trust to the volunteer crop, but sows each year, and the result is a fine quality and quantity, either of wheat or barley hay. Wheat, however, seems to be preferable to barley here. It averages from one to three tons per acre, the adobe land especially yielding very heavily. Not- withstanding the diversity of its possible uses, how- ever, Mr. Riddell regards this land as too valuable to be used for anything else than fruit, in future, and he is rapidly carrying out his plan, already matured, for making of the available land one vast fruit farm. He first turned his attention to fruit culture in 1882, set- ting out in that year twenty-five acres. The trees were planted forty feet apart, or forty-eight trees to the acre, and are now in a very thrifty condition. He has since duplicated the number of trees on this tract, putting in the additional ones in such a way as to give

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

the greatest possible space between. In the winter of 1888-89 he will inaugurate a system of planting twenty acres to fruit each year, until the grand total of the orchard reaches 150 acres, and nearly all.of this vast acreage will be devoted to stone fruits, his observation being that they do better on the red land than seed fruits. His trees now set out are the picture of health. They are divided between Bartlett pears, plums, apri- cots, and French prunes. All these have been success- ful in the true sense of the word, but the odds are slightly in favor of apricots and French prunes and plums, as regards abundance of yield.

Mr. Riddell is not devoting any attention to vines, other than grapes for table use, nor is it his intention to do so. It is not, however, on account of their being an uncertain crop, as the land is especially well adapted to the culture of the grape. Not the least noticeable improvement on the place is the handsome residence, which was erected in 1882, at a cost of not less than $10,000. The work and arrangement is in admirable taste. All told, the amounts invested in bringing the place to its present condition, have been rather over than under $20,000, but they show what capital, intel- ligently directed, can do for a location of such natural beauty.

Mr. Riddell is a native of Pennsylvania, born at Erie; his boyhood days were spent there, at Pitts- burg, and in Ohio. In June, 1855, he came to Cali- fornia as the employe of the great firm of Drexel, Sather & Church. In 1857 ill health compelled him to leave San Francisco, consequently he severed his connection with this firm to engage in stock-raising, and later in mining at Silver Mountain, Alpine County. In 1861, in company with his brother, Speer Riddell, he bought the ranch where he at present re- sides, and was engaged in the cattle business until 1864, exclusively, when he removed from this county to Tulare County. In 1869 he returned to Gilroy, and was agent for the Wells-Fargo Express Company until 1879, when he removed to San Francisco.

In 1870, Mr. Riddell wedded Miss Philinda Dor- land, of Gilroy. Three children have been born of this union, viz .: Philinda D., DeWitt Speer, and Eliza- beth D., who died at the age of one year.

In 1881 he returned to the ranch to make it his permanent abode, and then commenced to lay his plans for improvement.

Mr. Riddell was largely interested in the borax in- dustry in San Bernardino County, but disposed of his interests there. He has the most approved appliances for measuring the rainfall, and from his books of

record the following tabular statement of rainfall, on his plan, for six years is taken :-

1882-83.

16.25 inches

1883-84.

35.42

1884-85. 21.07

1885-86.

32.13

1886-87

17.31

1887-88.

23.90

Average.

24.36

PEER RIDDELL was also a native of Erie, Pennsylvania, but came to California in 1852, locating at San Francisco, devoting his time to banking, holding the position of paying teller originally for Drexel, Sather & Church, afterward for twelve years for John Parrott, and after the retirement of Mr. Parrott filled the same position in the London and San Francisco Bank, Limited, until 1883, when he resigned to take the presidency of the San Ber- nardino Borax Mining Company, which he held until his sudden death, in October, 1884, at the age of fifty- four years. He was widely known in the city and in this county, and universally respected for his integrity, ability, and kindliness of heart. By close attention to business, and the exercise of most excellent judg- ment, Mr. Riddell was rewarded by the accumulation of a fortune that permitted of the indulgence of his taste for the country, and found much pleasure in thus assisting his brother, D. C. Riddell, to develop a property in a manner that redounds to their credit.

LBERT LAKE, the proprietor and manager of the San Jose Box Manufactory, is at the head of one of the most important and prosperous in- dustrial enterprises in the city,-a position which he has earned by an exhibition of business tact and persistent energy in surmounting obstacles and overcoming difficulties which would discourage most men. Twenty-six years ago C. S. Hobbs, S. D. Gil- more, George Gilmore and David Pomeroy built and started a box factory on North San Pedro Street, under the firm name of Hobbs, Gilmore & Co. The building was 25x40 feet, and was simply a nailing shop, the cutting being all done in San Francisco. The business was conducted by this firm about five years, when they sold out to Mr. Lake. He struggled along amid adverse circumstances a number of years, and on the night of October 31, 1887, the entire plant was destroyed by fire. His property was lost, but his

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

spirit was not broken; so he set about devising means to rebuild. He planned and drew the design for the new building, completed his arrangements, and was ready to start the work on it in December. It was rapidly pushed to completion, and the larger and much superior factory was put in operation. The lot on which the new plant stands is 150x196 feet, at 233 to 237 North San Pedro Street. The main building is 75×80 feet, two stories in height, and its exterior is iron. It is thoroughly equipped with all the latest and most perfect patterns of machinery for box mak- ing in duplicate, and is what is called a double mill. Among other rare machines it contains a gang edger, the only one on the Pacific Coast. This machinery is propelled by a sixty-horse-power engine of the best class. The boiler-room is situated in another build- ing 50x65 feet, there being no fire about the factory. An iron-lined fuel room is located on each side of the boilers, one for sawdust and the other for shavings. Every particle of dust and shavings is taken up from the factory by patent blowers and carried through metallic pipes to these fuel rooms. The lumber is brought into the factory on trucks drawn by steam power, and when cut ready for nailing is hoisted by the same power to the second floor, where the boxes are put together. Owing to the superior equipment and convenient arrangement of his plant, Mr. Lake says he works up lumber $3.00 a thousand cheaper than it has ever been done before in this valley. From forty to fifty men are employed in the factory, and every kind of wooden box is made. It has the ca- pacity for working up 30,000 feet of lumber per day. The product is sold chiefly in the Santa Clara Valley and in Southern California.

Mr. Lake came to California in 1862 from his na- tive county, Chautauqua, New York, where he was born in October, 1843. His parents, who came to this State in 1861, both died in Alameda County. Two sisters reside on this coast. Mr. Lake married Emily Morey, in San Jose, in 1874. She is from Illi- nois. Five sons constitute their family. Mr. Lake has served one term in the Common Council of San Jose.

M. McCABE, proprietor of McCabe's Hat Store, 41 West Santa Clara Street, is one of San Jose's most energetic and prosperous young business men. His was the pioneer hat store in the city, having been established by J. S. Woods twenty-four years ago. Mr. McCabe started in thirteen years ago

as a clerk in the establishment, and after seven years' experience in that capacity he purchased the stock, tools, fixtures, and good-will of his employer, and succeeded him in the business. Mr. McCabe carries a large and complete stock of head gear of the best quality,-larger, indeed, than is kept by any retail dealer in San Francisco. He also manufactures silk, and other patterns of hats to order. He is conceded to be the leading hatter in the Santa Clara Valley, and every year witnesses a growth in his business.

Mr. McCabe came to California from Ireland at the age of twenty years. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and is one of the charter members of the Young Men's Institute, an organization for mutual improve- ment and mutual benefit.

R. THOMAS S. WHIPPLE, one of the most prominent and prosperous members of the dental profession in the Santa Clara Valley, has been in active practice in San Jose for nineteen years, and a resident of the city twenty-one years. He is one of New England's sons, born in Windham County, Connecticut, November 25, 1848. He was left an orphan at a very tender age, his mother having died before he was a year old, and his father when he was four years of age. A portion of his school training was received in Cortland County, New York, and the remainder in Madison County, Ohio, and San Jose, California.

In 1864, while yet in his 'teens, he left the Buckeye State, with broken health, for California, coming directly to San Jose. Dr. Whipple at once became a member of the family of Dr. C. R. Spaw, his uncle, and the pioneer dentist of San Jose; entered Dr. Spaw's office as a student, and after finishing his ap- prenticeship worked on a salary eight years. Dr. Spaw opened a dental office on the site of the present one, southeast corner of First and Santa Clara Streets, in 1858, in the building which occupied that corner previous to the erection of the elegant " Safe Deposit Block," in which the office is now located. Dr. Spaw has been in active dental practice since 1849 until the past few years, during which he has been gradually withdrawing from it; and on March 1, 1877, the large and profitable business of the firm was trans- ferred to Dr. Whipple. When Dr. Whipple began to study dentistry he was several hundred dollars in debt, and while an apprentice received no salary; but, hav- ing determined to get a start in the world, he applied

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

himself to his chosen profession with all his energy, and at the end of the two years he came out master of it, and by working over time had earned money enough to liquidate all his indebtedness, and $250 over. The business of the office is now one of the largest in this part of the State. Dr. Whipple owns one of the finest young apricot, cherry, and prune orchards in Santa Clara County. It consists of thirty- five acres of four-year-old trees, on his sixty-five-acre tract, lying four miles east of San Jose. In 1887 the crop of fruit from three-year-old apricot trees yielded $150 per acre. Dr. Whipple has made a careful study of orchard culture, during the last four years, and hopes to make it a success.

In November, 1873, Dr. Whipple was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Flemming, a native of New York State. Frank E. and Raymond T., aged respectively twelve and three years, constitute their family. Dr. Whipple is a member of the California State Dental Association.

LBERT OLIVER HOOKER, D.D.S., is a son of New England, born in Vermont, March 25, 1845. After exhausting the curriculum of the district school he attended the academy at Barre, Vermont, and studied dentistry under the instruction of Dr. N. W. Gilbert, in Montpelier, a graduate of the Dental College in Harvard University. Dr. Hooker practiced as a partner with his preceptor several years, then came west and built up a very fine practice in Paw Paw, Michigan. At the end of four years his health was completely broken down and he left Mich- igan for California, his objective point being Hum- boldt County. On arriving he was but just able to walk a short distance. He purchased a hunter's out- fit and spent several weeks in the forests and mount- ains. He had expected to return to Michigan, but recuperated so rapidly under the influence of Califor- nia climate that he fell in love with the country, and, being urged by his friends living here, he decided to remain. Coming to San Jose, he bought out a dental office, and wrote to his assistant in Michigan to close up the office there and ship his goods to San Jose. It is needless to say that the Doctor has never regret- ted the change during the fourteen years of his residence here, where he says he has enjoyed this delightful climate every hour. In his dental practice . Dr. Hooker has made regulating the deformities and he preservation of the natural teeth a specialty. He

is acknowledged to be one of the most skillful oper- ating dentists on the coast.

In 1870 Dr. Hooker married Marion Abott, a native of New York, and daughter of Rev. G. S. and Eloise Miles Abott, of literary note, whose pseudonym is "Oriole." They have a family of two daughters and two sons.

ILLIAM HENRY GREEN is a native of En- gland, born November 22, 1847, and attended school there. He came to the United States and to San Jose in 1870. Three years later he commenced business on his own account, and is now the proprietor of the St. James Hotel saloon. He married Margaret Sullivan, a native of Massachusetts, on May 24, 1877. They have no children, but have a nephew-wife's sister's son, Lionel Lawlor-four- teen years of age, whom they are rearing and edu- cating.

Mr. Green is a great lover of books, and has a fine private library, embracing the works of many of the standard authors, and bound volumes of the best current periodicals.

HARLES C. COOK came across the plains with his wife and one child, a daughter, to Cali- fornia in 1852. Leaving their home in Farming- ton, Van Buren County, Iowa, April 12, they crossed the Missouri River where Omaha now stands about May 10. No town was there then. They arrived at Soda Springs, on Bear River, in Idaho, July 4. On reaching Humboldt River they were ad- vised to come by the way of the Honey Lake Valley, which they did, and traveled 300 miles through an unbroken wilderness with no guide save a dim trail made by the passage of a few pack animals. The company of which Mr. Cook and family formed a part was the first to bring wagons into the Honey Creek Valley. The Sacramento Valley was reached at Fort Redding, August 20. Mr. Cook sold his team at Shasta, took the stage for Grass Valley, and there settled and engaged in mining, in company with seven others, opening the Eureka Slide Mine, which they worked two years. It yielded an ounce of gold per day to the man. In 1854 he removed to Dutch Flat, and after spending a few months prospecting, living in a two-roomed tent, he and his family, consisting of

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

wife and two children, rode on horseback-he carrying one child and his wife the other-through North Fork Cañon, near Cape Horn, on the American River, to Iowa Hill, where they remained four years, a part of which time Mr. Cook, being a carpenter, worked at his trade. His wife's health failing, they came to San Jose in 1858, where, ten years later, Mrs. Cook died. During this time Mr. Cook was engaged in the con- tracting and building business. Among the structures he erected are several churches, and the first building at the present site of the University of the Pacific, for which he drew a part of the plans. Much of the material used in many of these early buildings was transported from San Francisco on schooners and wagons. Mr. Cook's old love for mining has not for- saken him, and he occasionally spends a few months in the mines, as superintendent, or in other capacity.

Mr. Cook was born in Bartholomew County, In- diana, in 1825; went to Iowa in 1844, and married there a Miss Burnham. He has three sons and two daughters by his first wife, all of adult age, and living on the Pacific Coast. He married his present wife in Kearney, Nebraska. She is a native of Maine, but resided most of her life in La Salle County, Illinois, moving from there in 1871, to Nebraska, and to Cali- fornia in 1877. She has a son and two daughters by her former husband, Mr. Drew, all settled in life and prospering. Her maiden name was Greenleaf. Mr. Cook's beautiful homestead, on North Fourteenth Street, comprises two acres, mostly devoted to choice varieties of fruit, in bearing. Mr. Cook has been an official member of the Methodist Episcopal Church many years, and for fourteen years leader of the church choir.

EORGE M. JARVIS, the President and founder of the G. M. Jarvis Wine and Brandy Company, planted his first vineyard on the foot-hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains, overlooking the Santa Clara Valley, in 1860; and it subsequently became one of the finest vineyards in California. From that time to the present Mr. Jarvis has been interested in grape-culture and wine-making, and is now at the head of one of the largest grape-growing and wine- manufacturing firms in the United States. When he arrived on this coast in the year above named, grape- growing in California was in its infancy. A few kinds had been brought here and planted by the Mis- sion Fathers. But enough had been done to demon- strate that this State is the home of the grape, and to

discover that any of the fine semi-tropical grapes of Southern Europe could be grown here. A commis- sion had been appointed by the State Legislature to go to Europe, and study grape-culture there, to ascer- tain the best varieties, gather information of the methods of making wines and brandy, and bring back with them cuttings of the choicest kinds for propaga- tion. From these Mr. Jarvis and other pioneers in viticulture secured their first vines. Since that time the vineyards have steadily extended until the vines now growing in California when all in bearing will produce fully 60,000,000 gallons of wine annually.

Mr. Jarvis zealously applied himself to the study of wine-grape growing, and the converting of the juice into the highest grades of wine and brandies. Soon the superiority of his goods began to be recognized. Besides taking first prizes at the local and State fairs on this coast, he was awarded the first premium for the best and purest brandy over all competitors at the New Orleans World's Exposition in 1885-86. His brandy was analyzed by the faculty of the Chicago Medical College before the medical class, and was pronounced by that learned body the purest and best brandy ever manufactured in the United States. The business grew to such proportions that Mr. Jarvis de- cided to merge it into a corporation, and the G. M. Jarvis Co. was organized in 1885, under the State laws of Illinois. The principal depository and sales-house of the company is in Chicago. The plants for manu- facturing are situated in Santa Clara and San Jose. In 1887 they made 250,000 gallons of wines, and 500 barrels of brandy of 50 gallons each; and they expect to enlarge their plants and increase their product from year to year. Their goods are sold quite extensively in Kansas City, Omaha, St. Paul, and other principal cities of this country.

George M. Jarvis was born in Savanna, Georgia, April 8, 1828, and reared in Edgar County, Illinois. He was educated for a physician, but soon after leav- ing college he and some college chums concluded to seek their fortunes in the mines rather than in the pill- bags, and started for the gold mines of Australia in 1853. They sailed on the ship Euphrasia, Captain Smith, with 500 passengers, bound for Melbourne. A stop of a month in Brazil, and another at the Cape of Good Hope, prolonged the journey to six months. Mr. Jarvis spent six years in the mines, with satisfac- tory success.

While there he married an English lady, Miss Anna Cook, in 1859, whom he brought to California with him by the way of Sydney, New Zealand, and the

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Sandwich Islands, in 1860. Mrs. Jarvis died in 1884, leaving eleven children. A year later Mr. Jarvis mar- ried Mrs. Major Norris, whose former husband died in the United States Army. After his death, President Grant appointed the widow Postmistress of San An- tonio, Texas, which office she filled with marked abil- ity. She has one son by Major Norris. Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis reside in Santa Clara.

BOL. AUGUSTUS G. BENNETT came to Cal- ifornia and to San Jose in 1875. Forming a

et partnership with his brother, J. S. Bennett, who had come a year before, they began the manu- facture and sale of household furniture at wholesale and retail. The subject of this sketch still continues in the business, as a partner with J. C. Gerichs and Frank J. Burkholder, under the title of the San Jose Furniture Manufacturing Company. Their line of manufacture is chiefly in chamber, library, and office furniture, and wood mantels. They also carry on fine upholstery in all its branches. Their goods are shipped to all parts of California. The product and sales in 1887 were sixty per cent larger than those of any previous year, reaching a hundred thousand dol- lars. In 1888 they will be still heavier. The firm has experienced three disastrous fires, involving a loss of nearly $40,000, none of them originating on their premises.

In August, 1861, Colonel Bennett enlisted in the United States Army as a private in the Eighty-first New York Infantry. He was mustered as First Lieu- tenant, and was promoted to the Captaincy of Com- pany B, within three months thereafter. He served in the Peninsular campaign under Gen. George B. McClellan. His regiment lay at Yorktown until Jan- uary, 1863, and was then ordered South, and joined the Eighteenth Army Corps, Gen. J. G. Foster com- manding. In April, 1863, Captain Bennett tendered his services to recruit a regiment of colored troops, which was accepted, and he raised the Twenty-first Regiment U. S. (Colored) Troops, and was made its Lieutenant-Colonel, but had active command of it through the three full years of its service. Colonel Bennett being in command at Morris Island when General Sherman was pressing General Hardy, after the latter had left Charleston, Colonel Bennett ar- ranged his forces for aggressive warfare, and demanded the surrender of that city, which was granted to him on the eighteenth of February, 1865. He declared

martial law, and at once assumed command of the city. The Colonel was honorably discharged from the service April 25, 1866.

Colonel Bennett was born in Oneida County, New York, in 1836. Being left an orphan in early child- hood, he has been self-dependent since nine years of age. He attended school and grew to man's estate in New York. After the close of the war he married Miss Mary E. Jones, daughter of the chaplain of his regiment, in March, 1867. They spent a little more than a year in South Carolina, then settled in Jersey City, New Jersey, remaining there until they came to California. Mrs. Bennett has been a promoter of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union on the Pacific Coast, and has been three times chosen President of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union of San Jose, which has a membership of over 300. Colonel Bennett has served in the San Jose City Council, and is now a member of the Board of Education. He has also held the office of Senior Vice-Commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, Department of California, and has been Commander of Phil. Sheri- dan Post, No. 7, and of John A. Dix Post, No. 42, Department of California G. A. R.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 73

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