Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 76

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 76

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In 1851 Mr. Shannon married Miss Amanda Black- ford, a native of Ohio. They have six children now living, viz .: Mrs. Mary A. Sanders, of Monterey County; Claude, Julius, and Mrs. Cassie. Robinson, all residents of Los Gatos; Lulu, and Ralph, members of their father's household. The eldest child, Cassius, a railway engineer, died at El Paso, Texas.

With his experience in two wars, one would natu- rally expect to find Mr. Shannon connected, as he is, with the G. A. R. organizations. He is a member of E. O. C. Ord Post, No. 82, at Los Gatos.

ARCELLUS ROSS, whose fine orchard and handsome residence are situated on Meridian road, between Willows and Carlos Streets, has there sixteen and three-quarters acres planted in fruit-trees, as follows: 500 cherries, 300 apricots, 200 peaches, 150 pears, and a variety of fruits for family use. In order to have strong, healthy trees, capable of sustaining a full load of fruit, he has, until this year, kept them well cut back, so that hereafter he will have large crops of fine marketable fruit.

Born in Pike County, Illinois, in 1824, he has seen that State develop from an immense void of prairie and timber to the vast empire it now is. Pike County then extended from the mouth of the Illinois River to the far North, including Chicago, and west to the Mississippi River. He was the first male child born

in Pike County. Educated first in Atlas, and later in Pittsfield, Illinois, he engaged in farming in that neighborhood, in which he continued until he entered the Union army, in August, 1862, when he was com- missioned, by Governor Yates, Adjutant of the Ninety- ninth Illinois Infantry. In this regiment he cam- paigned in Southwestern Missouri, under General War- ren, until his health failed, compelling him to return to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1863, suffering from dis- ability incurred in service, and was there mustered out. He returned to his farm, but was never again capable of the active work of the farm. He sold out in 1881 and came to California, where he bought his present home, then a wheat-field, planted it imme- diately in fruit, and has since made the extensive improvements now on the place.

Married, in 1848, to Miss Martha A. Kellogg, a na- tive of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. To this union were born eight children, four of whom died in infancy. Those arriving at maturity were: Henry J., now living with his father and managing the ranch; Charles K., who died in Washington Territory in 1882; Frank C., now interested in real estate with his father in Ta- coma, Washington Territory; Mattie H., now the wife of Benton A. Lewis, of Tacoma, Washington Terri- tory.

Mr. Ross. is, and always has been, an ardent Re- publican. Is a charter member of the John A. Dix Post, No. 42, G. A. R., of San Jose. His parents were Colonel William and Ednah Ross. The former was born in Monson, Massachusetts, in 1792; enlisted in the War of 1812, and was engaged at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor, Massachusetts; was an Ensign in the army when he removed to Pike County, Illinois, in 1820; was a Colonel in command of troops in the Black Hawk War; settled at Atlas, Illinois, in 1820; built the first brick house there in 1821; also erected the first store building, the first grist-mill, and a band saw-mill about the same time. The first wheat raised, ground, and made into biscuit, and the first apples raised in the county, were by Colonel Ross, and the first political and first Masonic meeting were held at his house in Atlas. He removed to Pittsfield, Illinois, in 1836, where he engaged in mercantile and banking business until his death, in 1872, at the age of eighty- one years. In 1832 Colonel Ross and his son (Mar- cellus) went on a visit to Massachusetts. In return- ing to Illinois they passed through Michigan, hav- ing chartered a coach for four persons, driving from Detroit to what is now St. Joseph, Michigan. They crossed Lake Michigan by a small steam flat-

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bottomed boat to Chicago, which was then an Indian station, comprising Fort Dearborn, two small cabins (probably trading stores), and about 500 Indians. Colonel Ross was a delegate to the convention which nominated Governor Dick Yates the War Governor, at Decatur, Illinois, in 1860, and also delegate to the National Convention which nominated Abraham Lin- coin to the presidency, one week later at Chicago. President Lincoln was an intimate friend of Colonel Ross, often stopping at his house. Just as Colonel Ross and his son, the subject of this sketch, were walking to the depot, on the way to that convention at Chicago, they saw Mr. Lincoln coming in the same direction, satchel in hand, on his way to his home in Springfield. Colonel Ross waited until he came up, and said: " Mr. Lincoln, had you not better go up to Chicago and help us nominate our next President ?" Mr. Lincoln answered: " My better judgment tells me I had better not."

G CHARLES W. CUTLER is the owner of an orchard home on Washington Avenue, in the e Willows. Born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, January 23, 1838, he is the representative of an old New England family of English origin that established their home in Connecticut in Colonial days. His grandfather, Ebenezer Cutler, was one of the pioneers of the Connecticut Western Reserve, having emigrated to that section of Ohio in 1802, when Elijah T. Cutler, the father of the subject of this sketch, was seven years of age. The family was one of sterling worth and integrity. Ebenezer Cutler was a manufacturer of wagons and vehicles of all kinds needed in pioneer days. His son, Elijah T., on reaching manhood, became interested in farming operations and in grist-mill and lumbering enterprises. He married Olive Walworth, who was born in Canaan, New Hampshire. To them were born three children: Elijah B., who is now an attorney in San Francisco; Charles W., the subject of this sketch; and Olive W., the wife of Rev. S. D. Peet, of Illinois. The parents both died in Ashtabula County.

Charles W. Cutler was reared in Ohio, and educated primarily in the county schools, but was subsequently a student in Oberlin College, and still later at Powers' Institute, Bernardston, Massachusetts. But by no means did he consider his education completed by attendance upon schools. He is and ever has been a close student. Twelve years he devoted to teaching,

-first in Ohio, then in Vermont, Massachusetts, and Wisconsin, having migrated to the last-named State in 1861.

Devotedly loyal to the administration of Abraham Lincoln and to the Union, Mr. Cutler resigned his position as the Principal of the High School at Elk- horn, Wisconsin, to serve in the Fortieth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, a regiment so largely recruited from the ranks of students and teachers as to be called " The Students' Regiment."

On returning, Mr. Cutler resumed his charge at Elkhorn, and later on filled a like position in the schools at Burlington and Green Bay, in that State. He afterward returned to Elkhorn, and again took charge of the High School. In 1869 failing health prompted him to decline a further engagement at that place, and to seek a change of climate and oc- cupation, which resulted in a two years' sojourn in Western Iowa. There he was instrumental in the es- tablishment of a new post-office, and was made Post- master of the same.

In 1871 Mr. Cutler came to this State, and for fourteen years filled the responsible position of cash- ier and book-keeper for a commercial house in San Francisco. Since 1885 his residence has been at the Willows. Supplementary to his small orchard inter- ests, he is conducting a general book, piano, and school-furniture trade, having his office and head- quarters at San Jose. He is a member of John A. Dix Post, No. 42, G. A. R., of San Jose, and of Fidel- ity Lodge, No. 222, I. O. O. F., of San Francisco, being a Past Grand in the latter organization.

On the fifteenth of August, 1867, Mr. Cutler was united in marriage with Miss Helen L. Morse, the daughter of Samuel Morse, of Racine, Wisconsin. Mrs. Cutler is also a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio. Mabel C., their only daughter, was born in March, 1872.

Well pleased with life in this healthful, sunny land, Mr. and Mrs. Cutler contemplate with satisfaction its enjoyment here under their own vine and fig-tree for the rest of their days, unless the fates otherwise de- cree.

AMES H. KELLY, one of the leading horticul- turists of Hamilton District, residing on Fruit Vale Avenue, a little west of the railroad crossing, is the owner of a fine property of fifty-three acres. He was born in the State of New Hampshire, Sep- tember 28, 1827. His father, John Kelly, moved with

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his family in 1836 to Monroe County, Michigan, where James H. grew to manhood on a farm, and where his parents died. He received his education at Oberlin, Ohio, from 1846 to 1850.

Adventurous and enterprising, he joined, in 1850, a party about to make the overland journey to this State. Like so many others, he was tempted by visions of gold, which awaited to enrich the digger. Leaving the Missouri River on the first of April, he reached Hangtown (now called Georgetown) in Placer County, early in October, so different was the labo- rious travel by team in those days from the rapid transit accomplished by the "iron horse" of to-day. Mr. Kelly worked in the mines until February of the following year, when he went to Sacramento. Here he became engaged in freighting from Sacramento to Marysville, using a five-ton whale-boat for that pur- pose. In May of the same year, Mr. Kelly came to San Jose, where he remained until 1854. Having accumulated quite a little capital by industry, he re- turned East as far as Iowa, intending to purchase stock for this Western market. But he found prices too high and abandoned the project. He became interested in real-estate speculation, and engaged in the business for about four years. In 1858 he again returned to Michigan, and remained there until 1862. When the war cry sounded throughout the land, he followed, with thousands of brave men, to the defense of his country, enlisting August 8, 1862, in Company K, Eighteenth Michigan Volunteer Infantry. The first few months were spent in guarding lines of com- munication in Kentucky. January 1, 1863, he was made chief of Military Police at Nashville, Tennes- see, acting in that capacity for seven months. On the twenty-fourth of September, 1864, Mr. Kelly was captured by the rebels at Athens, Alabama, held for a few weeks, and then exchanged. In November, 1864, he helped to defend Decatur against a three days' attack of General Hood's rebel army. Mr. Kelly participated in engagements at Danville, Kentucky, and at the following places in Alabama, Pond Springs, Curtis Wells, Courtland, Athens, and was in two engagements at Decatur, that State. En- tering the service as Sergeant, he was made Second Lieutenant November 24, 1862, First Lieutenant November 6, 1863, and for two and a half years had command of his company. He performed a soldier's duty nobly in all positions and at all times, and may well look back with pride to his record as a defender of his country. He received his discharge June 26, 1865, and returned to Michigan.

During the five years following, he conducted a milling business at Monroe, Michigan. In 1870 he again came to California, with the intention of re- maining. He immediately purchased sixty acres of land, fifty-three acres of which he still owns and oc- cupies. After preparing the land, which was then a barren field, he set out an orchard, being the first man to plant a general variety of fruit-trees on the dry land west of the Willows.

This work was looked upon as an experiment, and was entirely successful as far as the fruit crop was concerned. But no market for the product, in any quantity, could be found, and to save his peaches and apricots from rotting, Mr. Kelly bought hogs to eat them, and thus saved his first fruit crop. Forty-five acres of his land is devoted to horticulture, prunes and apricots being the principal product. The pleas- ant residence, in which he lives, was erected in 1883.

In Michigan, on the twenty-first of March, 1861, he wedded Miss Priscilla Eveline Beisel, of Monroe, that State, where her mother still lives. Two sons and two daughters have been born to them. James B., the eldest, lives in San Jose; Jonathan C. makes his home with his parents; Jennie D. is the wife of Lewis Myers, a resident of San Jose ; and Jessie E., who is still under the parental roof.

Mr. Kelly is a very strong Republican, and, as might be expected from his long service in the army, is interested in Grand Army doings, being a member of Phil. Sheridan Post, No. 7, G. A. R., at San Jose.

EORGE W. SNYDER resides at "Orchard ( Homes " in the Cambrian District, where he owns 816 acres, all devoted to fruit culture. Two-thirds of the orchard comprises 200 Moorpark apricot trees, six years old, and 240 Silver prune trees of the same age. The remainder of the orchard is in French prunes, now (1888) four years old. This property Mr. Snyder bought in the autumn of 1883, that por- tion which has now reached the age of six years being in a healthy, thrifty condition at the time of the pur- chase. In 1887 the apricot trees covering two acres yielded a crop which sold for $600, proving that the orchard has not deteriorated under Mr. Snyder's man- agement. He also owns a fine property of 514 acres on the San Jose and Los Gatos road, about one-half mile from his residence, toward Los Gatos. This tract was purchased in January, 1888, and now com- prises 100 peach trees, which were planted in the

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season of 1887, and 150 apricot and 310 French prune trees, which were set out during the present season (1888).

The subject of our sketch was born in Delaware County, Ohio, on the twenty-second of February, 1848. He was reared and educated in his native county, where his father, George Snyder, died, and where his mother, Sarah A. (Sparks) Snyder, still lives. He married, in Delaware County, Miss Emma Gross, who was born in Pennsylvania.

Mr. Snyder came to the Golden State to make it his home in 1881, and after spending about two years in the southern part of the State determined to settle in Santa Clara Valley, and purchased his present fine homestead. His family joined him soon after this purchase. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have one child- Grace E., born November 28, 1877.

Their careful, prudent management of their horti- cultural interests and of all the work connected with their property, insures the future prosperity of the or- chards, as well as that of their owners. But not only that they may receive profitable returns, but also on account of their love for horticulture, do they exert themselves to bring their orchards to a high standard of excellence. Enjoying the many pleasant condi- tions of a life in California, they do not find their work altogether a hard, laborious duty, but are able to take much pleasure in it.

ector R. JOHN P. DUDLEY. This name is worthy of enrollment among the pioneers of Santa Clara County, as the Doctor has been a resident of the county since 1850. He now lives on the Alma- den road five miles from the Court House of San Jose. His birth occurred in Steuben County, New York, August 1, 1822. He is the son of Moses and Mary (Atwood) Dudley. Moses Dudley was born in Portland, Maine, in 1796, and was the son of Jeremiah Dudley. The family is of English origin, and trace their American ancestry back to the historic days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Jeremiah Dudley, the grandfather of our subject, with his large family, left for the State of Maine, and established a resi- dence in Steuben County, New York. The names of his five sons were: David, John, Moses, Thomas, and Benjamin. He had four daughters, viz .: Mehitable, who wedded Jonathan Fluent; Lydia, who married Samuel Le Grow; Polly, who became the wife of Josiah Moore; and Louise, who remained a maiden.

Descendants of the family are scattered all over the West and Northwest. Jeremiah Dudley died at the home which he had established in Steuben County, and which afterward became the home of John Dud- ley. Moses Dudley married and settled down to a farm life in the same county, and ended his days there, dying at the age of seventy-eight years. His widow still survives, and lives on the old homestead established by Jeremiah Dudley. She is cared for by her son, Henry C. Dudley. She is the mother of ten children, six of whom are now living.

Dr. Dudley, whose name heads this sketch, is the eldest of this large family, and Mrs. Lydia F. Moulton, who resides in the Hamilton District in this county, is the youngest. The names of the others, in the order of their birth, are as follows: Mrs. Jane Aller- ton, who died in Steuben County, New York, not many years ago; Joseph, a resident of that county; Benjamin S., a resident of Medical Lake, Washing- ton Territory; Moses, Jr., a resident of Tulare County, this State; Guilford, a resident of Topeka, Kansas; and Henry, who lives in Steuben County, New York. The first-born and the eighth child died in infancy.

John P. Dudley, our subject, was reared to a farm life, and early inured to the hard labor of youthful years in those days. He received the education of the public schools, and in 1843 commenced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Pulling, of Steuben County. He afterward attended the Geneva Medical College, and still later continued and completed his preparatory studies at Buffalo Medical University, Millard Fillmore being the President of the institution. The Doctor practiced in Buffalo from 1846 to 1849, when the tide of the gold emigration caught him in its outward flow, and brought him overland to Cali- fornia. He practiced medicine in Sacramento until June, 1850, when he went to mining on the Middle Fork of the Yuba River. In November of the same year he became a resident of Santa Clara County.

On the fourth of November, 1874, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie L. Staniford, daughter of Horatio C. and M. Louise (Breck) Stani- ford. Her father was born in Portland, Maine, and her mother at Hartwick, Vermont. The parents were married in Allegany County, New York, in 1833. The father died at East Saginaw, Michigan, January 3, 1870, at the age of fifty-eight years, and the mother now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Dudley. Mrs. Dudley, who came from Michigan in 1873, has one brother, George B., in San Luis Obispo County, this State, and two brothers, Joseph B. and William

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A., living in Michigan. Dr. and Mrs. Dudley have two daughters, Louisa and Flora. The Doctor is quite a mechanical genius, and has invented and patented a horseshoe intended to equalize the bear- ing on the hoof. If generally adopted this could not but be of great value.

NDREW S. McWILLIAMS, one of the pio- neers of California, now resides in the city of San Jose. Mr. McWilliams dates his birth in Henry County, Kentucky, July 3, 1823. He is the son of William and Charlotte (Smith) McWill- iams, both of whom were born in the "Blue Grass State."

He was orphaned at the early age of eighteen months. Almost of necessity, he developed an in- dependent spirit, and with it, a love of adventure. This led him, soon after the discovery of gold, to come to this State. Leaving his home in 1849, he passed, en route, through Independence, Missouri, Santa Fe, El Paso, Chihuahua, and Durango to Mazatlan, thence to San Francisco, by water. After spending nearly two years in mining and prospecting on the Middle Feather River, and Deer Creek near Nevada. Mr. McWilliams returned East, and, on the fifteenth of March, 1851, was united in marriage with Mrs. Melcena (Strode) Thompson, widow of Dr. Thomp- son, of Arrow Rock, Missouri. She was a native of St. Louis, and was reared and educated in that city. She left a home of refinement and a circle of loving friends, to face with her husband the dangers and hardships of a life on the frontier, for life in Napa County (where they were among the earliest settlers) was then far in advance of churches, schools, and the companionship of neighbors. Bravely and cheerfully she acted her part, and lovingly is her memory cher- ished by all who knew her.

Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams returned at once to Cali- fornia, and settled in Polk Valley, Napa County, where Mr. McWilliams engaged extensively in stock business. He owned a ranch of 160 acres, and his range extended over thousands of acres. Wild ani- mals were abundant, and it required the greatest vigilance to protect his sheep and other stock. Mr. McWilliams, during his residence in the valley, killed seven grizzly bears, five California lions, and many wild-cats.

At one time his wife, while at the creek near the house, was attacked by a wild-cat and was barely

rescued from her perilous position, by her husband, who fortunately was within hearing.

During the seven years in which they made this valley their home, there was probably not a night that wild animals did not visit their corral.

Mr. McWilliams' home was open to all new-comers and visitors to the valley, and many a settler has cause to remember with gratitude the hearty welcome given them by him and his wife.

In 1858 Mr. McWilliams moved to Clear Lake, Lake County, which was then sparsely settled. Here, in the following year, he was bereaved by the death of his wife, at the early age of twenty-six years.

She was the mother of three children. Their first- born, George Y., was born January 8, 1852. He was the first white child born west of Howell Mountain, in Napa County, and the first student from that county who advanced to the Sophomore Class of Barker College. He is now a cattle-raiser in Texas. The second child, Volney, died in infancy. The third, John, is now a wealthy stock-owner of Texas.

Mr. McWilliams lived two years in Lake County, keeping from 5,000 to 10,000 sheep, which it required a constant fight to protect from the devouring beasts. He then drove his stock to Colusa County, where he lived until 1872.

He had returned to Missouri, in 1866, and married Miss Sue Withers, who was born of one of the oldest families of Kentucky. She is a lineal descendant of Charles Carroll, one of the immortal signers of the Declaration of Independence.

In Colusa County Mr. McWilliams owned 5,000 head of sheep, partly Merinoes, for a few of which he paid from $100 to $500 each. He says that they often grazed on the same ground with herds of wild ante- lopes.

Since 1874 Mr. McWilliams has made his home at 344 South Third Street, San Jose, although much of his time has been spent in looking after his large stock interests in distant States and Territories.

Since engaging in stock-raising he has wintered stock (depending entirely upon grazing) in nearly every State and Territory in the stock belt,-Califor- nia, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. To illustrate the changes made in grazing grounds he speaks of 1,000 wethers, dropped in Colusa County, driven to Oregon, thence to Nevada, and wintered, thence to Utah, and wintered, thence to Colorado, thence to New Mexico, and then shipped to Lexington, Missouri, fat- tened, shipped back to Denver, and slaughtered. At

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one time Mr. McWilliams owned nearly 19,000 sheep in New Mexico and Nevada. In 1873 he had 4,000 head driven from Colusa County to New Mexico. He was the first to introduce fine-bred Merinoes into that Territory.

On the sixth of July, 1876, his four herders, in New Mexico, were killed by the Indians, he himself fortu- nately being temporarily absent from the ranch. His horses and some other stock were run off.

Mr. McWilliams owns a $10,000 residence in San Jose, and a splendid fruit ranch of forty acres in the Willow District, originally containing sixty acres, and planted by himself to but few peaches and apricots, but mostly French prunes. In addition, he owns, adjoin- ing Colusa, Colusa County, a large farm of 250 acres, sixty acres of which he has planted to peaches and apricots. This fine property is bounded on one side by the Sacramento River, and on the other by the railroad, thus making a good location for the drying establishment which he has erected there.

He is a Director of the Colusa County Horticult- ural Society, which has been organized during the present year, largely through his efforts. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and his wife be- longs to the sister organization, "Eastern Star."

ICHAEL McDONALD is the owner of a fine tract of land in the Braley District, situated on the Southern Pacific Railroad, about half a mile north of Lawrence, and north of the junction of the San Francisco road and Reed's lane. The farm comprises fifty-five acres, and is devoted entirely to the production of hay and grain.

The subject of this sketch dates his birth in Wick- low County, Ireland, in 1844. His parents, John and Mary (Cullen) McDonald, were both natives of that county. His boyhood was spent in hard labor on a farm, his education, as far as book learning was con- cerned, being almost entirely neglected. In 1860, being sixteen years of age, he turned his face toward the land of freedom, the United States. Landing at New York, he sought and obtained work on a farm in Westchester County, not far from the city of New York. There he remained for a few months, when he determined to try the South. He went to Mobile, Alabama, and there followed various occupations,- among them that of a vegetable gardener. He ar- rived in Mobile in 1861, and was thus a resident of that city during the War of the Rebellion. Although

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 76

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