Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 80

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 80

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His wife is the owner of a five-acre tract just south of the church at Berryessa, upon which are 300 apri- cot, 100 French prune, 60 cherry, 30 peach, and 25 plum-trees. There is also a comfortable cottage upon the place. Mr. and Mrs. Snow are the parents of two children, viz., Irving W., born June 7, 1876; and Arthur, born January 3, 1887. The father of Mrs. Snow is also a member of Mr. Snow's family.

OUIS A. BOOKSIN owns and occupies a fine residence on the corner of Booksin and Hicks Avenues, in the Willow District. He is very largely interested in horticulture. His home property contains seven and one-half acres, all in peach trees, of three varieties: Seller's Cling, Rock Cling, and Salway. About one-half the orchard is bearing at present. Mr. Booksin also has charge of the large interests of his father, Henry Booksin, who owns two fruit ranches at the Willows One, on Curtner Ave- nue, consists of an orchard of fifty acres, and con- tains 1,200 peach, 600 apricot, 450 cherry, 3,000 French prune, and 450 pear trees, besides a general variety for household use. The ranch on Meridian road consists of thirty-two acres-fifteen acres in

apricots, and the remainder in 600 peach trees, 400 egg plum, 50 Ickworth plum, and 450 cherry trees. The ranch on Curtner Avenue is supplied with a steam-power pump, with a capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute. The one on Meridian road has a fifty- horse-power engine, lifting a ten-inch column of water eighty-five feet. The pump's capacity is 1,500 gal- lons per minute.

Henry Booksin is a native of Germany. Coming to the United States a poor man, at the age of twenty- four, he became one of the first of Colusa County set- tlers. There he commenced at his trade, wagon- making, working under a tree in the open air. His business increased rapidly, from this small beginning. In 1857 he returned to Germany, and married a lady who was reared in his old neighborhood,-Miss Elizabeth Kroft. With his wife he returned to Co- lusa County, where he owned quite an extensive grain and sheep ranch, to which he afterwards made large additions. Here he lived until 1873, when he sold his ranch and removed to San Jose, where he owns a fine residence property. His wife died in 1867. She was the mother of four children, three sons and one daughter. Louis A., whose name heads this sketch, is the eldest. The others, Tennie, John, and Henry, all make their home with their father. For his second wife, Mr. Booksin married Miss Catharine Kroft, a sister of his first wife. On the first of December, 1886, Louis A. Booksin was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Kirk, daughter of Socrates Kirk, one of the leading men of the Willows. He built his fine residence in 1887, using only the best material and paying for labor by the day. It cost him $3,500, and he has one of the pleasantest homes in the district.

The Booksin family is fully in working sympathy with the Republican party. Mr. Booksin is a thor- ough horticulturist. A practical knowledge of his business, and a wise division of time and labor, enable him to successfully conduct three fruit ranches, con- taining almost ninety acres.

ICHEL KERLOCH, JR., owns an orchard of six acres, all in fruit and nearly all in bearing, on the corner of Booksin and Hicks Avenues, in the Willow District. This orchard consists mainly of cherry trees. He also owns, on Delmas Avenue and Home Street, five acres of fine fruit land, which is as yet undeveloped.

Mr. Kerloch was born in Paroisse de Primelin, Can-

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ton Pont Croys, Department of Finistere, France, April 17, 1853. His parents, Michel and Mary Jane (Good) Kerloch, are French by birth. Both are yet living in their native land, and are in very comfortable circum- stances, as they own a fine property of 300 acres. Michel Kerloch, Jr., whose name heads this sketch, is the sixth child in a family of eight children, all of whom are yet living, and all married except Michel, who keeps "bachelor's hall " on his ranch. He was the only one to leave the home land, to try his fort- une in America. His brother John is an officer on a French man-of-war, stationed in the Chinese seas. At the present time (1888) he has been in the service for over twenty-three years. The other brothers and sisters are leading lives of industry and contentment in France, engaging in agricultural pursuits. Michel was of a different temperament from his brothers and sisters, and, filled with a spirit of adventure, became a sailor boy at an early age. It was in this way that he was led to make his home so far from his country and kindred. He was cabin boy on the ships Marie and Louise, on one of which he made the port of San Francisco, December 27, 1873. Still influenced by the love of adventure, he took " French leave " of his vessel. His position was certainly one of great dis- comfort, to speak mildly. He was in a strange coun- try, with no acquaintances, absolutely penniless, and unable to speak a word of the language of the coun- try in which he was to make his home. His success in horticulture, as well as in the mastery of the lan- guage and customs of the country, shows what can be accomplished by' a poor French lad, who possesses the spirit of determination.

He has been strictly temperate and industrious. A close observer of passing events, he has become thoroughly identified with the interests of the county which he makes his home, while by his integrity and strict attention to his business he has won the respect of his neighbors.

YLVESTER NEWHALL, of the Willows, has been identified with Santa Clara County since 1856, and is now ranked among the county's leading fruit-growers. In five different tracts he has 140 acres in fruit-trees. Energetic and painstak- ing, he has made horticulture a source of profit and pleasure. His fine residence, standing on Lincoln Avenue, a little south of the crossing of Los Gatos Creek, was erected in 1881.

He dates his birth at Lynn, Massachusetts, March 4, 1827, and is the son of Otis Newhall. The history of the family in America extends back as far as the Pilgrim Fathers. The first white child born in Lynn was a Newhall. Early in life Mr. Newhall left the old homestead, and for a short time lived in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1850, smitten with the gold fever, he crossed the plains and mountains to this State, traveling nearly the whole distance on foot. While traversing the last 500 miles, he, with his companion, subsisted upon ten pounds of parched meal and one pound of sugar, an allowance which, divided, was barely suffi- cient to keep body and soul together. At last they reached Sacramento, ragged and starving. Several years were spent in placer mining, with varied results.

In 1856 he came to this county, and, buying a building lot, commenced life at the Willows. Soon afterward he became a pioneer nurseryman. From a small beginning, he has, by industry and economy, combined with a strong, sturdy fund of New England common sense, attained a competence sufficient for all needs.

Mr. Newhall's orchard interests consist of forty- five acres in prunes, twenty-five acres in apricots, and the remainder in cherries, peaches, apples, and pears. Politically, he is a strong Republican. He is a mem- ber of the American Horticultural Society, and also of the ancient and honorable order of Masons, being affiliated with San Jose Lodge, No 10.

In 1871 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary (Myers) Stodard, a native of the State of Virginia. They have six children, viz .: Fred, Bessie, Grace, George, Carl, and Belle.

ceto AVID E. SKINNER, whose home is located on the Almaden road, in the Pioneer District, in Almaden Township, has been identified with the interests of the county since 1853. He was born in 1828, in Warren County, New Jersey, in which State he was reared and educated. Leaving the old home shortly before reaching manhood, he went to New York city and there engaged in work as a clerk in a grocery establishment. He was later employed in the same way, in Newark, New Jersey, leaving there to come to California via the Isthmus route. Some time was spent in placer mining in Placer and El Dorado Counties, then a few months were spent in San Jose, after which, in 1853, he entered the

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

Almaden quicksilver mines. He remained in that employment for several years, but finally concluded to become a farmer, and purchased and opened the fine farm which he now owns and occupies. The prop- erty comprises 170 acres, and is profitably devoted to general farming. The residence is nine miles distant from San Jose.

While at the Almaden mines, Mr. Skinner married Miss Harriet Booth, who was born in England in 1855. Her married life was of but four years' dura- tion, her death occurring May 24, 1860, in her twenty- fifth year. She was the mother of two children, William and Ada, both of whom now reside in British Columbia. In 1865, Mr. Skinner wedded Miss Annie Dugan, a native of New York. She de- parted this life March 14, 1873, at the age of thirty- two years. From this marriage five children were born, and all are now living. Their names are: David E., Herman, Cornelius, Thomas, and Francis. Mr. Skinner's present wife was formerly Miss Anna Smith, the daughter of Isaiah and Mary Smith. She was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1839. She was reared and educated in the State of her birth, and in 1868 married David Alyea, who died at Newark in 1873. Her only child by that marriage, Edward, now lives in New Jersey. While visiting the home of his youth, Mr. Skinner met, and, November 14, 1874, married, Mrs. Alyea. They have one child, Waldo W.

Politically Mr. Skinner is identified with the Re- publican party. By the industry and frugality which are characteristic of him, he has earned a good home, although he came to the State a poor man. The in- tegrity of character and conduct which he has shown has secured him the position of a respected and use- ful citizen.

BEORGE W. GARDNER is the owner of a very Gil desirable property on the San Jose and Los Gatos road, at Orchard Homes, in the Hamilton District. His orchard covers forty-five of the forty-eight acres which compose his ranch. He pur- chased the land in 1880, it then being part of a bar- ley field, and in bad condition, having been cut up by overflows of the Los Gatos Creek. Mr. Gardner found it necessary to spend several months in level- ing the ground before tree-planting could be com- menced. Now all is in condition for irrigation from Los Gatos Creek. During the winter of 1880 he set ten acres with a variety of cherries, apricots, and

prunes, while the rest of the forty-five acres was planted during the following winter. At present about twelve acres are in prunes, twenty-eight acres in apricots and peaches, and five acres in cherries.

Mr. Gardner's skill in horticulture is shown by his returns from the apricot crop of 1887, which consisted of 100 tons, and sold for about $3,000.

He has made his ranch his place of residence ever since his purchase of it, at first keeping bachelor's hall. He was united in marriage, in January, 1884, with Miss Lottie M. Bennett.

His fine residence was erected in the autumn pre- ceding his marriage, and his drying establishment was built in the spring of 1886. In order to meet the increase in this branch of his business, Mr. Gard- ner enlarged the building in 1887, in which year he cured about 300 tons of fruit. A successful horti- culturist, and the possessor of a thrifty fruit-ranch with its pleasant home, and all its appropriate sur- roundings, Mr. Gardner may well be considered fortu- nate.

The subject of our sketch dates his birth in Nashua, New Hampshire, May 16, 1859. When about one year of age his parents removed to Southern Indiana, and later, when he was about four years of age, to Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; there they lived until they came to this county, in April, 1873. His father, Will- jam Gardner, now lives on Delmas Avenue.

OSES F. BILLINGS, a resident of the Hamil- ton District, owns a fruit-farm of ten acres, which is situated on Los Gatos Creek, near the Meridian road. Mr. Billings bought this prop- erty on the twenty-third of January, 1884, it then being part of a stubble-field. All the improvements have been made by him since that time,-buildings erected and orchard planted. The latter work he accomplished in the spring following his purchase of the place. The orchard contains 400 prune, 350 apri- cot, and 100 peach-trees, besides a general variety for household use, comprising cherry, plum, apple, pear, nectarine, fig, and almond trees. In 1887 nine tons of apricots were gathered and sold for $270, while the whole crop realized a sum of over $500,-a result which was rather unusual for a three-year-old orchard.

Mr. Billings' birth took place in the town of Fay- ette, Kennebec County, Maine, June 19, 1829. He is the son of William and Eliza (Rice) Billings, both of

Sylvester Graves.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

whom were natives of that State. His mother, now eighty-seven years of age, is yet living there. When fourteen years of age, the subject of this sketch left the old farm to learn the carpenter's trade. At nine- teen years of age he decided to try his fortunes in the West, and removed to Wisconsin, living in Berlin one year, and thence going to Wausau, same State, where he lived many years, engaged in working at his trade. Here he married, on the ninth of November, 1856, Miss Harriet M. Millard. She is a native of Allegany County, New York, where she was born, August 13, 1839. She is the daughter of Arnold and Maria Millard. Her father died in Ohio about 1844, but her mother was, in 1888, living at Rockford, Illinois. In 1865 Mr. and Mrs. Billings removed to Rockford, Illinois, and the following year again removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota. They made this State their home until they became residents of Santa Clara County, in 1884. During sixteen years of their resi- dence in the State of Minnesota, Mr. Billings con- ducted a farm in connection with his carpenter work. Mr. and Mrs. Billings are the parents of two children, living: Annie M. and Frank B., both of whom make their home with their parents. Mr. Billings is con- nected with the Republican party, in politics.

YLVESTER GRAVES. Among the wealthy land owners of Santa Clara County we note the subject of this sketch. His fine property is lo- cated in the Moreland District, on Saratoga Av- enue. He has been identified with the county's interests for thirty-five years, settling here in 1853.

He claims Tennessee as his native State, dating his birth in Claiborne County, January 10, 1831. When he was ten years of age, his parents removed from Tennessee to Buchanan County, Missouri. There he lived until twenty-two years of age, engaged in help- ing his father to open a farm in the heavy timber of Buchanan County. In 1849 his elder brother, Jacob, came to this State, and four years later the subject of our sketch joined him in this county. In the year of the latter's arrival, the brothers purchased a tract of over 200 acres in the Moreland District. This place was on Campbell Creek, facing on Saratoga Avenue, a little more than one mile from Mr. Graves' present residence. The brothers worked that property until 1862, when they bought 190 acres, which comprise the homestead which our subject now owns. Soon after this purchase, the property was divided, the

elder brother retaining the farm on Campbell Creek. Mr. Graves now owns 265 acres, having sold, in 1887, IIO acres, at $200 per acre. He devotes the larger part of his ranch to general farming, although sixty acres are in orchards, twenty-seven acres having reached a bearing age. Prunes, apricots, and peaches are the leading fruits. The fine residence was erected in 1868, at a cost of $6,000, besides the labor which Mr. Graves personally bestowed upon it. It is sur- rounded by beautiful grounds, and approached from Saratoga Avenue by a shaded avenue 300 yards in length.

In 1867 Mr. Graves was united in marriage with Miss Kate Toney, who was born in Cedar County, Iowa, in 1848. Of ten children born of this union seven are living, all of whom are members of their parents' happy home. Their names are: Ernest, Wal- ter, Clara, Jesse, Ivy, Nettie, and Beulah. Belle and Myrtle died in infancy, and Stella at the age of three and one-half years.

Mr. and Mrs. Graves are consistent members of the Free Methodist Church. Mr. Graves was formerly a Democrat, but is now a pronounced Prohibitionist. He commenced life in California a poor man, his whole capital not reaching the moderate limit of $50. Industry, frugality, and good business qualifications have with him been well rewarded, for his position is that of a prosperous, respected citizen of a favored community. But he is rich not only in money and lands, but also in all the relations of life-in his happy family, his neighbors and associates, whose love and esteem the genial qualities of his character have easily won. He is indeed fortunate in the possession of so pleasant a home in so lovely a country, while the community is fortunate in having him as one of its representative citizens and highly esteemed members of society.

DAM FARRINGTON. Among the fortunate possessors of large farms in this fertile section of the State, is the subject of this sketch, who owns 225 acres of as choice land as can be found in the county. The property is situated on the Williams road, in the Moreland District, and is known to the old settlers as the Golden State Ranch. It is one of the oldest as well as one of the most pro- ductive farms in that part of the county. In 1887, 3,600 sacks of barley were harvested as a volunteer crop. Mr. Farrington bought the property in March, 1885, and took possession of it soon after.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

He dates his birth in Brant County, Ontario, Canada, September 26, 1849. His father, Adam Farrington, who was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, died before his birth. His mother, Mary Ann (Trimble) Farring- ton, who was born in County Longford, Ireland, but of Scotch ancestry, makes her home with the subject of our sketch. She is the mother of four sons, viz .: William, a capitalist and real-estate dealer of San Jose; Archibald, a resident of East San Jose; James, who lives in Brant County, Ontario; and Adam, whose name heads this sketch. The two oldest brothers be- came residents of, and operators in, California in 1865, and Adam left Canada and joined them in Nevada, 1872. Ten years later he bought his present home, and has since been a resident of this county.

Mr. Farrington returned to Canada for his bride, Miss Elizabeth Abrey, who was also born in Brant County, and with whom he was united in marriage on the twenty-fifth of April, 1877. There are three chil- dren by this marriage: Archibald, Sarah May, and William J., all of whom are "baptized into the faith" of the Episcopal Church, under the teachings of which all the Farringtons were reared. Adam Farrington and his two brothers are counted among the most successful men of the county. Possessed of wealth, and of enterprising and progressive spirit, they are justly considered valuable members of society, in every relation of life, whether private or public, busi- ness or social. All of them are Republicans, and fully in accord with the principles of their party.

RNESTUS D. COLTON, one of the successful fruit-growers of the Willows, resides on the cor- ner of Lincoln and Minnesota Avenues. Mr. Colton dates his birth in Erie County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1814. His father, Eli Colton, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and became a citizen of Erie County in 1797. His mother, Elizabeth Dietz, was a native of Hagerstown, Maryland. Mr. Colton was reared and educated in his native county, making it his home until he attained his majority. The North- west, with its great possibilities, had just been opened, and peace with the Indians guaranteed by the Black Hawk War. Mr. Colton, ambitious and enterprising, was filled with a desire to seek his fortune in this new country. He therefore left his native home, and, pass- ing through Chicago (then a village of only a few hundred), he terminated his journey at Geneva Lake,

Wisconsin, where he was one of the first settlers. Here he opened a farm, but later became a hotel pro- prietor, building the Lake House, the first hotel in the place. That he was successful in this venture his continuance of the business for twenty years proves. The year after he settled in Wisconsin he returned to Pennsylvania, making the trip around the Lakes from Milwaukee on the steamer Constitution, the first trip that navigated Lake Michigan. He returned to Wis- consin with general supplies, and became interested in the improvement of a water power.

Selling his interests at Geneva Lake, in 1865, Mr. Colton removed to La Crosse, Wisconsin, and en- gaged in the book and stationery business, in which he remained for six years. He then followed the hun- dreds who had crossed the continent, and settled in Santa Clara County in 1871, when he bought the tract of eleven acres which now makes his home. When purchased there was only a small apple orchard on the place. By industry and painstaking care, Mr. Colton has become the owner of a fine, healthy or- chard. His orchard comprises 100 pear, 160 apricot, 200 apple, seventy-five cherry, and seventy-five peach trees, 100 trees of different varieties of plums, and the remainder French, German and Silver prunes.

Mr. Colton has had opportunity to witness much of the marvelous development of the horticultural interests in the Willows, which was principally in grain fields when he settled there.

In 1841 Mr. Colton married Miss Elizabeth Caro- line Holcomb, who died in 1845, leaving one son, Oscar, now a resident of San Diego. He married his second wife, Miss Annie Booth, a native of Vermont, in Wisconsin.

Mr. Colton is identified with the Republican party, and is a firm believer in the policy of protection of American industry. He is reputed a careful, intelli- gent horticulturist, with a complete understanding of fruit culture, and great attention to detail. He is greatly respected throughout the community in which he lives for his integrity and the strict honesty of his business transactions.

EV. S. GOODENOUGH, residing on Saratoga Avenue, is the owner of a fine property of fifty acres, all in fruit. He purchased the place in 1881, it then being part of a stubble field. Dur- ing the first year of his ownership twenty acres were planted with French and Silver prunes and Bartlett

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pears. For the next three years the work was con- tinued, and was completed in 1885, making a total of 2,500 French prune, 400 Silver prune, 600 Bartlett pear, 650 Moorpark apricot, seventy-five Black Tar- tarian cherry, and 700 Newtown Pippin apple trees. The orchard also furnishes a general variety, which, with the choice grapes from a family vineyard, com- prise everything that is desirable in the way of fruit for domestic use. The fruit interests receive the best of care, as is well attested by the yield of the apricot trees, which averaged 100 pounds per tree, in 1887, they being at that time four years old.

The subject of this sketch was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1835, and is one of the representatives of one of the old Vermont families. His grandfather, Levi Goodenough, left the State of Connecticut be- fore the close of the last century, and settled, as one of its pioneers, in Windham County, Vermont. His son, Winsor, was the father of the subject of this sketch. Rev. S. Goodenough was educated in the Brattleboro schools, supplemented by an academic course at South Woodstock, Vermont (Green Mountain Liberal In- stitute), and by attendance upon the St. Lawrence, New York, University and Divinity School. He en- tered the ministry of the Universalist Church in 1856. His first charge was in the towns of Royalton and Barnard, Vermont, and in that State and the States of Maine and New York were spent twenty-five years of a useful life, engaged in work for the glory of God and the good of mankind.

In Vermont Mr. Goodenough wedded Miss Ellen M. Halladay, who was also born in Brattleboro. Her failing health was the chief cause of their removal to this State. Mr. Goodenough visited this State and county in 1881, purchasing his home in that year, as before stated, but did not become a resident of the State until November of the following year. Soon after coming he began gathering a congregation and organizing a church in Oakland, and there he has ac- complished his most successful work in the ministry. The church society has erected, at a cost of $8,000, a fine chapel, neat, tasty, and attractive, which was com- . pleted the present year, 1888.

Mr. and Mrs. Goodenough have two sons and two daughters, only one of the four children having left the home, Mrs. Minnie E. Blanding, wife of E. F. Blanding, of Boston, Massachusetts. The names of the others are: Wells P., Winsor S., and Leona E., the last-named being now in attendance upon the University of the Pacific. Mr. Goodenough is greatly interested in the orders of Masons and Odd Fellows,

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 80

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