Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 83

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 83

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).

He was united in marriage, at Fredericktown, Ohio, by Rev. Mr. Farris, in 1853, with Miss Sarah J. Barber, daughter of Jesse Barber, of Knox County, Ohio. From this marriage three children were born, viz .: Hugh C., who resides on the old homestead; Lizzie, the wife of George Smith, of Santa Clara, at which place they reside; and Jesse B., a resident of Tulare County, California.

CORRIS SKINNER, residing on the Williams road, in the Moreland District, a little west of the Santa Clara and Los Gatos road, is the owner of a fine orchard property of eighteen acres. The orchard comprises 1,000 French prunc- trees and 650 apricot-trees in bearing, one acre being reserved for a household orchard, where may be found

447

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

nearly every variety of deciduous fruit adapted to the climate. Mr. Skinner bought the property in the autumn of 1884, of J. F. Thompson, who had one or two years previously set out most of the trees that are now on the place. Of the crop of 1887, $1,700 worth of fruit was marketed. But little over one- half of the orchard contributed in making up that result, the remainder being too young to be in bearing.

The subject of this sketch came to Santa Clara County in the spring of 1884 from Dayton, Ohio, where, for a number of years, as the senior member of the firm of Skinner, Bradford & Co., wholesale dealers in millinery goods, he had been in active busi- ness. He was born in Miami County, Ohio. His father was a merchant, and a portion of his youthful years were spent in assisting him as clerk, and a por- tion in working on his father's farm. From 1850 to 1857 Mr. Skinner held a position as clerk in a mer- cantile establishment in New York city, following which he owned and managed a farm in Ohio. Later still, as before stated, he engaged in business in Day- ton.

In the city of New York, in 1856, he wedded Miss Carrie Duval, who died in Dayton in 1874. His pres- ent wife, formerly Miss Dora J. Mayhew, he married in January, 1883. She was born in the State of Maine, and in that State received her rudimentary education. Graduating after a course of study at Maplewood Seminary, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Miss Mayhew became a teacher in Troy, Ohio, and for twelve years was thus employed, when, desiring rest, recreation, and further improvement in her chosen vocation, she visited Europe, and there pursued a course of study in the languages, especially French and German. Mr. and Mrs. Skinner are members of the Presbyterian Church at San Jose.

Having spent many years in active life, Mr. Skin- ner in the mercantile business, and his wife in her pro- fession as an educator, both are content in the quiet of their pleasant home, in which they justly feel some pride. Being fitted by character and cducation to ap- preciate the best things in any locality where they may make their home, they are much delighted with life in California.

EORGE BYRON is the owner of a tract of land, containing 116 acres, in the Braley District. It is about two miles southwest of Alviso, and seven miles northwest of Santa Clara, and is located at the junction of the Alviso and Mountain

View and Saratoga and Alviso roads. Here Mr. Byron occupies a pleasant cottage home, surrounded by lovely grounds, and filled with the comforts and conveniences of refined life. With the exception of thirteen acres of strawberries, and three acres of orchard, this farm is devoted to the raising of hay, grain, and stock. The cultivation of strawberries is confined principally to that of the Longworth and Sharpless varieties, while the orchard furnishes nearly every kind of fruit raised in the section. Artesian wells furnish all the water for irrigation, stock, and domestic purposes.

The subject of this sketch was born, in 1820, in Glasgow, Scotland, of which city his parents, George. and Marion (Turner) Byron, were natives. His boy- hood was spent in school, but in early manhood he learned the trade of dyer, in which his father was en- gaged. In 1840 his father emigrated to New Zea- land, whither he had accompanied him. There they engaged in farming, and after a residence of five years the son removed to the city of Adelaide, Australia, where he established a mercantile business, which he successfully conducted until 1849. Thinking that a good business opening had been made by the great influx of men from all parts of the country, caused by the California gold discovery, he decided to venture upon another move. Collecting a supply of general merchandise, such as would be needed in a new coun- try which was rapidly filling up, he embarked, in Feb- ruary, 1849, for San Francisco, where he arrived in June of the same year, thus becoming one of the pio- neer merchants of the city. He found it impossible to obtain a building in which to open his store, and was compelled to pitch his tent, and use it tempo- rarily both as a store and dwelling. He found this venture a successful one, but in March of the follow- ing year decided to engage in mining. With this pur- pose in view he went to the mines on the North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American River, but, after a sixth months' trial, he concluded that the life there was not suited to his tastes, and returned to San Fran- cisco. He conducted with success various enterprises in that city until, in 1852, he removed to Santa Clara County, purchasing 160 acres of land, thus enrolling his name among the early farmers of the county. He acquired the property which he now occupies in 1862, and in 1873 sold his original purchase.

Mr. Byron was united in marriage, in 1851, with Miss Jane Anderson, the daughter of John and Jane (Robertson) Anderson, natives of Scotland and resi- dents of San Francisco. Of the nine children born

448

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

to Mr. and Mrs. Byron, eight are now living. Their names, with their present residence (in 1888), are here given: Jane R., the wife of David M. Henderson, is a resident of Oakland, California; George A. mar- ried Miss Mabel Pelham, of Oakland, and resides in this county; Marion is also a resident of Oakland; John A. makes his home on one of the Sandwich Islands; Amy Grace married Samuel Center, then a resident of Santa Clara County, but now of the Sand- wich Islands; Helen M., William T., and Alexander A. make their home with their parents.

Mr. Byron's long residence in the State and county has given his neighbors and acquaintances every op- portunity to "try the man," and his sterling qualities, uprightness of character, and public spirit have won from them their respect and esteem. A long experi- ence in business affairs, and a knowledge of the ways of the different parts of the world in which he has made his home, make him a valuable and interesting acquisition to any community.

Politically, he is a strong and consistent Repub- lican, taking a great interest in the administration both of State and national affairs. A strong believer in the future greatness of the country of his adop- tion, he was one of the most ardent supporters of the government when the war clouds of rebellion swept over the land.

ARTIN S. GIBSON, whose home is situated on Curtner Avenue, near its junction with the Almaden road, is the owner of one of the finest fruit orchards in the Willow Glen District. The seventeen acres, covered with about 2,200 trees, of all ages, comprises prunes, apricots, peaches, and cherries. Mr. Gibson purchased this property, known as the "Old Harper place," in March, 1887, paying $6,500 for it, and considered it a rare bargain.

Mr. Gibson was born in Chenango County, New York, May 25, 1827. He is the son of Sewell and Mary (Leonard) Gibson, who were natives of that State. His father was of Scotch, and his mother of English, extraction. In 1835, when Martin was but six years old, his father died, being fifty-four years of age, and leaving seven small children, six boys and one girl. Of these, A. D., the eldest boy, died June 13, 1866, aged fifty-four; the sister, Mary E., died March, 1866, at the age of forty-four. There are still living: James A., aged seventy-one; John H., aged sixty-eight; Ira M., aged fifty-eight; Abel L., aged

fifty-four. His mother, who remained a widow, con- tinued to live in New York until 1842; she then re- moved to Erie County, Ohio, where she lived until the fall of 1850, when she settled, with her four youngest children, in Dell Prairie, Adams County, Wisconsin. At the same place Martin S. Gibson and Elizabeth, daughter of J. C. and Nabby. Dockham, were united in marriage, April 16, 1855. She was a native of the State of Vermont. They lived in Adams County for seven years after their marriage, engaged in farming. They then removed to Baraboo, the county seat of Sauk County, Wisconsin, and engaged in general farming and hop-raising. In 1870, after years of suc- cessful hop-raising, he sold his real estate and estab- lished himself in the boot and shoe trade, doing quite an extensive manufacturing and retail business at Baraboo. Four years later he again turned his atten- tion to agriculture. June 10, 1887, he left the rigorous climate of Wisconsin, and, with his family, came to Santa Clara County. In a short time he took posses- sion of his present home.

Mr. and Mrs. Gibson have two children, Sewell C. and Bessie, the latter being still at home with her parents.

Mr. Gibson is a good, substantial citizen, and a man of sound judgment, and is well worthy of the pros- perity which he enjoys. In politics he is a thorough Republican. He has taken an active part in religious affairs, being, with his wife, a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church of over thirty years' stand- ing.

RCHIBALD PATTERSON. Among the pro- ductive grain ranches of the Milliken District must be mentioned the one owned by the sub- ject of this sketch. It is situated on the Sara- toga and Alviso road, about three miles west of Santa Clara, and now contains fifty-two acres, four- teen acres having been sold in 1887. Mr. Patterson never has entered into the cultivation of orchard or vineyard, but has devoted his land to the raising of hay and grain, also raising each year a few head of stock.

He was born in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1822, and is the son of Archibald and Nancy (Baxter) Patterson, both natives of Scotland. Being orphaned in his youth, he was reared by his uncle, Richard Lisbett (who resided on a farm near Tre- mont, about ten miles from Edinburgh), and was

M. Sanor

449

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

educated in the excellent schools of that neighbor- hood. He continued his labor as a farmer on his uncle's land until he had reached the age of thirty years, when, desirous of improving his condition in life, and wishing to gain the experience that contact with the people of other lands gives, he embarked at London, in May, 1852, on the ship John Mitchell, for a voyage around Cape Horn to San Francisco. He arrived in the last-named port in the fall of the same year, after a tedious passage of seven months' dura- tion. He made but a short stay in San Francisco, and then came to Santa Clara County, where he worked on a farm near Alviso for about eight months. He then proceeded to Sonoma and Napa Counties, and engaged in those counties for nearly two years in stock-raising. Thence returning to Santa Clara County, he purchased the land upon which he now resides, and entered heartily in the business of farmer in the country of his adoption. Ever proving a worthy citizen and a good neighbor, taking a deep interest in the welfare and building up of the com- munity and section in which he makes his home, he has justly won the respect of those around him.

In 1863 he married Miss Sarah Hanks, daughter of George Hanks, a native of England. No children have blessed this union. Both Mr. and Mrs. Pat- terson are prominent members of the Baptist Church, and for a period of more than twenty-five years have been among its strongest supporters.

N ICHAEL SANOR, one of the respected pio- neers of California, was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, October I, 1822. He is the son of Michael and Susan Sanor, who were among the early settlers of that county. The early life of the subject of this sketch was spent in the laborious work common to the sons of Ohio farmers in those days-in helping to improve the homestead of his parents, caring for the stock, etc. He had but little time for schooling, and very limited indeed were the advantages that were offered to the children of that country fifty or sixty years ago, even to those who could be spared from labor. Close observation of passing events, the mingling with the world brought about by an active life, a naturally inquiring and re- tentive mind, all have enabled Mr. Sanor to more than merely overcome the disadvantages of his youth.

In the spring of 1839 the family removed to Ray

County, Missouri. There the mother died within one week after reaching her new home. The family lived upon a farm, but the subject of our sketch learned wool-carding and the cabinet-maker's trade. These two occupations furnished him employment until the gold excitement of 1849 induced him to seek for wealth in the mines of this State. With his father and two brothers, Jackson and Van Buren, he came by the overland route with ox teams, reaching Carson Valley early in September, 1849, after a journey of a little more than four months.

Only a short time was spent in the mines, when Mr. Sanor became a farmer in Santa Clara County, commencing the improvement of a farm of 148 acres in what is now the Doyle District, about two and one- half miles southwest of Santa Clara. There he made his home, and reared a family of children- There, as a prosperous farmer, he lived until August, 1887, when, selling at a good price ($225 per acre), he erected a dwelling on Delmas Avenue, in one of the suburbs of San Jose. With the good wife, who had so well done her part in helping to build up his home and fortunes, he settled down to a retired life, free from the cares and anxieties of the management of his estate. But all of his plans for the future were disturbed by the greatest bereavement of his life. His devoted wife, Mrs. Susan (Norton) Sanor, passed to the better land March 9, 1888. She was born in Canada in 1837, and was the daughter of Edward Norton. She came to Santa Clara County with her parents in 1854, and was united in marriage with Mr. Sanor in May of the following year. She was the mother of four children, viz .: Susan, the wife of John P. Norton, whose history appears in this connection; John E. and Augustine H., who reside now (1888) in San Jose; and Walter, attending school. Since the death of his wife, Mr. Sanor has made his home with hi- son-in-law, Mr. Norton, in the immediate neigh- borhood of the old homestead, where he and his wife lived for a period longer than the average generation. The father of Mr. Sanor established his pioneer home on what has been, in late years, known as the " Dr. Warburton Ranch," on the Stevens Creek road. There he died in 1873. The two brothers, Jackson and Van Buren, are now (1888) living, the former at Los Angeles, and the latter in Santa Barbara County. One brother, William, who came to this coast about 1877, now lives in Oregon.

. Michael Sanor is a good representative of the pio- neers, who by indomitable courage and persevering labor laid broad and deep the foundations of the

450

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

prosperity which Santa Clara County now enjoys. His worthy life has won the respect, esteem, and con- fidence of a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

OHN P. NORTON is the owner of eighteen acres of choice land, located on the Stevens Creek road, in the Doyle District, four miles west of San Jose. Mr. Norton took possession of his prop- erty in 1866, having come directly from the State of Maine to Santa Clara County. Ten acres of the farm is comprised in a young and promising orchard.

Mr. Norton was born in Lexington, Somerset County, Maine, May 4, 1846. He was trained in youth to the work of a farm, but spent the last few winters of his residence in the East in the pine for- ests of Maine, engaged in lumbering. In 1877 he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Sanor, of this county. She is the daughter of Michael Sanor, one of the honored pioneers of 1849, and is a native of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Norton have three children: Raymond, Linwood, and Augustine. Mr. Norton is a member of Santa Clara Lodge, No. 52, I. O. O. F., and also of the Santa Clara Encampment. Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party, but is a believer in the protection of American in- dustries.

Having come to this State in early manhood, and having been a resident of this county for over twenty years, Mr. Norton's interests are entirely those of the county, and none are more thoroughly desirous than he is of witnessing the advancement of his section.

ILLIAM I. LESTER, residing in the Willow District, on Malone Avenue, near its junction with the Almaden road, is the owner of a splen- did orchard of twelve acres. The land he pur- chased in May, 1877, paying $150 per acre. It was then covered with willows, but it is now one of the finest of orchards. It contains 1,200 trees, part of which are prunes, and part apricots. As the result of good management, it is both productive and profit- able.

Mr. Lester was born at Ledyard, New London County, Connecticut, February 7, 1848. (For more extended notice of his father's family, please refer to the sketch of the life of Nathan L. Lester.) In his

eighteenth year he landed at San Francisco, on New Year's day of 1866. During the three following years he worked rented grain lands in Contra Costa County. He returned to his native State late in the year 1868, but in April of the following year he again came to California, and lived in Contra Costa County until 1873, when he again returned to the East. There he remained until January, 1877, when he again came West, and soon afterward purchased the prop- erty which he now owns and occupies. He is fortu- nate in owning a home in the lovely, fertile valley of Santa Clara.

On the 16th of April, 1885, Mr. Lester married Miss Sarah E. Simonds, daughter of Levi Simonds deceased, formerly of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, in which city Mrs. Lester was born.

Mr. Lester is a member of the Republican party.

P. SANDERS, whose beautiful orchard home is located on the Doyle road in the Doyle Dis- trict, has been identified with the county since 1866. He dates his birth in Nova Scotia, in the year of 1835. Upon reaching manhood, failing health necessitated a radical change of climate, and so, in 1858, he left the old home and came by the Isthmus route to California. He reached this State poor in health and purse, and spent the first three years in mining in Sierra County. He then resumed the work which he had abandoned when he left his old home, and opened a photographic gallery at Marys- ville. To that work Mr. Sanders devoted his entire time (except when ill-health demanded temporary cessation) until, at San Jose, at a comparatively re- cent date, he finally retired from the business. In pursuing his vocation, he visited many sections of the State.

On the seventeenth of November, 1862, at San Francisco, Mr. Sanders was united in marriage with Miss Nannie Alline, who was also born in Nova Scotia, but was reared and educated at St. Johns, New Brunswick. Their only child, Allen, died at the age of four years. Two nieces, Ella I. and Jennie M., daughters of a brother of Mr. Sanders, are adopted members of the family, and have been by them care- fully educated. They are the daughters of Gilbert and Seraphina Sanders (both deceased), and, from the ages of four and six years respectively, have been reared by Mr. and Mrs. Sanders. The elder is a graduate of the State Normal School, and makes

451

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

teaching a profession. The younger attended the Normal School until ill-health necessitated the aban- donment of student life.

After retiring from the business of photography, Mr. Sanders established a nursery near Saratoga. In 1881 he bought twenty-five acres (a part of his present homestead), and added ten acres in 1883, and twenty acres during the following year. The elegant residence, surrounded by grounds made lovely with bright flowers, choice plants, and shrubbery, was com- menced in May, 1884, and completed and occupied in the following August. This beautiful place is known by the appropriate name, "Layhodie," signi- fying, in the Indian language, "a little way out." The trees in the orchard were all raised in Mr. Sanders' nursery, and are from one to six years old. Fifty of the fifty-five acres which comprise the place are devoted to their culture. French and Silver prunes, apricots, egg plums, and cherries are the lead- ing varieties. Mr. Sanders dries his fruit himself, and places it upon the market in perfect condition.

Mrs. Sanders is a lady of culture, and is as much of an enthusiast in botany as is her husband in hor- ticulture. Her lovely home shows the taste of its presiding genius, and there favored guests are wel- comed with true hospitality.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Sanders are enthusiastic mem- bers of the American Horticultural Society.

EUBEN J. BAKER, residing on the Almaden road, in the Pioneer District, Almaden Town- ship, is the owner of perhaps the most desirable farm in his district. His residence is about nine miles from the Court House in San Jose, and four miles from New Almaden.

Mr. Baker was born in Hampshire County, West Virginia, February 2, 1835. He was reared to a farm life, and received his education in that county. The work to which he was trained has been the chief business of his life. He left his native State for Sa- line County, Missouri, in 1855, and there worked for Robert Wilson for two years and two months, with a view to getting enough money to come to California. By hard work and economy, this was accomplished, and in August, 1858, he reached San Jose, his entire capital being $1.50. His present position, as the owner of a splendid farm of 300 acres, speaks truly of his ambition, energy, and good management. This farm, to-day, in character of improvements, buildings,

etc., is second to none in this part of the county. During the year following his arrival in California, he purchased a part of the property which he has ever since owned, and upon which he now makes his home. Later he has added to his farm by purchase, until it has reached its present extent. His costly residence was erected in 1886.

In 1865 he was united in marriage with Miss Wini- fred L. Hart, who was born in Massachusetts, but who has been a resident of this State since 1859. In 1873 Mr. Baker left his Santa Clara home, and during the ten years following made his home at Hollister, where he engaged in stock and general farming. He owned there a farm of 172 acres, and sixteen miles from Hollister a magnificent stock ranch of 2,320 acres. He also engaged in butchering while a resident of that place. In 1883 he disposed of all his property near Hollister, and returned to the home place, to the cultivation of which he has since devoted his entire attention.

Mr. and Mrs. Baker have eight children living, all of whom are yet under the parental roof: Mary L., Reuben F., Josephine, Walter R., Emily, Ella, Irene, and Teresa. The sixth child, Charles, died in infancy.

Politically Mr. Baker is identified with the Demo- cratic party, with tendencies to act independently, especially in local affairs. The enterprise, industry, and good management which have won for him the prosperity which he enjoys, have also won recognition from his neighbors and associates.

CHARLES HENRY CROPLEY, of the Berry- essa District, owns and resides upon sixty-five acres of rich land, located on the Milpitas and Berryessa road, about five and one-half miles northeast of San Jose, and two miles south of Milpi- tas. With the exception of a portion reserved for a small orchard, this farm is devoted to the growing of hay and grain, and the raising of such stock as is needed for carrying on the operations of the farm. The family residence is a comfortable cottage, and is surrounded by substantial out-buildings, the aspect of the whole property giving evidence of the position of its owner,-that of a prosperous farmer. He also owns 120 acres of land a mile west of Milpitas, on the north side of the Alviso and Milpitas road. Of this property, five acres are devoted to the cultivation of strawberries of the Sharpless variety, four acres to blackberries and raspberries, eight acres to asparagus,

452

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

and twenty acres to vegetables,-onions, tomatoes, potatoes, etc. The remainder of the land is used for the growing of grain and hay. The needed water is supplied by three artesian wells, one of which has a flow of five inches above a seven-inch pipe.

Mr. Cropley was born in Nova Scotia, February 3, 1847, and is the son of James and Rebecca (Elliott) Cropley, natives and residents of Nova Scotia. His father was a farmer, and Mr. Cropley was reared to that industry, his education being received in the public schools of his district. When twenty years of age, he left home and located in Boston, Massachu- setts, where he spent about a year in working at the carpenter's trade, and at other callings, leaving in 1868 to come, by the Panama route, to California. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he went immedi- ately to Alameda County, and there lived for two years, engaged in farm labor. He then rented land and conducted farming operations on his own ac- count, also buying threshing-machines, and engaging in threshing grain. He made his home in Alameda County until 1875, when he removed to Santa Clara County. Here he engaged in farming, and four years after coming to the county purchased the prop- erty which we have described. He is still extensively engaged in raising hay and grain on rented lands, and employs a large force of men and machines in threshing grain during the season.

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 83

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