Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 86

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 86

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The subject of our sketch was born in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. When he started in life for himself, he chose the profession of the teacher. After teaching a few terms in his native State, he went to Missouri and there entered the State Normal School at Kirksville, Adair County. He spent the three years following his graduation, in 1873, in teaching in Mis- souri, and then came to this State. Here he took a senior course in the State Normal at San Jose, at which institution he graduated in 1878. During the years 1880 and 1881 he had charge, as Principal, of the schools of Sonora, Tuolumne County. The larger part of the time, however, since his graduation has been spent in teaching in this county. Since 1885 he has devoted his entire attention to horticulture, in which he has been very successful. A brother, Cyrus, is in the carriage business at Stockton. His father, Nathaniel Pettit, resides at the family home in Law- rence County, Pennsylvania. His grandfather was one of the pioneers of Beaver County, Pennsylvania, from Virginia. The family is able to refer with pride to a long line of Virginian ancestry.

Mr. Pettit is a member of San Jose Grange, No. 10, in 1887 holding the position of Secretary of that or- ganization. In politics he is a thorough Republican. A well-educated man, and one of integrity, Mr. Pettit is possessed of the influence which every man of edu- cation and refinement-when combined with upright- ness of character-exerts for good in the community in which he makes his home. The qualities of thor- oughness and faithfulness in the performance of every duty, which made him a most successful teacher, as- sure his success as a horticulturist.

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

GERI HAMILTON, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in Massachusetts, in 1813. He was the son of Luther Hamilton, and the grandson of Eliakim Hamilton, who was of En- glish birth, and an officer in the Continental Army in the Revolutionary War. Zeri Hamilton grew to manhood in the old Bay State, living on his father's farm and learning the carpenter's trade. Later he worked for some years in the State of New York. Thence he went to Michigan, and, after a few years' residence in that State, to Terre Haute, Indiana, where he married, in 1840, Miss Jane Blackford. Two years afterward they removed to Chariton County, Missouri, and, opening a farm, made it their home until the spring of 1848.

Failing health compelled Mr. Hamilton to seek a radical change of climate, and he joined a train of emigrants bound for California. He crossed the Missouri River at St. Joseph, with his family and a few household goods. Their route was by way of Salt Lake City, and upon the desert this side of that place Mr. Hamilton had the misfortune to lose most of his stock. His cows and one yoke of oxen were driven off and killed by Indians. A kind-hearted Christian gentleman, afterward known as “Methodist Bennett," allowed Mr. Hamilton to harness a yoke of Texas steers to his wagon, and also to use a part of the wagon. After abandoning his own wagon and several articles of value, among them a trunk contain- ing many keepsakes, which, for temporary safety, had been buried and its whereabouts unknown, the family, without further serious mishap, concluded the long journey.

A word as to Mr. and Mrs. Bennett: They settled at Santa Cruz, where they reared a large family, to become worthy members of society. They were be- loved by all who knew them. After lives well-spent, they sleep the sleep of the just.

Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton made their first home at the mines on Weaver Creek. Under a large oak tree, two sheets sewed together and stretched over a pole, with a buffalo robe for the floor, formed their rude hab- itation for several weeks. Mr. Hamilton was an in- valid and unable to work. His wife baked bread to sell to miners, and did other work with indomitable energy, thus providing for all necessities. The winter following was spent in Coloma in a rude log cabin. The summer of 1849 was spent at Sutter's Fort, and the following winter at Georgetown. Mrs. Hamilton relates that while she was at "Hangtown " (Coloma) she paid $10 per pound for ten pounds of beads,

brought by a miner from Oregon, and sold them to the Indians for an aggregate of $1,500! She paid $5.00 per pound for butter, and $6.00 per dozen for eggs! In moving to Sutter's Fort, a man and team were hired for one day, and paid the modest sum of $300 in gold-dust. While at Coloma Mr. Hamilton undertook to carry some blankets to prospecters em- ployed by a firm of merchants, for which service he was to be paid $16. Meantime Mrs. Hamilton pur- chased a package of needles, without paying for them at the time. In settlement they paid Mr. Hamilton $2.00, charging $14 for the needles. Mrs. Hamilton, not disputing the account, sent her husband to the merchant's tent, with a bill of $14 for a loaf of bread, for which she had not intended to make any charge. The merchant was possessed of enough consistency to pay the bill.

In March, 1850, the family took possession of the present homestead, on what is now known as the Meridian road, near the eastern terminus of Hamilton Avenue, two and one-half miles southwest of San Jose. Mr. Hamilton bought a " squatter's right," pay- ing $300 for the possessory right to 160 acres, and later, $5.00 per acre for the "Golinda" title. The house, which was purchased in San Francisco, was framed, fitted, and numbered for putting together, in the State of Maine, and shipped around Cape Horn. The old house, nearly intact, yet stands, and is the home of Mrs. Hamilton and a part of her family. Long years of litigation followed their settlement, spent in fighting claimants under shadowy titles of different kinds; but finally, after buying off some of them, and being the victims of attorneys for many years, they claimed the land under the pre-emption laws of the United States Government, only to find other parties on all sides claiming it under the same laws. Only since the death of her husband was Mrs. Hamilton, by a decree of the Secretary of the Interior, enabled to get the title to the property confirmed to her children.

The death of her husband, in 1871, left Mrs. Ham- ilton the care of a large family. That she was fully able to meet the emergency, her untiring energy at the present time (seventeen years later) clearly proves. She is the daughter of Samuel Blackford, and was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was but six years of age when her parents removed to Knox County, Ohio, and ten years of age when they again removed, this time to Erie, Pennsylvania. Later they made Terre Haute, Indiana, their home, where, as before stated, she met and married Mr. Hamilton.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

She is the mother of nine children, five sons and four daughters. Seven of her children were born at her present home.

The names of all, in the order of their birth, are as follows: Mrs. Mary J. Vanderwart, of San Francisco; Samuel B., of San Jose; Luther, of Umatilla County, Oregon; Mrs. Hattie E. Kennedy, of Fossil, Oregon; David, of Umatilla County, Oregon; Mrs. Laura Whittle, of Santa Cruz County; Mrs. Angie Sander- son, of Marion County, Oregon; and George and Zeri, who reside at the old homestead with their mother. Mr. Hamilton, after settling in this county, became quite a robust man, and was never until his last ill- ness prostrated with sickness.

Mrs. Hamilton is a lady of culture, having received a good education in her youth, and having been some- what of a student all her life. To her belongs the distinction of having taught the first school in Hamil- ton District. Both herself and her husband were ever ready to do all in their power to promote the cause of religion. The first church services and the first Sunday-school were held at their home. Their resi- dence was also opened to the first debating society held in their neighborhood. Although not in the possession of the health and strength of former years, Mrs. Hamilton is sustained by an indomitable will and a strong, courageous heart, and wherever known she is respected.

NDREW THOMAS GALLAGHER. The sub- ject of this sketch is entitled to mention among the pioneers of this State and county, having be- come a resident of the former in 1849, and of the latter a few months later. He was born in New York city, on the fourth of May, 1831, and is the son of Andrew T. and Mary (Siskron) Gallagher, of that city. His father was a native of Ireland. Mr. Gal- lagher's early boyhood was spent at home, and in at- tendance upon school, but at the age of fourteen years he entered the employ of William T. Jennings & Co., merchant tailors of his native city. He remained with them until a short time before October 16, 1848, at which date he embarked on the bark John W. Cater, Captain Richard Hoyt commanding, for a voyage around Cape Horn to California.

He reached San Francisco on the fourteenth of March, 1849, and shortly after his arrival purchased the launch Mary and Catherine. After making a few trips to Sonoma he sold the vessel and entered

the mines at Sullivan's Camp, in Tuolumne County. He remained there a few months, and then came to Santa Clara County and obtained employment in the Redwoods. He spent a few weeks in that work, en- gaging afterward in teaming between that point and Alviso. Similar work occupied his attention for some time, as he engaged in the transportation of freight from Alviso to San Jose and Santa Clara. At the same time he also transported freight between San Francisco and Alviso, having purchased the schooner Catharine Miller, and placed her in this trade. Dur- ing a part of the time he was himself in command of the vessel. These enterprises filled about two years, and, upon giving them up, he made a complete change of work, taking a position as clerk in one of the ware- houses in Alviso. He remained in this business, faith- fully discharging all duties, until 1863.

But several years before giving up this work he pur- chased and established his residence, in June, 1853, upon property in the Alviso District, about four and a half miles north of Santa Clara, and one mile south of Alviso. His farm, of 160 acres of productive land, is devoted largely to the raising of grain and hay, and to pasturage. However, there are forty acres of orchard, comprising nearly all the varieties of fruit grown in this section. The principal products are apples, pears, and plums, but peaches, apricots, necta- rines, cherries, figs, and persimmons are also raised. To the culture of strawberries, of the Longworth, Sharpless, and Cheney varieties, twenty-eight acres are devoted, while eight acres are planted with rasp- berries and blackberries. In addition, the ground in his orchards Mr. Gallagher utilizes for the raising of tomatoes and other vegetables, besides eight acres which are used exclusively for that purpose. The water from five artesian wells gives all that is needed for all purposes. A pleasant and comfortable cottage home, with appropriate out-buildings, shows the pros- perity which Mr. Gallagher has achieved.

On the twenty-sixth of September, 1852, Mr. Gal- lagher was united in marriage with Miss Maria Re- monda Martin, the daughter of John and Vaclecia Bernal (Ortega) Martin. Her father, a native of Scot- land, came to this State in 1829, while holding the position of ship's carpenter in the English naval serv- ice. He died in 1851. Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher are the parents of eleven children, viz .: Mary, born August 12, 1853; Martha, May 1, 1855; Andrew T., March 17, 1857; Edward E., December 26, 1860; Richard, August 10, 1863; George F., September 18, 1865; Bascaleseria, July 13, 1867; Alford, April 5, 1869; Charles W., June

Samt P Taylor ( DECEASED )

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

7, 1871; William, June 16, 1873; and Mabel S., No- vember 18, 1875.

ERNST SCHNABEL, the subject of this sketch, was born in 1829, in Saxony, Germany. His parents, Gottlieb and Christina (Kistritz) Schna- bel, were natives of Saxony, his father being a cabinet-maker and conducting his business in Pehig, Saxony, until his death in 1862. His mother died in 1865. Mr. Schnabel learned the mercantile business in Pehig and Altenburg, having previously attended the primary schools, gymnasium, and private schools of his native place. He continued in the mercantile business until the Revolution of 1849, when he came to America, settling in Philadelphia. In the spring of 1850 he came across the plains to California, with a party of Philadelphians, from Parksville, Missouri, with ox teams, leaving them in April, and arriving in Sacramento in September, 1850, the day that Cali- fornia was admitted into the Union. Mr. Schnabel went immediately to the inines of Amador County, but in a few months returned to Sacramento. He then alternated between mining and hotel-keeping for eleven ycars, in Trinity County.

In 1860 he visited his old home in Germany, re- turning by way of Philadelphia, where he was mar- ried to Miss Clara Bretschneider, a native of Alten- burg, Germany, whom he had known in his boyhood. Mr. and Mrs. Schnabel came to California by way of Panama, going immediately to the former home in Trinity County, where they remained for a year, when they removed to San Francisco on account of Mrs. Schnabel's health. Mr. Schnabel engaged in the sa- loon business in this city, keeping the Eintracht Saloon, and being very successful financially. In 1872 he bought out one of the partners in the Fredericks- burg Brewery in San Jose, which was at that time a small concern, making only about thirteen barrels of beer per day. He continued developing this business with great success, changing from the old process to making lager beer by cold fermentation, until the brewery now turns out sixty thousand barrels a year, and the beer has a first-class reputation throughout every section of the Pacific Coast, Sandwich Islands, South and Central America, Mexico, and Australia, and is known as that of the Fredericksburg Brewing Company.

Mr. and Mrs. Schnabel have four living children; Edward, now in Los Angeles, conducting the whole-

sale business of the brewery in that section; Emma, the wife of George Koenig, of San Jose; Ernest and Erna, both attending school in San Jose. Mr. Schna- bel is a member of Germania Lodge, No. 116, I.O.O.F., of San Francisco, also of the Teutonic Association of San Francisco. His home is very pleasantly situated on Lenzen Avenue, off the Alameda.

NDREW J. BOLLINGER, one of the pioneers of the Doyle District, resides on the Stevens Creek road, six miles west of San Jose. Mr. Bollinger was born in Perry County, Missouri, in 1837. He is the son of A. J. and Sarah Bollinger, who were former residents of Bollinger County, Missouri. The founders of the family were of Swiss origin. Henry Bollinger, to whom the subject of this sketch traces his descent, was a Swiss emigrant, who first settled in Pennsylvania, thence removing to South Carolina about the middle of the last century. To him the numerous families of that name owe their origin, and probably fully 1,200 of his descendants are now living. His name is now borne by one of the prosperous counties of Missouri. Mathis Bollin- ger, the grandfather of our subject, was one of the pioneer settlers of that county. A. J. Bollinger, Sr., with his family, March 29, 1852, left Missouri, and commenced the overland journey with ox teams. The Fourth of July was spent in crossing Green River. It snowed that night. Soon after arriving in the Santa Clara Valley Mr. Bollinger bought a squatter's right to a part of the land, which his son (the subject of our sketch) now owns and occupies. His first home was just across the Stevens Creek road from the present family residence. The present residence was estab- lished in 1854, and with it Mr. Bollinger purchased the farm of 160 acres, for which he paid $1,500. Ever since the purchase, in 1854, it has been the family home, and there the father died, March 29, 1885, at the age of seventy-four years and nine months. He had been an active, hard-working man through all his life, and, by his many excellent qualities, had won the respect of those among whom he had so long made his home. His widow survives, and lives with their son, whose name heads this sketch. Although seventy-seven years of age, she yet retains, to a great degree, the mental vigor of earlier years, but is some- what enfeebled physically. Her seven children, ex- cept one, were all born in Missouri. Their names and

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

present residence are as follows: Mary Lovina, the wife of Christian Bollinger, is a resident of Santa Clara; Francis Marion lives in Contra Costa County; Sarah E., the widow of A. C. Tinin, lives in Merced County; Andrew J. is the subject of this sketch Quintilla P. is the wife of William Tinin, of Contra Costa County; Morgan D. is a resident of this county; and Samuel P., born in Santa Clara County, August 19, 1853, lives in Alameda County.

Andrew J. Bollinger, Jr., has lived, since fifteen years of age, in Santa Clara County, and here, on the fourteenth of October, 1860, he married Miss Mary Hahn, also a native of Missouri. She is the daughter of Frederick and Chaney Hahn, who came to this county in 1857. Both of Mrs. Bollinger's parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Bollinger have been born nine children, viz .: Adam J., who lives with his parents; George and Theodore, residents of this county; Mrs. Mary Jane Stiger, of San Jose; Luke R., Martin, Sarah N. and Chaney E. (who are twins), and Louie A. J., who are members of their father's household.

Mr. Bollinger is the owner of the homestead estab- lished by his father nearly thirty-five years ago. The work of cultivation and improvement he has faith- fully carried on since the property came into his hands, and the land is now profitably devoted to general farming. A long residence in the county; necessitating the witnessing of such wonderful changes and rapid development, has thoroughly identified Mr. Bollinger with its interests. Politically he is fully in accord with the principles of the Democratic party.

ATHANIEL BRACKETT, residing on the San Jose and Alviso road, in the Alviso Dis- trict, became a resident of Santa Clara County in 1863. His productive farm, of sixty-seven acres, is about five miles north of San Jose and four miles south of Alviso. He obtains profitable results from the various industries to which he devotes his farm. There are eighteen acres of orchard, which furnish Beurre Clairgeau and Bartlett pears, apricots, French prunes, egg plums, peaches, and Pippin and Bellflower apples; twenty-two acres are used as vegetable gardens, ten acres for the production of grain and hay, and the remainder for stock purposes, for farm and dairy uses. Two artesian wells are particularly noticeable, as they furnish water sufficient to irrigate 400 acres. One of

the wells is 400 feet in depth, and flows eighteen inches over an eight-inch pipe. Mr. Brackett utilizes this splendid flow of water for running machinery, such as grindstones, vegetable graters, etc.

Mr. Brackett was born in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, in 1818, and is the son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth (Brackett) Brackett, who were natives of New Hampshire, and descendants of old Puritan families of the Plymouth Colony. His schooling was received before he reached the age of sixteen years, as at that age he entered with his brother into an apprenticeship in learning the carpenter's trade. When nineteen years old he started out in life for himself, and, taking up the millwright's trade, success- fully followed it for many years. In 1837 he went to Boston and entered the counting house of his uncle with the intention of becoming a merchant; but after a few months' experience he decided that the work was not suited to him, and, having a strong desire for a Western life, he went to Lenawee County, Michigan, where he engaged in the work of a millwright for many years. . During his residence there he married, in 1841, Miss Lucinda Turner, the daughter of Jethro and Lydia (Chapin) Turner. Miss Turner was a na- tive of New York, but a resident, at the time of her marriage, of the State of Michigan. In 1852 Mr. Brackett returned to Boston, and, with his family, embarked in the ship Brutus, Captain Meacham, for the voyage around Cape Horn. They arrived in San Francisco in August, 1853, and spent ten years in that city, Mr. Brackett working at his old trade, in the re- sponsible work of superintending the construction of flour-mills in different parts of the State. He pur- chased, in 1863, the Santa Clara property on which he has since lived, and to the cultivation of which he has since devoted all of his time, with the exception of that spent in the building of one quartz and three flour mills.

Mr. Brackett is an intelligent and able mechanic, as well as a most successful horticulturist and agricult- urist. His strong will and undaunted courage have sustained him through some severe financial losses. In 1878 the floods destroyed the crops of his orchard and berry lands, causing a loss of nearly $10,000! But with characteristic energy, Mr. Brackett at once re-commenced its cultivation. As the result of his years of labor, he is the owner of one of the finest farm and orchard properties in his section.

Mr. Brackett is a zealous Republican, taking a great interest in the affairs of both State and nation. Mr. and Mrs. Brackett are the parents of three children,

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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

of whom two, Jethro Nathaniel Bruce and Lydia Elizabeth Edora, are residents of San Jose. The third, Louis Philander, is a member of his parents' household. They have also with them an adopted daughter, Lydia Mehetabel Braman, who is the daughter of Mrs. Brackett's deceased sister.

M AURICE FARRELL, SR., of the Hamilton District, residing on Moorpark Avenue, near its western terminus, is the owner of a very fine fruit ranch of forty-eight acres, which he bought while it was a stubble-field, about 1877. All the trees on the place were planted by Mr. Farrell (almost en- tirely by his own hands) and raised in his own nursery. He has six acres of almonds, and fifteen acres about equally divided between apricots and French prunes. His apricot crop of 1887 was nearly twenty tons. The product of the orchard in 1887 brought cash re- turns of about $1,000. This showing is certainly a most excellent one for a young orchard.

Mr. Farrell was born in the city of Waterford, Ire- land, April 19, 1809. He is the son of Patrick and Barbara (Devereux) Farrell. His father was a mem- ber of the firm of Matthew, Patrick & Maurice Far- rell, ship and barge owners, and general importing and exporting merchants. This was one of the lead- ing firms of Waterford, and was of 250 years' standing. During this long term of years the business had been in the hands of the Farrells, and for generations had been of great magnitude and wealth, while its con- tinued prosperity seemed assured. But about 1820 a general bankruptcy, through general commercial fail- ures and the failures of correspondents, brought the old house down. Paying fifteen shillings and six- pence to the pound, the firm wound up its affairs, and the children, educated and reared in wealth, were thrown upon their own resources, practically penniless.

The subject of this sketch, when twenty years of age, came to the United States. Having followed the sea for some years, he left his vessel at New Or- leans, and, going up the Mississippi, stopped near Alton, Illinois. Here he lived for about seven years, being engaged in teaching school. Among his pupils was Miss Elizabeth Hinson, a lady whom Mr. Farrell afterward married. Mr. and Mrs. Farrell removed to Dubuque County, Iowa, where they bought 160 acres of land and settled down to a farm life. After living here about twenty years, they crossed the continent, about 1870, to California, and made San Benito

County their home for several years, removing to this county, as before stated, about 1877.

Mr. Farrell, although nearly eighty years of age, by virtue of a life of temperate and regular habits, is strong and vigorous, more so than many a man of fair health, thirty years his junior. He is an indefati- gable worker, working six days each week, and sleep- ing soundly seven nights each week. Owing no man a dollar, he is more independent in his prosperous, pleasant home than any of his ancestors, with their wealth and business cares. His mental vigor is only equaled by his physical strength. He descended from a long-lived race. His father died at the age of seventy-six years, while his mother reached the re- markable age of one hundred and one years !

Mr. Farrell has nine children living. Mrs. Joseph- ine McLellan, a widow, resides in San Jose; Ambrose M. is a resident of San Benito County; Martha is the proprietor of a millinery and dressmaking establish- ment in .San Jose; Daniel makes his home with his parents; William is a resident of Waterloo, Illinois; Maurice, Jr., is foreman in the employ of the Almaden Quicksilver Mining Company; Mary is the partner of her sister Martha, in their San Jose establishment; Addison Burns is residing in San Jose Township, at the Willows, and Mrs. Anna Williams is a resident of San Jose.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 86

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