Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 88

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 88

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).

L. J. Chipwan.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

473

it, and in the fact that her children are all in her home. The estate is held intact, with the exception of ten acres, which have been sold. Mrs. Willett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Santa Clara, as was also her husband.

J. HAINES. The finest property in Union District is owned by the subject of this sketch. His estate of eighty acres fronts on Union Avenue, about one-half mile north of the New Alma- den and Los Gatos road. The property was bought by Mr. Haines in 1866, at the nominal price of $15 per acre. It was then in a state of nature, and was described as " oak openings." The work of improve- ment has steadily progressed since that time, and the property has developed into one of the most desirable fruit ranches, of its size, to be found in the Santa Clara Valley. Eight thousand dollars have been ex- pended in buildings and in beautifying the surround- ing grounds. Until 1880 the ranch was devoted to general farming. Now, forty acres are in trees, and thirty-five acres in vineyard; fourteen acres are set with almonds, twenty acres with prunes, three acres with English walnuts, and the remainder with apri- cots. The vineyard is planted with a variety of grapes, the Zinfandel, Matero, and Riesling being largely represented. A household orchard contains almost every variety of fruit adapted to the climate and best for table use. Mr. Haines has erected a dryer, with all the modern improvements, principally for the handling of his own fruit. One hundred and fifty tons of fruit were cured in 1887. The fine resi- dence, standing sixty rods from the road, is reached by a drive along a beautiful avenue, shaded by walnut and Italian cypress trees.

Mr. Haines dates his birth in Falmouth County, Massachusetts, March 19, 1849. Hc is the son of A. G. and Sophronia Haines. In 1861 he came with his parents to Santa Clara County, where his mother has since died. His literary studies were completed in the schools of this county.

An enthusiastic horticulturist and viticulturist, he is a member of the American and of the State and County Horticultural Societies, and of the State and County Viticultural Societies. He is also identified with the Patrons of Husbandry. He belongs to the Republican party, and, as one of its active workers, is prominent in its councils.

J. CHIPMAN, Superintendent of the Schools of Santa Clara County, is a native of California, born February II, 1853, in Taylorsville, Plumas County. At the age of eleven years his parents re- moved to San Jose, where he attended the public schools, going through a full course at the San Jose High School, and graduating in March, 1873, at the State Normal School. He engaged in teaching im- mediately, taking charge of a school at Bullard's Bar, in Yuba County. He next taught at Evergreen, in this county. In 1874 he entered the Santa Clara Col- lege, and during that time was elected Superintendent of the Schools of San Jose, holding that position for two years, resigning after being elected for a third term, and accepting the principalship of the Fourth Ward Grammar School for one year. From that time until March, 1878, he was principal of the Em- pire Street School, commencing then his service in his present position, to which he had been elected in the fall of 1877. This office he has held continuously since that time, having received four successive elec- tions, with increasing majorities, the last being over 900. From the time of his election to the adoption of the new Constitution, Mr. Chipman was a member of the State Board of Education.

Mr. Chipman was married, December 7, 1876, to Miss Emma Toy, a native of New York State, whose parents emigrated to California in its early days. They have one child, Florence Gertrude, born September 24, 1880. He has one brother, W. F. Chipman, now in the real-estate business; also a sister, Lucy, wife of Eben Gay, in business in Walla Walla, Washington Terri- tory. His parents were Lafayette and Esther (Pap- son) Chipman, his father a native of Genesee County, New York, and his mother a native of England, who came in early infancy with her parents to Michigan, where she grew up and received her education. They were married in Michigan, coming soon after across the plains to California, where he was engaged quite largely in raising cattle and dairy products up to 1864, when he removed to San Jose, purchased a ranch, and devoted himself to farming. He now lives in San Jose, no longer engaged in active pursuits, but in- terested in the Farmers' Union, of which he is a director. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Republican party, and believes in tariff protection. He is a member and Past Grand of Garden City Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F., Past Master and at present Secretary of Friendship Lodge, No. 210, F. & A. M., and member of San Jose Parlor, N. S. G. W.

474

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

ALTER L. SMITH owns and occupies a beautiful cottage home on the Meridian road, near the crossing of Los Gatos Creek, in the Hamilton District. His orchard, of six acres, nearly all in full bearing, is planted chiefly with prunes and apricots, with a variety of other fruits for domestic use. The property was bought in 1882, and the residence designed, built, and occupied by Mr. Smith the following year.

Mr. Smith was born in Rockingham County, New Hampshire, March 31, 1823. His youth was spent principally in Massachusetts. The tide of emigration to the New El Dorado caught him in its outward flow, and November 12, 1849, he embarked in the sail ship Euphrasia for a trip around Cape Horn. The voyage was marked by no untoward event. The vessel passed the Golden Gate, and landed her passengers at San Francisco, May 26, 1850. The two following years Mr. Smith spent profitably in placer mining, in Tuol- umne County. From February, 1853, to 1870, he was interested with others in lumber manufacture, under the firm name of Smith, Dudley & Co., his brother John being one of the firm, in Mariposa County. The company were extensively engaged in furnishing lumber for the construction of quartz mills, bridges, etc.

Mr. Smith returned to Massachusetts, in 1885, and married Miss Caroline Hill. She died in San Fran- cisco, in 1869. In 1870 he removed to San Francisco, where he lived about a year, during which time he went to Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he married Mrs. Adeline M. (Childs) Train. In 1871 he removed from San Francisco to Stanislaus County, where he remained until 1880, as the resident manager of a water right for San Francisco parties. His life in the years up to 1880 were very active and energetic, but now he is living in a somewhat retired way, at his pleasant home in the Hamilton District.

TIRAM POMEROY, of the Willows, whose home is on Lincoln Avenue, near the eastern terminus of Pine Avenue, has been a resident of Santa Clara County since 1853. He was born in Knox County, Indiana, January 1I, 1822, and is the son of Grove and Clarissa (Olmstead) Pomeroy. His father was a native of Western Massachusetts, and his mother of Eastern New York. Thus, although born in different States, they lived in the same neigh-

borhood. They were among the pioneers of Knox County, Indiana. When the subject of this sketch was an infant his parents removed to Sullivan County, Indiana, and when ten years of age to St. Joseph County, and thence, two years later, to Plymouth, Marshall County, in the same State. There his father built the first house, a log structure, sixteen feet square. In the same year, 1834, he erected and occupied a frame house, probably the first in Marshall County. The lumber used in building this heavy-framed two- story house was cut by hand, with whip-saws. The building was 18x48 feet, and for many years was the leading hotel of the county. There met the commis- sion which was appointed by the governor to locate the county seat. The county was organized in 1836, and much excitement was aroused by the selection of the town which was to be honored by the keeping of the county records. Rival towns were aggrieved by the efforts made by Plymouth to secure this honor. Mr. Pomeroy took an active part in the movement, and he had the satisfaction of seeing Plymouth become the county seat. Later, he improved a farm situated about three miles from Plymouth, but, with his wife, spent his last years in Plymouth, where he died November 2, 1854, at the age of sixty-five years. His widow survived until December 14, 1869. Grove Pomeroy was a volunteer in the War of 1812, and in later life was for seven years judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was a man of great force of character, well educated, a clear reasoner, with perfect command of language, and of great public spirit. His death was universally regretted.

Hiram Pomeroy, the subject of this sketch, was reared carefully by his father, and owes his success in life largely to the lessons learned in his youth. He married, in Marshall County, April 13, 1847, Miss Harriet Taylor, daughter of Simeon and Nancy (Bradley) Taylor. She was born in New York, but from a child reared in Marshall County. In 1853 Mr. Pomeroy and his wife came by way of the Isthmus to California. Upon arriving, he started for the mines on Jamison Creek, Plumas County, but, remaining there only one summer, he came to San Jose. Leav- ing his family at this place, he departed for Tuolumne County, where he mined for six months. With the small sum made in this venture, he rented 200 acres of land near San Jose, in company with D. Meyers. A dry season following, they lost their entire crop. Mr. Pomeroy then moved to Gilroy, worked in a dairy eighteen months, and paid his debts like a man. He settled in Calaveras Valley, Milpitas Township, in

475

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

1857, purchasing a pre-emption claim of 160 acres. Later he planted a vineyard and an orchard, which he sold. For twenty-nine years he resided in that township, and in the autumn of 1886 he established his present residence. His home is one of the finest on Lincoln Avenue, and was erected in the winter of 1885-86. Five acres of his land he bought in 1875, paying $300 per acre, and five acres in 1883, at $325 per acre. The ten acres are planted with a variety of trees, prunes and peaches forming the largest part. Mr. Pomeroy has devoted his life to agricultural and horticultural pursuits.

His grandfather, Grove Pomeroy, was one of the heroes of the Revolution, serving four years under General Lafayette. He was present at the surrender of Cornwallis, at Yorktown, the closing drama of the war. In the War of 1812 he received a Captain's com- mission, but did not live to go into the field.

Hiram Pomeroy is a Republican, of Whig anteced- ents, a member of the Masonic mystic fraternity, and present Master of San Jose Grange, No. 10, Patrons of Husbandry.

RISTAM BURGES, the proprietor of the " Watchemoket " farm, on the San Jose and Los Gatos road, in the Hamilton District, is the rep- resentative of an old New England family, who trace their American ancestry back to the days of Roger Williams, of the Providence Plantations, Rhode Island.

Mr. Burges bears the name of his father and grand- father. His grandfather, Tristam Burges, represented Rhode Island in the halls of our National Congress for ten years, and was before the public in various po- sitions for a longer period than the life of an average generation. His record as a public man, for ability, integrity, and faithfulness, has rarely been equaled. In debate he was the peer of the brightest intellects gathered in the halls of Congress. All readers of Con- gressional history will remember his celebrated debate with John Randolph, of Roanoke, which alone would have made him famous. He was often called the "Bald-headed Eagle," of Rhode Island, and the words, as applied to him, had a high significance. He died in 1853.

Tristam Burges, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a prominent man in public affairs in Rhode Island. A member of the State Senate at the out- break of the Rebellion, he entered with heart and soul

into the work of putting Rhode Island troops into the field. A Colonel's commission was given him, by President Lincoln, to enable him to become a volun- teer on the staff of General Sprague, and afterward on the staff of General McClellan. After the evacuation of Yorktown, in his zeal to be at the front, he attached himself temporarily to the staff of General Stoneman, and at the battle which followed the retreat of the rebel army fought at Williamsburg, he was so severely wounded that he died afterward, May 23, 1863.

Tristam Burges, whose name heads this sketch, was born at Providence, Rhode Island, May 14, 1843, and was reared and educated in that State. He did honor to the patriotic principles inherited from father and grandfather, by enlisting as a member of the First Rhode Island Cavalry, from which he was soon trans- ferred for special duty.

In 1865 he became a resident of San Francisco, where for many years he was actively engaged in business. During the early period of his residence there, he acted as Clerk of the Probate Court for seven years. In August, 1884, he bought the thirty-one acres (then unimproved property) upon which he now lives. During the winter following, his residence was erected, in the designing of which his chief care was the combining of comfort and durability with beauty. His family took possession of their pleasant home on the sixth of March, 1885. All of his building im- provements are first-class in every respect. His land (prepared for planting by himself) is set to French prunes and Moorpark apricot trees, in equal numbers. The orchard is now (1888) only three years old, but among the many fine orchards of Santa Clara County, none are seen more promising, and none that show better care, than this one.

Mr. Burges is identified with the Republican party, and is a member of the George H. Thomas Post, G. A. R., at San Francisco. He is also one of the leading members of the Masonic fraternity on the Pacific Coast. In 1888 he was Grand Commander, Knights Templar, of California, an honorary member of St. Bernard Commandery of Chicago, and the rep- resentative of the Grand Commandery of Illinois, "near the Grand Commandery of California," and also Grand Representative of Dakota. He was the or- ganizer of the Golden Gate Commandery of San Francisco; a member of the Oriental Lodge, F. & A. M .; of the California Chapter, R. A. M .; of the Cali- fornia Council, R. & S. M .; and of the Golden Gate Commandery, K. T. He has also the honor of being

476

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

a thirty-second-degree member of the Scotish Rite fraternity of Masons.

In 1867 Mr. Burges married Miss Isabell R. Lucy, daughter of George H. Lucy, of Cambridge, Massa- chusetts. They have two children: Charles B., aged nineteen years, and Edith A., aged sixteen.

H. LEEMAN, whose fine residence stands on Lincoln Avenue, between Willow Street and Minnesota Avenue, has made his home at the Willows since 1874. He first lived on Willow Street, where his son, Frank C. Leeman, now lives. From 1859 to 1874 Mr. Leeman was one of the lead- ing citizens of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and until re- cently he has had large real-estate interests there.

His birth occurred in the State of Maine, January 10, 1819, where he remained until he reached man- hood. He became a practical millwright and con- tractor, and erected, at Lewiston, Maine, on contract, nearly one million dollars' worth of buildings. He was one of the early resident mechanics and con- tractors of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and helped to build the old Bay State Mills. He recalls the fact that the first personal property tax paid in the new town (which had been set off from Methuen) was paid by himself. Mr. Leeman has always led an active life, pushing every enterprise in which he has been en- gaged with great energy, and always with success. His life in California, compared with that of former years, has been somewhat retired. Still he has active interests in different directions, to each of which he gives close personal attention. He is one of the stock- holders of the Commercial Savings Bank, and a Di- rector and stockholder in the Burns Wine Company, established in 1886.

Mr. Leeman married, in Maine, Miss Amanda Em- erson, a native of that State. She is a cousin of the late Ralph Waldo Emerson.

Frank C. Leeman, residing on Willow Street, be- tween Lincoln Avenue and the Meridian road, at the Willows, is the owner of a fine residence and orchard, which is planted with a variety of fruit trees. He dates his birth at Lewiston, Maine, July 15, 1852, and is the only son of W. H. Leeman. From six years of age he was reared and educated in the city of La Crosse, Wisconsin, and became the assistant of his father in conducting a large wholesale and retail gen- eral grocery and supply business. He came with his

father to California, and established his home at the Willows in 1874.

In 1878 Mr. Leeman wedded Miss Hattie Veom. Mr. Leeman is a thorough, practical horticulturist, and, though not caring to become an extensive grower of fruit, has great pride in doing what he can to ob- tain the very best results from his ten-acre plat, which shows excellent care and attention.

ORREST G. JEFFERDS, residing on Hamilton Avenue, in the Hamilton District, bought his five- acre orchard in January, 1886. His orchard is now six years old, and comprises a general va- riety of trees, including four kinds of prunes, apricots, peaches, quinces, plums, and cherries. There are also a few apple-trees. The orchard in 1887 yielded about $500 worth of fruit.

Mr. Jefferds' birth occurred in Piscataquis County, Maine, August 26, 1829. When fifteen years of age he left the Pine-Tree State and removed to Massachu- setts. In 1846 he volunteered for service in the Mex- ican War, in Company A, Massachusetts Volunteers. His Captain was Fletcher Webster, a son of the re- vered statesman, Daniel Webster. In January, 1847, the regiment entered the city of Mexico, after thirteen months' service. Mr. Jefferds was honorably dis- charged at Boston. His war experience naturally in- clines him to feel an interest in all that pertains to war times and old comrades. He is a member of the Mexican Veterans, of San Jose, and also of the National Association of Veterans of Washington, District of Columbia.

As early as 1851 Mr. Jefferds became a pioneer settler of California. He was engaged for four years in placer mining in Nevada County, and in 1855 changed his residence to Yuba County, where he worked at hydraulic mining. He followed that busi- ness until 1861, when he removed to Tulare County, where he engaged in stock-raising and general farm- ing. Tulare County was his home until 1884, when he sold his ranch and stock, and moved to Oakland, and thence to his present home. For eleven years in Tulare County he held the office of County Assessor. After a life filled with adventure and frequent change Mr. Jefferds now enjoys a somewhat retired life in his pleasant home in this lovely and fertile valley.

In Yuba County he married, in 1853, Zanetta D. Whitney, who was born in Waltham, Massachusetts.

477

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

He was bereaved by her death, which occurred in Tu- lare County, in October, 1868. She was the mother of three children. Edward M. is now a resident of Visalia, Tulare County; Minnie is the wife of S. W. Watrous, of Tulare County; and Netta is the wife of H. L. Clark, of Oakland.

In 1870 Mr. Jefferds married Mrs. Nellie (Frakes) Reed, widow of Tilden Reed. She is a native of Ohio. By her first marriage she had five children, of whom two are deceased. Jennie, the wife of W. W. McKee, died at Oakland; M. Fillmore, residing at Belmont, Nevada; Mrs. Julia Morrell, living at San Jose; Leonard A., deceased; and Tilden, of Belmont, Nevada. Mr. Jefferds has one child by his second marriage, Nellie F.

He is identified with the Republican party. Several orders claim him as a member-Four Creeks Lodge, No. 94, I. O. O. F., of Visalia; Visalia Lodge, A. O. U. W., and Garden City Council, No. 62, Chosen Friends, of San Jose.

EYMOUR R. ALLEN is the owner of a fine or- chard home on Cypress Avenue, a short distance from the Stevens Creek road, in the Meridian District, and three and a half miles west of San Jose. Mr. Allen has resided in the immediate neigh- borhood of his present home since 1872, and has had much to do with the development of its horticultural interests. He has planted about fifty acres with a variety of fruit-bearing trees, of which his home prop- erty comprises twelve acres. About one-half of his trees are now (in 1888) five years old, and the re- mainder three and four years old. His comfortable residence was completed and occupied in the autumn of 1883.

He dates his birth in Madison County, New York, June 29, 1821. He was reared to a farm life in that county, and received his education in the schools of his neighborhood. On the twenty-ninth of June, 1841, he was united in marriage to Miss Samantha Reed, who was also born in Madison County, New York. He engaged in agriculture in his native county until the call was sounded for the nation's patriots to aid in putting down the Rebellion. In response to that call he enlisted, in September, 1861, in Company G, Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers. He served in the Army of the Potomac, and took part in the engagements in which MeDowell's corps participated.

His service was terminated by sickness, which neces- sitated an honorable discharge, in March, 1863.

The old farm life was resumed in Madison County, but continued only until the spring of the following year, when he went westward, to Hamilton County, Iowa. There, in Webster City, Mr. Allen made his home for several years, in fact, until 1872, when he came to Santa Clara County. A residence of six. teen years has made known to his fellow-citizens the qualities of integrity and honesty which have won for himself and his family the respect and esteem of all who know them. Mr. Allen has led an active life, and now enjoys the pleasures of a home in the beau- tiful valley of Santa Clara, surrounded by his chil- dren. His four sons, Francis M., Adelbert M., Lester S., and Frank A., all live at home or in the immedi- ate neighborhood. All of the children were born in Madison County, New York. Mr. Allen is an hon- ored member of John A. Dix Post, G. A. R., of San Jose. In politics he was formerly a Democrat, but is now a Republican.

OHN J. PEARD, of Hamilton District, com- menced the improvement of his five-acre tract, on Hamilton Avenue, from a grain field, in the winter of 1884. His orchard, which is now four years old, covers the whole ground. It comprises 294 prune, 98 apricot, 238 peach, 112 cherry, 14 apple, 14 pear, and 14 egg plum trees. All are in good condition, the ninety-eight apricot trees, but three years old, yielding, in 1887, about three tons of fruit.

Mr. Peard was reared in Genesee County, New York, where he was born, September 14, 1842. He volunteered for service in maintaining the nation's integrity, in the autumn of 1862, enlisting in the Twenty-second Independent New York Volunteer Battery. He served in that organization in the de- fenses of Washington for about eighteen months, when the Battery was transferred, as Company M, to the Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, and in May, 1864, joined the Army of the Potomac, at North Anna, Virginia. He participated in the battle at Cold Harbor, and was in the lines at the investment of Petersburg. Later he was transferred to the Shen- andoah Valley, under General Sheridan, and there, among other battles, he took part at the engage- ments at Winchester, Cedar Creek, and Fisher's Hill, returning to the lines in front of Petersburg for win- ter quarters. He also participated in the closing

478

PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

campaign of the army in Virginia, which culmina' ed in the surrender of the rebel army at Appomattox, and, after the surrender of General Lee, was trans- ferred to the Second New York Heavy Artillery, and remained in garrison at Washington, near Chain Bridge, until honorably discharged, in October, 1865. Mr. Peard was never in hospital or guard house, but always engaged in active duty. His faithful dis- charge of every duty as a soldier gives him the right to look back with satisfaction to the part he bore in the defense of his country.

Mr. Peard left the State of New York in 1873, and for four or five years was on a ranch in Yolo County, this State. For the past ten years he has resided in Santa Clara County, renting and operating the Coley fruit farm at the Willows, where he lived until No- vember, 1887, when he removed to his own property in the Hamilton District, having had charge of both places until the present season.

Mr. Peard's parents, Thomas and Frances A. Peard, were of Irish descent. They joined their children in this county in the spring of 1886, his father dying here on the first of February, 1888, at the age of seventy-seven years, while his mother resides with him and is his home-keeper. A brother of the subject of this sketch, Robert, lives in Batavia, New York. One sister, Frances, is the wife of George T. Gribner, of the Willows, and the other sister, Kate, is the wife of C. D. Smith, a resident of San Jose.

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 88

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