Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 92

Author: Foote, Horace S., ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : The Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 844

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Mr. Branham was a member of the first town council of San Jose. While having no taste or inclina- tion for public office, he was frequently required by his fellow-citizens to represent them in offices of trust and honor, filling the place of County Supervisor for one term, after which he refused to again accept the office. He was a devoted huntsman and fisher- man, this taste resulting more from an ardent love of nature than his desire for game. His hunting was for pleasure, and the imparting of pleasure to those who accompanied him, never marketing a particle of game. His friends and fellow-hunters received the most liberal share of the results of the hunt, any well-behaved man, no matter what his condition of life, being welcome to his camp. A man jealous of his honor and most kindly in his nature, he had the respect and love of all good men who came in con- tact with him.

His children born in Missouri were: James, born in 1835, and now a resident of Lassen County, agent for Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express at Susanville; Frances Elizabeth, married in 1855 to Jackson Lewis, died in 1861; Maggie, the widow of James H. Ogier, now liv-

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ing two miles from San Jose, on the Alviso road; Benjamin F., born in 1845, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. Two children were born in the Santa Clara Valley: Charles M., now conducting a machine shop in San Jose; and Mary, residing with her mother in this city.

The family still owns a large interest in the San Juan Batista Rancho, near San Jose.

ICHARD V. DEIDRICH, who resides at 678 South Second Street, San Jose, where he owns a comfortable home, is a native of Columbia County, New York, at which place he was born in 1840. At the age of nineteen he came to the mines in California. In 1866 he came to San Jose, where he accepted the position of manager of the Vineyard Flour Mills, a situation he occupied for fifteen years. In 1880, his health failing, he was com- pelled to resign, when he purchased twenty-one acres of land in the Willows. In 1885 six acres of the orchard was sold at $1,000 per acre. The remaining fifteen acres, which are situated on the corner of Curt- ner and Booksin Avenues, are now in their prime. This orchard consists of a variety of fruit, but princi- pally prunes, cherries, and apricots. In 1886 his 530 prune trees bore fifty tons of fruit, other trees paying well. This year, 1888, it is estimated that the prune trees will have seventy tons of prunes. The apricots this year paid $200 per acre, clear of expenses. Mr. Deidrich, as well as his wife, has been a resident of San Jose for over twenty-three years, and has seen the city grow from a small Spanish town to the "Garden City," which it now is. He is a strong temperance man as well as a stanch Republican in politics.

ENRY MESSING, senior member of the firm of H. Messing & Son, was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, in 1824; remained in his native country until August 5, 1849, when he, together with his wife, came direct to California by the way of Cape Horn, in the Bremen schooner Julius, which arrived in San Francisco on April 8, 1850. After trying his fortune in Southern mines, he located in Santa Clara County, working at different occupations until he accumulated sufficient means to buy a tan- nery in Santa Clara, together with Philip Glein and

F. C. Frank, in 1859. He sold his interest in the tannery, and located and established the business he still continues, first on Market Street. Later he pur- chased property now occupied by his establishment, at Nos. 79 and 81 South First Street. Here he not only carries on the harness and saddlery business, but also the carriage trade, importing his carriages and buggies direct from Eastern factories. They have established a valuable reputation in the saddlery and harness business, and supply dealers and individ- uals throughout the Pacific Coast, and also through- out the Territories.

M ERS. CATHERINE DUNNE. This estimable lady, whose arrival on the Pacific Coast dates back to June 16, 1851, has long occupied a high position in the respect and esteem of the peo- ple of San Jose and Santa Clara County. She was born in the county of Wexford, Ireland, in 1831. Her parents were John and Mary O'Toole, who re- moved from Ireland to the dominion of Canada, in 1833, settling near Quebec, where she received her education. In 1851 the subject of this sketch be- came the wife of Bernard Murphy, who was on a visit to his old home in Canada. Soon afterward they started for their new home in California, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, arriving at San Francisco June 16, 1851. Bernard Murphy was a son of Mar- tin Murphy, Sr., who had arrived in California in 1844, a member of the celebrated Murphy family, which has since that year been so prominently a part of the history of California, and especially of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley. April II, 1853, Mr. Murphy met his death at the terrible catastrophe that befell the Jenny Lind, when its boiler exploded in San Francisco Bay. He left his widow with an infant son, Martin J. C. Murphy. The latter, who be- came a youth of great brilliancy and much promise, died at the age of nineteen years and eleven months, at Georgetown College, Washington, D. C., where he was engaged in the study of law. His remains were brought to Gilroy and interred beside those of his father, in the cemetery of that town.

May 6, 1862, Mrs. Murphy was married to Mr. James Dunne, who died June 4, 1874. To them were born three children: Mary Phileta, now the wife of Joseph H. Rucker, real estate dealer of San Jose; Peter J., who resides in San Jose, and who was married, in 1888, to Miss Josephine Masten, daughter

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of N. K. Masten, of San Francisco; the youngest being Miss Kate B. Dunne.

Mrs. Dunne is the owner of large tracts of land in Santa Clara County. These interests, descending from Bernard Murphy, have been judiciously managed by Mrs. Dunne until they have become of great value. The family deservedly holds an important position socially in the community, a position due to admira- ble qualities more than to their great wealth. Her children have been trained in such manner that they are honored members of society, worthily feeling the duties of their position. As a wife, as a mother, and as the owner of large property interests, Mrs. Dunne has proved herself capable in guarding her own in- terests and those of her children, and just and con- scientious in dealing with the interests of others.

HARLES M. SCHIELE. Among the men who have come to the front and made themselves prominent factors in the march of affairs in San Jose and Santa Clara County within the past few years, is Charles M. Schiele. His success in bus- iness and real estate operations since his coming here in 1880, has been extraordinary, and demonstrates what can be accomplished when active and fearless enterprise is coupled with good judgment and the knowledge how to handle large operations judiciously.

A native of Fürstenthum, Anhalt, Prussia, where he was born in 1850, he was at an early age thrown upon his own resources. Leaving school soon after his thirteenth year, he commenced learning the grocery business, at which he continued three years. Not satisfied with the progress he there seemed to be mak- ing, he shouldered his knapsack and traveled to seek his fortune. At Leipsic he was employed in a hotel, where he remained two years, there receiving his first knowledge of hotel business and carefully saving his small wages. From here he went to Berlin, where he was again employed in hotels and restaurants. On the breaking out of the Franco-Prussian War, he took his place in the reserve corps of the German army, being at first engaged in the construction of fortifica- tions at Metz. In a severe attack by the French on Metz, he was wounded in front of that town and car- ried to the hospital, where he remained until the close of the war, when he was discharged from service. He then traveled through Europe for two years, visiting Paris, Vienna, Italy, and finally England, from which

place he embarked for America, arriving in New York in 1872.

Here he found himself with thirty-five cents in his pocket, but soon had employment, having positions in various hotels during his stay in that city. He also spent some time in hotel work in Chicago, St. Louis, and Kansas City. In 1874 he removed to the Pacific slope, engaging as a miner at Virginia City. Entering the shaft for the first time, the hot, stifling air was too much for him; he fainted and had to give up the work. He, however, tried the work again at other locations, until stricken down with typhoid and brain fever, with which he suffered in the hospital for several months. On his recovery he went to Marys- ville, California, where he again engaged in hotel work, keeping a place as waiter steadily for three years. Here he was married, in 1876, to Miss Ellen Riordan, a native of Ireland, and from that time he dates his success in life. A year after their marriage they removed to San Francisco, having accumulated a snug little bank account. In San Francisco he se- cured a good place in a hotel and added a few hundred dollars more to his capital.

In 1880, in company with two other gentlemen, he purchased the furniture and fixtures of the other house, which they remodeled and named the Pacific Hotel. After a little he purchased his partner's interests and conducted the business alone, adding the Cosmopoli- tan Hotel, which was near by, to accommodate the ever increasing patronage. His knowledge of the business was of great value, and he succeeded well, investing his surplus funds in well-selected loans on real estate, and in some fortunate speculations. At the beginning of 1877 he saw indications of an ap- proaching rise in real estate values about San Jose, and made a purchase of 240 acres adjoining the city on the east, for $36,000. Since that time he has been interested in buying up tracts of land in the Santa Clara Valley, dividing them up and selling them in smaller lots, in which he has met with marked success. One tract he sold to Easton, Eldridge & Co. for $85,000; another, of 175 acres, set out in fruit, he sold for $45,000, and he has disposed of several other large tracts. He now has 300 acres near the Willows, which he is about to divide and sell in ten and twenty acre lots. He has lately purchased a magnificent property on the Alameda (formerly the Alameda Gardens, belonging to John F. Hill, of San Francisco) for which he paid $75,000. This he is now laying out in town lots, having cut a street through the property from the Alameda to Stockton Avenue, which he has

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donated to the city, and which will be called Schiele Avenue. It will be put and kept in first-class condi- tion, with every modern improvement-stone side- walks, gas and water pipes, while between the side- walks and street will be planted shade trees of fine varieties. This property comprises fifteen acres, and will be divided into about seventy lots fronting on the Alameda and Stockton Avenue, both the most beauti- ful and fashionable avenues in San Jose, and on the new street, Schiele Avenue, having the electric rail- road on the Alameda on one side, and the Stockton Avenue cars on the other. He proposes during the coming winter to set out a prune orchard of 100 acres on one of his ranches near Alma. In October, 1887, he sold out his hotels, in which he had been unusually successful. Mr. Schiele is one of our solid citizens, and thoroughly believes in the future and capabilities of the Santa Clara Valley.

He is a member of the City Council of San Jose, from the First Ward, and although a Democrat in politics, was elected in a strong Republican district, not as an active politician or as a partisan, but as a business man having in view the best interests of this city. He is a member of Allemania Lodge, No. 78, I. O. O. F., and of the San Jose Turnverein.

To Mr. and Mrs. Schiele were born four children, one of whom died in early childhood. Those living are: Frederic Karl, Karl Frederic, and Ellen Frederica. His parents were Frederic and Louisa (Weden) Schiele, both natives and life-time residents of Rieder, Anhalt-Bernburg, Prussia, where they died, his father at the age of seventy-two, and his mother at the age of sixty-five years. The subject of this sketch has a brother, Frederic, and a sister, Frederica, both mar- ried and residing in their native place. Mrs. Schiele's parents are Daniel and Ellen (Welch) Rierdon, natives of Dooneen, County Cork, Ireland, where they still reside.

AMES FARIS KENNEDY, deceased, son of William and Jeannette (Faris) Kennedy, was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1810. William's parents came to the United States in Colo- nial days, and his father, supposed to have been John Kennedy, served in the Revolutionary War. Before the close of the war he became a captain and was sent with his company to dispatch a set of Danish outlaws who were at this time infesting the country,

and whom the government had been unable to con- trol. In a skirmish with them Captain Kennedy was wounded in the shoulder and died from its effects. The Kennedys came from the North of Ireland. The Faris family were from Scotland and came to this country about the same time. The Kennedy family first settled in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. William, with some of his brothers, afterward moved to Philadelphia, where they went into business, and he died there in 1861. In his family there were eight children who lived to maturity, of whom James, the subject of this sketch, was the eldest. He lived in Philadelphia until he was twenty-one years old, when he spent about eight years in traveling around. For several years he was in the lead mines at Galena, Illi- nois. He then returned to Philadelphia, where, in June, 1840, he married Serena Salter, a native of that city, who was born January 6, 1820, and died near Los Gatos, California, June 16, 1888. Her father, Samuel Salter, was an Englishman, who came to the United States in 1790. Upon his arrival here, find- ing looking-glasses very high, he engaged in their manufacture, importing for that purpose plain glasses from Paris. He followed this business for several years and became independently rich and retired from business. His wife was Catharine Myers, a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent. James resided in Philadelphia and was Superintendent of the Fairmount Water Works until he came to California, in 1850. He came out as agent for Commodore Stockton, and had charge of the sale of 3,000 acres of land between San Jose and Santa Clara and be- tween the Alameda and the Guadaloupe. He made his home on this ranch for ten years. During this time he was nominated and ran for Lieutenant-Gov- ernor, when Leland Stanford ran for Governor, on the Republican ticket, and was defeated, although he ran ahead of his ticket. In 1863 he was elected Sheriff of Santa Clara County and filled the office until he died, February 6, 1864. In the fall of 1860 he bought 356 acres near Los Gatos, of which 220 acres now belong to his estate. The place is managed by his sons. His children were: William C., James F., Samuel T., Edwin A., Clara C. (wife of Frank Bray), and Robert F. William C. Kennedy married Kate Moody, and Edwin A. Kennedy married Minnie A. Quinby. On their ranch they have twelve acres in almonds twelve years old; twelve acres in French prunes and apricots (one-half of each) six years old; twelve acres of pears (for shipping) six years old; six acres in French prunes set out in 1888, and about ten

W.B. Herbert

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acres in a nursery containing a general assortment of trees, including the olive and citrus fruits. They have about forty acres in barley and twenty five in wheat, which is cut for hay.

CON. FREDERICK CHRISTIAN FRANCK was born at Wäschbascherhof, Bavaria, Ger- many, December 23, 1828. He attended school until fifteen years of age, when he was appren- ticed to learn the harness and saddle making trade at Kaiserslautern. At the age of seventeen he came to America, stopping at New York, where he worked at his trade for nearly two years, making harness and saddles for the United States Government, to be used during the Mexican War. In 1848 he left New York city and went to Buffalo, thence to Cleveland, Cincin- nati, and Louisville, working at his trade in all these cities. From Louisville he went to New Orleans, but not finding work at his trade in the Crescent City he took a job of chopping wood and clearing land. This, however, was but temporary employment, and he soon went to Natchez, where he obtained work at his trade. In December, 1851, he started for California, crossing the Isthmus on foot and arriving at San Francisco in February, 1852. He spent nearly two years in the mines, on the Yuba and Feather Rivers and at Shaw's Flat, Murphy's Camp, and Columbia. Returning to San Francisco in the latter part of 1853, he established the second shop in that city for the manufacture of harness and saddles. In 1855 he came to San Jose and thence to Santa Clara, where he permanently located, establishing his harness and saddlery works. Mr. Franck, being a man of broad intelligence, soon became a prominent citizen and took a leading part in public affairs. He was a mem- ber of the Board of Town Trustces for eight years, and on the organization of the fire department was elected its Chief, which position he held for six years. In 1871 he was elected a member of the Assembly, and so well did he perform his duties that he was re- elected in 1873. As a legislator Mr. Franck had an opportunity of showing his ability. He made no pretension to oratory, but whenever he gave his sup- port to a measure it was sure to succeed. He had a gift of persuasion unexcelled. He could grasp the strong points of a question and present them in a manner that nearly always proved irresistible. He soon made himself familiar with all the details of

parliamentary practice, and was recognized as a valu- able friend or dangerous enemy when a bill was before the House. This power he used in all cases for the benefit of his constituents, and in those days of local legislation Santa Clara County received all she asked for. Mr. Franck never forgot his constituents, and, day or night, was ready to work for them. Whenever he has been willing to accept the position, he has rep- resented his party in the Republican State Conven- tions, and was elected a delegate from the Fifth California District to the National Republican Con- vention of 1888. He was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Santa Clara County, of which he is one of the Directors and Chairman of its Finance Com- mittee.

He was married, September 23, 1857, at Santa Clara, to Miss Caroline Durmeyer. They have two children: Caroline S., a student at the University of the Pacific, and Frederick C., Jr., attending the Santa Clara public schools. Mr. Franck is an Odd Fellow, and has oc- cupied all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and is also one of the charter members of the Encampment at Santa Clara. It was during his administration as Noble Grand that the Odd Fellows' Building at Santa Clara was erected. In 1870 he visited his old home in Bavaria and made a tour of Europe, calling at all the principal cities and places of interest. Mr. Franck's worldly affairs have greatly prospered, and he is ranked among our first capitalists, and no one deserves it more than he. A wise and honest legisla- tor, and a conscientious citizen, he is a man whom the people delight to honor.

M. B. HERBERT, whose fine residence and grounds are situated on the Meridian road, above Hamilton Avenue, in the Hamilton District, came to California in the days of its pioneer history, when gold was its only attraction and almost its only known resource. He was born near Baltimore, Maryland, September 2, 1817. In that State his boyhood and early manhood were passed. In 1850 the gold-seekers' emigration caught him in its tide and brought him overland to California. He spent about two years successfully in placer mining, near Sacramento. In 1854 he became engaged in agriculture, in Solano County. He returned to his native State for his bride, Miss Susic Barnes, whom he married May 5, 1858. Mrs. Herbert was born in

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Maryland, October 26, 1833, and was reared in her future husband's neighborhood. They made Solano County their home until 1876, when they removed to San Luis Obispo County, where they engaged in stock and dairy business. They lived there until 1881, when, in order to give their children better edu- cational advantages, they removed to San Jose. Mr. Herbert bought a residence in the city, which they have occupied until a short time before the present writing (March, 1888). Soon after coming to San Jose, Mr. Herbert selected the site for his present residence, and bought thirty-one acres, all of which he commenced immediately to improve. Nearly all of this property was planted, in the spring of 1883, with apricot, prune, peach, cherry, pear, and plum trees. Since making these improvements, Mr. Her- bert has sold to his son John ten acres, and to his son-in-law, J. W. Raines, five and a half acres. He retained fifteen and a half acres, upon which, with a view to permanent residence, he has erected a large, well-appointed house. Due attention has been paid to comfort and convenience in this home-making, while all the buildings in connection with the prop- erty have been made correspondingly good. There he and his wife hope to spend their remaining lives, within a home where their children and grandchildren can always find a joyous welcome. Of these children there are eight living. Their fourth child, Lizzie, died at the age of eighteen. The names of the oth- ers, in the order of their birth, are as follows: John B., residing near San Jose; William M., a merchant in San Diego; Mary, wife of J. W. Raines, of San Jose; Frank, a resident of Santa Barbara; Susie, a Normal graduate of the class of 1888, who, with the three younger children, George N., Stella A., and Elwood F., lives under the parental roof.

Mr. Herbert is a man thoroughly practical in all his undertakings, and his orchard shows, in its thrift and in the income realized from it, the care and skill which have been used in its management. Politically Mr. Herbert is identified with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Herbert, with most of their children, are members of the Presbyterian Church.

LBERT ALEXANDER SPENCE is a native of California, having been born in Monterey County, April 17, 1859. His father was also a native Californian, and his grandfather, David Spence, a native of Scotland, who came to the Pacific Coast early in the century, became a wealthy man,

prominent in the early development of California, and was for a time Alcalde of Monterey. A fuller reference to the connection of David Spence and his family with the history of California will be found in the biographical sketches of Rudolph and David Spence, in this work.

Albert A. received his education at the Santa Clara College, where he commenced his studies in 1870, and there remained until 1879. He then traveled through the United States, Mexico, and Central and South America, for one year. On his return to Cal- ifornia, he was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Hastings, daughter of Lansford Warren and Char- lotte Catherine (Toler) Hastings.

Lansford W. Hastings was one of the early pioneers of the Pacific Coast, having come to Oregon in 1842, and thence to Sacramento, California, in 1843. Born in Ohio in 1819, of an old English family of which the celebrated Warren Hastings, of East India fame, was a prominent member, he was educated for the law and practiced his profession in his native State, with credit, and also made his mark as an author. Being of an adventurous disposition, he organized an emigrant party made up of well-to-do farmers and neighbors in Ohio, whom he undertook to guide, early in 1846, across the then pathless prairies and mountains to California. The party suffered great hardships and privations, but eventually succeeded in reaching their destination, and subsequently most of them settled in Contra Costa and what afterward be- came Alameda County, where some of the party and their descendants still reside. When Hastings arrived in California with his train, he found the county in possession of the United States forces, it having been taken formal possession of by Commodore John D. Sloat, commanding the naval forces in the Pacific, under a proclamation issued at Monterey, California, on July 7, 1846. In the fall of that year quite an extensive revolution was started by the Mexican residents in the southern part of the State. Commo- dore Stockton, then in command, proceeded to San Diego and organized a force to march on Los Angeles, where the revolutionists had concentrated, at the same time ordering General Fremont to enlist what emigrants he could in Northern California and co-operate with him by land from the north. On hearing that volunteers were wanted, Hastings im- mediately commenced gathering together what men he could, was elected captain, and joined Fremont at Monterey, other companies joining him at the same time.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 92

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