Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 99

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 99

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In 1883 he accompanied his father to Santa Clara County, and located in Milpitas, where he was en- gaged, and took charge of his father's interests in the store of Dixon & Ashley. Mr. Ashley, though but nineteen years of age, proved himself a competent and thorough business man, and in April, 1885, he purchased Mr. Dixon's interest in the store, and con- tinued the business in partnership with his father, under the firm name of Ashley & Co. October 26, 1886, his father died, and since that time the owner- ship of the store has been vested in himself.

Mr. Ashley is a member of San Jose Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F .; also a member of Palo Alto Parlor, Native Sons of the Golden West. He is a stanch and consistent Republican, and takes an intelligent interest in the political affairs of the day.

PHILIP ANDERSON is a resident of Berryessa, at which place he is conducting a blacksmith and wagon-making shop. He is located in the midst of a well-settled agricultural section, and his works are well patronized. He is the owner of a comfortable residence adjoining his shops, and also owns 260 acres of hill land about four miles north- east of Berryessa, which he devotes to hay and stock. Among the latter are some fine Percheron horses.

The subject of this sketch was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, February 19, 1839. He is the son of Alex- ander and Margaret Anderson. In 1853 he came with his father's family to New Brunswick, and there learned the trade of machinist. His education hav- ing been confined to the common schools in Scot- land, he found himself deficient in even the common

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branches, and he commenced a course of education by attending night schools, and reading. This he continued for several years. He worked at his call- ing until 1863, in which year he came to California, by the Panama route, arriving in San Francisco, where he worked for a year as a machinist. In 1864 he came to Santa Clara County and located at Berry- essa, where he worked as a blacksmith in the shops which he now owns. In 1865 he purchased an in- terest in the works, and in connection with his part- ner, Mr. Beck, conducted the business until he finally became the sole owner.

In 1869 he married Miss Rebecca J. Cahill, the daughter of Barnawell and Rebecca Jane Cahill, natives of New Brunswick. By this marriage there are seven children living, viz .: Margaret Alice, Will- iam W., Mabel V., Leslie C., Roscoe A., Albert Ray, and Emily Oressa.

Mr. Anderson is well known in his district, and has always taken a deep interest in its welfare and morals. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has held the office of School Trustee for six years. In politics he is a Prohibitionist, but for some years past has been identified with the Republican party, and has several times been elected a delegate to the county conventions of that party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being associated with San Jose Lodge, No. 10, of that order. Is also a member of the A. O. U. W., and was one of the charter members of Enterprise Lodge, No. 10, of San Jose.

ILLIAM O. WATSON. This gentleman, a member of the real-estate and insurance firm of Cook & Watson, of San Jose, and also a mem- ber of the County Board of Supervisors, was born near Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1834. He attended school and worked on his father's farm until about twenty years of age. He then spent two years in New York, making, during that time, a business trip to Charleston, South Carolina, for his brother, in the general commission business. After this he spent a year in business in New Boston, Massachusetts, then returned home and remained about a year. He started for California in May, 1859, and at Comanche, on the Mississippi River, with a companion, fitted out a party and came across the plains, leaving the Mis- sissippi River on the first day of May, 1859, and reach- ing Marysville, California, in the following October. He took a contract to build part of the Marysville &

Knight's Landing Railroad, about five miles below Yuba City, at the completion of which contract he went to Oroville and engaged in selling fruit for G. G. Briggs. He spent several years at various employ- ments, railroad building, stock speculation, etc. He removed to Santa Clara Valley in 1864, where he has ever since been engaged in farming and fruit- growing, with marked success. He is one of the most successful fruit-growers in California, and is considered an authority in all matters pertaining to horticulture. Some of the most profitable orchards and small-fruit farms in the county were made by him.

In 1880 Mr. Watson was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, but resigned before taking office, his taste being more for private than public life. In 1882 he was re-elected and consented to serve his term. He brought to his public duties so much energy, intelligence, and business ability that his constituents demanded his re-election in 1884, and again in 1886. His present term will expire in 1890. He has served his constituents with zeal and fidelity, seeing that the people received the full value for every dollar they were compelled to pay in way of taxation. A drive through Mr. Watson's district will convince the most casual observer of the intelligence with which its affairs are managed.

In 1869 he was inarried to Miss M. L. Hicks, a native of Georgia, who came to California with her mother and family in 1852, to join her father, a pio- neer of 1849. They have one child living, Grace, a graduate of the Santa Clara High School.

Mr. Watson is a member of Lodge No. 52, I. O. O. F., of Santa Clara, and Protection Lodge, No. 16, A. O. U. W. He has always supported the Repub- lican party, and believes in the fullest protection for American industries. Mr. Watson has always been an active man in each community with which he has cast his fortunes, and his success has been commen- surate.

ON. ADAM RIEHL is of German nativity, and was born September 8, 1831. He came to the United States with an uncle in 1848, locating at St. Louis, Missouri, where he learned the black- smithing trade. In 1853 he came across the plains to California, arriving at Sacramento, August 7. He worked two months at his trade in Sacramento, and then went to El Dorado County. He carried on the blacksmith business in connection with mining, until

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1858, when he went into mercantile business, which he continued for eight years. Then selling out, he went to San Francisco and thence to Santa Clara County, locating at Gilroy in 1867. Here he carried on a mercantile business until 1875, when he retired. He was elected Mayor of Gilroy in 1878, and served the full term of two years. For twelve years he was a member of the Common Council of the city of Gil- roy. In 1882 he was elected a member of the Assem- bly and served in the State Legislature until 1884. In 1886 he removed with his family to San Jose. Mr. Riehl was one of the organizers of the San Jose Brush Electric Light Company, and has twice been chosen its President. He is also a principal stock- holder in the Safe Deposit Bank of San Jose. He is generally identified with public improvements, and is recognized as a progressive citizen.

He was married, November 20, 1864, to Josephine E. Kumpf, a native of New York. Five children were born to this marriage, to wit: Theresa M., Emma D., George A., Martin W., and Florence C. The eldest daughter, Theresa, has developed a won- derful artistic talent and promises to take a high rank among the painters of this country. Her work has attracted the favorable criticism of leading artists, and as Miss Riehl possesses energy and industry as well as talent, she must necessarily come to the front.

ERNEST WEHNER is the owner of Highland Vineyard, which is located on the west side of the eastern hills, where it commands a beauti- ful view of the valley, and can be seen with fine effect from San Jose and points beyond. The tract comprises 750 acres, and the great work of transform- ing the place into a great vineyard and orchard was undertaken on a grand scale in 1888. Already 175 acres have been planted in vines, and fifty acres in choice fruits, but not until about 500 acres are thus improved will this portion of the work be complete. All the grapes are of wine varieties, and all foreign selected. Of the trees thus far planted there are 1,500 apricots, 500 nectarines, 2,000 peaches, 500 French prunes, 500 Bartlett pears, and all show fine progress. Three hundred acres additional of vines will be planted. The arrangements for the manufacture of wine are now being matured, and in 1889 a winery, with a storage capacity of 500,000 gallons, will be erected. No wine will be sent off the place until it has aged sufficiently to become of fine quality. The construc-

tion of a residence building, to cost $20,000, will be. commenced in the fall of 1888, and it will be built of stone quarried from the neighboring hills. Water for all purposes is supplied in abundance from many liv- ing springs. Only two of these have thus far been tapped, but they yield from 8,000 to 20,000 gallons per day.

Mr. Ernest Wehner, under whose intelligent super- intendence all this work is being done, is a native of Hanover, Germany. In 1869 he came to America, and after a residence of one year in Wisconsin removed to California. He resided in San Jose until he under- took the management of the Highland Vineyard. His brother, William Wehner, the owner of the ranch, is well known as the originator and proprietor of many large panoramas in a number of the large cities of the United States. Among the more celebrated of these panoramas are those of the Crucifixion of Christ, the Battle of Gettysburg, and Missionary Ridge. He has others at Indianapolis, Detroit, and Chicago, while the building and paintings for one at Buffalo, New York, are now in course of preparation.

ILLIAM J. COTTLE was born in Missouri, October 15, 1832. At the age of fifteen he left home and went to Quincy, Illinois, where he remained a year, and then went to Shulls- burg, Wisconsin. In 1852, attracted by the gold ex- citement, he came to California. The journey across the plains was one of peculiar hardship, the cholera having broken out in the train with fatal results. Mr. Cottle was attacked by the disease, but finally re- covered after much suffering. Two years' work in the mines enabled him to return to Missouri with $2,000. After a short visit he returned to California, his elder brother, Thomas Cottle, coming with him. They had no success in the mines, and turned their attention to the stock business, finally settling down to dairying on a ranch in Monterey County. After a few years Thomas sold out his interest to William, and went to Oregon. William moved his stock and machinery to a ranch in Alameda County, and here he was over- taken by misfortune. What is known in California as "the dry year" came on, and he lost nearly all his cattle. Selling out what was left of the wreck, he joined his brother in Oregon, and together they went to the mines in Grande Ronde Valley. During this year and the year following he engaged in several kinds of business. He kept a livery, dealt in real

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estate, bought and sold stock, and owned a sheep ranch.

While here, on January 8, 1862, he was married to Miss Fannie Landers. She was born in Adams County, Illinois, and came across the plains to Oregon with her father when she was but six years old. Her mother died in 1883, but her father still lives in the Willamette Valley, and is seventy-two years old.

Selling out his interests in Oregon, Mr. Cottle came to Santa Clara County and engaged in farming, but, his health failing him, he returned to Oregon, where he carried on a fine farm on the Willamette for four years. He then returned with his family to Santa Clara Connty, where, having bought a fine farm on the Monterey road, he engaged in farming. In 1880 he concluded to move his family to San Jose to en- able them to enjoy better educational facilities. Here Mr. Cottle passed away, on the tenth day of March, 1884, and with his death Santa Clara County lost one of its best citizens. During his residence in Cali- fornia he had made a large circle of acquaintances, both socially and in business, and each one of these mourned when he was called away. He was a man of unbounded liberality, and his heart was always open to the appeals of the needy. He gave largely to charitable objects, and his memory is revered by scores of people to whom he came as an all-sufficient help in time of trouble. He was, in the truest sense of the word, a public-spirited citizen, at all times will- ing to sacrifice self for the good of the community. When he passed away his remains were followed to their last resting-place by people from all the walks of life, and his memory is still and always will be cherished by those who knew him in this life. He made happy the lives of those about him, and his good deeds done in this world have undoubtedly brought him a rich reward in the other world to which he has gone. He left behind him his widow and four children, viz .: Elmer E., Fred L., Laura L., wife of D. Avery Porter, and Mary E., all of whom reside in San Jose.

ENSON GRISWOLD, dealer in hardware, agri- cultural implements, wagons, buggies, etc., City Market Building, corner Market and El Dorado Streets, San Jose, was born in Troy, Miami County, Ohio, in 1844. His parents were Daniel and Susan (Benson) Griswold. His mother having died in 1845, his father, in 1854, removed with the family

to Peru, Indiana, where the subject of this sketch at- tended the Normal School. He then removed to Minnesota, where, in 1863, he enlisted in the Second Minnesota Cavalry, Company F. This regiment was sent, under Generals Sully and Sibley, to the north- west territories, and was engaged until 1865 in sub- duing the Sioux Indians. One engagement, the battle of Yellowstone, in August, 1864, lasted three days, being a running fight, in which the Indians lost heavily. There were about 3,000 Indians in that fight, after which they broke up into small bands and kept up the war until the fall of 1865, when they were pretty well subdued, the country being patrolled up to that time by small bodies of our troops. The volunteer troops were mustered out in the fall of 1865, the regular troops taking their places. The next five years Mr. Griswold devoted to farming, after which he engaged in the lumber business at Glencoe, having lumber yards at Stewart, Brownton, and Bird Island, Minnesota. This business he continued until 1881, when he removed to California, purchasing forty acres of the Quito Ranch, on the Los Gatos road, and set- ting it out to apricots and prunes. This place he sold in 1887, and purchased the beautiful ranch and home he now occupies, on the Stevens Creek road, two miles from San Jose, containing twenty-five acres. This is planted with 1,525 French prunes, 100 Oregon Silver prunes, 400 apricots, 140 apples, 50 cherries, a variety of trees for family usc, and 2,500 Muscat and Rose of Peru grape-vines, the latter four years old, and in full bearing. The trees have been well cut back to make the limbs strong for bearing a full crop of fruit. In 1887 Mr. Griswold purchased the interest of A. S. Babcock, deceased, in the business of W. F. Babcock & Co., and in 1888 purchased the interest of his part- ner, and became sole owner.

He was married, in 1866, to Miss Lucy Stocking, of Hutchinson, Minnesota, who died in 1872, leaving two children: Alta, now the wife of Louis W. Countryman, of Moorhead, Minnesota, and Edith, now attending the State Normal School at San Jose. In 1873 he was married to Miss Matilda J. Latta, of Roann, Indiana. They have one daughter, Orra, now attending school in San Jose. Mr. Griswold is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of San Jose; member of the Masonic order, and of John A. Dix Post, G.A.R., San Jose. He is a Republican, and believes in a tariff protection of American industries.

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PEN PICTURES FROM THE "GARDEN OF THE WORLD."

LG FREDERICK NOLTING was born in the city of Hamburg, Germany, May 9, 1818, and came to the United States in 1842, landing in Balti- more, and has been all his life a seaman, making three trips around the world. He landed in San Francisco in 1849.

He married Miss Rosanna Shea, in 1859. They have a family of two boys and three girls. The boys both work at the Mariposa Store, in San Jose. The girls were educated in the College of Notre Dame. Mr. Nolting and family are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Nolting owns a homestead of thirty acres on the White road, north of the McKee road, which he devotes to hay and grain culture, and which he has made his residence for twelve years. He was for nine years in the mines; is a cripple, from the caving in of a shaft on him. He is a member of the Pioneer Society of San Jose.

F. PHEGLEY, Supervisor of District No. I, Santa Clara County, is a native of New Madrid County, Missouri, born November 7, 1838, his parents being David and Nancy Morgan (Yergin) Phegley. The former was a native of Indiana, and the latter of Kentucky. Both went to Missouri when young, and were there married. The subject of this sketch was educated at Arcadia Academy, in Iron County, Missouri. After leaving school he engaged in the milling business in Tennessee, and three years later returned to New Madrid County, where he farmed until 1870. He then came to California, and located at San Jose. Three months later he removed to Madrone, where he purchased a farm of 240 acres, which he worked successfully for seven years. He went to Gilroy in 1877, where he lived for six years, part of which time he was engaged in the grocery business, and part in farming. In 1883 he moved to Old Gilroy, where he now resides. He was married in Missouri to Miss Mary Catherine Hancock, a na- tive of New Madrid County, Missouri, but of Ken- tucky ancestry. They have five children, as follows: Stella, William, Annie, David, and Nora. Mr. Pheg- ley is a Democrat, politically. For several years he held the office of Constable, and at the election of November, 1886, he was chosen Supervisor of the First District of Santa Clara County. Mr. Phegley takes an active interest in public affairs, and is at present a member of the Democratic County Central Committee. He is regularly chosen as a delegate to

the county conventions of his party. He is a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F. at Gilroy, and of the American Legion of Honor. Mr. Phegley has, besides his resi- dence at Old Gilroy, two stock ranches in the Cañada de los Osos, and usually runs from 100 to 150 head of cattle. One of his ranches contains 900 acres, and the other 400. Both are watered by creeks and springs.

AMES MONROE KIMBERLIN, seed-grower of Santa Clara, was born in Botetourt County, Virginia, on the James River, January 20, 1828. He is a son of Jacob and Harriet (Ritchie) Kimber- lin, both of English ancestry. They were strict Methodists, consistent Christians, and were pro- nounced in their views against human slavery. They both died of a fever at Eastport, Alabama, when the subject of this sketch was only eight years of age. After the death of his parents, he was first placed under the guardianship of his uncle, Barclay Dodd, and afterward under that of Samuel Gohlson, of Ala- bama. His parents' estate being mostly in slaves, himself and four sisters were supported by an income accruing from the slaves being hired out. His sisters are : Mrs. Araminta J. Bateman, wife of Dr. E. B. Bateman, of Stockton, California; Mrs. Isabella A. Taylor, wife of Rev. William Taylor, Bishop of Africa; Mrs. Caroline E. Bland, wife of Rev. Adam Bland, of the California Methodist Conference; and Mrs. Har- riet V., wife of V. M. Payton, of Stockton, California. The children imbibing the abolition principles of their parents, the slaves were all liberated in 1852 and sent to Liberia, Africa, Bishop Taylor bearing the expense of the transportation, costing $1,000. He sent them under the care of his father, Rev. Stewart Taylor, which event, subsequently, during the Rebellion, nearly cost him his life, as the act of transporting slaves to Liberia inflamed a sentiment against him among slave-holders. Mr. Kimberlin remained with his guardian, Samuel Gohlson, until his fifteenth year, when he returned to Botetourt County, Virginia, and up to that time he had been educated in the common schools. He then taught school and clerked in a store till 1848, when he entered Dickinson College, at Car- lisle, Pennsylvania, at which institution he graduated in 1851. Before entering college, Mr. Kimberlin be- came converted to Christ, which was the most im- portant event of his life, and which changed his whole future coursc.

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January 8, 1851, he was married, at Carlisle, Penn- sylvania, to Miss Katie Elizabeth Reed, a daughter of Nathan Reed, Esq., of that place. In 1852 he, with his wife, came by the Isthmus of Panama to Califor- nia, under the auspices of the Methodist Episcopal Missionary Board. He came almost immediately to San Jose, and commenced teaching in the San Jose Academy, the first school established in San Jose, and then in charge of Mr. Bannister. The school was held in the old What Cheer House, southcast corner of San Fernando and Second Streets. Mr. Kimberlin taught here two terms, and was then transferred to a professorship in the University of the Pacific, at Santa Clara. Here he remained at a nominal salary for twelve years, trying to keep the struggling institution on its feet; and had it not been for the efforts of him- self, Doctor Gibbons, and Mr. Cleveland, this now prosperous and useful college would have been lost to the Conference. But for the income from a piece of ground which Mr. Kimberlin had purchased, he would have starved to death while trying to place the Uni- versity on a solid foundation. Finally he lost his health, and in 1875 was obliged to retire from the profession of teacher. He went into farming and fruit-growing in a small way, but did not make much of a success until he drifted into seed-growing. Com- mencing with but a small tract, he has increased his plantations from year to year until he now has 280 acres in seeds and eighty acres in bulbs.

Mr. and Mrs. Kimberlin have had nine children, viz .: Imogene Taylor, married to J. J. Roadhouse, of Fresno County; Olin Bland, farmer in Fresno County; Virginia Peyton, residing in Fresno County; James Edwin, deceased; Ida Josephine, deceased; Charles Reed, in business with his father; Louis Melvin, at- tending commercial college; Herbert Vernon, in bus- iness with his father; and Mary Alice, attending the public schools of Santa Clara.

OL. ANDREW J. JACKSON, deceased, was born in New York city, in 1827. But little is known of his boyhood, excepting that when very young, fond of adventures and disliking parental restraint, he went to Florida, where, during the Semi- nole War, he was a message boy for army officers. When fourteen years of age he returned to New York city, where, when eighteen, he enlisted in the Second Regiment of Ohio Volunteers, and served during the Mexican War, In 1848 he came to California, by

way of Panama, and spent about a year in the gold diggings, when, in the latter part of 1849, he came to Santa Clara County.

March 20, 1851, he was married, near Santa Clara, to Amanda Senter, a daughter of Judge Isaac and Rebecca (McIntyre) Senter. After his marriage he was variously engaged until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when, being a firm Union man, he took an active part in keeping the State of Califor- nia loyal to the government, and became a captain in the State Militia. In 1863 he was commissioned Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Regiment of Artillery, California Militia, by Governor Stanford; and in 1864 commissioned, by Governor Low, Colonel of the Fifth Regiment of Infantry Volunteer. Early in the war he was commissioned a Provost Marshal by Presi- dent Lincoln, with the rank of Captain, having his headquarters at San Francisco. He was a genial gentleman, and as an officer he performed his duties with promptness and ability, and with an honesty of purpose; and, if anything, leaned to the side of leniency when duty demanded a rigid and severe execution of the laws. He was honorably discharged October 15, 1865. On returning to civil life, he settled with his family on a ranch in the vicinity of Santa Clara, Jan- uary II, 1870. He was a Free Mason and a member of Santa Clara Lodge, No. 34, F. & A. M.

Mrs. Jackson still survives him, and, although still owning the ranch, she is a resident of Santa Clara. She had six children: Franklin, of Arizona; Mrs. Ada Lovell, wife of John Lovell, Santa Clara; Ncw- ton S., of Santa Clara; Charles, a farmer of Santa Clara County; Clara, still with her mother; and Wil- ber, a law student. Mrs. Jackson and her children are members of the Episcopal Church at Santa Clara.

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Pen pictures from the garden of the world, or Santa Clara county, California, Part 99

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