NEWSPAPER-ABSTRACTS-L Archives
Archiver > NEWSPAPER-ABSTRACTS > 2001-11 > 1005517822
From:
Subject: [News] !!San Benito Co., CA -- Dec 1886 -- Locales
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 14:30:22 -0800
The Hollister Free Lance
24 December 1886
Descriptions of Surrounding Locales
******************************************
*****A Milk Ranch*****
The milk ranch of Mr. J.A. STEINBECK will well repay a visit. Lying on
the outskirts of Hollister, with the San Benito river flowing in the
rear, the situation is most excellent, and with the rich soil and feed,
affords unusual advantages for engaging in the milk business. The ranch
proper consists of 70 acres, though there are 10 additional acres
belonging to the home ranch. For 10 years, Mr. STEINBECK has continued in
the business, and in spite of the bad start he made on account of the dry
year of 72 in which he commenced business, he has gone steadily onward
and enlarged his business each year. The 30 cows with which the ranch is
stocked are of good breed, 10 of them being Jersey and the rest mainly
Durham stock. Although this is the time of year when the feed is of the
poorest quality, the cows are all fat and in excellent condition. They
give at present 30 gallons of milk, all of which is used by Mr. STEINBECK
in supplying the wants of his Hollister customers.
The barn is large and kept in perfect order, and the milk house is
built under a large oak tree, and with its cement floor and double walls
filled with sawdust, keeps the milk cool and fresh in the hottest
weather. Mr. STEINBECK has a large and steadily growing list of
customers, all of whom are supplied with milk of the richest quality. Mr.
STEINBECK also engages quite extensively in horticulture, and at the home
ranch especially there are thrifty orchards of all varieties of fruit.
*****Lone Tree*****
The tree, from which this district derives its name, is situated on the
top of a high hill, on the ranch of A.S. MURPHY, about 10 miles NE of
Hollister. The tree is a Spanish laurel, and can be seen for miles
around. Our school district derives its name from it, and is located in
about the center of the district, on the county road, leading from
Hollister to the STAYTON mines. Going from the valley into the hills, the
first ranch is that of Mr. Dan MARCUS, containing 475 acres. It is used
mostly for pasture. Grain does well.
Mr. Dan SNIBLEY has what was formerly know as the ESCHIBERRIA
ranch The ranch contains 850 acres.
Next is the ranch of Mr. A.S. MURPHY, containing about 800 acres Next,
the ranch of C.R. WITTER, which contains about 190 acres Mr. Vol GARNER
comes next. He has 320 acres Following this comes that of Mr. M.C. and
L.V. DAY, which contains 2,000 acres
Next is the ranch of Mr. John CARLISLE, of 240 acres Then the ranch of
Mr. Edward FLYNN, of 240 acres Mr. Bernard MURPHY comes next Then the
ranch of Mrs. MAZE, of 320 acres Next comes the ranch of Mr.
HERRINGTON (Full story, p. 3, col. 6)
*****San Felipe*****
This garden spot of San Benito county is about 8 miles from Hollister,
nestling under the protection of the hills that reach north and south
throughout the county Most of the homes and farms lie in an artesian
belt, and the supply therefrom is abundant There are now over 75 artesian
wells in San Felipe, and few exceed a depth of 100 feet.
There is one feature of the country which will prevent its rapid
growth, and that is the fact that most of the land belongs to large land
owners who do not care to sell
Among the principal land owners is M. MALARIN, whose ranch contains
over 67,000 acres, about 8,000 of which are in San Benito county Mr.
MALARIN intends to run a large dairy this year. The old adobe mansion is
perhaps one of the most attractive buildings in the county. The long,
wide veranda, its open portals, its thick and lasting walls carry us back
to the days when the missionary first landed among the natives Mr.
MALARIN repaired it thoroughly a few years ago. During the summer months,
the family make it their home The large orchard and grounds are well
kept
The ranch of J.F. DUNNE comes next in size, containing thousands of
acres, the greater portion of which lie in Santa Clara county, although
about 5,000 acres lie in San Benito county, which are cultivated by
tenants, who rent tracts from 100 to 150 acres in extent. In passing by
Mr. DUNNEs mansion, one can not but be surprised with its beauty and
cheerfulness. The house stands in Santa Clara county and the barn, not
500 yards away, is in San Benito county. The house is constricted after
the style in vogue in the Southern States
The ranch of Wm. BUCK, though small compared with some others, is
perhaps the most productive in proportion to size of any ranch in San
Felipe, for hardly an acre is allowed to go to waste. In coming to it one
could easily imagine he was transported into a semi-tropical climate,
owing to the dense growth of palms, magnolias, cactus, orange and other
trees and the heavily-laden odors that fill the air
The pear orchard contains about 250 trees, of which there are eight
different varieties. Of apples there are also quite a number, 215 being
of one variety. Of cherry trees there are about 150, several varieties
being represented. Oranges have been grown most successfully
The ranch of Mr. CULP, within the last few years, has been chiefly
devoted to tobacco raising, but of late he has rented it to a farmer, who
raises vegetables and other products.
E.A. SAWYERs ranch consists of about 1,600 acres, nearly 100 of which
are tillable land. Most of it is in the artesian belt. Mr. SAWYER devotes
a large portion of his time to dairying
E.J. TURNER possesses a large ranch in this neighborhood. The house,
situated several hundred yards from the road and reached through a long
avenue lined on both side by poplar trees, is very pleasantly located.
Mr. TURNER is the happy possessor of some of the finest thoroughbred
Norman horses in California, which have taken the leading prizes in all
the large fairs recently held.
C.W. WOOD has a well-kept orchard containing about 2,000 trees,
[illeg due to damage]
*****Cottonwood*****
Cottonwood is situated between the spur of hills that separate the San
Benito and Tres Pinos creeks on the west, and the Coast mountains on the
east. In shape it is something like an inverted Y; the right hand prong
representing the Los Muertos creek, the other prong and the stem the Tres
Pinos creek. Its main length is six miles, with about four miles more up
the Los Muertos, and it average breadth is about two miles
The fine ranch of Mr. MORRISON, adjoining the school-grounds, is a
fair sample of what the country can do if it is well cultivated. The
gentleman has a fine orchard and a large vineyard. He supplies his
neighbors for miles around with fruit and grapes, and this year made 200
gallons of fine California port wine.
*****Emmet*****
Emmet is situated about 20 miles from Hollister, up the Tres Pinos creek.
It has the finest school-house outside of Hollister, furnished completely
in everything that is necessary for the education and comfort of the
young Californians. It has a flourishing Sunday-school, and a divine
(liked by everyone) whose name is Thomas HART
Emmet District is devoted chiefly to stock-raising; the largest ranch
being the "Pain Ranch," owned by George TOWLE, Sr., whose area is
mentioned by sections instead of acres. Suffice it to say he has on it
over 600 head of cattle, and could keep on it as many more; has several
hundred acres of farming land; raises large numbers of hogs every year,
and makes of them fine bacon and ham.
Next in size to this ranch is that of the CROXON Bros., which is quite
extensive, and is devoted wholly to cattle.
W.W. MINER, last year, bought out the JOSE family. He is an
enterprising Eastern gentleman, and has fenced and put up new buildings
until the ranch hardly knows itself. He has bought extensively in cattle,
and intends to devote his time principally to cattle-raising.
W.S. OLDHAM owns two ranches -- the upper devoted solely to cattle, on
which he has 250 head; on the lower, where he lives, he raises grain and
vegetables
John MILLER owns the old HENYON place. He devotes it to the raising of
cattle and horses. He also trades extensively in horses, and makes
occasional trips to the Bay City with his best teams.
Uncle John MATTEWS, Assemblyman-elect, and his son, Warren, own the
next ranch. They raise cattle and fine horses.
Hugh MATTHEWS has the largest fruit orchard on the creek; his apples
remind one of the apples eaten back east, when a boy. He has quite a
number of fine dairy cows, and some nice horses.
Capt. McILROY owns, and runs, Elk Horn Station, and is Post-master. He
has quite a large lot of grain land, and some nice cows, also quite an
orchard and vineyard.
Charles TOWLE lives above him; has a nice ranch, on which he raises
prime beef cattle. Charley is quite an artist, as any one who attended
the last entertainment given by the E.L.S.C. will declare.
Park TOWLES ranch adjoins the school-house, and is a ranch suitable
for stock-raising and farming.
The STEVENS place is a famous one for hay, wild oats completely
covering it from one end to the other.
Bruce CALL owns a nice little place near the school-house. He raises
hay mostly, but keeps a few cattle.
Emmet is fortunate in its choice of school teachers, the present
incumbent being Miss HARMON, well known in Hollister
Thomas HART owns a nice little ranch, which he devotes wholly to the
raising of cattle
The climate is the most healthy to be found in California. Pure good
water is found on almost every ranch. The creek district sends out a
great deal of butter and cheese, the cheese-makers being Messrs, GOMEZ,
MATHEWS, OLDHAM, and MILLER.
*****Southern San Benito*****
In mapping out the county when separation was brought about, nearly 14
years since, a serious blunder was perpetrated. To say nothing of the
omission to take in Gilroy township (which is now knocking at our door,)
the organizers of the county should not have lost sight of the importance
of including Cholame, Peach Tree and Priest Valleys. Warthans Canyon,
Fresno county, should also have been added
The great majority of the settlers of the southern part of the county,
are to be found, principally, in the valleys of the Tres Pinos and San
Benito creeks; but, besides these two important basins, are the important
and prosperous settlements of Bitterwater, Brown and Bear Valleys. There
are also a large number of thrifty settlers in the Gabilan mountains --
the Cienega is likewise a thriving settlement, and justly celebrated for
producing the finest potatoes raised in the State One particular
advantage of the southern part of the county is, that it contains, in
proportion to its extent, but few of the large Mexican grants -- there
being only 2 -- One at Paicines, owned by the late A.B. GROGAN, and
consisting of about 11,000 acres The other grant lies about 6 miles south
of the town of San Benito, and is owned by Mr. James F. DUNNE, of San
Felipe
*****McCARTHY Bros. Ranch*****
While on our way to Paicines, last week, by the vineyard road, our
attention was called to the tract of land surrounding the vineyard of
William PALMTAG, on three sides, and belonging to the Messrs. McCARTHY
Bros We had always supposed that old Theophile VACHE had picked out the
only available piece of tillable ground in that part of the mountains,
which piece is now Mr. PALMTAGs property that idea is as erroneous as it
is general, for never have we seen land better adapted for the growth of
grapes
The tract is 7 ½ miles distant from Hollister, and contains about
5,000 acres There is absolutely no adobe on the ranch, and the land can
be worked without difficulty at any season of the year
The ranch is now devoted to the raising of fine stock and horses
*****San Juan Valley*****
On stepping from a south-bound train, at Sargents Station, from San
Francisco, after a ride of 92 miles, accomplished in about 4 ½ hours, the
traveler takes passage, on a fine Concord coach in waiting, for the town
of San Juan. The first object that attracts his eye is the bridge across
the San Benito river, 600 feet in length, built in 1883, costing about
$4,500...
The Catholic Church, for years under the care of Father V. CLOSA, is
in a prosperous condition through Father CLOSAs endeavors, many
substantial improvements have been made upon it He has also inaugurated
an enterprise in having plated ornamental trees about the walks and
drives of the Catholic cemetery
The Congregational Church was organized here in 1880 and since then
has accomplished much good, and is at present under the pastorate of Rev.
A.B. PALMER
St. Johns Institute, a large three-story and a half brick building,
shelters about 70 homeless little waifs, under the motherly care of the
Sisters in charge Although receiving State aid, this is inadequate to the
needs of the children, and, being a charitable institution, it appeals to
our citizens for contributions of money, food, or clothing, which will be
thankfully received on the premises.
The water of the town is of a rather poor quality, being very hard,
due to the presence of bi-carbonate of lime and alkali. The sweet temper
of the housewife is ruffled each Monday morning, as the water has to be
"broke" before it is fit for washing
Submitted by: Dee: CASanBenito0001
http://www.newspaperabstracts.com/usa.html
This thread: