Santa Clara County CA Archives History - Books .....Chapter VI 1922
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Book Title: History Of Santa Clara County

CHAPTER VI.

Society Events in the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies-Reminiscences of Pioneer
Women-Mrs. Carroll's Interesting Record-Charles G. Ames and Judge William T.
Wallace-Presidential Visits.

  For much of the material relating to society affairs in the early days of San
Jose, the historian is indebted to that entertaining, gossipy book written in
1903 by Mrs. Mary A. Carroll, since deceased. Mrs. Carroll was for many years
the society editor of the "Mercury," and her opportunities for gathering
old-time social news were unusually good.

  "Society as found in San Jose before the days of '49 is graphically described
by Mrs. Frances A. Sunol-Angus:

  " 'A great deal of it, some of it true, most of it colored with the light of
other days, has been said and written of the stirring days of 1849, but no one
has yet lifted the veil that dropped when the adventurer and the prospector,
following the golden light, founded on the Pacific shores the realization of the
visions conjured up by the magic name El Dorado- the veil that separates old
California from the new, as invisible, yet as real, as any existing state line.

  " 'For the gold excitement, bringing in new energy and activity, brought also
new disturbing elements, and where there had existed a boundless hospitality,
with the incoming of the stranger the social limits contracted and formality and
ceremony began to be observed.

  " 'I speak of the early forties; my own father's boyhood days, and my
grandfather, Don Antonio Sunol, and his family are a fair picture of the
chivalrous host and the warmhearted hospitality of the times. The guest chamber
was seldom untenanted, and seven or eight guests were welcomed and entertained
for two or three successive weeks. English, Russian and American trading vessels
made periodic visits to San Francisco and the merchandise was brought to San
Jose on pack horses. When time permitted, the supercargo, captain and some of
his officers, would accompany the caravan, and for weeks were royally entertained.

  " 'There being from fifty to one hundred Indian servants in the household,
each guest was provided with his special one, who waited upon his every want
during the entire visit. Horses, the very best in the stables, saddles, silver
mounted or plated, and a guide were always at his command and a servant always
on hand to clasp and unclasp each gentleman's spurs, while another led his horse
away. The host and his family devoted themselves to the entertainment of the
guests and a series of festivities was gotten up in their honor. The homes of
Don Salvis Pacheco, Don Dolores Pacheco, Don Jose Noriega, and Don Antonio Sunol
were-the scenes of many of these festivities.

  " 'Can you guess how their invitations to a ball were sent out? Some gay
cavalier, who possessed a melodious voice and could thrum the light guitar,
attired in a gay holiday costume, with clinking silver spurs and mounted upon a
spirited horse, pranced and curvetted through the plaza singing some ditty, and
when he had arrested the attention of passers-by addressed them in friendly,
courteous language, extending the invitation to all present, rich and poor, not
low and high, for each man was as good as his neighbor, and wealth did not place
a man upon a pedestal of honor. When pleasantries had been exchanged between the
messenger and the crowd, he passed on and stopping at the door of each house,
repeated his invitation, thus honoring all with a daylight serenade.

  " 'Young ladies attended balls and parties accompanied by their mothers, or,
in the absence of these, by some elderly female relative. The chaperon was known
as the "duenna." Young men and maidens carried on their courtship at these balls
right under the unseeing eyes of the watchful (?) duenna. When this secret
love-making had reached a successful issue between the pair, the youth
acquainted his father with his hopes and aspirations, and he in turn sought the
maiden's father. His consent gained, the bride's trousseau was immediately
prepared, the "wedding was announced and in a few weeks the marriage bells were
ringing. The festivities lasted a week or more, and, as at other times,
everybody was welcomed and feasted. The bride's dower consisted of household
furnishings, cattle and horses-quality in accordance with her father's mean's.

  " 'There were no formal receptions, no ceremonious calls. Ladies went out from
their homes in simple household attire and spent a few hours in friendly
conversation with a neighbor. When visits were made in the evening a number of
friends called together and the time was given up to music, dancing, fun and
laughter. The younger members never felt any restraint in presence of their
elders, although they treated them with the most scrupulous deference and
respect. Boys always stood with heads uncovered while speaking to old or
middle-agd people, even on the street. There was one generous custom dear to the
heart of the California boy, and that was the godfather's gift at the
christening- gold and silver coins thrown out by the handful and scrambled for
by the small boy.

  " 'The modes of salutation during the Golden Age were the hearty handshake,
when the meeting between friends took place upon the street, un abrazo (an
embrace) when within the sacred precincts of home. As I have shown you,
simplicity was the rule; forms and ceremonies were unknown. There was no vieing
with one and another as to who should stand upon the highest round of the social
ladder, but each one extended his hand to help another climb to where he stood,
so that over all there reigned a spirit of peace and good will. Would that we
might stop for a moment in our feverish rush for recognition and position and
breathe in the spirit of the olden time.' "

  The late Joseph H. Scull, who came here at an early date and who carefully
watched the changes that have taken place during the past fifty years, wrote to
Mrs. Carroll as follows:

  "I regret to say that I will have to disappoint you in giving the desired
information in regard to social gatherings here during the early '50s. I did
not, for a moment, think that such reminiscences would be of any value or
interest after the lapse of years, and therefore did not charge my memory with
them.

  "Nevertheless, assuming that I have your permission to do so, I will jot down
some remarks as I go along on the subject in hand. There were very few American
women here in those early days, and they were mostly married, so far as I
remember; and American girls, grown to womanhood, were like 'angels' visits, few
and far between/ and hence social gatherings were scarce, balls being the chief
amusement in vogue, consisting of quadrilles, contra dances, waltzes and
Virginia reels, and for variety's sake occasionally an Irish breakdown, when
some Celtic fellow-citizens were present. Later on the schottische, the polka
and the mazurka were introduced. The California girls, as a matter of course,
were largely in the majority, but unaccustomed to social gatherings, their only
amusement being fandangoes, as the California balls were then called. The dances
were the contra dance, the waltz and one or two kinds of jigs; and the music, a
guitar, and sometimes two, until the arrival of a Mexican who could scratch on
the fiddle enough provincial music to dance by. The fandangoes continued to
flourish long after immigration began to pour in."

  "As the time passed on, in the early '50s here, the California girls began to
adopt American methods, especially in balls, and soon became adepts in the steps
and movements of the new dances mentioned, and were exceeding graceful. It is
needless to say that los Gringos were not slow in availing themselves of that
terpsichorean circumstance; and to induce the girls to go to a ball they
notified them beforehand that carriages or hacks would be sent for them. So,
during the earliest period, no black-eyed senorita ever went to or from an
American ball on foot, but when women began to be plentiful the cavalier
carriages became obsolete.

  "It is worthy of remark that at an American ball at that time harmony, good
will and the utmost decorum prevailed. Everybody stood on a perfect equality
while in the ballroom, and to my certain knowledge there were no invidious
distinctions, either expressed or implied. An American ball always had the
appetizing adjunct of a bountiful supper. The music that set "the light
fantastic toe" a-going consisted of a fiddle-a fiddle, mark you, not a
violin-and later on with a flute accompaniment. San Jose had not yet risen to
the dignity of possessing a regular orchestra, but withal an American
terpsichorean function was a pleasurable affair to attend.

  "This decade was perhaps the most important in the social history of San Jose,
for about this time families-men and women of sterling worth and possessing all
the accomplishments necessary to the formation of a solid foundation on which to
build society-settled in this valley.

  "Before this time, however, Mr. and Mrs. James F. Reed, parents of Mrs. John
Murphy and Mrs. Mattie Lewis, had arrived here. The Reed home was always the
scene of social gatherings, and at one of their large dinner parties it is said
that Mrs. Reed paid sixteen dollars apiece for turkeys, and bought all that were
to be had.

  "During the meeting of the first Legislature 'every house was an inn where all
were welcomed and feasted,' and all through the session not an evening passed
without a large party at some home. Of course, the big ball at the close was the
event in San Jose's history. No wonder many belles and beaux of that time still
preserve with care and look with pleasure at the white satin invitation which
reads:

  " 'Washington Birth-Night Ball-Your company is respectfully solicited at a
Ball, to be given at the Capitol, on the evening of the 22d instant, at 7l/2
o'clock p. m., being the 118th Anniversary of the Father of Our Country,' and
which was signed by the following committee: Hon. John McDougal, Mr. Bassham,
Mr. Bidwell, Mr. Broderick, Mr. Chamberlin, Mr. Crosby, Mr. De la Guerra, Mr.
Douglass, Mr. Green, Mr. Hope, Mr. Lippincott, Mr. Heydenfeldt, Mr. Robinson,
Mr. Vallejo, Mr. Vermeule, Mr. Woodworth, Mr. Aram, Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Bigler, Mr.
Brackett, Mr. Bradford, Mr. Brown, Mr. Cardwell, Mr. Corey, Mr. Corvarubias, Mr.
Craner, Mr. Crittenden, Mr. Clarke, Mr. Williams, Hon. Mr. Gray, Hon. Mr. Heath,
Hon. Mr. Hughes, Mr. McKinstry, Mr. Morehead, Mr. Tingley, Mr. Tefft, Mr.
Stowel, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Stewart, Mr. Scott, Mr. Perlee, Mr. Moore, Mr.
Patterson, Mr. Randolph, Mr. Ogier, Mr. Walthall, Mr. Watson, Mr. Witherby, Mr.
Roman, Mr. Henley, Mr. Houston, G. F. Wymans, Ben Van Scoten, Van Voorhies, Nat.
Bennett, H. A. Lyons, F. B. Clement, Chas. White, Col. Jack Hays, Major Ben
McCulloch, Major Mike Chevallie, Major James Graham, Gen. Don Andreas Pico,
Antonio M. Pico, Antonio Sunol, John M. Murphy, John Reed, W. H. Eddy, J. D.
Hoppe, J. F. Howe, Capt. W. G. Marcy, E. Covington, W. B. Olds, A. W. Luckett,
Bela Dexter, Peter Davidson, J. M. Jones, A. Coindreau, H. H. Robinson, W. R.
Turner, E. H. Sharp, E. Byrne, Caius Ryland, E. Dickey, A. D. Ohr, Fred H.
Sandford, F. Lightston. Among the beauties and belles on that memorable night
were Mrs. John Murphy, Miss Rea Burnett, now Mrs. Wallace; Miss Letitia Burnett,
now Mrs. Ryland; Miss Maggie Jones, now Mrs. Josiah Belden; Miss Laura Jones,
who is Mrs. Hunt of Visalia; Miss Juanita Soto, and Miss Marcelline Pico.

  "Among the beaux at this time was Norman Bestor, a civil engineer, who made
his home, while here, with James F. Reed. He played on the guitar and flute, was
a fine singer, and an all-around favorite. Mr. Bestor, in a letter, regrets
being unable to give a satisfactory account of the early social functions. He
writes: 'During the first Legislature I was in San Jose; and it was then that I
surveyed the 500-acre tract adjacent to the town, belonging to Mr. Reed, and
laid off as an addition. Mr. Reed named the streets himself. From 1850 to 1856 I
was engaged at the New Almaden quicksilver mines and lived there. During that
time I frequently drove to San Jose to attend parties. Some of the society men
of the '50s were Ralph Lowe, S. O. Houghton, Drury Malone, J. H. Flickinger,
Joseph H. Scull, Henry B. Alvora, Aleck Moore, D. McDonald and Keat Bascom.'

  "In these early days many houses were brought around the Horn and set up on
arrival. One of these is that of Judge A. L. Rhodes, on the Alameda, and under
this hospitable roof friends have delighted to gather since the days of 1855. In
1854 Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes came across the plains with a train of fifteen, with
Mr. Rhodes as captain. Mrs. Rhodes told me that one evening during the journey a
man called and asked if his train of ten men could join forces with them. The
man was Jefferson Trimble, brother of the late John Trimble. At Humboldt River
they were met by John Trimble, who guided them to this valley, where he had
already settled. Miss Ware, afterwards Mrs. John Selby, came with them.

  "When Mr. and Mrs. Rhodes moved to the Alameda, their nearest neighbors were
Judge and Mrs. Craven P. Hester, who lived where the Clark home now stands.
Charming social gatherings were held at the Hester home, and their accomplished
daughters, Miss Sallie, afterwards Mrs. Maddock, and Miss Lottie, afterwards
Mrs. Phelps, assisted in dispensing generous hospitality.

  "Among notable families that came here in 1853 was that of Mr. and Mrs.
Coleman Younger, who arrived after a six months' trip from Missouri. Their house
was brought around the Horn, and it is needless to say that as soon as it
arrived, with true Southern hospitality it was thrown open and a large party
given, when among the guests were: Drury Malone, Tad Robinson, all the state
officers, Aleck Moore, Major and Mrs. S. J. Hensley, Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Burnett,
Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wallace.

  "In speaking of social functions, Mrs. Younger said that in '54 she remembers
spending a delightful evening at the home of Don Antonio Sunol, whose
hospitality was unbounded, whose trained Indian servants were the envy of many
less fortunate, and whose exquisite table linen, adorned with Spanish drawn
work, was the admiration of all. The guests included Mr. and Mrs. Ryland, Mr.
and Mrs. Wallace, and Mr. and Mrs. Younger. A large dancing party, given for the
benefit of the Presbyterian Church when Rev. Dr. Garwin was pastor, was among
the many enjoyable functions here. In this the moving spirits were Mrs. Crosby,
Mrs. S. J. Hensley, and Miss Lois Bradley.

  "Mrs. Maddock has graciously written the following reminiscences of those
early times: 'In looking over a journal which I kept when a young girl, I find
that almost everything of interest is jotted down. The young married ladies were
Mrs. Hensley, Mrs. Belden, Mrs. Ryland, Mrs. Wallace, Mrs. John Murphy, Mrs.
Yoell, Mrs. Lottie Thompson, Mrs. Fred Appleton, and Mrs. Gertrude Horn, mother
of Mrs. Atherton of literary fame. Among the young ladies were Miss Price and
her sister, Miss Bettie, now Mrs. John Moore, both noted for their beauty;
Colonel Younger's daughters, Miss Helen and Miss Fanny; Miss Mary Smith, Miss
Yontz, Miss Echols (a beautiful girl), Miss Ellen Skinner and sister, Miss
Nellie; Miss Mattie Reed, Miss Henrie Bascom (pretty and witty), Miss Lizzie
Branham, Miss C. Packwood, Miss Divine (later Mrs. Estee of San Francisco), and
pretty Miss Lizzie Miller, now Mrs. Mitchell and living abroad.

  " 'On July 17, 1858, Mrs. Hensley gave a garden party, when the grounds were
lighted with lanterns and supper was served in the summer house. Among those
present were: Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Belden, Mr. and Mrs. Ryland, Mr. and Mrs. John
Murphy, Mr. and Mrs. Younger, Mr. and Mrs. Appleton, Mr. and Mrs. Yoell, Mrs.
Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. Archer, Misses Camilla and Betty Price, Miss Divine, Miss
Yontz, Miss Holmes of Oregon, Fred Hale, William Matthews, Dr. Chamberlin, Mr.
McGowan, John B. Hewson, Dr. Shaw, William Lewis, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Yontz, Mr.
Moultrie, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Davis.

  " 'On February 3, 1858, Mrs. Fred Appleton gave a fancy dress party at her
home on the Alameda. Mrs. Appleton was a dark beauty and charming in manner. She
was dressed as a gypsy; Mrs. Smith as Night; Miss Yontz as Morning; Miss
Packwood as Morning Star; Miss Lily Eschols as Mary, Queen of Scots. Others
present were: Misses Bascom, Divine, Thompson, Price and Hester. The gentlemen
were: John B. Hewson, William R. Davis, Messrs. Lewis, Gregory, Yontz, William
Matthews, Hall, Dr. Bell, and others. Miss Lottie Thompson was a Highland lassie
and Miss Sallie Hester a flower girl.

  "Then we had balls galore at the old State House on the plaza and the City
Hall on Market Street. I remember a large party given by the young men of San
Jose in 1865 at the City Hall. At that time others were added to the list of
society people: Mrs. William Dickinson, Mrs. Flora Burnett, Mrs. Brown, Mrs.
Thornberg, a beautiful woman, and others.'

  "In 1858 the Young Men's Social Club was organized and the officers were: S.
O. Houghton, W. R. Yontz, and W. A. Lewis. The members were: J. B. Hewson, James
H. Gardner, George Evans, John M. Sherwood, B. F. Dewey, C. E. Cheney, A. W.
Bell, Ralph Lowe, L. P. Peck, W. E. Davis, Joseph Bassler, John R. Yontz, John
H. Gregory, Alex Beaty, S. Bassler, John Q. Pearl, A. Redman, J. H. Flickinger,
John M. Murphy, P. O. Minor, Edmund McGowan, and William Matthews. Below this
list was W. H. Travis, teacher of dancing. Mr. Lowe has also the dance programme
of the second ball of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society, given at the
City Hall, Friday evening, October 21, 1859. The reception committee included
James F. Kennedy, John B. Hewson, W. A. Lewis, Patrick Murphy, Colonel
Hollister, and Joseph R. Weller. The managers were Cary Peebles, Colonel
Younger, R. G. Moody, H. C. Malone, S. J. Hensley, W. A. Bray, L. Prevost, E. S.
Chipman, W. Reynolds, and W. T. Wallace. The floor managers were John M. Murphy
and H. H. Winchell. The order of dances was promenade march, quadrille,
schottische, mazurka, polka, waltz, quadrille coquette, Highland schottische,
varsovienne, and quadrille march. Then supper and afterward the quadrille,
waltz, polka, schottische, mazurka, Spanish dance, 'Home, Sweet Home.'

  " In the home of Adolph Pfister the guest was always sure of a cordial
greeting, and dinners were the favorite form of entertaining, the family seldom
enjoying this meal without two or more guests. Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Wilburn, who
came here in the early '50s from their Missouri home, settled on the Alameda,
where, with characteristic hospitality, they delighted to gather friends around
them. Their daughter, Mrs. Givens George, speaking of those times, said: 'The
first party I attended here was in the '50s and was a dancing party given by
Major and Mrs. Hensley. Among the belles and beaux present on that occasion, I
remember Miss Sallie Hester, the Misses Price, Miss Mattie Reed, Givens George,
Ned McGowan, Fred Hall, Fred Appleton, John Gregory, Jim Maxey, and Captain
McKenney.'

  "A large and delightful social circle, whose members did not include the
votaries of the ballroom, but whose teas, church socials, mite societies and
afternoon and evening gatherings were equally enjoyable, was formed by Mr. and
Mrs. Donald MacKenzie, Mr. and Mrs. John Piercy, Misses Julia and Lou McCabe,
the late Rev. H. C. Benson, Mrs. Benson, Mr. and Mrs. John Selby, Mr. and Mrs.
T. Rea, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Flickinger, Mr. and Mrs. John Trimble, Mr. and Mrs.
Smith, Dr. and Mrs. Caldwell, Mr. and Mrs. William De Hare Boone, and Mr. and
Mrs. E. J. Wilcox. Mrs. Piercy often told of the delightful gatherings at the
home of Mrs. MacKenzie and that in those times it was the principal place where
Presbyterians gathered to spend a social evening. About this time Rev. L.
Hamilton was pastor of the Presbyterian Church and Mrs. Piercy said that one day
the reverend gentleman called at her residence on Julian Street, where a number
of church people were spending the afternoon, and told them of his latest
exploit, that of climbing to the top of the highest peak of the Coast Range
Mountains, and how in honor of this feat that peak was afterwards known as Mt.
Hamilton.

  "The social changes in the '60s are aptly described by a lady who for years
was one of San Jose's lovely and amiable girls, afterwards ranking among the
charming and affable matrons, Mrs. S. O. Houghton, now of Los Angeles:

  " 'San Jose society between the years 1861-'65, had its social code and its
exclusive circles, but it was not governed by iron-clad rules, nor was it hedged
with formalities. Its social events were suited to the conditions of an
intelligent, sprightly, pioneer community, whose best physical and mental
efforts were devoted to practical schemes and to matters of great public
interest, and whose hospitable natures still kept in touch with old home customs
and influences. Few of us lived in houses spacious enough to accommodate large
numbers of guests, but many delightful teas and sumptuous dinners brought genial
friends together informally. There were also frequent exchanges of visits among
families in the evenings. Home talent provided many musical treats, and spelling
matches for benevolent purposes afforded much amusement to large audiences.

  " 'All entertainments for church or charity were regarded as social events.
Madame Anna Bishop and Mr. and Mrs. Marriner Campbell, of San Francisco,
occasionally favored us with concerts, which always brought out the most
appreciative people. Our younger members had also their horseback rides,
picnics, driving and dancing parties.

  " 'It was not yet the custom to have these courtesies and merrymakings
chronicled in the newspapers, nor were brides in those days enriched with
wedding presents. Day weddings were usually followed with dinners to relatives
and intimate friends of contracting parties, and night weddings frequently ended
with dances at the 'hall/ which was decorated with evergreens for the occasion.

  " 'An annual ball was given by each of the following organizations: Firemen,
Odd Fellows, Masons, and Military Companies. Armory Hall was tastefully
festooned for these events with evergreens, flowers and flags. The refreshments
served were elaborate and the music furnished was excellent. February
twenty-second, July fourth, Thanksgiving night, and New Year's eve were the
dates selected for these brilliant reunions, which received the recognition and
moral support of the best people in the community. As the membership roll of the
first named organization formed largely the lists of the others, most of the
husbands, brothers, and beaux appeared in different uniforms on each occasion.

  " 'The married ladies who, as spectators and chaperons, gave tone and dignity
to these festal scenes, were costumed in silks, satins, and velvets, high at the
neck and with long sleeves, trimmed with laces and narrow velvet ribbon. They
wore white gloves and carried lace handkerchiefs and handsome fans. Their
ornaments were garnet and coral "sets," or necklaces of gold, with pendant
crosses jeweled with pearls and diamonds. Brides wore their bridal robes and
ornaments, and young ladies were gowned in delicate shades of tarletans, swiss,
and grenadines. Many of their skirts were tucked nearly to the waist. The
bodices were low at the neck and had short puffed sleeves daintily trimmed with
lace and satin ribbon. They also wore white gloves, and flowers in their hair.
Gold necklaces with lockets attached were their only ornaments. Dancing began as
early as eight o'clock in the evening, and those who did not wish to see the
peep of day went home before the programme was finished.'

  "No home was more hospitable, nor none opened its doors more frequently to
guests than the one presided over by Major and Mrs. W. W. McCoy, on the Alameda.
Here dinners and dances were an almost every-day occurrence. An elaborate dinner
was given in honor of Hon. T. A. and Mrs. Hendricks, when the future
Vice-President of the United States was touring the state in the early '60s. Mr.
and Mrs. McCoy were assisted by their beautiful and accomplished daughters, Miss
Nannie and Miss Fannie. The guests, besides Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks, were: Dr.
and Mrs. Bascom, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wallace, Colonel and Mrs. Younger, Dr.
Marcus Chamblin.'

  "Following is a charming letter from Mrs. Fitzgerald: 'On receiving a letter
asking for some brief account of some party I attended in San Jose in bygone
years, my mind at once reverted to the wedding of two of Governor Burnett's
children, somewhere near 1860. Miss Sallie Burnett was married to Mr. Francis
Poe, of Maryland, I think, and Mr. Arm-stead Burnett to Miss Flora Johnson. Miss
Burnett's bridesmaids were her cousin, Miss Mollie Smith, and Miss Maggie
Branhani; afterwards Mrs. Ogier. I do not remember who were their groomsmen, but
those of the other couple were Mr. James Johnson, uncle of the bride, and Mr.
James Whitney, and the bridesmaids were Miss Lou Johnson and Miss Fannie McCoy.

  " 'There was a large party on the night of the wedding in Governor Burnett's
old home and the elaborate supper was served in an unfinished house which Mrs.
C. T. Ryland was then building in her father's yard. Next day the bridal party
attended a dinner given by Dr. and Mrs. Johnson, and on the evening following
Colonel and Mrs. Younger gave a large party in their honor. Other entertainments
followed, and at the end of a week's festivities in San Jose the party, with
parents and friends, went to San Francisco. There was no railroad then, and we
were driven in carriages to Alviso, where we took the boat to the city. There we
attended a reception given by Miss Page and had a good time generally for
several days after. Mrs. Poe lived but six months after her marriage, and Mr.
Arm-stead Burnett only a year and a half. Mr. Poe went East and was killed
during the Civil War, and Mrs. Burnett, some time after the death of her
husband, married Mr. Will Hester. Miss Lou Johnson is now Mrs. Dickinson, and
Miss Mollie Smith married a gentleman of the same name. San Jose was a very
pleasant place in those days. It was still early enough for the gentlemen to
greatly outnumber the ladies, so beaux were abundant, and the girls made much
of. There were some beautiful Spanish and Mexican girls, too, some of whose
names I forget. I remember the Misses Pico and Sunol, however.'

  "In writing of these times, Dr. Chamblin said that he had very pleasant
recollections of his many old time friends in San Jose and of the many enjoyable
social affairs he attended here in the early sixties at the home of Major and
Mrs. W. W. McCoy, Judge and Mrs. W. T. Wallace, Colonel and Mrs. Coleman
Younger, and several others, all of whom were noted for their southern hospitality.

  "The home of Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Belden, which stood where the Hotel Vendome
now is, was the scene of many balls, musicales, and dinners. Among them a
sumptuous dinner, followed by a dance, was given in the sixties in honor of Mr.
and Mrs. Delos Cole, who had just been married. In speaking of this a guest, who
was present, said: 'A handsomer bride it would have been hard to find than was
Mrs. Cole, and no wonder she was the central figure that night at the Belden
party. Her beautiful neck, shoulders, and arms and her sweet face made, indeed,
a perfect picture.'

  "Mr. and Mrs. Norman Porter, and Dr. and Mrs. Knox were among the people who
selected San Jose for their home, and in 1863 they settled here and soon
occupied prominent places in society.

  "A few years later Dr. Chas. G. Ames, a Unitarian divine, made monthly trips
to Santa Cruz to deliver lectures, and at the close of the season the Unity
Society sprang into existence. Among the active members of the popular society,
that for nearly fourteen years gave the most enjoyable entertainments ever known
here were Mrs. Laura J. Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. M. Leavenworth, Mr. and Mrs. C. T.
Settle, Mr. and Mrs. Ashley, Mr. and Mrs. Gould, Levi Goodrich, J. J. Owen, Mr.
and Mrs. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. G. Blaine, Mr. and Mrs. A. T. Herrmann and Mrs.
Sarah J. Knox."

  The historian will here interrupt Mrs. Carroll's account by relating a story
in which Rev. Mr. Ames and William T. Wallace figured. Wallace was a pioneer
member of the San Jose bar, and a leader in society. In the sixties he was
elected Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court. Ames was not a politician and
made but .few speeches, but these were something out of the ordinary. He was one
of the brightest men, intellectually the country has ever produced. He saved the
day for the Republican party in 1872 when George C. Gorham was the leading
Republican orator of the state. As a debater Gorham had no superior on the
stump, and when joint discussions were the rule he was an enemy to be feared.
Late in the campaign a joint meeting in San Jose was arranged, the speakers to
be Gorham for the Republicans and Judge William T. Wallace for the Democrats.
Wallace was then in his prime and one of the most eloquent and effective orators
on the Coast. A large stand was erected on Santa Clara street in front of the
Auzerais House and an immense crowd, comprising people from all parts of the
county was in attendance when the hour of discussion arrived. At the last moment
consternation reigned in the rooms of the Republican County Central Committee.
Gorham had missed his train and could not be present. Without him the meeting
would be a Democratic walkover and the Republican party of Santa Clara County
would receive a blow that would be felt for years.

  The members of the Committee had about given up in despair when some one
suggested Charles G. Ames as a substitute for Gorham. It was not expected that
he could do much without preparation, but it was believed that he could, at
least, put up a good bluff and save the Republican party its distance. Like a
drowning man catching at a straw, the committee caught at the suggestion and as
good fortune would have it they found Ames willing to undertake the job. The
Democrats readily accepted the substitution, believing that Ames would be a mere
puppet in the hands of the trained and eloquent Wallace. They also graciously
consented to give Ames the opening and closing speech, and the meeting opened at
the appointed hour before a crowd composed of sober-faced Republicans and
glad-eyed Democrats.

  Ames' opening speech was short. He made no attempt to fire the hearts of his
Republican auditors but contented himself with a brief but clear statement of
the principles and aims of the party he represented. Wallace followed in one of
the best efforts of his life. In the belief that he was master of the situation,
he was eloquent and sarcastic by turns, but strong at all times. Dismissing with
a few contemptuous words the arguments advanced by Ames, as if both the subject
and the man were beneath his notice, he went over the history of the past and in
words of burning eloquence pointed out the path, that in his opinion, all honest
voters should travel. When he took his seat the air was rent with cheers. A
nappier lot of Democrats were never gathered at a political meeting.

  The Republicans saw Ames arise but in their eyes there was no light of
confidence or hope. They looked upon the day as lost and in imagination could
see the grand Democratic demonstration that must follow the meeting. But soon
despair gave place to surprise and surprise to joy that could hardly be
restrained from the noisiest exhibition. Ames, after a few commonplaces, began
to speak like one inspired. Epigrams, like pearls, dropped from his lips and
brilliant bursts of eloquence were followed by sentences of such biting sarcasm
that the Democrats winced as if they had been pricked by a knife. The speaker
with his intellectual grasp, his thorough knowledge of his subject and his
wonderful command of language, played upon his hearers as if they were some
instrument and he the accomplished performer and master. As for Judge Wallace,
Ames metaphorically wiped the floor with him and the defeat of the distinguished
Democrat was so complete that it was years before he could be induced to deliver
another speech in San Jose. The Republicans, and not the Democrats, had the
demonstration that, evening and Ames was the hero of the hour.

  Now Mrs. Carroll again.

  "In the early sixties the homes of Mr. and Mrs. Thormburg and Mr. and Mrs.
Cary Pee-bels, near Santa Clara, were frequently invaded by parties of
merry-makers, and all were sure of receiving a cordial welcome. In speaking of
these surprise parties, Mrs. Delos Cole said that she never forgot the exquisite
singing of Morris M. Estee, (afterward Governor of the state) who was always one
of the crowd and who sang 'The Mocking Bird' with inimitable charm at the last
party she attended at Mrs. Thormburg's.

  "Mrs. Evaline Prothero Yoell, who for years was considered the most beautiful
woman in the county, wrote of San Jose society, saying: 'I attended every party
of importance from 1852 down to the last three that came very near together in
1870, when I left the Garden City. The first of these three was given by Miss
Camilla Price, sister of Mrs. John Moore, at Judge Moore's residence, in honor
of Mrs. Phoebe Hearst. The second was the golden wedding of Judge and Mrs.
Craven Hester, and the last was given by Judge and Mrs. A. L. Rhodes,
celebrating the anniversary of the wedding of their daughter, Miss Mary, to Mr.
Alfred Barstow. These parties, all elegant, reflected great credit upon the
ladies who were to the manor born. There was no Ludwig or Maison Dore to beckon
to their assistance, and who appear like magic and quietly steal away. The
ladies depended upon their own tact and ingenuity. My memory is not very good
and I could not begin to describe them, as I fear, amid the glamour of the
oriental splendor of today, it would sound meagre, would would be injustice to
those society ladies. At the party at Judge Rhodes', as I entered the room, I
said to him: 'Where will you find any to compare with this bevy of ladies-Mrs.
W. T. Wallace, Mrs. Hensley, then a widow, Mrs. Josiah Belden, Mrs. Fitzgerald,
Miss Sallie Hester, Mrs. A. M. Thompson, Miss Camilla Price, and Mrs. John Moore?'

  " 'Our society from the early '60s down to 70 included: Mr. Boring, afterward
Bishop of Georgia, and daughters, Misses Julia and Ella, Mr. and Mrs. S. J.
Hensley, Mrs. C. T. Ryland, Mr. and Mrs. W. T. Wallace, Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Reed,
Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Belden, Judge and Mrs. Hester, and their daughters, Misses
Sallie and Laura, Dr. and Mrs. Bascom and daughters, Miss Dollie Coombs,
afterwards Mrs. Horace Hawes, Colonel J. B. Price and daughters, Misses Camilla
and Betty, Miss Julia Peck, afterwards Mrs. Levi Goodrich, Miss Florence
Inskeep, Miss Mollie Crane, afterwards Mrs. McPike, Colonel and Mrs. McCoy, Miss
Nannie McCoy, Miss Fannie McCoy, now Mrs. Adolph Fitzgerald, and Mrs. West
Chappell.'

  "A large party was given by E. C. Singletary in Music Hall, and it was one of
the swell affairs of the period. Wreaths of ivy, mingled with red and white
roses, festooned the hall, and from the chandeliers hung bird cages, and ever
and anon the shrill notes of the golden warblers blended in complete harmony
with the soul-stirring and body-lifting strains from the band on the platform.

  "Mr. Singletary proved himself to be a prince at entertaining. The brilliant
parlor and club rooms were open for all who did not wish to dance; colored
servants, in livery, attended to every want; carriages were at the disposal of
the guests, and the sumptuous supper would have done credit to royalty.

  "In the later seventies the young society leaders organized a social club to
introduce the German. Professor Millington was chosen director, and under the
leadership of Charles B. Hensley and Miss Kate Moody, the graceful figures with
their accompanying favors, mirrors, flowers, and ribbons, were thoroughly
enjoyed by the merry dancers. Among the members were Miss Annie Hanchett,
afterwards Mrs. Jack Wright of Sacramento; Miss Kate Moody, now Mrs. W. C.
Kennedy; Miss Sallie Trimble, now Mrs. Nicholas Bowden; Miss Ella Hensley, now
Mrs. Thornton, of Montana; Miss Lou Schallenberger, now Mrs. Thomas Montgomery;
Miss Frankie Cahill, now Mrs. Charles Wilcox; Miss Jennie Cahill, now Mrs. A. L.
Veuve; Miss Jennie Wilson, now Mrs. W. P. Veuve; Miss Minnie Foley, now Mrs.
Richmond; Miss Anita Fallon, Miss Ida George, now Mrs. Frank Bishoprick, Miss
Ada Ryland, Misses Porter, and Miss Pugh; Messrs. Charles Hensley, Loring G.
Nesmith, John T. Malone, E. S. Breyfogle, W. C. Kennedy, W. P. Veuve, Frank
Haight, Sam R. Rhodes, E. C. Singletary, J. H. Campbell, H. B. Alford, George
Ashley, Ike Loeb, Pomeroy, Cutler, McMahon, Owen, and Howes.'

  "In '76 the French residents celebrated the Fall of the Bastile for the first
time in this city. The large ball and sumptuous banquet at the Lake House was a
social function not to be overlooked. The grounds were adorned with flags and
lanterns and here the large supper table was arranged in the shape of a hollow
oval. J. Poulain occupied a seat in the center, with Hon. B. D. Murphy, who was
then mayor of the city, on his left, and J. B. J. Portal on the right. The
committee of arrangements were J. B. J. Portal, B. Bury, A. Delmouly, J.
Jacquelin and P. Etchebarne.

  "An Authors' Carnival and Ladies' Bazaar, the first on the Pacific Coast, was
held in Music Hall under the auspices of the Home of Benevolence. It was an
event in the history of San Jose and well may the officers of the Home at that
time be gratefully remembered for the skill with which they conducted the
affair. Mrs. Nellie B. Eyster was president; Mrs. M. H. McKee and Mrs. L. W.
Moultrie, vice-presidents; Mrs. Louise E. King, secretary, and Mrs. Frances D.
Williams, treasurer. The board of managers were: Mesdames J. C. Cobb, C. R.
Span, T. W. Spring, A. N. Gates, Ben Cory, P. D. Hale, Pauline Stone, E. Coombs,
T. E. Beans, S. A. Clark, C. H. Allen, H. J. Haskell, Jackson Lewis, P. T. de
Cabe, A. T. Herrmann and M. Diamond.

  "The following bit of reminiscence about General Smith, at whose home near
this city many people have been entertained, is from Mrs. Mary Barstow, daughter
of Judge Rhodes and the late Mrs. Rhodes.

  " 'General Giles A. Smith, who as a division commander under Grant, served
with great distinction during the Civil War, and who was afterward appointed
Second Assistant Postmaster-General at Washington, came to California in the
early seventies for a rest, with his wife and little daughter, May. They were
accompanied by Alfred Barstow. Mr. Barstow was also connected with the
Post-office Department and he and General Smith became great friends. The
General bought a ranch in the foothills near Alum Rock, where he built a
beautiful home and entertained charmingly.

  " 'After the General's death, Mrs. Smith and her daughter went abroad, where
Miss May married a gentleman of Geneva, Switzerland, and still lives there in
the most ideal manner, her husband, Mr. Francis Delapalane, being an artist of
high standing and ample means.'

  "A brilliant party by the young men of San Jose was given Friday evening,
January 26, 1883, when

    Shimmering satin and gossamer laces,
    Blaze of trumpets and bugle call;
    A shifting sea of bewildering faces,
    Surging along through the perfumed hall, 

but faintly describes the gorgeous scene. The committee of arrangements were:
John W. Ryland, E. McAfee, William K. Beans, J. C. Travis, Andrew P. Hill, J. B.
Cory, and A. E. Haden. Music Hall was garlanded with cypress and holly berries
and a large green streamer was stretched across the stage bearing the words: 'We
greet you, one and all.' The music was by Kauffman arid Parkman, and one feature
was a schottische composed for the occasion by Mr. Kauffman and dedicated to the
Young Ladies' Social Temperance Club.

  "The ladies who composed the reception committee were: Mrs. S. O. Houghton,
Mrs. E. O. Smith, and Mrs. Lawrence Archer. Mrs. Houghton wore an elegant dress
of black lace over black silk; garniture of red roses; ornaments, diamonds. Mrs.
E. O. Smith was dressed in rich black satin, trimmed with ostrich feathers;
point lace fichu; ornaments, diamonds. Mrs. Archer wore a dress of black silk
brocade; corsage bouquet of red roses; ornaments, diamonds.

  "The gentlemen who got up the ball were: Messrs. H. J. Alexander, Henry B.
Alvord, George Avery, G. Anderson, W. W. Blanchard, W. K. Beans, A. L. Barker,
Nick Bowden, Frank P. Bull, Dave Bryant, J. Booksin, W. E. Coombs, Dr. Bruce
Clow, C. Colombet, Louis Colombet, Ed. Clayton, A. W. Coombs, C. Chapman, F.
Coykendall, R. Coykendall, H. F. Dusing, Ernest Dawson, Ed Enright, C.
Flickinger, W. Finch, W. J. Fosgate, L. F. Graham, Will George, A. E. Haden, C.
J. Heyler, J. B. Holly, W. B. Hobson, Thad Hobson, A. P. Hill, M. C. Hall, S. O.
Houghton, D. Hanna, L. Hartman, H. Hart, A. C. Ingalsby, Ed Jobson, Stanley
Kelly, L. F. Kullak, John Cahill, M. Loryea, Andrew Lendrum, W. W. Leghorn, Dr.
F. K. Ledyard, John McMahon, Charles Moody, C. J. Martin, J. H. Maddox, John
McCauley, A. McAfee, Louis Montgomery, Howell Moore, W. S. McMurtry, L. G.
Nesmith, W. S. Osterman, J. B. O'Brien, S. Oberdeener, A. Price, F. Ffister, R.
Pierce, J. H. Pierce, Sam Rucker, John Ryland, F. K. Ryland, J. R. Ryland, Ed
Snedaker, Dr. W. Simpson, Fred Stern, Ed. Snell. Sam E. Smith, W. Selby, S.
Stone, John Tully. A. B. McNeil, J. C. Travis, F. W. Thompson, H. P. Thayer, A.
K. Whitton, Henry Willey, Charles Williams, H. Ward Wright, J. Wheeler, C. A.
Youngberg, E. D. Young, Ed Younger, R. Smith, and F. Zuver.

  "About fifteen years ago the beautiful Hotel Vendome was opened with a ball in
which the cream of San Jose and San Francisco society gathered and celebrated.
The committee included Dr. W. S. Thorne, Hon. F. E. Spencer, Hon. B. D. Murphy,
Charles M. Shortridge, E. W. Clayton, A. K. Whitton, E. W. Newhall, Dr. A. H.
Voorhies, and A. C. Bassett. The floor committee had as members, E. C. Flagg, W.
S. Clayton, R. B. Spence, James T. Rucker, James D. Phelan and Capt. Burdick.

  "A large and brilliant party was given by Hon. and Mrs. B. D. Murphy to
introduce their daugher, Miss Mary, now Mrs. Ward Wright, into society. The
interior of the Murphy home on South Third street was decorated with the rarest
of flowers, intermingled with ribbons and smilax. The guests included all the
young society people here and many from San Francisco.

Distinguished Visitors

  "Among the notable social functions that have taken place here was the
reception on the evening of May 13, 1901, in honor of President and Mrs. William
McKinley and the members of the Cabinet. The Vendome Hotel never looked grander
than in its decoration of banners, bunting flags, and electric lights on the
exterior, and blossoms, shrubs, and palms, in the interior. The reception
committee was composed of Hon. Charles J. Martin, mayor of this city, Hon.
William G. Lorigan, Jackson Hatch, Hon. A. L. Rhodes, Dr. H. C. Brown, Hon. M.
H. Hyland, S. F. Leib, O. A. Hale, James D. Miner, J. H. Henry, Major William G.
Hawley, Dr. J. W. Davy, Hon. Delos C. Druffle, W. C. Andrews, Ernest Lion,
William A. Beasley, Alfred Holman, H. R. Chesbro, Charles W. Williams, J. O.
Hayes, David Henderson, Mrs. Charles Martin, Mrs. Adolph Greeninger, Mrs.
Jackson Hatch, Mrs. D. Goodsell, Mrs. Henry Lion, Mrs. A. H. Jarman, Mrs. S. F.
Leib, Mrs. J. R. Carroll, Mrs. Nicholas Bowden, Mrs. W. P. Dougherty, Mrs.
George M. Bowman, Miss Belle Mackenzie, Mrs. H. S. Foote, Mrs. Nellie G. Arques,
Miss Winifred McLaughlin, Mrs. Ralph Hersey, Mrs. Henry Booksin, Sr., Mrs. A. H.
Marten, Miss Estelle Lion, and Mrs. R. Hersey. The reception was held in the
south parlors. Secretary Hays acted as the representative of the President, so
unexpectedly absent on account of the illness of Mrs. McKinley, and he was
assisted by Postmaster-General Smith and Secretaries Long, Hitchcock, and Wilson.

  "Another social event was when Governor Nash of Ohio and the Congressional
party of the same state were entertained on the twelfth, thirteenth, and
fourteenth of May, 1901. First was given an Italian breakfast by E. E. Goodrich
at his famous Quito Olive Ranch, when among the Santa Clara gentlemen present
were: F. C. Ensign, C. M. Wooster, W. S. Clayton, Hon. M. H. Hyand, J. R. Lewis,
E. McGuiness, Rev. H. Melville Tenney, Chief of Police James Kidward, and F. W.
Crandall; later at an informal reception at the Court House, when upwards of
eight hundred people called to bid the distinguished guests welcome; and lastly
at a dinner to the Governor and party by Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Leib at their home
on the Alameda.

  "It has been the proud privilege of San Joseans at different times to welcome
within the gates of their city the Chief Executives of the nation, among them
being Hayes, Grant, Harrison, McKinley, and Roosevelt. The last named President
visited this valley on May 12, 1903. It was an ideal spring day; the weather
warm and clear; the flowers, the fields, and the orchards looked their
loveliest. Multitudes gathered to see and greet their Chief, who made several
stops within the boundaries of the county, and at each place received a generous
California welcome. The first was at Gilroy, where he made a short address, and
the next was at San Jose. After addressing the thousands of men, women, and
children assembled around the platform which had been erected for the occasion,
and fittingly decorated with bunting, palms and flowers, he went for a drive,
accompanied by a mounted escort of citizens, who included Clem R. Arques, Ralph
W. Hersey, Sheriff R. J. Lang-ford, J. D. Radford, M. E. Dailey, Leo Archer,
Colonel A. K. Whitton, Thomas McGeoghegan, R. R. Syer, Arthur Langford, J. W.
Gilkyson, W. S. Clayton, Joseph H. Rucker, William A. Bowden, C. H. Geldert,
Henry Lion, and C. T. Crothers. Besides these there were a large number of
carriages containing the members of the President's party, the reception
committee, and the newspaper representatives. The route was along the beautiful
and well kept roads, and many were the pleasing incidents that occurred to
heighten the pleasure of the distinguished guest. On Santa Clara Street the
ruler of the United States halted to greet the pupils of Notre Dame College, who
were stationed on the sidewalk, and to accept a bunch of magnificent rosebuds
presented on behalf of the school by one of San Jose's prettiest girls, Miss
Bertrand Cauhape, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Cauhape. After passing along
the famed Alameda, he was warmly greeted in Santa Clara by Rev. Robert E. Kenna,
president of Santa Clara College, who with the faculty and students of this
historic seat of learning, had gathered in front of the grand old mission cross,
while hundreds of school children were congregated near by.

  "The Committee that so successfully planned and carried out the program which
made the sojourn of the President so pleasant included: Judge A, L. Rhodes, A.
Greeninger, Major C. P. Braslan, James R. Lowe, J. S. Gage, C. W. Coe, J. W.
Davy, H. Morton, J. E. Richards, A. H. Marten, Dr. Wm. Simpson, I. Loeb, H.
Center, Geo. W. Ryder, R. P. Keesling, S. Sampson, W. L. Woodrow, C. J. Cornell,
T. A. Carroll, Gus Lion, John O'Keefe, L. E. Bontz, J. C. Hall, W. S. Richards,
H. J. Edwards, G. Peirano, S. N. Rucker, Rev. H. C. Meredith, T. S. Montgomery,
John Corrotto, Frank Stock, J. A. Chase, Father Gleason, A. P. Lepesh, W. E.
Graham, Paul Masson, George B. McKee, D. J. Gairaud, J. R. Welch, T. J. Stone,
J. A. Belloli, Sr., Dr. A. M. Barker, Colonel Philo Hersey, T. J. Riley, H.
Doerr, Jackson Hatch, W. C. Andrews, Sam Boring, A. S. Bacon, W. H. Jen-kines,
W. G. Alexander, E. J. Bennett, S. B. Hunkins, J. E. Brooke, George Keffel, A.
E. Shumate, Edgar Pomeroy, W. P. Lyon, A. C. Hubbard, J. H. Henrv, Avery Porter,
Dr. H. J. B. Wright, J. H. Campbell, H. Peckham, Patrick Murray, J. J. Cherrie,
George N. Herbert, Charles Kenyon, T. C. Barnett, T. W. Hobson, F. W. Moore, and
J. R. Patton. The next day the presidential party was given a right royal
greeting by President David Starr Jordan at the Leland Stanford Jr. University,
and by the students and residents of Palo Alto and Mayfield."


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
EUGENE T. SAWYER

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 
1922


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