Santa Clara County Biographies

Mateo Arnerich, deceased, was born on the island of Brazza, in the Adriatic Sea, - an island under the jurisdiction of the Austrian Government. In 1826, when fourteen years of age, he became a sailor boy, starting from Rome. He followed a sea-faring life for fourteen years, visiting every sea and ocean. He came from China to San Francisco in 1849, and never left the State of his adoption but once, when he went, in 1872, to visit the scenes and friends of his childhood days. In 1852 Mr. Arnerich came to the Santa Clara Valley, and soon after became interested in agriculture.

In May, 1856, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth (Brown) Moylan, widow of Edward Moylan. They bought property in the Narvaze grant, and opened a farm, which they occupied for twelve years. They then found that no valid title to it could be obtained, and so left the place, and by pre-emption and purchase secured 160 acres of choice land, which constitute the present family homestead in the Union District. The ranch is located in an angle of the Santa Clara and Guadaloupe road, which bounds it on the north and east. Mr. and Mrs. Arnerich commenced life on the ranch in a comfortable house, which several years ago gave place to the substantial family residence of to-day. Mr. Arnerich was an active, energetic man, and carried forward the improvement of his property quite rapidly. The neighborhood lost in him a citizen actively interested in all movements tending to the general good. His death, which occurred May 3, 1883, was caused by injuries received in being thrown from a buggy, near his own home. His widow and her seven children, John, Catharine, Elizabeth, Mateo, Paul, Isabelle, and Margaret - all yet making their home with their mother, - are quite well provided for.

Mrs. Arnerich was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, in 1831. She was nine years of age when her parents, William and Catharine Brown, emigrated to Australia, whence, after a residence of ten years, they came to San Francisco. Later they became pioneers of Union District. Mr. Brown's death resulting from an accidental fall, occurred in 1854. His widow now lives in San Jose, on property belonging to her daughter, Mrs. Arnerich. William D. Brown, the chief of police at San Jose, is a brother of Mrs. Arnerich. The first marriage of Mrs. Arnerich occurred at San Francisco, in January, 1851. Her husband died of consumption, ten months later. Quite a large portion of the family homestead, of which mention has been made, is now devoted to the raising of grapes and fruit. A vineyard of sixty acres furnishes a general variety of wine and table grapes. In the orchard can be found olive, fig, pomegranate, orange, and lemon trees. As a rarity, twelve trees bearing "St. John's sweet-bread" must not be overlooked.

SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated.

Edited by H. S. Foote. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888, Page 420, 421

became a resident of California in December, 1861. His pleasant home is on Hicks Avenue, in the Willow District.

He was born in Westchester County, New York, November 29, 1847. His father, John D. Arthur, was a cousin of the late President Arthur. His mother was Dorinda H. Nelson. Both parents were from a long line of American ancestry, of English extraction. John D. Arthur, the father, aged eighty-five years, is now a resident of Oakland. He was among the earliest settlers of California, coming to the state in the spring of 1850. He was also one of the first business men of San Francisco, opening an agricultural warehouse on the corner of Washington and Davis Streets. He was thoroughly identified with the city's interests, being engaged in active business there for over twenty years. From time to time he was joined by different members of his family, which he had left in the East.

His wife arrived in 1860, and in 1862 the family circle was complete with the exception of one son and one daughter, Charles S. and Emma J., both now deceased. Mrs. Arthur died in April, 1876, at the age of sixty-three years. Of their children who came to California, William N. died in San Francisco, in April, 1865; George N. lives at the Willows; Gertrude is a resident of Oakland; and Edward M. makes his home in Portland, Oregon.

John C. Arthur is the youngest of the family. He came to the State at the age of fifteen years, and spent six years of the next eight in his father's establishment in San Francisco. In 1870 he bought the first real estate that he ever owned, a ranch south of San Felipe, on the edge of the Las Animas grant, of 179 acres. There he engaged in stock raising, until 1875, when he sold the property. In 1877 he bought the property where he now makes his home. It contains six and one-half acres, and was then part of a grain field. The substantial buildings where are now found there are mainly the work of his own hands. In November, 1882, Mr. Arthur bought twenty-two acres in the same neighborhood, which was covered with brush and timber. This he cleared and planted with fruit trees the following year. That property he has since sold, realizing a handsome sum Mr. Arthur owns a one-third interest in a fine fruit ranch of thirty acres near Campbell Station. For the home property he paid $200 per acre. It is now a fine productive orchard of prune, cherry, peach, and apricot trees. Mr. Arthur has realized as much as $1,100 for one years product of this orchard, sold green. The owner of a pleasant home and several fine fruit orchards, Mr. Arthur is one of the many prosperous citizens of the Willows. Politically, he is an Independent, with Republican antecedents. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On the fifth of October, 1874, he married Miss Eliza J. Gardner, daughter of William Gardner, who resides on Delmas Avenue. She was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, May 12, 1855. Three daughters were born to Mr. and Mr. Arthur, but all of them have passed to their heavenly home. Nettie died at the age of seven years, Alice at the age of two and one-half years, while one daughter died in infancy.

SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated.

Edited by H. S. Foote. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888, Page 456

Transcribed by: Cdf