Santa Clara County
Biographies
WILLIAM BEAUCHAMP
a citizen of the Willow District, owns a thrifty orchard of
six acres, which is located on the Meridian road, between Willow Street and
Hamilton Avenue. This orchard is one of the best cared for, for its size, in
San Jose Township. Mr. Beauchamp commenced tree- planting on the twentieth of
January, 1880, and all the trees, except less than a hundred, have been set out
by him during his occupancy. The orchard produces a diversity of fruit, of
which cherries and prunes form the largest part. Apricots, peaches, and pears
are found, also a few experimental trees of Japanese varieties. Mr. Beauchamp is
also experimenting in tea-culture.
Mr. Beauchamp dates his birth in England, March 6, 1833. He acquired a taste
for horticulture in his youth, and has made it the principal work of his
lifetime, never being satisfied with any other occupation. He came to the
United States in November, 1854, landing at New York city. In March of the
following year he came west to Illinois, and lived for two seasons in Lee
County, that State. Thence he removed to Mower County, Minnesota where he took
claim in High Forest Township. He occupied this claim but a short time, and in
March, 1857, bought land in Bostwick Valley, La Crosse County, Wisconsin, where
he made his home until he crossed the continent to California, the State of all
States, in which to follow his favorite work- horticulture. He has made Santa
Clara County his home since January, 1880.
Mr. Beauchamp married Mrs. Ester Yarrington in January, 1887.
Politically Mr. Beauchamp is identified with the Republican party. He feels
great pride in his productive orchard, and with good reason, for it gives
evidence of the painstaking care which it is his delight to bestow upon it.
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. p. 478 Transcribed by cdf
FRANK W. BLACKMAR
The subject of this sketch dates his birth in Wayne County,
Michigan, in 1852. His father, William C. Blackmar, was born in the State of
New York, and located in Michigan, where he engaged in farming. Mr. Blackmar
was reared to this calling upon his father's farm, at the same time receiving
such an education as the common schools afforded. He continued his farm
operations until 1879, in which year he came to California. His first year in
the State was spent in San Francisco, and in 1880 he came to Santa Clara County.
Upon his arrival he engaged in various pursuits, but principally those of an
agricultural character.
In 1883 Mr. Blackmar was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Louis Driscoll, the
daughter of James Driscoll, of Boston, Massachusetts. In the year following he
took up his residence on the corner of the Stevens Creek road and Saratoga
Avenue, five miles west of San Jose and two miles southwest of Santa Clara, and
there engaged in the saloon business.
Mr. Blackmar has successfully conducted his enterprise since that date. His
place is well and favorable known to all residents, and well patronized, as he
keeps a select, quiet, and orderly establishment. He is closely identified with
the best interests of the county, and having real estate in San Jose, he feels a
deep interest in the welfare and advancement of that city. He is a
public-spirited and enterprising citizen. Mr. and Mrs. Blackmar are the parents
of three children, viz., Clara, Horace and Frank.
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. p. 440
Transcribed by cdf
IRA P. CLARKE
one of those who has done
much to develop new industries, and thus demonstrate the great and varied
capabilities of this region, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, a
man of originality, enterprise, and push, who does not feel it incumbent upon
him to follow in the old and worn grooves in which the first comers have moved
so many years. His ranch, of forty-seven acres, occupies a picturesque
location, distant from Mayfield about two and a half miles by the county road.
He has the most complete chicken farm on the Pacific Coast, while leghorns being
his principal fancy, though he breeds simply for egg qualities. His hatchery has
a capacity of 5,000 eggs per month, while the brooding department has a capacity
for turning out 4,500 chicks in one month. This business is one which requires
much experience and attention and a slight difference in these respects means
either a profit or loss of hundreds of dollars in a very short time. He has now
brought this department of his business to such a state of perfection that it
has become the source of a large and steady income. He has five acres of
orchard, and raises a variety of fruit for family use. Another important
feature of this place is the strawberry industry. He has ten acres of land
planted to this luscious fruit, and during the first year of the growth of the
vines, raises onions between the rows. Besides supplying the family table, he
sold enough from this tract to average $800 per acre. This fact alone
demonstrates the ability in management, and the care and attention bestowed.
For irrigating purposes he has an engine of four-horse power, which pumps 250
gallons of water per minute and uses 1,800 feet of flume.
Mr. Clarke is a native of Canada, born at Brighton, Northumberland County, June
12, 1850, his parents being Robert C. and Jane (Powers) Clarke. At the age of
sixteen years he went to Elkhart, Indiana, and in 1866 commenced railroading on
the Michigan Southern and Northern Indiana Railroad, now the Lake Shore and
Michigan Southern. One year later he removed to Shelbina, Missouri, and entered
the employ of the Hannibal and St. Joseph Railroad, in which he continued until
1872, when he went upon the Walbash road. In 1877 he removed to Carson, Nevada,
and was for five years on the Virginia City and Truckee Railroad. He then came
to California, and railroaded on the Southern Pacific Narrow Gauge and on the
Central Pacific, until coming to his present location in 1883. It had long been
his desire to enter into his present business, and he experimented for a time in
San Francisco, at chicken-raising, previous to coming to Santa Clara County.
Mr. Clarke was married, in San Rafael, to Miss Catherine F. Howe, a native of
Madison, Wisconsin. They have one child, Ira Howe Clarke. Mr. Clarke is a
member of the United Order of Honor at San Francisco. In politics he is a
Republican.
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. p. 640-641
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