Santa Clara County
Biographies
EDWARD TOPHAM
was born in Toronto, Canada, on the twenty-fifth of October, 1840. His parents, William and Eliza (Sylvester) Topham, were natives of Ireland, who emigrated while young to Canada, and there engaged in agriculture. Until eighteen years of age he lived on his father's farm, meanwhile receiving such schooling as was afforded by the common schools. At that age he was apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith; however, he remained there but a short time after serving his apprenticeship, before coming to the United States. He traveled quite extensively in the Middle States, in Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, and Ohio, and was also engaged as an assistant engineer on the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. In 1861 he returned to Canada, but after a short sojourn there he returned to the United States, and during a portion of the years 1862-63 was employed in the government shops at Washington, District of Columbia. In the last-named year he again returned to Canada, and entered into partnership with his old employer for three years in Burgessville, and shortly after purchased a foundry and machine shop, which he, with his brothers, conducted until 1868. He then sold out his business and came to this State, locating, in June of that year, in Santa Clara, where he spent about six months in working at his trade. Early in the following year he settled at Milpitas, and there entered into partnership with David S. Boyce, in blacksmithing and carriage works, and in this business he has since continued, having conducted it through all these years most successfully.
The subject of our sketch married, in 1874, Miss Hattie Castle, the daughter of W. D. and Frank (Ferry) Castle, residents, at that time, of Milpitas. Mr. and Mrs. Topham have seven children: Clarence, Frank, Edward, Chester A., Blanche, Clifton, and Alida.
Mr. Topham has been very successful in all his business enterprises, and is the owner of considerable real estate, among which are seven houses and lots in Milpitas, also a forty-acre tract adjoining the town on the north. In Tulare County he owns eighty acres, which will be devoted to orchard culture, and is also half owner of a large stock ranch in San Benito County, upon which are roaming a large herd of cattle. He is much interested in the finer breeds of horses, and is raising some trotting stock from " Nutwood," " American Boy," " Grosvenor," and other great families of horses. His horses are well known, and, when entered in the agricultural fairs, take their full share of premiums. He is also a share-holder in the Mexican Pacific Railroad.
Mr. Topham is well known in social as well as business circles, and is connected with several industrial organizations. He has been a Director, and is now the President, of the Santa Clara Valley Agricultural Society, and is also the presiding officer of the District Agricultural Society, No. 5, of the State, comprising Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. For the past fifteen years he has served with credit as School Trustee of his district. He is also a Trustee of the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife is a member. He is associated with San Jose Lodge, No 10, of the Masonic fraternity.
Politically, Mr. Topham is connected with the Republican party, and is deeply interested in the administration of affairs in his county. As a public-spirited man, and one who is ever ready to devote time and means to the advancement of his section, he is a most useful citizen.
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.
Pg. 438-439
J. G. F. BERGHAUSER
resides on the Hostetter road in the Eagle School District, about four miles northeast of San Jose. There he owns twenty acres of fine orchard land, all under a high state of cultivation, and all set with fruit trees, the larger part of them being apricots and prunes, although peaches, pears, plums, cherries, figs, nectarines, and quinces are among the products of this model orchard. Mr. Berghauser also has table grapes and berries of all descriptions. Such water as is needed for domestic use, and for the irrigation of small fruits, is furnished from pumping wells.
The subject of this sketch was born in San Francisco, December 2, 1855, and is the son of John and Margaret (Briel) Berghauser. His father was born in Germany, and came to the United States in 1827. He resided in Charleston, South Carolina, and Richmond, Virginia, in both of which places he conducted hotels. The excitement of 1849 brought him to California in that year, and he established himself in the hotel business in San Francisco. In that enterprise he accumulated a fortune, with which he retired from business in 1853. The mother of our subject is also a native of Germany, who met and married her husband in Richmond, Virginia. She is now a resident of San Francisco.
J. G. F., whose name heads this biographical outline, attended the public schools of his native city until eleven years of age, when he was sent to Germany to complete his education. He returned to his home in this State when eighteen years of age, and entered into mercantile pursuits, which occupied his attention for three years. The two years following his relinquishment of the mercantile business, he spent in Yolo, Colusa, and Solano Counties, engaged in farm labor. In 1878 he purchased a farm in the San Joaquin Valley, near Galt, upon which he engaged in grain and stock-raising. This farm he operated until, in 1884, he came to Santa Clara County, and commenced the cultivation of fruit on his present property. Since that time he devoted his attention to the successful management of his land, and has met with favorable results. He is a respected and esteemed citizen of his community, and much interested in the welfare of the public schools, being at this time a School Trustee. As a native of the State and a resident of one of its most favored sections, he is a strong believer in its future greatness and prosperity. Politically, he is identified with the Democratic party.
In 1878 Mr. Berghauser was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Wertz, the daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (Foreman) Wertz, residents of Humboldt County, this State, but natives of Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Berghauser have three children: Fridaricka, Frederick, and Julius.
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.
Pg. 439