VOL. 51 NUMBER 1 MARCH, 2010

Pioneers Luncheon

Saturday MARCH 13 at Noon

Mariani's 2500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara

Reservations MUST BE MADE BEFORE!!

Thursday March 10, 2010

So Mariani's can prepare for our group, it is most important to place a reservation in advance…

For Reservation E-Mail to "sccpioneers@aol.com" be sure to include your menu selection in the e-mail.

or Call: 408-554-7587

Please note: Names will be checked off the reservation list as you enter, if your name is not on the list, you will be requested to wait until all those who reserved a place have been seated.

Cost: $25 (make checks payable to California Pioneers)

Menu (make one selection per person)

Breaded Calamari Steak with Lemon Butter Sauce & Red Potatoes

Spaghetti and Meat Balls served with meat sauce

Vegetarian:

Manicotti (2) Pasta Tubes, Cheese Filled with Marinara Sauce and Jack Cheese

Entrees are served with:

Green Salad, Rolls, and Butter, Dessert and Tea, Freshly Brewed Regular. or Decaf Coffee

Mariani's Restaurant is located on the south side of El Camino Real, two blocks west of San Thomas Expressway in Santa Clara.

Best to get to Mariani's before 11:30 am to get a parking place.-

Reservations MUST BE MADE BEFORE

Thursday MARCH 10, 2010

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SUSAN SNYDER

The Speaker will be Susan Snyder. Susan grew up in the valleys and foothills along California’s highway 99. She worked as a teacher, illustrator, artist and Japanese language interpreter before landing in The Bancroft Library at the University of California at Berkeley, where, in her capacity as head of Access Services. She has spent ten years exploring the library’s stacks, attics and moats. She lives in Point Richmond, California.

Susan is the author of Bear in Mind: the California Grizzly, and Past Tents; The Way We Camped, published by Heyday Books and the Bancroft Library. She will bring copies along, if you wish to purchase them. She will talk to us about the recently reworked Bancroft Library, one of the premier research sites for the study of California History.

Although The Bancroft Library officially dates from 1905, when the University of California acquired Hubert Howe Bancroft's personal library, it was actually born some forty-two years earlier, when Bancroft, assisting the editor of a projected guide book to the western states, discovered seventy-five volumes pertaining to California and the West on the shelves of his own San Francisco bookstore. Suddenly bitten by the collecting bug, the native of Ohio began accumulating works on the history of his adopted state, but over time the scope of his interests came to encompass the entire Trans-Mississippi West, extending from Alaska to Central America.

Ultimately, Bancroft saw his collection as history awaiting an author. Unable to find scholars willing to tackle his massive accumulation of books and manuscripts, Bancroft elected to write it himself, with the aid of a staff of interviewers, transcribers, and writers. The final work encompassed thirty-nine volumes, covering The Native Races, Central America, Mexico, The North Mexican States and Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, California, The Northwest Coast, Alaska, and the remainder of the American west.

Had Bancroft been only a collector and a writer, his contribution to history would have been immense. But because so many of the leading figures in California's history were still alive, Bancroft had the opportunity to accumulate original documents, such as those of General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, and the estate of Sir James Douglas, once governor of British Columbia. If he could not secure original documents, he had transcriptions made of relevant portions, as in the case of the Archives of Spanish and Mexican California then in the hands of the U.S. Surveyor General, and when there were no documents at all, he created them by seeking out and interviewing historical figures; these "Bancroft Dictations" are among the most valuable documents in the collection.

Bancroft's history project was completed in 1894. Realizing the value to posterity

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of his collection, he sought a permanent home for it, eventually selling it for a fraction of its value to the University of California, with the provision that it be maintained as a separate library, and that the core collection be added to over time.

First housed in the attic of California Hall, and then in the Doe Library, The Bancroft Library moved into its present quarters in 1973. At the same time, the original scope of the library was enlarged to include a number of other "special collections," including the former Rare Books Collection. The Bancroft Library now includes the Mark Twain Papers and Project, the Regional Oral History Office, the University of California Archives, the History of Science and Technology Program, and the Pictorial Collection. It has become one of the largest -- and busiest -- special collections in the United States.

Susan’s publications were garnered from the holdings in the extensive library collection She has a third publication ready to go to press and will tell us about her research while the collection was temporarily moved from the building, allowing it to be brought up to code. It has just been returned to the completely retooled library facility.

MOUNTAIN CHARLEY Mc KIERNAN (1848 ) OUR OWN BEAR STORY

One of the most colorful of the Santa Cruz Mountain characters of pioneer days was Mountain Charley McKiernan, one of the first white settlers in the region. Hunter, rancher, teamster, road-builder and stage-line operator, he was the idol of every small boy in the region. His motto was “Right wrongs nobody.”

Charles Henry McKiernan was born in Ireland in 1825 or 1830. As a young quartermaster in the British army, he traveled to Australia and New Zealand, where he was stationed in 1848 when news of the California gold strike arrived. His enlistment

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had expired so he signed on as a seaman on a ship headed for San Francisco.

When they arrived in San Francisco, the crew jumped ship, not waiting for their pay, which was up to $20 a day. In Ireland, they had been paid $20 a year. With his savings from his first year in the mines, McKiernan organized a pack train to carry supplies to the Trinity mining district in northern California. On his second trip, he was attacked by Indians and lost everything but his life.

Back at the mines, McKiernan accumulated a second stake and headed for Santa Clara Valley where he found land claims confused. With a friend named Page, he entered the Santa Cruz Mountains early in 1850 to look for land to homestead. He followed an old Indian trail from the area of Los Gatos to a pond the Spanish padres had called Laguna del Sargento, a long time favorite camping place of the Indians. There were quantities of mortars, pestles and flint arrowhead. Page went on to Santa Cruz, but McKiernan settled there, on the highest point of the ridge where today the southwest corner of Redwood Estates joins Summit Road. Near a spring, he later built a frame house the first in the entire mountain range, from the native redwood lumber whipsawed on the spot. His home and corrals completed, he started to raise sheep and cattle and to hunt deer for market, but grizzly bears, cougars and wildcats soon took care of the sheep. Longhorn steers, better able to cope with the predators were sold for $6-$8 a head, mainly for their hides and tallow. Deer meat was worth 10¢ a pound and at first, was easy to find. They had not become aware of rifles and would look around curiously when one of them fell to his muzzle loader.

McKiernan made two trips a week to Alviso with deer meat to be shipped to San Francisco. He was alone in the mountains until 1853 when the Lyman John Burrell family settled farther down the ridge above the site where the town of Wright’s later located. John Bean also settled on Bean Creek near the present town of Glenwood and Charles C. Martin homesteaded land adjoining McKiernan’s. Martin operated a stage line and toll road on the Mountain Charley Road and later built a home in the valley for his family.

There were at that time, no roads west of San Jose and no fences. McKiernan and his neighbors hacked out an ox trail, later to become a stage route where before had been an Indian trail. McKiernan later built several roads including the one that bears his name. It was a cut off route from Los Gatos through Moody Gulch near Holy City and across the site of Redwood Estates to join the old Indian trail near McKiernan’s home. On this winding, narrow moun-tain road, the site of his cabin is marked with an historical marker done by Mt. Charley Chapter of E Clampus Vitus. Several versions of his famous bear fight have been told, but this one is the way McKiernan’s son James told it in 1934.

Grizzly bears in the 1850’s were too plentiful for the ranchers who hunted them relentlessly to stop the depredations on their livestock. They also made a profit selling the bear hides and meat. They were huge shaggy creatures weighing 800 to 1200 pounds and were always treated with ultimate respect. They were best hunted from an uphill stand with a fast horse ready for a quick getaway if necessary. It often took several bullets to do the job.

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On May 8, 1854, McKiernan and a friend named Taylor started out for a gulch about a mile southwest of the McKiernan place where Taylor planned to take up some land. After shooting a couple of deer, they spotted a grizzly sow with two cubs. As they were both good shots, they decided to go for it and headed up the gulch to approach the animal from above.

When they arrived at their chosen spot, the bear and her cubs had disappeared. Following a deer trail in pursuit, they came upon her around a bend, standing and facing McKiernan at a distance of no more than 6 feet, her forepaws outstretched for a raking hug. McKiernan fired instantly with the muzzle of his gun against the bear’s chest, while Taylor fired over his head into the bear’s face. McKiernan reversed his gun to club the bear with the stock, but the bear beat down upon the weapon and seized him with her powerful forepaws, crushing the front of his skull in her jaws, then tossed him aside and started for Taylor.

Meanwhile, Taylor’s small dog had attacked the two cubs. Their squalling distracted the mother and she turned to their rescue, giving Taylor a chance to escape to the ridge top, supposing that McKiernan had been killed instantly. The bear chased the dog away, then returned to McKiernan and dragged him to the end of a clearing under an oak tree and after pawing him over left him. The bear was never seen again.

His rifle reloaded, Taylor returned to the scene to find McKiernan sitting up and conscious, but paralyzed from the waist down. The fight had only lasted seconds and he had been conscious all the time. Taylor bound up McKiernan’s head with his shirt and leaving his loaded rifle for protection went for help. Accounts differ as to whether a doctor came to the ranch or he was taken to San Jose or Santa Cruz for medical attention.

The doctor hammered a silver plate out of two Mexican silver dollars and fitted it into the broken place in McKiernan’s skull where the bear had chewed away the bone over his left eye up to the top of the frontal bone. Within three weeks, the plate had started to corrode and had to be removed, to be replaced with another plate. McKiernan suffered through the entire ordeal without anesthetics until the wound healed.

He had headaches for two years until a specialist in Redwood City removed the second plate and found a lock of hair under it. That time, he had anesthesia. Terribly disfigured, he wore a hat low over his left eye the rest of his life. McKiernan enjoyed full health until 1890 when he became ill with an obscure stomach ailment. He died on January 18, 1892, 38 years after the famous bear fight .

California Pioneers of Santa Clara County Membership Medallions

The response to the reissue of our Societies Membership Medallions has been good! Twenty-one medallions were ordered at the December Luncheon and will be available for pick up at our March gathering. If you have been considering acquiring one of these fine Sterling Silver Medallions for yourself, we will again be taking orders at the March Luncheon. Show your heritage and pride of being a Pioneer! The price remains only $25, payable upon receipt of medallion. -5-

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

The Board and I have been working very hard this past month. We took possession of the Stevens’ Estate in January and we are organizing all of Helen and Charles Stevens wonderful belongings. To help with this tre-mendous undertaking, I have formed five committees:

1. The Stevens’ House Committee is chaired by Ken Machado and will recommend the best use for the Stevens’ home and advise us on what improvements need to be made; 2. The Collection Selection Committee is chaired by Tim Peddy and will select the appropriate items for the Pioneer collection and will work with the inventory committee to ensure items are recorded and distributed properly; 3. The Non-Pioneer Collection Distribution Committee is chaired by John Stolp and will determine how and where to distribute non-Pioneer collection items; 4. The Inventory Committee is chaired by Robb Moore and has been charged with determining and implementing the best methods to record, identify and track all of the new items added to the Pioneer collection. They will also track the distribution of non-collection items. 5. The Helen Stevens’ Honoring Committee, chaired by Mary Lou Lyon, will identify and recommend options on how to best honor Helen Stevens for her generous donation. It is imperative that we handle this outstanding historic collection sensitively and effectively. I would like to thank the committee members for accepting to help with this enormous task. I would also like to thank Ken Machado for guiding us through the estate’s legal process and helping us with the home. Thanks go to Robb Moore, Tim & Barbara Peddy, Jan Paull, David McKinney and Melita Kelly for helping organize and distribute Stevens items. Finally, I’d like to thank Bill Foley for spending countless hours of back breaking work cleaning the home and sorting the collection. -6-

We also were very fortunate last month to receive a generous donation of local history related items belonging to Theron and Francis Fox. They both were long time Pioneer members, local historians and preservationists. This generous gift was made by our new members Diane and George Lechner, the Fox’s daughter and son in-law. These documents and artifacts are wonderful additions to the Pioneer collection. Our inventory committee is working hard to record, tag and distribute all of the items.

Both the Stevens’ and Fox collections help us better fulfill our mission of collecting and preserving important Santa Clara County history. These items will greatly enhance our research and education programs and compliment our existing collection.

We expect to receive our new film digitization equipment this month and Bill Foley has been busy collecting donations of old local film footage. We will soon be able to share this footage with people the world over, via the internet. Isn’t technology amazing?? Be sure and contact Bill if you have any old, local footage that you would like to share with the Pioneers. This collection should vastly elevate the Pioneers’ profile in the community, diversify our collection and attract younger members.

Unfortunately, 90% of the Pioneers’ work is being done by 2% of our members. I would like to invite all members to join committees and/or volunteer for special projects. By volunteering, you have the opportunity to make new friends, be involved in preserving local history and most importantly be an asset to our organization. Please feel free to contact me or any of the committee chairs if you are interested in helping.

Finally, I would like to invite all members to join us on Monday, June 14th, at 10 a.m., on the steps of the historic Santa Clara County Court-house located on North First Street at St. James Street. All of the Pioneer members posed for a picture taken at this location at the turn of the 20th century. That historic picture now hangs prominently in the Paulson house. Board member, Judge Paul Bernal, has arranged for us to be able to have an updated picture taken at the same spot over 100 years later. This professional photograph will be displayed in the Paulson House and will become part of promotional literature. Don’t miss out on this historic opportunity. Happy trails,

Jim Zetterquist

President, California Pioneers of Santa Clara County

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NEW MEMBERS: ROBERT S. ELMORE, JUDY JONES,

GEORGE & DIANE LECHNER, TOM ROSE, LOUI TUCKER -7-

Frances Fox

Frances Fox, an author, lecturer and historian helped many areas of our county find their history. She wrote several books, including on the Roberto Adobe in Willow Glen, the Peralta Adobe in downtown San Jose, Hakone Gardens in Saratoga and La Rinconada in Los Gatos. She also edited Florence R. Cunningham’s Saratoga’s First Hundred Years.

Community oriented, Frances served as president of the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission and the O'Connor Hospital '89ers and was on the board of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County and a member of the San Jose Historical Museum Association and Western History Association. She received a statewide Award of Merit from the California Heritage Council in 1977 and the Conference of California Historical Societies in 1976. She was recognized as a woman of achievement in 1974 and in 1972. She taught California history at De Anza Community College for five years. She also gave lectures to local groups and led walking tours.

Frances Louise Miraz was born on Feb. 26, 1915 in Los Gatos and grew up on a fruit ranch on Fruitdale Avenue with her older siblings, Marie and Frank. She graduated from St. Leo the Great Grammar School and Notre Dame High School in San Jose followed by San Jose State Teacher’s College. She majored in business and earned a teaching credential.

While at San Jose State, she met Theron Fox, who was student body president. The two married on December 26, 1938. Both shared a passion for history. They both served on the San Jose Historic Landmarks Commission at different times, and both served as president.

Theron was the more visible lobbyist and is credited with getting San Jose to set aside 16 acres for what is now History San Jose. Both were founding members of History San Jose, then known as the San Jose Historical Museum. Theron also con-vinced Caltrans to move Highway 280 50 feet to save the Roberto Adobe on Lincoln Avenue from destruction. Her book, From Land Grant to Landmark tells the history of the Roberto Adobe.

Her earlier book, Luis Maria Peralta and His Adobe led to her meeting President Gerald Ford. When he visited San Jose, the city fathers presented him with a copy of the book and introduced him to the author.

Her daughter, Dolores Ciardelli, remembered her mother as the more outgoing of her parents. She would give speeches on local history. She liked public speaking and enjoyed social events. She was active with and served as president of the O’Connor 89’ers foundation of O’Connor Hospital.

Dolores also remembered that no matter what she was doing, she rushed home and had dinner on the table at 5, and it was all made from scratch.. Frances also enjoyed traveling and once snorkled in the Red Sea and at the age of 76 rode an elephant in Thailand.

Theron, who was 10 years older, died in 2000. Frances passed away

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peacefully on September 16 at her Hanchett Park home. Her daughters

had spent the evening before visiting with her. She was attended by Ling Ling Sanchez who had helped care for Theron and Francis’ sister, returning to be the caregiver for Frances when her Parkinson’s worsened.

Frances is survived by her two daughters and their husbands, six grandchildren and four great grand children.. A memorial mass was held at St. Leo’s on September 22.

Greetings Friends of We and Our Neighbors,

We are delighted to share with you our new website which was just launched and can only be reached by its actual address.:

http://www.weandourneighbors.org We would also like to invite you and friends to our CLUBHOUSE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION - "THE NEXT HUNDRED YEARS" - on Saturday, May 15th, 2010 from 1PM to 4PM. At the corner of Union and Los Gatos Almaden Road. (Parking across the street at the Union District Administration Building.) (

The clubhouse will be open to the community with refreshments from 1 to 4. At 2:00 P.M. we will have an historical program which will include the speech given by Mrs. Jane Cilker at the time of the dedication of the clubhouse in May, 1910. Jane Cilker was the one who first gathered the women of Union District to her home in 1892. That was the creation of We and Our Neighbors.

We welcome you to join us that day with friends and neighbors as we take you back to 1910 with memories of the clubhouse's opening and life in those times.

Our hopes as we head into "The Next Hundred Years" are to turn the clubhouse into a community center for historical programs. We welcome ideas, volunteers, sponsorships and contributions. We still have renovation work to do (restoring the floors, table and chair storage, making the second bathroom functional, upgrading the kitchen), and we would love your help in making those things happen as well as in creating programs for the community.

Please feel free to contact us at weandoureighbors@gmail.com, and do look on the upcoming events page of the website to see the programs in the upcoming months. We also have information about rental of the clubhouse. Looking forward to seeing you on May 15th,

Charlotte Taylor and Carolyn Newt Co-Presidents, We and Our Neighbors

Dues for the year 2010 are now overdue. Only 20.7% were paid by the end of January. Send your dues to Robb Moore, Membership Chair or bring to the March luncheon.

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Rose Marie Beebe, Speaker, Judge Paul Bernal, Member of the Board and Robert M. Senkewicz, Speaker, at the December, 2009 luncheon. They speech was entitled,, "Local Voices from the Past: The Testimonios of Juan Pablo Bernal and Secundino Robles"

They have also edited Lands of Promise and Despair: Chronicles of Early California, 1535-1846 and Testimonios: Early California through the Eyes of Women, 1815-1848. Both are professors at Santa Clara University, she in Spanish and he in History. They are recent members.

Board Members at the December meeting. Gayle Frank, Recording Secretary; Robb Moore, Membership, Bill Foley, Second Vice President, Rick Helin, Marshall, and Jan Paull, member-at-large. -10-

HISTORY COLLABORATIVE

Several board members met on January 10 at Wings of History Museum for a meeting of all the historical groups in Santa Clara County. Beth Wyman had previously organized a meeting at the Santa Clara Archives last fall. If all history groups in our county came, there would be 35 groups banded together by history.

We enjoyed touring the restored aircraft hangars, the propeller shop and the library. The various groups brought literature for their groups to share and we all were asked to tell about our group. We have invited all 35 groups to join us next September for out annual Bar-B-Q at History Park, the Second Saturday of September to celebrate California's Admission Day. Mark the day on your calendar, too.

Rick Helin, Bill Foley, Jim Zetterquist and Beth Wyman.

On May 8, 2010, the Wings of History Aircraft Museum and San Martin Airport will have its Annual Fly-in and Open House from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The whole family is welcome. The Young Eagles Rides EAA Chapter 62 will provide free rides for kids aged 8 to 17. (Parents must be present.) Admission to the Museum buildings will be free and to all the airfield displays. There will be Early Morning Hot Air Balloons, Aircraft displays, Kids aircraft activities, Antique Cars and Tractors. Food Service will be available for Breakfast and Lunch. Find us at 12777 Murphy Av, San Martin. (404-683-2290 or www.wingsofhistory.org

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Short Historical Sketch of the Santa Clara County Pioneers

by W. D. J. Hambly, Acting Secretary

This was found in the Pioneer Papers at the Santa Clara City Library. I had put it into my archives some time ago and just found it this afternoon. Here is the true history. Jerry

This society was first called into existence as an associated body May 29, 1875 by a meeting of a number of Pioneer residents in the rooms of the Agricultural Society, in Music Hall Building, San Jose. Organized by Carey Peebles & A. P. Murgotten.

Appointed committee to draft Constitution and By-Laws. To report at first reunion/picnic June 22, 1875 at O'Donnell's Gardens.

Constitution and by-laws were adopted and officers elected; membership of 274 with initiation fee of $2.00. The society had a membership in 1877 of 500. The society never

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procured a hall or building of its own, or accumulated anything of great financial value.

Death claimed many of the most earnest members, and dissension, the out-growth of individual ambition and self-interest, soon destroyed social interest. The meetings became further apart, and finally we find from the records, that on Nov. 25th, 1884, a committee of the Native Sons visited a meeting of the officers and directors of the Pioneers, having received an invitation to come. This committee asked that the Board place the cabinet and other property of the society in their care, they (Native Sons) to take good care of everything until such time as the Pioneers should want them, when they would be returned on demand. A resolution prevailed granting the request of the Native Sons, also donating to Col. Younger the Elk Horns, and to A. P. Murgotten the Secretary's desk, and the rest of the furniture, carpets, etc., be sold, and that the President and Secretary pay all debts.

Thus ends the Record and historical portion of the original Society of Pioneers of Santa Clara County. We regret very much that such was the fate of the society, especially when composed of that class of persons who had faced almost all the dangers and obstacles met with in the lives of frontier men and pioneering, and had gained victory over all.

It seemed that the spirit still lived, for after a rest of nearly ten years, there was awakened a spirit among those whom the Reaper had not called over the Divide to higher land and life, to see what could be done at reorganization. There was a longing for that clasp of the hand, that association and communion that brought back those old memories, that seemed to revive a wish for the old times that had gone; a desire to meet old friends whose toils and burdens, and accumulation of years, and distance between the homes had forbidden them from enjoying the pleasures that were enjoyed in the old society, its meetings and reunions, when duty demanded that they lay aside the toils of every-day life, and for pleasure seek.

Consequently, on May 19, 1894, a few of the Old Guard met, and the initial step was taken to reorganize and rehabilitate the Society of Santa Clara County Pioneers, and from that meeting has grown the present society, whose personnel is composed of many who were members in the old society, with the addition of others who had not connected themselves with the older association, or have located in the county since its adjournment. And there still remains a large number who should come within the fold. Some 25-30 were present. A committee was appointed to draft a constitution and by laws and report at the next meeting June 1, 1894. June 1, 1901 - society begins the 8th year of its reorganization with membership of 457.

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March is Women’s History Month! Yes, we have our own month & day March 8 every year! Thanks to the Women’s History project located in Santa Rosa, CA. A group of educators came together over 30 years ago and bemoaned the fact that all the currently used history textbooks were vastly absent of any mention of accomplishments from various races and females! They worked to expand and update the information.

Shortly thereafter a three-volume edition about dead American women

was published by Harvard Press. Thus began my women’s history library! Now

the "net" keeps us easily “abreast” (interesting word) of women’s accomplish-ments all over the world! -12-

Did you know that 70 women have been either a Chief, President or Premiere (head of government) in over 50 countries since the 1800’s? These were elected to their position. There are currently 15 female heads of state! Then there are Queens, Empresses etc., so you can go back to 332 BC in Ethiopia, however these were not electe. Of course you will have noticed that we still have not had a US Head of State!!! The closest we’ve gotten so far, is Speaker of the House, 3rd in line from the President.

That is just the “top” of the iceberg! Underneath are all the inventors, artists, doctors, educators, lawyers, public servants, activists, authors, engineers, scientists, etc. My challenge for you is to see how many US women achievers you can list with their achievement!

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Jacqueline Hughs McKinney, a descendant of Santa Clara Valley pioneers, died in Roseville on December 26 following treatment for cancer. She was 82.

Jackie’s ancestors Aquilla and Mary Jane Glover traveled to California by ox-drawn wagon in 1846, passing the ill-fated Donner party along the trail. After safely reaching Sutter’s Fort, Mr. Glover led the first relief party through the snow to Donner Lake and saved many lives.

Later, after Glover died in the gold fields, his widow married David E. Gish. They raised a large family on a 52-acre ranch and pear orchard near what became Gish Road in San Jose. Jackie’s ancestors dug the first artesian well in Santa Clara Valley.

Among Jackie’s ancestors were a member of San Jose ’s original police force and a superintendent of mail. Her grandfather, Harry Hughs, was a railroad engineer and her grandmother, Irene Hughs, earned a teaching credential at San Jose Normal School, later San Jose State University .

Jackie was born in Campbell and spent her early years in the 1930s at the El Dorado Mine in Alleghany, Sierra County, which her family owned. She attended San Jose High and then the University of New Mexico. She married Verlon McKinney of Willow Glen in 1945.

Jackie taught Sunday school at St. Francis Episcopal Church, Willow

Glen and directed the release time Christian education program in the San Jose schools in the 1960s. She was past president of Willow Glen Post of American Legion Auxiliary, and active in California Pioneers of Santa

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Clara County and California Cornish Cousins. She belonged to Valley Star Chapter of Eastern Star, Los Altos, and DAR.

Jackie worked as an accountant for thirty-five years for BP Manage-ment and the family of Victor and Margaret Bellomo in Sunnyvale .

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth and Adelaide Hughs of San Jose; step-mother Jessie Hughs of Grass Valley ; husband of 36 years, Verlon McKinney; sister Jane Morris and brother Warren Bishop. She is survived by sons David McKinney, a long-time officer of the Pioneers, Gage McKinney of Sunnyvale, and many nieces and nephews.

She admired obituaries that included pets and leaves behind her cocker spaniels Lady, Max and Missy.

A service of thanksgiving was held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sunnyvale. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Daily Bread, a hot meals program, c/o St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 231 Sunset Avenue, Sunnyvale 94086 or a charity of your choice.

Private interment is in the Gish-Glover-Hughs plot in the pioneer section of Oak Hill Cemetery, San Jose .

HARRY WADE, DEATH VALLEY 49’ER, ALVISO RESIDENT

Harry Wade and his family were among the seven family groups in the Death Valley 49ers. They were English who had settled in Illinois, where their children were born. Quiet and retiring, they had always followed at a discrete distance behind the others in their emigration westward. They seldom joined in with the others in that ill fated party and were scarcely known to the other Argonauts. There were 4 adults and 4 children, 2 of them teamsters, traveling in one well worn covered wagon. When Manly and Rogers decided to take the trail over the Panamint Range to bring back a rescue party, the Wades decided they would be bloody fools to return into Death Valley to guide anyone out. Harry decided to take his family south with his oxen and wagon.

This was the first time that they had taken matters into their own hands and doing what should have been done weeks before. They were not trying to be heroes, They were determined to survive. The single wagon, alone in the vast unmapped wilderness turned southward along the west side of Death Valley, paralleling the sunrise side of the Panamints. They progressed slowly and carefully from water hole to water hole, not knowing where they were going, but south was the only direction open. They sent scouts out ahead to find grass, water and a decent road, moving forward only when they saw the signal fire at the next water.

Eventually, they picked up the Old Spanish Trail along the Mojave River somewhere near Barstow, crossed Cajon Pass into San Bernardino on February 10, 1850.

They were the only family of the entire group to escape with their wagon which they brought to the Gold country and then to Alviso.

Today, there is a large historical marker on route 127 commemorating the Harry Wade

family. They found the gap between the Avawatz Mountains and the Ibex Hills Today, there is

the small town of Baker with restaurants, motels and gas stations. Interstate 15 east of Baker goes 92 miles east to Las Vegas and west 63 miles to Barstow. West of Barstow is Edwards Air

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Force Base. North of that is where the March trip will be going to Randsburg, Trona and Ridgecrest, in a remote area of California not on the main tourist path. If we get rains this winter, the flowers will be spectacular in March..

The Wades were so quiet about their route that no one knew about their successful escape route until the diary of Louis Nusbaumer, written in German, was discovered by George Koenig and published by the Bancroft Library. Nusbaumer was one of the single men who followed the trail of the Wades south, hungry and burning with thirst. He recorded his trek in cramped German script, filling two small pocket notebooks. He did not dwell on his problems, but wrote, “Of the six of us, Hadapp and myself are all that is left.” Another Jayhawker, L. Dow Stephens said, “That is the way we ought to have went.”

Harry Wade went on to the gold country but finally settled in Alviso where he farmed and did freighting and teaming, hauling flour from Chilean ships in his well worn wagon. In 1850, they built a brick warehouse on the Alviso waterfront. By 1888, steamers brought coal for the Agnews asylum and returned with baled hay and grain sacks for city horses. Almost everything passed through the Wade family warehouse. Henry George Wade transported lumber with his father and was Justice of the Peace.

Charles, who was 10 when they escaped from Death Valley, married Estafano Alviso, daughter of Domingo Alviso , received 500 rancho acres for strawberries, onions, raspberries, hay and grain. He also had a dairy and hunted game for the San Francisco markets. He died in 1918 and is buried at Oak Hill.

Richard Wade, whose second wife was Maria Berryessa, drove James Lick’s team. Mary Ann married Alviso railroad agent Bradley. Almira married Captain Ortley and kept the warehouse books.

During the 1960’s, Margaret Higgins Wade lived alone in her grandfather’s house in her nineties.. She still baked cakes on the wood stove in her grandfather’s kitchen. The house had been prefabricated in the east and shipped around the horn in the early 1850’s. In her younger days, Margaret had been Queen of Alviso (18830 and later directed the state asylum at Agnews. Fr. Jonathan Wade, a descendant, teaches at Bellarmine in Santa Clara.

SUNNYVALE HISTORICAL SOCIETY's next General meeting will be on Monday, March 1, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at their museum, 550 E. Remington Av. The topic will be "Sunnyvale: The original home of the Hubble Space Telescope" by Domenick Tenerelli of Lockheed-Martin Missiles and Space Systems in Sunnyvale.

The Sunnyvale Spring Teas will be offered again this year on April 24, 25 and May 1, 2 with seatings each day at 2 p.m. Each table will be hosted by a "President's Wife" from Mary Lincoln to Lemonade Lucy Hayes, complete in costume, character and menu. Tickets are $25 each. General reservations will be available to the public in March. The Christmas teas sold out so call early. 408-749-0220

The Santa Clara County Historic and Genealogical Society March meeting will be held on Tuesday, the 16th at 7 p.m. at the Santa Clara Central Park Library, 2635 Homestead Rd in the Cedar room. Mary Hanel will speak on "What's New for Genealogists at the Library."

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TOURING WITH THE CALIFORNIANS

Mike Console-Tour Director (408) 246-1080

Marie Rider-Phone Reservations and Cancellations (408) 251-7887 M-F Mornings

Beverly Fisher-Treasurer, 3435 Yuba Av, San Jose, CA 95117-2966

Marylou von Rotz-Trip Registrations at the luncheon

Registration begins at 10:30 a.m. Members may register absent members after lunch. Checks or exact cash are preferred

Phone Reservations or Cancellations: Call Marie Rider. After registrations are confirmed, send a check payable to The Californians to Beverly Fisher’

PICK-UP POINT VALLEY VILLAGE APARTMENTS, 390 NORTH WINCHESTER BLVD, SANTA CLARA, CA (ON DOLORES AV SIDE)

DAY TRIPS APRIL 22, 2010 THURSDAY ELKHORN SLOUGH SAFARI CRUISE

You don’t have to travel to a foreign land to go on a Safari. Right here in California, we will take Capt. Yohn Gideon’s Elkhorn Slough Safari out of Moss Landing just 25 minutes north of Monterey. Relax and enjoy a roomy stable ride and refreshments on a 27 foot pontoon boat. ELKHORN SLOUGH is one of California’s largest wetlands and part of a National Estuarine Reserve. This precious wildlife rich reserve winds in-land seven miles and provides an important feeding and resting place for a large variety of wildlife such as playful otters, curious harbor seals and hundreds of species of water-fowl and migratory shorebirds. Each season is unique and spring is special as you may see many se otter and seal pups, nesting birds and the glory of a beautiful blooming spring day.

These cruises include an in-depth look at various aspects of slough ecology and fascinating history stories in the company of a naturalist guide and will provide excellent opportunities to view and photograph wildlife close to hand. Because of the capacity of the boat, we will take sign ups for two groups at 21 passengers each. Group #1 must be full before we sign up for Group #2. If we have enough for two Groups, Group #1 will take the Safari boat first, while the end group will tour the Elkhorn Slough Reserve Visitor’s Center.

The Visitor Center lies at the heart of the Reserve’s Programs. It features out-standing educational exhibits that invite visitors to take a closer look at the unseen world of the slough. The Center is staffed by knowledgeable naturalists who are happy to answer our questions. Among the interesting and creative exhibits is a nine-times larger than life sized model of life in the mud, complete with a four-foot fat innkeeper worm.

We will switch groups about mid-morning. Group #1 goes to the Visitor Center while Group #2 goes on the Safari boat. A little after Noon, we will reunite the groups and have a hosted lunch at Phil’s Fish Market at Moss Landing. Menu choices are :

1. Halibut and Chips with coleslaw, 2. Caesar Salad with Chicken or shrimp,

3. Stir fry Calamari served with rice & green salad.

Leave: 7:30 A.M. Return 3:30 P.M .Cost $69.00

Thursday, May 20, 2010 THE HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA

Our travels today take us to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art where we will view the History of California through Photographs. The Museum has a 16,000 image collection that surveys the states’ photographic tradition from the 1840’s to the present and examines what has become of its once pristine wilderness. The state’s own evolution paralleled the development of the use of the photographic medium from a nickelodeon-style entertainment to a full-blown art form. We

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will have an included lunch on Treasure Island at the Job Corps Culinary Academy.

We will tour the Oakland Museum of California which has a floor of Natural Science, a floor for California History and a floor for Art of the Golden State. The museum has been closed for the past six months under going extensive renovations. It is scheduled to reopen in early May. The Museum provides unique collections, exhibitions and educational opportunities designed to generate a broader and deeper understanding of California. It also has a tempting array in its gift shop and wonderful books!

Leave: 9:45 A.M. Return 5:00 P.M. Cost: $66

Friday, June 18, 2010 THE WALT DISNEY FAMILY MUSEUM

The man behind the Mouse, Walt Disney, now has his own Museum at the Presidio National Park in San Francisco. The museum focuses solely on the life and work of the father of animated film. It’s a $110 Million Dollar Museum filled with the technology and artifacts chronicling the ups-and a few downs-of Disney’s much examined life. Building this showcase required renovating three historic old Army barracks, while keeping the exteriors intact. The visitor will move through ten permanent galleries, arranged in chronological order, recounting the history of Walt Disney’s life and career. We will have lunch (on your own) in the cafeteria of the museum operated by Wolfgang Puck Catering.

Prior to attending the Disney Museum, we will visit a hidden gem, The Bay Model, in Sausalito: a huge three dimensional model of the San Francisco Bay and Delta river system. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the Bay Model in the mid-1950’s to test a plan that would have created two fresh water lakes by damming up the north and south bays. Tests scuttled the dams by proving the lakes would evaporate faster than they would fill. For the next 40 years, scientists and engineers used the model to learn what would happen if man or nature made other changes to the San Francisco Bay Estuaries.

Leave: 8:30 A.M. Return: 4:30 P.M. Cost: TBA

EXTENDED TRIPS FOR 2010

Brochures with interest signups will be available at the March Luncheon or by calling Mike Console at 408-246-1080. If there is enough interest, we can set up a Pioneer’s Trip. Individuals may sign up for unescorted trips.

September 21-24, 2010 Lake Tahoe Adventure

3 nights and 4 days. Stay at the Embassy Suites, with a daily breakfast and cocktail hour. Narrated Luncheon Cruise on the Lake and more. Cost about $575 per person, double occupancy. More details later. Call Mike.

October 22-30, 2010 Trains and Canyons of the southwest

Experience the sheer beauty of Sedona, the world’s most famous canyon, and Santa Fe’s Historic Town Plaza, while enjoying some of the most stunning scenery where only rail can go. Highlights: Scottsdale* Phoenix* Sedona Trolley Tour* Grand Canyon Railway *Verde Canyon Railway *Sandia Peak Tramway. Make Checks payable to Collette Vacations-Cost: $2649, including air, San Jose to Phoenix, tour manager and Guide tips. 9 days 13 meals.

IN FAIRNESS TO EVERYONE, THE FOLLOWING TRIP RULES WILL APPLY:

1-RESERVATIONS -18-

A.-The California Pioneers of Santa Clara County members are given preference. Reservations for MEMBERS ONLY will be accepted on a first-come basis at the quarterly luncheons and for the following week. Thereafter, guests will be welcome.

B. A Reservation will be accepted by phone if full payment is mailed within 48 hours. If payment is not made when due, the reservation will be given to the next person on the waiting list. If you are on a waiting list, please call and remove your name if you find you cannot go on the trip. Please call so someone else can go

2-CANCELLATIONS A. A $5 bookkeeping charge is made for all refunds in addition to any other deductions.

B. Unless a substitute can be found and minimums are met, refunds for cancellations will be minus any prepaid expenses we have incurred. NO SHOWS will NOT receive a refund.

C. Credit resulting from a cancellation can be applied to another trip which is listed on the quarterly trip brochure.

D. If there are insufficient reservations for a tour, The Californians will cancel the tour at least 14 days prior to the departure date, and a full refund will be automatically applied.

3-SEAT ROTATION will be at the discretion of the tour leader.

4-DRIVER GRATUITIES are included in the trip prices.

5-The California Pioneers of Santa Clara County, Inc., acts only as agents for participants in its travel programs, and as such holds itself free of responsibility for delay, loss or accident occasioned by the fault or negligence of any person or company entrusted with such service, or any cause whatsoever. The transportation companies concerned are not responsible for any act, omission or event during times when passengers are not on board their conveyance.

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The original of this monumental Andrew P. Hill oil painting hangs in the Visitor's Center in Old Town Sacramento. This is a study painting, an original oil on canvas, is property of the California Pioneers of Santa Clara County. You may see it during your next visit to the Paulson House at History Park in San Jose.

NOW YOU CAN OWN a super quality art reproduction print of Crossing the Plains.

With each contribution of $200 to the Pioneers' Education Fund,The Pioneers will give a copy, ready for framing!

Please contact Tim Peddy for the details

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WEB SITE www.californiapioneers.com WEB SITE

OFFICERS 2009-2010

CALIFORNIA PIONEERS OF SANTA CLARA CO

President, James R. Zetterquist 2499 Cottle Av, San Jose, CA, 95125-4011 408-267-8744 thewoodencrown@att.net

1st Vice President Tim Peddy (Paulson House, Web master, Luncheon coordinator, book publications, Hacienda Cemetery) 2940 Rustic Dr., San Jose, CA 95124-1563 408-377-6054 miltpeddy@aol.com

2^nd Vice President Bill Foley (Hacienda Cemetery, co-webmaster, videographer ) 1251 Madrona Av, San Jose, CA 95125-3548 408-317-9249 IAMSPARTACUS@gmail.com

Treasurer Ken Machado-2131 Dry Creek Road, San Jose, CA 95111-2032 408-723-4056

7m-ken@msn.com

Membership Chair, Robb Moore 1117 Norstad St., San Jose, CA 95128-3458 408-275-6889 robbmooresj@att.net

Recording Secretary, Gayle Frank 1117 Norstad St., San Jose, CA 95128-3458 408-275-6889 frank.gayle@att.net

Marshall & Liaison with Historical Societies-, Parade Co-ordinator Rick Helin 1517 San Joaquin Av, San Jose, CA 95118-1062 408-792-2061 rickhelin@aol.com

Parliamentarian Melita Kelly - 460 N. 15th St., San Jose, CA 95112-1725 408-292-2385 (melikel@pacbell.net

President Emeritus Jerry Rosenthal 6317 Whaley Dr, San Jose, CA 95135-1446 408-270-3101 (b25gunner@comcast.net )

President Emeritus Bob Fisher 3435 Yuba Av., San Jose, CA 95117-2966 408-241-0224

Beyefisher@sbcglobal.net

Member At Large- Jan Paull, 919 Willow Glen Way, San Jose, CA 95125-3344 408-293-5166 - jan.paull@sbcglobal.net

Member At Large -Paul Bernal 365 flamingo Dr., Campbell, CA 95008-3625 pbernal@scscourt.org

Historian –Trail Blazer Editor Mary Lou Lyon 879 Lily Av, Cupertino, CA 95014-4261 408-253-9514 (malyon_1999@yahoo.com)

P.O. BOX 8208 SAN JOSE CA 95155

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID

CUPERTINO, CA 95014

_ PERMIT NO.543_____