Santa Clara County
Biographies
MRS. ANN YOUREE BETHELL
A clear-headed, active woman, possessing sound judgment and good executive ability, Mrs. Ann Youree Bethell, of San Jose, is held in high respect throughout the community in which she resides. At the death of her husband, the late Warren King Bethell, she assumed the management of the homestead property, and for many years carried on the farm with excellent results, adding each year to its value and accumulating much wealth. A daughter of George Hamilton, she was born in Missouri, of Scotch ancestry. Her grandfather, James Hamilton, a native of Scotland, immigrated to America when a young man, settling as a farmer in Tennessee, where he married Ann Youree, for whom Mrs. Bethell was named.
Born and reared in Rutherford, county, Tenn., George Hamilton succeeded to the ancestral occupation. Becoming a pioneer of Lafayette county, Mo., he bought land in Wellington, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of seasons. During the excitement that followed the discovery of gold in California he came across the plains to this state, and for nearly three years worked in the mines, meeting with such good results that he determined to locate here permanently. Going home in the spring of 1853, by way of the of the Isthmus of Panama, he remained in Missouri about a year, in the meantime disposing of his property in that locality. Early in 1854, bringing his wife, five children and their household effects, he crossed the plains with two wagons drawn by oxen, coming up the Platte valley and by the Truckee route to Santa Clara county, being six months on the way. For six or seven years he lived about six miles from San Jose, and then removed to Sonoma county, buying a ranch near Healdsburg. Subsequently selling out, he was for a number of years engaged in mining in eastern Oregon. Returning from there to San Jose, he resided on South First street until his death, at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He married Jane Stovall, who was born in Kentucky, which was also the birthplace of her father, Jesse Stovall. Mr. Stovall was a farmer, and one of the original settlers of Missouri, removing there from Tennessee, where he was for a short time engaged in tilling the soil. He married Mary Drake, whose father was killed in the Revolutionary war. She was of an old family, being a descendant of Sir Francis Drake. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. George Hamilton six children were born: Mrs. Mary Drake Board died in Healdsburg; Ann Youree is the special subject of this sketch; Jesse died near San Jose; James, an orchardist, resides at Morgan Hill; Mrs. America Sproul resides in San Francisco; and George, an orchardist, lives at Morgan Hill. Mrs. Hamilton died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Bethell, in 1897, in the eighty-third year of her age.
Brought up in Wellington, Mo., Ann Youree Hamilton was educated in a pay school, which was held in a rude log cabin, containing a puncheon floor and slab benches. Coming with her parents to San Jose in 1854, she remained an inmate of the parental household until her marriage, August 17, 1856, to Warren King Bethell, a son of Rev. Cloud Bethell. A native of Virginia, and the descendant of a family of prominence, Rev. Cloud Bethell was given excellent educational advantages. After his ordination as a Baptist minister he assumed charge of a church in Indiana and resided in that state the remainder of his life. His wife, whose maiden name was Rebecca Floyd, was born in South Carolina, and died in Warrick county, Ind. Seven children blessed their union, namely: Thomas, who died in Indiana; Chester, who died in Santa Rosa, Cal.; Frank, a resident of Santa Cruz, Cal.; Warren K., who married Miss Hamilton; Tillman, of Henderson, Ky.; Union, residing in Indiana; and Eliza, who died in Topeka, Kans.
Warren King Bethell was born April 2, 1823, in Warrick county, Ind., and grew to man's estate on the home farm. Soon after attaining his majority he engaged in mercantile pursuits in Newburg, Warrick county, Ind. On the breaking out of the Mexican war he enlisted in an Indiana regiment and served until the close of the conflict when he returned home. Coming to California by way of the Isthmus in 1852, he was engaged in mining for a few months. Locating then in Santa Clara county he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of land on the Almaden road, about six miles from the city, and embarked in agricultural pursuits. Removing to San Jose in 1871, Mr. Bethell was for awhile engaged in the livery business in this city. Subsequently, in company with James Smith and Nicholas Harris, Mr. Bethell invested in swamp lands in the San Joaquin valley, buying the Sand Mountain ranch of thirty-five hundred acres. With commendable enterprise and foresight these gentlemen began the improvement of the land. They had no dredges, but built levees, employing Chinese laborers, and in course of time had a large part of the land in a tillable condition. A few years later the land was equally divided between the three partners, and Mr. Bethell devoted his large ranch to the raising of grain, potatoes, alfalfa and stock, carrying on an extensive and remunerative business until his death, November 5, 1882. He was a man of substantial worth and character and was uniformly respected and esteemed. He took great interest in public affairs, and was a local supporter of the principles of the Democratic party.
Mrs. Bethell continued the management of the home farm for many years, selling out in 1902. She is a woman of rare business ability, and has wisely invested her money. In 1891 she erected the Bethell block, at the corner of San Carlos and First streets, a fine brick building, 60x128 feet, in which there are two stores. Mrs. Bethell has three children, namely: Mrs. May Hanna, of San Jose; Mrs. Lu Fisher, of Detroit, Mich.; and Thomas C., associated with the San Jose Electric Improvement Company.
Transcribed
4-10-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 1131-1132. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R.
Pankey.