Santa Clara County
Biographies
MATTHEW DANIEL GREEN
M. D. GREEN. This pioneer of 1859 in California, who for
many years has made his home in San Jose, is a native of Shelbyville, Tenn.,
and a son of William and Sarah (Phillips) Green, natives of the Carolinas, the
former descended from English and German progenitors. During the war of 1812
William Green was one of four brothers who enlisted in the service of our
country and fought with Jackson at New Orleans, where he received a serious
wound in the chest. Having a vigorous constitution, he recovered quickly from
the effects of the wound and his army service, and lived to be four score years
of age, dying in Tennessee in 1863. His wife, who also attained the same age,
died in 1870 in Tennessee. They were the parents of twelve children who
attained mature years, but only three of these are now living, M. D. being
the only one in California and the youngest of the family. He was born
December 22, 1837, and spent his boyhood years on the home farm,
studying in local schools during the winter months and learning the carpenter’s
trade in the vacation seasons. When eighteen years of age he began to work at
his trade and soon took up contracting with his brother, Joseph. The year 1858
found him at Dardanelle, Ark., where he worked at carpentering. However, the
location was unsatisfactory to him, and believing the west offered more
favorable openings he decided to seek a new field for work. Just then Pike’s
Peak was attracting thousands by reason of the discovery of gold, and he was
one of the gold-seekers who, in 1859, turned their steps westward for the
mountains. In the spring of that year he started with a party of six, driving
ox teams and two wagons. They proceeded through the Cherokee Nation toward
their anticipated destination, but in Kansas met so many people returning east,
discouraged with prospects in Colorado, that they changed their plans; and
after a stop of only a few days at the present site of Denver they proceeded to
California, arriving in this state in October of 1859. From Tuolumne county they proceeded to Tulare county and at Visalia took
the stage to Mariposa county, where the first venture was made at mining. For
six years Mr. Green followed mining and carpentering in Bear Valley,
Princeton and Mariposa, and then went to Fresno county,
where he engaged in contracting from 1866 to 1868. During the latter year he
removed to Visalia, where he followed contracting and building. The spring of 1870 found Mr. Green
in San Jose, where for many years he devoted himself entirely to the work of a
contractor. In 1889 he bought the planing mill on
St. John street and for three years operated it,
selling out at the expiration of that time. From that time he gave his
attention to the lumber yard on Market and St. James streets until 1902,
when he disposed of the yard and resumed contracting and building. A number of
business houses have been erected by him and numerous residences, including
those owned by Henry Lux, Dr. Weyland and Adam Reel. He also built his own residence
at No. 429 North Sixth street. While living in
Visalia he married Miss Elizabeth Heley, who was born
in Iowa and died in San Jose. Two children were born of that union, namely:
William, of Visalia, and Jennie, who makes her home in San Francisco. The
second marriage of Mr. Green occurred in San Jose and united him with
Hattie Newson, a native of Iowa. Four children
were born of their union, three now living: Claude, who resides in Porterville,
this state; George, a carpenter working with his father; and Inez, who resides
with her parents. The family are identified with the
Christian Church in San Jose. Along the line of his occupation Mr. Green
holds membership in the San Jose Builders’ Exchange, and is a director of the
Indemnity Bond Company, while fraternally he is connected with Garden City
Lodge, I. O. O. F., Encampment and Order of Rebekahs,
in his home city.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 15 November 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
897-898. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.