Santa Clara County
Biographies
MRS. MARGARET (BRANHAM) OGIER
MRS. MARGARET (BRANHAM)
OGIER. Among the pioneer residents of San Jose no person occupies a place of
greater prominence and esteem than Mrs. Margaret (Branham) Ogier,
the daughter of Isaac Branham, one of the original settlers of this part of the
county, the widow of a prominent and well-known pioneer of San Jose, and
herself a resident of the place since her girlhood days. She comes from
patriotic colonial stock, her paternal grandfather, a Virginian by birth and
breeding, having served with gallantry and honor in the war of 1812, under Col.
R. M. Johnson, taking part in the engagement on the banks of the Thames
river, and there witnessing the death of the brave Tecumseh.
A native of Kentucky,
Isaac Branham was born in Scott county, August 31, 1803. Reared in
the wilderness until attaining his majority he became a skilled huntsman and
trapper, familiar with rod and rifle, the love of which never left him even in
the evening of his days. In 1824 he started on foot for Missouri, then the
extreme western frontier of civilization, all his worldly effects being packed
in an old army knapsack of the war of 1812. Overcoming all obstacles that beset
him on the rought (sic) journey, he located in
Callaway county, where he hewed out a farm from the
forest-covered land, and in the log house which he built in an opening
installed his bride. For many years Mr. Branham remained a resident of
Missouri, early becoming interested in the milling industry, in partnership
with a brother erecting several mills in the section of the state where they
located. Having built a grist mill, which was run by horsepower, they added a
distillery, the pipe which supplied the still with the beer from the mash tubs
being an old musket barrel, which was detached from its stock and made to do
duty as a part of the apparatus for a number of years. When Mr. Branham
was about to leave for California he detached this gun barrel, had it placed in
a stock with a rifle barrel, and thus supplied himself with a double barreled
gun, the weapon he carried across the plains and used for many years in the
west, and which is now in the possession of the family, prized as one of the
most valued heirlooms of that grand old pioneer.
Through his interest
in hunting and trapping Mr. Branham became acquainted with members of the
Sublette family, noted as hunters and trappers, from them learning of the
wonderful country and climate of California, and on account of impaired health
he decided to cross the plains and establish a home on the Pacific slope.
Joining the immigration starting in the spring of 1846, in company with his
wife and their four little ones, he made the journey in two wagons drawn by
three yoke of oxen to each wagon, taking at the same time two horses and two
cows, the latter furnishing milk all the way across the plains, and from which
he afterward raised considerable stock in the Santa Clara valley. Neither roads
nor trails then marked the pathway across the dreary desert, but through the
aid of Mr. Branham, who was one of the first to draw out of line when the
Donner party took what was known as Hudspeth’s
cut-off, they came safely through in six months and eleven days. Locating in
Santa Clara valley Mr. Branham immediately became identified with the
development and advancement of this beautiful garden spot of earth. His first
public service was an enlistment under Lieutenant Pinckney, of the United
States sloop of war Portsmouth, when he was placed in charge of the supplies to
be issued to the wives and children of the men who had gone with General
Fremont to Los Angeles. In February, 1847, Mr. Branham moved to San Jose,
and in conjunction with Capt. Julian Hanks constructed a sawmill and dam on the
Los Gatos creek just above the present station of Alma. To show the
thoroughness of his work and the quality of the material used, it is enough to
state that this dam is now in use and forms the head of supply for the San Jose
Water Company’s flume. This mill was afterward sold, and in the summer of 1848
Mr. Branham bought an interest in some mill machinery which had been
brought around the Horn, and in partnership with two others built a lumber mill
in San Mateo county, at what was called Brown’s Redwoods, near where the town
of Searsville now stands. This mill was started in
the spring of 1849, and was the first steam saw mill established on the Pacific
coast.
In 1852
Mr. Branham purchased six hundred and fifty-six acres of land, this being
a portion of the San Juan Batista rancho, situated five miles south of San
Jose, to which place he removed in 1856, and there resided until his death,
November 3, 1887, which occurred from an accident, he having been
thrown from a wagon, receiving injuries on his head which terminated three days
later in death. Mr. Branham was one of the earnest and forceful men of his
day and community. Intensely interested in the welfare of his adopted city he
spared no effort to locate the state capital in San Jose. A large two-story
adobe building owned by him, and which stood upon the corner of Guadaloupe and San Carlos streets, was placed temporarily
at the service of the state government, and there the senate of the state of
California convened and held the early meeting of its first session during that
winter. Mr. Branham, with eighteen other citizens, voluntarily came
forward and executed a note of $34,000 to purchase a building for the
occupation of the state legislature, and though the responsibility was great
the amount was afterward in great part made good to these generous and
public-spirited men by the state and city. Mr. Branham was a member of the
first town council of San Jose, but though a stanch
Democrat in politics he was never an aspirant for official recognition,
preferring the peace and quiet of his home life and that of a hopeful and
conscientious citizen. At the earnest solicitation of his friends he consented
to serve as supervisor from 1858 until 1860, and was an important factor in
establishing many valuable improvements. Mr. Branham was also one of the
pioneer vineyardists of Santa Clara county and one of
the very first manufacturers of wine and distillers of brandy.
February 23, 1832, in
Callaway county, Mo., Isaac Branham married Amanda A. Bailey, who was born
in Kentucky, of old Virginia stock, and was the only daughter in a family of
seven children. February 23, 1882, in San Jose, the friends of
Mr. and Mrs. Branham gathered on the home farm, and celebrated in royal
manner the golden anniversary of this esteemed couple. A very large number of
friends were present, embracing those from this county, and representatives
from all parts of the state, the occasion being notable and memorable.
Mrs. Branham survived her husband, dying in May, 1890, in San Jose. She
was a most estimable woman, and a consistent member of the Baptist church. Four
of their children were born in Missouri, and came with them across the plains
to California, namely: James, born in 1835; Francis E., born in 1838;
Margaret, born in Callaway county, Mo. July 21, 1841 ; and Benjamin F.,
born in 1845.
But five years old
when she came with her parents to California, Margaret Branham grew to
womanhood in San Jose, obtaining her early education in the common school, and
being well trained in the domestic sciences by her careful mother.
May 24, 1866, she was united in marriage with James H. Ogier, a young man of great prominence and worth. A son of
John Ogier, James H. Ogier
was born March 28, 1830, in Baltimore, Md. Although John Ogier was born on the Island of Guernsey, in the English
Channel, he was reared to manhood in Baltimore, Md., whither his parents
removed when he was nine years old, and there spent the remainder of his life.
He married Elizabeth Hargist, who was born in
England, and died in Baltimore, Md.
Reared and educated in
his native city, James H. Ogier was in the employ of
his father, a wholesale dealer in fruit and vegetables, until becoming of age.
On attaining his majority he came by way of Panama to California, being
accompanied by a Baltimore friend, James H. Cornthwait,
arriving in San Francisco August 2, 1851. For a year thereafter he
worked as a wage earner, but in 1852, in partnership with a cousin, rented land
about three miles north of San Jose, and put in a crop. The next year, the land
being for sale, Mr. Ogier borrowed money from
his father, and in partnership with two others, purchased seventy-five acres of
the farm. A number of years later Mr. Ogier
bought the entire ranch, containing three hundred acres of land, and continued
in general farming alone. Very energetic and enterprising, he was continually
adding improvements to his farm, and was one of the first to make a specialty
of fruit growing, setting out one of the first orchards in this part of the
county. He was engaged to some extent in stock raising, and established a fine
dairy. In 1883 Mr. Ogier built a fine residence
on his ranch, furnishing it with all modern improvements, and making it one of
the most attractive and desirable homes of the city or county. Coming here
without means other than willing hands and a dauntless spirit, he labored most courageously,
and by patience, perseverance and judicious management, he accumulated a
handsome competence. The beautiful home which he left to his family, free from
encumbrance, he was forced to buy three times, from as many claimants, before
he could obtain a clear title to the property. He died while yet in manhood’s
prime, May 7, 1885, in Baltimore, Md., while on a visit to his
brother, John Ogier. His body was brought hack to his old home, and interred in Oak Hill Cemetery,
San Jose. Mr. Ogier was a strong Democrat in
politics, but not an office seeker. He was at one time a director in the Santa
Clara Valley Agricultural Society, and was one of the stockholders, and a
director, of the San Jose Savings Bank.
For some years after
the death of her husband Mrs. Ogier superintended the
management of the home farm, continuing the improvements already established.
She set out more orchards, having now a large prune orchard, and she keeps one
hundred and forty cows. In conducting this large estate she has the assistance
of her sons, young men of characteristic enterprise and practical ability, the
eldest son, John B. Ogier, taking charge of the
orchards, while the younger son, J. Lee Ogier,
superintends the dairy. Mrs. Ogier was one of
the organizers, and a director, of the Pratt House, a home established for old
people, and is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 01 August 2014.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 265-267. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Marie Hassard.