Santa
Clara County
Biographies
CAPT.
BENJAMIN P. SHULER
CAPT. B. P. SHULER. Although scarce a decade has passed since
Capt. B. P. Shuler became a resident of Los Gatos he is already
identified with the best and highest interests of city and county, and has
acquired a position of prominence among the leading citizens of this part of
California. Possessing an unlimited
stock of energy and ability, and being unusually quick of apprehension, and
far-seeing, he has exerted a strong personal influence in whatever community he
has made his home, and at all times has been one of the foremost to encourage
and promote all enterprises tending to advance the welfare and progress of
society. A son of Samuel Shuler, Jr., he
was born in Lycoming county, Pa., in 1829. His grandfather, Samuel Shuler, Sr., was of
Knickerbocker stock, and emigrated from Holland, his native country, to
Pennsylvania in colonial days, and was there engaged in farming until his
death.
A lifelong resident of Lycoming county, Pa., Samuel Shuler, Jr., succeeded to the occupation
in which he was reared, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits during his
entire active career. He married for his
first wife Margaret Chapman, who was born, lived and died in Pennsylvania. She bore him eleven children, of whom
B. P., the subject of this sketch, is the youngest one now living. By his second marriage he became the father
of one child, John B. Two of his
sons, B. P. and John B., served in the Civil war. John, now a resident of Indiana,
enlisted in the Forty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry, was made lieutenant
of his company, and served until the close of the war, being twice wounded in
battle.
B. P. Shuler remained at home until
seventeen years old, attending the short terms of the district school, and
working on the farm. He subsequently
served an apprenticeship of three years at the trade of a millwright, working
in Lycoming county.
Starting westward in 1850, he assisted in running lines for the location
of the Michigan Central Railway in Michigan, and while there succumbed to a
severe attack of fever and ague. Going
thence to Indiana, he spent two years in Laporte. In 1852 Mr. Shuler went up the
Mississippi river from Galena, Ill., to St. Paul, Minn., which was then a
small village, while Minneapolis, the site of which he saw bought, in 1854, for
$1.25 per acre, was not then in existence.
Locating in Minneapolis as one of its very first settlers, he was
employed in building mills in that locality until after the breaking out of the
Civil war. Enlisting in Company A, Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, in 1862,
Mr. Shuler was mustered in as a private at Fort Snelling, was sent to look
after Indians that were then on the war path, and succeeded in capturing the
ringleaders. Afterward, with his
regiment, he was stationed through the winter at Fort Wyman, Rolla, Mo., where
he served as quartermaster, with the rank of first lieutenant. Going south in the spring, Lieutenant Shuler
had command of his company in several engagements in Mississippi, including
those at Guntown, Tupelo, Hatchie and Lula Rock. He subsequently followed Price through
Missouri to Kansas City, and took part in the battles at Independence and
vicinity. He afterward did gallant
service in the Battle of Nashville, when Hood’s army was routed, and during the
fight received his commission as captain of Company H, Ninth Minnesota
Volunteer Infantry. Captain Shuler next
went by boat to New Orleans, thence to Mobile Bay, and took part in the
engagements at Spanish Fort and Fort Blakeley.
After Lee’s surrender he was sent to Montgomery, Ala., and was stationed
there for a few months, subsequently going to Fort Snelling, Minn., where he
was mustered out, August 24, 1865.
He had a notable record for fidelity while in the war, during the three
years and eleven days that he was in service not being off duty a single day.
Returning to Minneapolis, Captain Shuler
was employed for a time as a mill builder and contractor, erecting among others
the Cataract, the Union and the Washburn B mills. While thus engaged he organized the firm of
Hobart, Shuler & Elliott, and purchased the Arctic mill, which he operated
for five years, when he sold out his interest.
Resuming his former occupation, the captain built mills in different
parts of Minnesota, Iowa, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas and
Wisconsin, being in partnership the greater part of the time with his brother
Robert, the firm name being Shuler brothers.
Giving up his business as a contractor and builder in 1888, the captain
was a resident of Minneapolis until April, 1889, when he was appointed, by
President Harrison, as Indian agent for the Chippewas,
and had charge of the Chippewa Indian Reservation, near Detroit, for four
years, or until change of administration.
In 1895 Captain Shuler came to California, locating in Los Gatos, where
he bought land, which he has greatly improved, setting out many trees, and
adding other improvements of note.
While living in Minneapolis, in 1863 Captain Shuler married Abby Tidd, who was born and reared in Maine. The captain has always taken an active and intelligent interest in public affairs, and has served in many positions of importance. In 1856 and 1857 he was a member of the old territorial legislature of Minnesota, and as a representative to the Minnesota legislature in 1887 and 1888 succeeded in pushing through the bill creating a soldiers’ home for the state, and in having the high license law passed. He also filled many county and city offices while a resident of Minneapolis. In April, 1902, Captain Shuler was elected a member of the city council of Los Gatos for a term of four years, and served as chairman of the committee on roads and bridges, and as a member of the water committee. He was active in the organization of the public library of this city, and was one of the building committee in the construction of the library building, and is now chairman of the board of library trustees. In 1851 Captain Shuler was made a Mason in Pennsylvania, and is now a member of Hennepin Lodge No. 4, F. & A. M., of Minneapolis. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic in Minnesota, and while there served as commander of his post. He now belongs to the E. O. C. Ord Post, No. 82, G. A. R., Los Gatos, and has twice served as commander of this post. In 1888 he united with the Minnesota Commandery, Loyal Legion, and now belongs to the California Commandery, L. L. The captain is also a member, and president, of the Minnesota Society of Santa Clara county, which he organized.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
BENJAMIN P.
SHULER
1884
Jun 14, The Saint Paul Globe, P5, Saint Paul,
Minnesota
Capt.
B. P. Shuler, of Minneapolis, was in the city Thursday on business.
1889
Jun 5, The Saint Paul Globe, P3, Saint Paul, Minnesota
Capt.
B. P. Shuler has gone up to the White Earth agency, and it is expected some of
the employes will come back on the return train.
1922
Mar 3, San Jose Mercury News, P20, San Jose, California
Mrs.
Abbie Shuler of Los Gatos Succumbs
Special to the
Mercury Herald
Los
Gatos, March 2 – An unusually large circle of friends mourn the sudden passing
of Mrs. Abbie Shuler who was called at 3:25 a.m. today at the family home on
San Jose avenue. Mrs. Shuler had reached
the advanced age of 86 years with mind and faculties
unimpaired and at the time of her death was serving for the third year
as president of E. O. C. Ord Corps No. 51, W. R.
C. Her first term was 25 years ago and
second term 26 years and again last February she was made head of this valued
auxiliary of the G. A. R. Mrs. Shuler was
also a highly respected member of Hesperian Rebekah
lodge No. 70 I. O. O. F., and of the Los Gatos chapter No. 158 Order of Eastern
Star. While [unreadable word] loyal to
these orders her first allegiance belonged quite naturally to the Woman’s
Relief Corps. In 1912 the various orders
to which Mr. and Mrs. Shuler belonged joined in giving them a reception in
honor of their golden wedding, an affair which showed the love and esteem in
which they were held. Mrs. Shuler is
survived by her husband, Captain B. P. Shuler, a sister, Mrs. Fatima Tyson of
Kennedy road, the following nieces, Mrs. Addie Smith of Washington, D. C.,
Mrs. Etta Mingo of Seattle, Mrs. Lizzie Thompson of
Alameda, Mrs. Jessie DeLaney of Oakland, and Mrs.
Gertrude Cleghorn of Los Gatos. Two nephews, Frank Tuttle of Alameda and
Harry Tyson of Yelm, Wash., also two grand nieces, Mrs. Eva Short and Rosa Clokhorn. Mrs.
Shuler’s last illness was not quite a week in duration and during that time she
was tenderly cared for by her niece, Mrs. Cleghorn,
and her tried and true friend, Mrs. Alice M. Gillette, who assisted the doctors
and nurses. The funeral services will be
held at the Place funeral home on Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock, under the
auspices of E. O. C. Ord Corps No. 51, W. R. C. Incineration at Mount
Olivet cemetery on Monday at 11 a.m.
1922
Mar 3, Evening News, P10, San Jose, California
Schuler[sic]
– In Los Gatos, Cal, March 2, 1922, Abby Elizabeth Shuler, beloved wife of
Benjamin P. Shuler and loving sister of Mrs. Fatima Tyson of Los Gatos, and
aunt of Mrs. Adda Smith of Washington, D. C.; Mrs.
Etta Mingo of Seattle, Wash.; Mrs. Lizzie Thompson of Alameda, Mrs. Jessie De
Laney of Oakland, Mrs. Gertrude Cleghorn of Los
Gatos, Frank Tuttle of Alameda, Harry Tyson of Yelm, Wash., and great-aunt of
Mrs. Eva Short of Oakland, a native of Canada, aged 86 years, 3 months and 30
days.
1922
Nov 23, Evening News, P9, San Jose, California
Abbie
Shuler Memorial
An
Abbie Shuler memorial was instituted when the members of Sheridan-Dix and E. O.
C. Ord relief corps gathered for a birthday luncheon
in Odd Fellows hall, Tuesday. Many years
ago Abbie Shuler and other of the older members of E. O. C. Ord
corps of Los Gatos began the celebration of the birthdays of those who were
born in November. This annual event has
been one of the happy fall observances of the corps. The custom has grown until Sheridan-Dix corps
was this year hostess for E. O. C. Ord and at
Tuesday’s meeting it was decided to give permanence to the fall birthday party
and to make it a lasting memorial to Mrs. Shuler. A group of executives were chosen Mrs. Helen
Martin of Los Gatos was named president; Mrs. Mary Coleman, secretary, and Mrs.
Jennie Hamilton, treasurer, to arrange for next year’s celebration. Mrs. Lue Tripp,
president of Sheridan-Dix corps, presided over the luncheon. Among the speakers were
Mrs. Alice M. Gillett, past department president. More than 150 from the relief corps of Los
Gatos and San Jose attended the complimentary event. Mrs. Nelson Dickey was chairman for the
luncheon.
1922
Apr 4, San Jose Mercury News, P11, San Jose, California
Los
Gatos Loses Beloved Resident
Captain
Shuler, Civil War Veteran, 94 Years Old, Died Sunday
Special
to the Mercury News
Los
Gatos, April 2 – Captain Benjamin P. Shuler passed away on Sunday, following
his wife, Mrs. Abbie Shuler, whose death too place just a month before to the
day. The funeral service will be held
tomorrow (Tuesday) at 3 p.m. from [unreadable word] Place Funeral home in
charge of E. O. C. [unreadable word] No. 82 [unreadable word] of which he was
an honored member. Captain Shuler who has been a resident of Los Gatos for the past 26
years, would have been 96 years old in September, had he lived. His life record is an enviable one, as up to
about two years ago he was very active in all that makes a good citizen, since
that time he has been in failing health.
He enlisted at the very first of the civil war and was made captain of
company H, Ninth Minnesota volunteers, and served through the four years of
that bitter struggle. After the war he
was made a member of the Minnesota legislature and still later served for four
years as United States Indian agent, in the Chippewa tribe. Mr. and Mrs. Shuler first came to Los Gatos
as visitors and the lure of the Santa Clara valley soon brought them from their
eastern home to settle in the Golden [unreadable word]. Since living here he has served as district
judge and town trustee. He was a life
member of the Masonic order, a member of the Odd Fellows for 70 years and a
member of the Loyal Legion, an organization composed of officers of the civil
war. In 1913 the Shulers
celebrated their golden wedding with a reception at the Masonic hall which is
still spoken of as one of the big affairs of Los Gatos.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1288-1289. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.