Santa Clara County
Biographies
LEWIS AMISS SPITZER
LEWIS
AMISS SPITZER. It is not with a feeling of curiosity that we turn to the lives
of the old pioneers of the west, but with the most profound veneration and
respect for those who have undergone the hardships and privations incident to
the formation and material upbuilding of a
government; for those whose moral, mental and physical powers have been
enlisted in the cause of a new statehood, and those whose strength of character
and manhood is the measure of the foundation which upholds the greatness of our
western state. California numbers many men among her citizens whose
retrospective glance recalls active participation in the pioneer events of the
state, none of whom, however, are more representative of that early period than
is the subject of our review, Lewis Amiss Spitzer, whose name, so well known
beyond the confines of his home city, San Jose, and Santa Clara county, is
likewise associated with present prosperity as well as past effort.
A
native of New Market, Shenandoah county, Va., Mr. Spitzer was born
February 10, 1840, on the paternal side a descendant of German
ancestry and on the maternal of French Huguenot stock. His paternal
grandparents, Henry and Catherine (Wentz) Spitzer, moved from Lancaster county,
Pa., shortly after their marriage, locating in Shenandoah county, Va., where
they reared a family of four sons and four daughters, namely: Sarah, Samuel,
Moses A., Charles, Mary, Nancy, William and Elizabeth, all of whom are now
deceased. All but Elizabeth, the youngest, married and reared families,
locating in Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Virginia, their native state, several serving
in the Civil war, some in the Confederate and others in the Federal army. A son
of the oldest daughter (John) was flag-bearer for an Ohio regiment in which
service he met his death. The second son, Moses A., came west to
California as a member of the ill-fated Donner party, his death occurring in
Mr. Breen’s cabin during the winter of 1846-47. Charles Spitzer, the
father of our Mr. Spitzer, allied his fortunes by marriage with the
representative of an old Virginia family, Elizabeth F. Amiss becoming his
wife. On account of religious persecution members of the Amiss family left
France in an early day, locating in Scotland, from which country, Thomas, the
great-grandfather of Mr. Spitzer and his brother Philip, immigrated to
America during the Revolutionary war and served in the Continental army under
General Washington. They then settled in Westmoreland county, Va., where
they married and reared families, Gabriel, the son of Thomas, marrying his
cousin, the daughter of Philip, their daughter, Elizabeth F., becoming the
wife of Charles Spitzer. To Mr. and Mrs. Spitzer were born four children,
those besides Lewis A., who was the second in order of birth, being as
follows: Mary C., Sarah A. and Henry. Mary C., who was born
January 21, 1837, and died February 16, 1900, married
William F. Rupp, of New Market, Va., and became the mother of three sons,
Charles E., William and Joseph H. Sarah Ann, born in New Market, Va.,
March 4, 1842, died in the same place August 11, 1849.
Henry, born in New Market, Va., December 22, 1844, enlisted in the
Confederate army at the age of sixteen years, serving until the close of the
war as the youngest man in the company. He was paroled at Appomattox Court
House, April 10, 1865. Being a great admirer of Gen. Robert E.
Lee he adopted the name of Robert Henry and ever afterwards went by that name.
A few years after the war he came to California and located in Hollister, San
Benito county, being united in marriage with Alice Bryant,
August 12, 1879, the only child born of the union dying in infancy.
While out hunting deer with his wife’s uncle, J. A. Ashcraft, he was
accidentally shot by his companion, August 18, 1882, his death
removing from his fellow-citizens a man universally beloved and respected by
all who had known him.
Lewis
A. Spitzer spent his boyhood years among the scenes of his native state,
remaining under the parental roof until he was seventeen years old.
April 26, 1857, he determined to go west, the pioneer spirit which
had animated his forefathers becoming manifest in his own life. On reaching the
Mississippi valley he stopped at St. Louis, Mo., where one of his uncles,
Thomas Lewis Amiss, had settled when the city was a small town; but our subject
being of a restless nature and animated by a desire to acquaint himself with the
pioneer life of the far west, he crossed the plains in the spring of the
following year, 1858, driving an ox team for the firm of Majors, Russell &
Waddell, the great Rocky mountain freighters, who armed each of their men with
a six-shooter and a pocket Bible, telling them that both were useful and to be
used as occasion required. William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) was at one time one
of Colonel Majors’ herders, and Mr. Spitzer subsequently became well
acquainted with him. This journey was safely completed, and shortly after its
close and his arrival in California, Mr. Spitzer, then a boy of eighteen
years, joined the party under Bishop and Beale, in their famous attempt to open
a route overland. The story as told by Mr. Spitzer is. one of
intense interest, of thrilling adventures and narrow escapes, and forcibly
illustrates the character of those early days. In 1858, Samuel Addison Bishop
and his partner in the stock business, Gen. E. F. Beale,
contracted with the government to build a road across the plains and deserts
from Fort Smith, Ark., to Fort Tejon, Cal., what was
known as the Beale route being the general course. In the fall of that same
year General Beale left Fort Smith and proceeded westward, while
Mr. Bishop made an eastward start from Fort Tejon.
In the train of the latter were forty men, six six-mule teams and twenty pack
camels, the government having imported forty-four of the last named animals
from Egypt, as an experiment, allowing Mr. Bishop to select twenty of the
best for use on this trip. The camels were brought to the United States under
the care of Hijolly, a Turk, and two Greeks named
Georgina, and were kept on the Bishop and Beale ranch near Fort Tejon.
In
spite of the remonstrance of Colonel Huffman and two full companies of dragoons
which had been driven away from the present location of Fort Mojave by the
Mojave Indians, Mr. Bishop set out with his little party, fearless of the
danger suggested by the soldiers. But little progress had been made upon the
trip, however, before there were unmistakable signs that the Indians were upon
the warpath. A line was discovered drawn across the side of the trail; on the
side of the line upon which the company traveled were forty-one marks with an
arrow stuck in each mark, a significant expression of the intended fate of the
men. On the other side of the line were thousands of marks. Not in the least
intimidated by these silent threats the party proceeded upon its way, the only
notice taken being to keep a good guard day and night. A few miles from the
present location of Fort Mojave the party was surrounded by fifteen
hundred or two thousand Indians who pretended to be friendly, this pretense
being maintained until it was evident that the men were too wise to divide
their number in an attempt to cross the river, when they attacked them openly.
Having no other weapons than bows, spears and war clubs the party of white men
were far superior to them, with the old Mississippi yagers,
shot guns and six-shooters killing several of their number and driving the
remainder to seek cover. The night was a hideous demonstration of the savage
nature, their dead being burned in sight of the other camp while their red
brethren danced about the fire and sang in mad glee. For five days following
the breaking of camp in that location, which occurred the following morning,
the party were surrounded by the Indians which they were compelled to fight
constantly to keep at a distance. At the first opportunity they retreated to
Piute creek to await the coming of eight companies of infantry which they knew
were coming up the river to establish Fort Mojave. After erecting a stone
wall the party remained in camp for seventeen days, during which time half of
the party had become discontented and refused to go ahead on the proposed road
and meet Beale in New Mexico. Of the forty men the following remained with
their leader: Ike Renfro; Tom Goshorn;
L. A. Spitzer; Tiff Stewart; Matt Stewart; Gabriel Acuna, a California Indian; Bob Wallace, a Choctaw Indian;
Dad Grimes; John Aitken; Tom Aitken;
Martin Van Ness; Uriah Pierce; Jim Givens; Alex. Clapp; Jack Goday, a California Indian; Bill Willoughby; Gus Snyder;
Jack Tibbitts; Sam Young; George Allen, a Greek; and Hijolly, a Turk, the two last named having been brought to
the United States by the government in charge of the camels. It was arranged
that Mr. Bishop and his twenty men should leave camp under cover of the night,
and travel to evade the Indians; the others were to leave the next morning with
the mule teams on the back track.
After
traveling all night the party reached the Colorado river twenty miles below the
spot where they had struck it before, crossing on rafts, the camels swimming.
The Indians having discovered the forward march of the party, several fights
ensued. The men had been fighting the Indians under the command of Chief Erataba, this chief having commanded at the battle which
had occurred a short time before with the Hedgpeth
and Udell trains, a wagon train of rich emigrants,
who were nearly annihilated by the savages. The same band of redmen then had Olive Oatman and
her sister captive at a point farther down the river. Two days after leaving
the river they were attacked by the Tonto Apaches whom they worsted in the
fight. Without further serious adventure they went on east until they met
General Beale’s train in the western part of New Mexico. While camped at
San Francisco mountains Kit Carson, the old Indian scout, came to their camp
and congratulated the party, claiming they were the most successful party that
ever traveled through that country. The combined party then consisted of eighty
men, twelve teams, and the camels, and were thus enabled to travel in
comparative safety. However, after journeying about three or four hundred miles
the Apaches attacked the company and killed three mules. With a natural desire
for revenge, a part of the company, among whom was Lewis A. Spitzer,
concealed themselves near the dead animals while the rest broke camp and moved
down on the plain. About sunrise the next morning the Indians came to get the
mules to eat, and to their surprise were fired upon, four being killed outright
while many more were crippled. An increased number of Indians forced the little
party of white men to retreat, but on their arrival at Fort Mojave they found
that a treaty had been made with the Indians by Major L. A. Armistead
(later a general in the Confederate army). General Beale was so delighted with
the success of the men who had attempted the chastisement of the Indians who
had so daringly attacked the party, that he promised them a grand banquet at
the Belle Union hotel, in Los Angeles, when their work was finished.
Beale
and Bishop then planned to go east as far as the San Francisco mountains to
work on the Beale route, as the government had already contracted for a
tri-weekly mail to be carried over it. Owing to the hostility of the Mojave and
Tonto Apache Indians the project was abandoned. After the party had started to
go to the San Francisco mountains a second time the leaders concluded that it was
unwise to take all the outfit on the road again, so on the east side of the
Colorado mountains Bishop called for volunteers to stay there and guard the
property left in camp. Lewis A. Spitzer, Ike Renfro and Tom Goshorn volunteered to do so, and though all were satisfied
as to the safety of the three left behind on account of the treaty recently
signed with the Indians, yet the precaution of erecting a stone fort on the
point of a ridge running down on the east side of the mountain, a perpendicular
bluff about thirty feet high running around the point of the ridge, making the
camp an ideal place of defense, and for many years known as Rock Fort. About
eight days after the three were left alone in the mountains signal smoke was
seen ascending above the tree tops and peaks, and with the knowledge which was
a part of the pioneer’s weapons of defense they knew something unusual was to
be expected from the savages. Soon afterward a party of Indians dressed like
squaws wanted to come into the camp, but quickly discovering that bows, spears
and warclubs were hidden beneath their robes of
rabbit skins the men immediately drew a line across the trail and made signs
for them not to cross it. A fight was the necessary sequence but the Indians
were repulsed, and though they were harassed by them for two months and a half,
were safely relieved at the end of that time by Major Armistead, who had been
told by a friendly Indian that the Tonto Apaches and Mojaves
had three white men besieged and intended to get their scalps if it took half
the tribes to do it. The three men, however, refused to return with their
rescuers unless animals were furnished to take everything to the fort. After
remaining with the men one night the party returned to the fort and three
nights later arrived with the necessary mules, teamsters and escort. The trip
to the fort was made in safety but during the passage a water spout almost
washed away the entire party, scattering and demolishing the greater part of
their property. A feature of their imprisonment upon the mountain at Rock Fort
was a large greyhound which proved to be a splendid watch dog, giving the alarm
with as unfailing a certainty as a sentinel would have done, thus allowing all
three of the men to seek needed rest. A member of the rescue party was Jackson
McCracken, now an honored resident of Santa Clara county in his orchard home on
Santa Cruz mountain. Shortly after reaching the fort the Indians congregated in
large numbers and attempted to surprise the soldiers in Fort Mojave, some
of their warriors swimming the river and trying to kill the sentinels who were
stationed on the river bank above and below; but the sentinel above the fort
heard the arrows as they flew past him, and he stepped near to the bank and
discovered the Indians. With his rifle and revolver he killed three of their
number, at the same time giving the alarm, which was quickly answered by the
officers, who without waiting to dress, ordered the soldiers to charge the
enemy. Shortly afterward a raid was planned as a chastisement for the savages,
a fight down the river ensuing, during which a great many Indians were killed,
though they fought with all the fierce intensity of their natures, Chief Erataba, according to the interpreter, urging his warriors
to beat the brains of the soldiers out with their war clubs. This old chief
lived to be a very old man, his death having occurred but a few years ago.
A
few weeks later the road party came to the camp which had just been deserted
and not knowing what had befallen the men were much disturbed, but upon their
arrival at the fort there was great rejoicing at their escape. The entire party
then returned to Los Angeles and were there paid for their long and arduous
labor, an instance in connection with the remuneration being of particular
interest to Mr. Spitzer. When he had first applied to Mr. Bishop for
a place on the force the latter had told him he thought him too young; that he
wanted men that were not afraid of anything, and added that all were liable to
lose their scalps, finishing by saying, “I want men, not boys.” But this boy,
chancing to be one who was not in the least fearful of the consequences, and
with the experiences of the trip appealing to him in more than one sense, was
not discouraged and answered him in a way that won him the position and
afterward a lifelong friend: He told him he had crossed the plains with Col.
Alex. Majors, and what had been said at the time of the distribution of
the revolvers and Bibles, and added that if he proved of less value than any man
he would not ask a dollar for his time and effort. Needless to say he received
the same wages paid to the men of the party. While in Los Angeles General Beale
made his promise good by giving Mr. Spitzer and his associates of the
Indian chastisement a banquet at the Belle Union hotel, which was said to be
the best hotel south of San Francisco. The greater part of the night was spent
at the banquet, after which some of the party who partook too freely of wine,
started out to paint the town red. Incapable of defending themselves some were
knifed, others sandbagged and robbed, the night made a memorable one, and one
which old residents of Los Angeles may still recall. But two members of the
party – to the knowledge of the writer – are now living, of whom Sam Young,
the brother-in-law of Mr. Bishop, is now a resident of San Jose, while
George Allen, the Greek brought to the United States in charge of the
camels imported, is a resident of San Fernando, Los Angeles county, Cal. Always
loyal to those who had ever helped him in any way Mr. Spitzer was with
Mr. Bishop at the time of his death at San Jose, Cal.,
June 3, 1893, his burial being presided over by the Masonic
fraternity, of which he was a member. Col. Alex. Majors, of whom mention
has been made, was the man who gave to Col. William F. Cody
(Buffalo Bill) his early training, Colonel Majors remaining his life-long
friend, as he was also Mr. Spitzer’s, visiting the latter in his home in
San Jose several times. He died in Denver several years ago.
After
returning to California Mr. Spitzer lived in various counties, among them being
Los Angeles, Kern, Tulare, Fresno and Mono, in the last named county engaging
in mining and teaming, besides conducting a restaurant during the summer of
1860. He first came to Santa Clara county in the winter of 1859 and 1860, but
remained only a short time, after which he went to Monterey county, remaining
for three years. In 1863 he started in company with William T. Brown,
afterward sheriff of San Benito county, to join the Confederate army, but being
taken sick, stopped at Austin, Lander county, Nev., on Reese river, where he
mined for silver for some time. Returning to California with his wife, formerly
Elizabeth H. Easterday, of Austin, Nev.,
whom he married July 4, 1865, he located in San Luis Obispo county,
where he made his home for two years. Coming then to Santa Clara county he has
since been numbered among her progressive and enterprising citizens, engaging
in mining, stock-raising and farming until he was elected to public office. A
stanch Democrat, Mr. Spitzer has always been active in his support of the
principles which he endorses, and as a man of ability and integrity his name
has come prominently before the public in various ways, his first official
service being in 1875 to 1878, inclusive, as deputy assessor under Henry
Phelps. In 1882 he was elected to the office of assessor on the Democratic
ticket, and has held the office continuously ever since, now serving the sixth
term, to which he was elected by a majority of forty-two hundred and
sixty-eight, an evidence of the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow
citizens. He is truly appreciated for the many fine qualities which have
distinguished his character throughout his life in the county: whole-souled, generous and just, he numbers his friends about as
liberally as his acquaintances, his home being noted for the hospitality which
is a feature in the character of Mr. Spitzer. Fraternally he is one of the
most prominent men in this section of the country, being now grand marshal of
the Masonic Veteran Association of the Pacific coast, during 1897 and 1901,
inclusive, serving as the Right Venerable Grand Marshal. He belongs to the
following societies: Friendship Lodge No. 210,
F. & A. M.; Howard Chapter No. 14, R. A. M.;
San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T., and Islam Temple,
Mystic Shrine of San Francisco; San Jose Chapter No. 31, O. E. S.;
Enterprise Lodge No. 17, A. O. U. W.; Alida
Upchurch Lodge, Degree of Honor; San Jose Council No. 591, National Union, and
is a charter member of San Jose Lodge of Elks No. 522. The Santa Clara County
Pioneer Society several years since elected him an honorary member of the
society, and he is now treasurer of the same.
Of
the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Spitzer we make the following mention:
Mary E. became the wife of Elmer B. Leavitt, and is now living in
Bingham, Utah; Frank E. married Edith A. Shackelford, and with their
two children, Doris and Leona, they reside in San Jose; Maggie L. became
the wife of Joseph Pearson and is living at home with her one child, Pearl;
Sarah E. married Earnest A. Pitman and lives in San Francisco;
Lewis A., Jr., married Mary B. Hansworth
and they have one child, Lewis Andrew; Florence Virginia became the wife of
Delos D. Davis, principal of a grammar school in Fresno; Ethel Loraine,
the youngest child, resides with her parents. Two sons, Charles H. and
Simon H., died at the age of four months.
Transcribed
by Marie Hassard 11 August 2014.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 371-377. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Marie Hassard.