Santa
Clara County
Biographies
EBEN VAN DINE
When only
sixteen years of age Eben Van Dine became a pioneer
of California, coming west by way of the Isthmus of Panama at a time when the
country presented a field of but doubtful opportunities. He brought with him, however,
those qualities which have won for the New England citizen the unquestioning
approval of all with whom he comes in contact, for he was a native of Maine,
and was early trained in the thrifty habits and energy of his forefathers. On
his arrival in the west, like the many thousands who were then seeking fortune
on the Pacific coast, he went to the mines, locating first in Stanislaus
county. Under the influence of his early training, however, he was not content
with following the precarious fortunes of a miner, and later he located in
Tulare county where he engaged in farming for his livelihood. Becoming
interested in the agricultural advantages of Santa Clara county, he purchased,
with a partner, one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government,
located one and a half miles south of Cupertino. This was his last earthly home
and it was here that he passed away in 1890, at the age of fifty years.
By his marriage with Ruth E. Gruwell, Mr. Van Dine allied himself with a pioneer family
of note. Melvin L. Gruwell, the father, was born in
Marion county, Ind., in 1826, a son of John and Ruth Gruwell,
who removed to Quincy, Ill., when he was only a babe. They were the parents of
nine children, five sons and four daughters, three sons, Asa, Robert and Jacob,
leaving their home in Farmington, Iowa, to which they had
removed in 1837, and bringing their families to California in famous ’49. Their
first winter was spent in Los Angeles, after which they all eventually located
in the Santa Clara valley. The mother died in Iowa in 1847. In 1852 Melvin L.,
Laban H., and the father came overland to the state, being accompanied by two
sisters, Melina and Lydia, and their families. Melvin L. Gruwell
spent his first year in California in the mines of Sonora and the year
following he came to Santa Clara county and located on his present farm in the
Moreland district, where he now owns one hundred and twelve acres having sold
in 1887 a portion of the original one hundred and seventy-eight acres
purchased. Although this property cost him considerable money, as he was forced
to buy out several persons who claimed the land under other grants it has still
been a profitable investment, and with the care and attention which he has
bestowed upon its cultivation he has brought his ranch to rank with the most
productive in this section of the country. Besides general farming he is
interested in the cultivation of fruit, devoting thirty acres to orchard and
vineyard. On the 29th of March, 1855, he married Sarah Jane Wear, a
native of Jackson county, Mo., whose parents, William W. and Thurza Wear, crossed the plains in 1852 and settled near Mountainview, (sic) Santa Clara county. Both parents are
now deceased, the mother dying in 1869, while the father died in 1885. Ten
children were born to them, named in order of birth as follows: Ruth E., before
mentioned as the wife of Eben Van Dine; Martha Ann;
Lydia J.; William W.; Arthur J.; Charles Lee; Thurza
W.; Lawrence C.; Kate; and Lulu.
Since the death of her husband Mrs.
Van Dine has conducted the affairs of her ranch, which comprises thirty-five
acres in all. Of this tract twenty-five acres are devoted to the cultivation of
prunes five to peaches and the balance to hay and grain. In her political
convictions she is a Republican.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1389. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.