Santa Clara County

Biographies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

D. C. VESTAL

 

 

            D. C. VESTAL. When William Penn brought a party of Quakers to the new world for the purpose of settlement, William Vestal, a native of England, accompanied him. He was a life member of the Society of Friends and a devout believer in its doctrines. Little is known concerning his personal history except the fact that he improved a large farm in Lancaster county and erected for his family a commodious stone residence. His son, Thomas, was born on this homestead, and accompanied the first Quaker settlement to North Carolina, where he settled in Guilford county, on Rocky river, and remained in the same locality until death. Jesse, son of Thomas, was born in Guilford county, and became a surveyor and teacher in Surry county, now Yadkin county, that state. In many respects he was a remarkable man. His physical prowess was extraordinary and as a marksman he had an unerring aim. In Masonry he rose to the thirty-second degree.

            The next generation was represented by Asa, son of Jesse Vestal, and a native of Guilford county, N. C. At thirteen years of age he bound himself out to a carriage-maker by the name of Wren. In 1839 he removed to Jackson county, Mo., crossing the mountains with horse teams and wagons, and settling on a section of fine land four miles from Lone Jack. Stock-raising became one of his specialties. He bought the first full-blooded Durham bull in his region, also was the means of securing the first lot of imported cattle ever taken there. On his farm he built a carriage and wagon shop, and did considerable work for the farmers who lived in the neighborhood, he being a first-class mechanic. Overwork when in North Carolina had impaired his health, and in Missouri he failed to regain his strength. Accompanied by his family, in 1849 he started across the plains, hoping to be benefited by the change of climate. At first he could walk only a few rods and even then was obliged to use crutches, for rheumatism had seriously affected his body. When he arrived at Chimney Rock he concluded to make an effort to walk and was surprised to find that the rheumatism had disappeared. The journey was made up the Platte via Salt Lake and the old California trail, and down the Humboldt, thence to the headwaters of the Feather river, afterwards known as Greenhorn cut-off. They left Missouri May 2, and arrived in California October 29, 1849. Besides several yoke of oxen used for drawing the wagons, they drove some cattle and horses loose. The wagons had been loaded with an abundance of provisions at the outset, but on the way they met so many poor and hungry men who begged for food that they were put on short rations and arrived at their destination almost starved. On the Humboldt they had a fight with Indians and one of the white men was wounded. Arriving at Lawson, Asa Vestal bought one hundred pounds of flour, for which he paid $150. He also bought some beef. Twenty days were spent in reaching Chico, a distance of twenty miles, a storm delaying them. One night they camped on a mound, which in the morning was surrounded by water, detaining them for three days. Their provisions were exhausted and they again suffered the pangs of hunger, having subsisted on acorns and coffee, but reaching Bidwell’s ranch, were given breakfast at $1 apiece, the meal consisting of tortillas (cooked by a squaw) and beef, bread and coffee. They then proceeded to John Potter’s ranch, where Mr. Vestal bought two sacks of flour at $75 each. Beef was secured at a more reasonable price. The father and two sons then went to Feather river and mined successfully till May, when the family went to Stockton and kept a hotel for six weeks.

            During August, 1850, the family journeyed along the old Spanish trail toward Santa Clara. One night they selected a place to camp with which the father was so well pleased that he decided to buy there, the location being in the city limits of San Jose. To their surprise they found that the only house near them was owned and occupied by a cousin, George Hobson, who invited them to remain with him until a house could be built for them. Mr. Vestal bought seventeen acres and a half (now owned by his son, D. C.), and paid $1 per foot for the lumber used in the house, the frame of which was of redwood. Later he bought the remaining one-half of the five hundred acre tract No. 15, for which he paid $20 per acre. This second purchase was made in 1852. Farming and stock-raising engaged his attention until his retirement from business cares. At the time of his death in 1884, he was eighty-four years of age. In politics he was a Republican and in religion a Quaker, but joined the Methodist Episcopal church.

            The marriage of Asa Vestal united him with Elizabeth Dejarnatt, who was born in Yadkin county, N. C., and died in California December 28, 1883, three weeks before the demise of her husband. She was a daughter of Daniel Dejarnatt, who was born in France of Huguenot descent, and settled in Richmond, Va., where he married a Miss Cook, a member of an old family of that state. One-third of the Cook estate was inherited by Mrs. Dejarnatt, and consisted of twenty-nine slaves and three hundred and twenty acres of land, forming a part of the present site of Richmond. Both she and her husband refused to accept any portion of the inheritance and their grandson, D. C., has, until recently, refused to claim his share. Of late, however, he has taken preliminary steps to recover the property. Near Jonesville Mr. Dejarnatt bought land, engaged in farming, carried on a store, served as justice of the peace, and was a highly respected citizen. His wife was ninety-six at the time of her death.

            In the family of Asa and Elizabeth (Dejarnatt) Vestal there were six children, namely: Richard K., a wagon-maker, who died in Los Angeles; Martha H., who died in Missouri at eighteen years of age; Emily, who died in North Carolina at an early age; Columbus, who died in Philadelphia at twenty-six years of age; D. C., of San Jose; and William A., who died at eleven years. D. C. Vestal was born in Yadkin county, N. C., April 7,  1836, and from the age of three to thirteen years lived in Missouri. During the journey west he drove a team and often stood guard at night. For four years after his arrival in California he and his older brother worked as teamsters. During the fall of 1854 the University of the Pacific was started and his father, as one of the first board of trustees, bought two scholarships in the institution. It was his desire that his sons should enter the college. However, D. C. refused, saying that he had had few school opportunities and would be the sport and butt of the other students. At that time the father owned what is now the Kirk property, comprising six hundred and forty acres and now valued at $500,000. The property was returning him a fair interest and if sold, would be at a sacrifice, but he at once determined to sell out and give his boys a chance. D. C. made such rapid progress that he was graduated in 1858, with the degree of A. B., and is now the only member of his class living.

            After graduating D. C. Vestal took up the study of medicine, which he followed as opportunity afforded and in the intervals of other work. One day while studying, the postboy threw a paper in the room and he read that Fort Sumter had been fired on. He threw down his book and the next day enlisted in Company D, First California Infantry, of which he became second lieutenant. The company was kept in service in keeping Indians subdued. The drinking of impure water and the exposure of forced marches while stationed at Mesilla, on the Rio Grande, seriously affected Mr. Vestal’s health and brought on the first illness from which he ever suffered. His weight was reduced from two hundred and eight to one hundred and eight pounds and at times his life was despaired of, but he finally recovered. One of the most distressing features of his trouble was an attack of scurvy, of which he finally cured himself by taking potash and using it with brine from pickled pork. Disability caused his resignation from the army in 1863. For ten years afterward he spent much of his time in the mountains and was greatly benefited by the mountain air and climate.

            The orchard which Mr. Vestal owns in San Jose consists of forty-five acres, planted to apples, apricots, cherries and prunes, and irrigated in every part by a pumping plant with two wells. An artesian well four hundred and sixty-four feet deep forces water into every part of the house. For years he has been a director in the Berryessa Fruit Growers’ Union. In politics he was an original Republican, but is now a socialist in the purer sense of the word, having left the Republican party in 1888 on account of its attitude regarding trusts and the silver question. He was an active promoter of the early Farmers’ Alliance for a separate party, but upon its absorption into the Democratic party he severed his connection with it. By precept and example he has always given his support to the cause of temperance. For many years he served as a member of the city council. At one time he was a member of the board of county horticultural commissioners. In 1868 he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but is now demitted. Other organizations with which he is connected are the Phil Sheridan Post, No. 10, G. A. R., and the Santa Clara County Pioneer Association.

            The marriage of Mr. Vestal occurred in San Francisco and united him with Miss Sally Hall, who was born in Marshall, Tex. Her father, Samuel Pike Hall, who was born in North Carolina, of Scotch-Irish and English descent, settled upon a large tract of land near Marshall, Tex., and from there in 1853 removed to California, settling in Santa Clara, but later going to San Luis Obispo county. Since his death, which occurred near San Jose, his widow has made her home in San Francisco. Eleven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vestal, of whom Bruce and Marian died at the ages of nineteen and sixteen years respectively. Those now living are as follows: Hall, a graduate of the Cooper Medical College, and now a practicing physician in Smartville, Cal.; Ashley Clinton and Mrs. Laura Imogene March, both of whom are on the Sandwich Islands; Valona, a student of music; Maxwell, who is attending the Leland Stanford University; Margaret and Helen, students in the San Jose high school; Dariel and Logan, the two last-named being twins.

            The following poem is from the pen of Mr. Vestal, and first appeared in the Santa Cruz Sentinel:

 

 

SONG—THE BAY OF MONTEREY.

 

            By the silvery crescent shore

            That girts around yon placid bay

            I wandered, and I gazed away,

            And listened to the spell that bore

            Me back in spirit to the day

            I first beheld fair Monterey.

 

            Long, long years have passed and no more

            The fire of youth inspires my way.

            Those verdant mountains fresh and gay,

            Like music from their cedars pour

            As when I first walked out to stray.

            By thy green cliffs, fair Monterey.

 

            Yet on my heart’s sad inmost core

            That music like a funeral lay—

            Falls in the strife of life’s affray,

            Cheerless, sad, and evermore

            Reminds me of the happy day

            I first beheld thee, Monterey.

 

            Those restless waves that crested pour

            Along thy beach their frothy spray,

            Reminds me of my earthly stay;

            Its restlessness I most deplore.

            O, hearts will break as well as they,

            Blue rolling waves of Monterey.

 

            There is a haven in the skies

            More beautiful than thee, they say,

            Where all is peace and purity.

            To that I’ll cast my weary eyes

            And gaze above, from thee today,

            O, fairest gem, bright Monterey!

                        May 25, 1865.

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

 

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 271-274. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.

© 2014  Marie Hassard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Clara Biography

Golden Nugget Library