THE
VALLEY OF HEART's DELIGHT
santaclararesearch.net
SPENCER MORROW MAZE
Across the Plains in '49-settling in Santa Clara County
SURNAMES: GRUWELL, REILY,
One of the early pioneers of Santa Clara County, who furnished a
splendid example of the self-made man, and whose career is worthy of
note, is Spencer Morrow Maze, who passed away May 11, 1916, at his home
in Gilroy, highly respectd by all who knew him. A Kentuckian by birth,
he was born July 16, 1830, in Henry County. The parents of Spencer Maze
were John and Sarah (Morrow) Maze, both also natives of Kentucky, the
former born January 16, 1788, and the latter, July 17, 1792.
They were married November 29, 1808, and were the parents of nine
children; Enoch, Elizabeth, Polly, Patsy, Sarah, Chesley, Eliza.
Spencer M. and Pleasant, all of whom are now deceased. In 1834 the
family moved to Illinois, locating in Macoupin County, where the father
bought up govrenment land in large sections and continued his
occupation of farming. After having located in Illinois, John Maze
returned to Kentucky to settle up his affairs and while there died,
September 6, 1835. His widow remained on the farm in Illinois for eight
years, and died May 24, 1843, when Spencer M. was but thirteen years of
age.
Left an orphan thus early in life, Spencer first took up his residence
with his brother Enoch, who soon removed to Carlton, where two years
later Enoch died. Spencer then became an apprentice to learn the
wagonmaker's trade and applied himself for three years, receiving ten
cents a day and board for his services. At the end of three years he
had thoroughly mastered the details of that business and in March,
1849, he set across the plains behind mule teams, without a relative in
the party, but being in company with Colonel Fry and James Ralston and
Mr. Sharon, who afterwards built the Palace Hotel in San
Francisco.
Upon arriving in Sacramento, August 3, 1849, he, in company with
Colonel Fry, went to the gold mines in the American River Valley,
spending his first winter at Georgetown. His work in the mines proved
successful and within two years he gave it up altogether. Going to
Santa Clara County in 1851, Mr. Maze first located in the vicinity of
Alviso and engaged in farming for a year and a half; going next to
Saratoga, he took up his trade of wagon maker and blacksmith for five
years and was successful in his undertaking. In August, 1858, he first
came to the Gilroy district, and two years later purchased what was
known as the Maze home ranch of 200 acres, which he operated for almost
thirty years as a dairy farm. In 1886, Mr. Maze retired from the active
duties of life and moved to Gilroy, where he spent the remainder of his
days, a worthy citizen of the locality.
While residing in Saratoga, in May, 1853, he married Miss Amanda
Gruwell, a native of Iowa, where she was born in January, 1837, a
daughter of Labon Gruwell, who crossed the plains in 1852, bringing his
family. Mr. and Mrs. Maze were the parents of five children; Edward
Record[see bio below}; Ella Pearl, became the
wife of Dr. J. R. Reily and she died
aged about forty years; there were two boys who died in infancy; and
Miss France Spencer Maze, of Gilroy. Mr. Maze was a Republican in
politics and was a patriotic citizen, as shown by the fact that from
1861 to 1865 he served as a membre of the Home Guards, first as a
private, then promoted to be captain. After locating on his ranch in
the south end of Santa Clara County, Mr. Maze found the place covered
with wild mustard no cultivation at all, and he had to do some very
hard pioneering work to first get his crops put in. During the years
1863-66-67-68, when he couldn't make the ranch pay, he would walk from
his ranch six miles to Gilroy, to work at his trade and back each
night, receiving $3.50 per day.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 438
EDWARD RECORD MAZE
Bio- Sawyers
SURNAMES: WHITNEY, REEVE, BLOCK,
HENRY, BURCHELL, PARMELEE,
One of the
most successful and painstaking farmers in the Gilroy precinct is
Edward record maze, a naative Californian who was born at Saratoga on
fevruary 4, 1856. The father, Spencer M Maze, was a Kentuckian and is
mentioned on another page of this book (see above). Edward atteneded the
public schools of Gilroy and the McClure military Academy of Oakland,
and ll his life he has lived on the home ranc. On July 8, 1886,
he was married to Miss virginia Strange, a daughter of Eddward
MacGruder Strange, a native of Virginia who came to California and
mined for a short time at Murphys Camp. He was a graduate in a
law of the University of Virginia and practiced a short time in
California, passing away in 1887. He was married in California to
Emmeline H. Whitney, born in Wisconsin, who came with her partents
across the plains in 1851 and located in Calaveras County, where she
was married and where her four children were born, namely Maria S.
Reeve of Gilroy, Edward W., of San Francisco; Virginia S. , Mrs Maze;
and Helen Strange Block, of Arizona. Mrs. Strange is still
living, aged eighty-five, making her home in Gilroy.
Mr. and Mrs.
Maze are the parents of four children; Irwin Strange, married Miss
Adele Henry, a graduate of the University of Caliornia, and they reside
at Oak Park, Ill; he graduated from the Davey School of Tree Surgery at
Kent, Ohio, and is folllowing that profession, and was at Camp Sherman
during the war; Winnifred Bernice, is the wife of J. W. Burchell, and
they reside at Walnut Grove, Cal., and have to children, Elton Spencer
and Winnifred B; Virginia, is sthe wife of J. W. Parmelee, residing at
Gilroy; Spencer M., who served three months in the S.A.T.C. at
Berkeley, is a rancher, residing at home. In national politics
Mr. Maze is a Republican, and fraternally a member of the Odd Fellows
since 1885 and a past grand officer and delage to the Grand
Lodge. His many qualities have plced him among those upon whom a
community for its substantial support.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 989
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