Bio- Pen Pictures
was born in
Stark County, Ohio, November 9, 1826. He was a son of Jacob and Barbara
Schallenberger, who were emigrants from Germany, his father being of
Swiss and his mother of German birth. They both died in Stark
County, when Moses was but six years of age, and he was taken into the
family of Dr. Townsend, who had married
his sister. It was with them that he made the famous journey
across the plains, as above related. [see The Murphy (Donner)
Party] Dr. Townsend was induced to undertake the journey to
California by the ill health of his wife. At that time they were living
in Buchanan County, Missouri, as was Mr. Montgomery, another of the
party. Montgomery was a gunsmith, and, during the winter of
1842-43 made a quantity of guns and pistols, ox shoes, and also fixed
up the wagons, and did everything in the way of iron-work necessary to
furnish a complete outfit for the trip. They had intended to
start early in the spring of 1843, but a Mr. Potter, who had an
interest in the expedition, dying unexpectedly, the start was delayed
until the next year. They spent this time in perfecting their
arrangements, among which was the marriage of Mr. Montgomery to a young
lady, Miss Armstrong, who was living at Dr. Townsend’s.
About
the first of March they arrived at the rendezvous at Nisnabotna, where
they were joined by the Murphy party. To Mr. Schallenberger we
are indebted for the facts concerning this historic journey which we
have given above. Of these first wagons that made tracks in
California, Mr. Schallenberger has in his possession a wheel, which he
guards as a precious relic. Mr. Schallenberger’s first employment
in California was in the mercantile establishment of Larkin and Greene
at Monterey, where he remained until the termination of the Mexican
War. The firm was largely engaged in furnishing supplies to the
United States navy, and Mr. Schallenberger’s duties consisted in
procuring these supplies from the country, and superintending their
delivery. In July, 1848, furnished with an invoice of goods by
the firm, he made a successful venture on his own account in the mines
on Yuba River. Later he engaged with James H. Gleason as a
partner in trade in Mexican goods at Monterey, which he closed in
December, 1850, when the death of his brother-in-law, Dr. Townsend,
necessitated his coming to San Jose to manage his estate.
The
same fatherly care that he had received from the doctor was, in return,
bestowed by him on the doctor’s only child, John H. M. Townsend.
He was married September 20, 1854, to Miss Fannie Everitt, at the
residence of Thomas Selby, in San Francisco. Mrs. Schallenberger
is a native of Alabama, born in 1834. Her father, John Everitt,
was for six years judge of the Court of Common Pleas at Mobile, and his
ability as a lawyer and fairness as a judge, is shown by the fact that
no decision of his was ever reversed. Mrs. Schallenberger came to
San Francisco in 1852, with her brother-in-law, Mr. S. L. Jones.
The young couple set up housekeeping on Dr. Townsend’s estate, but a
year later they moved to the homestead, on the Coyote River, two miles
north of San Jose, where they have lived ever since. The house
they first erected was burned in 1870, but was immediately replaced by
one more adapted to their prosperous circumstances, and in keeping with
the progress of the country. Their present home is large,
convenient, and substantial, and is surrounded with beautiful grounds,
ornamented with choice shrubbery and flowers. The house was
erected at a cost of $13,000. The farm consists of one hundred
and fifteen acres of fertile sediment land, devoted to the production
of fruit and vegetables. Mr. Schallenberger was one of the early
horticulturists, having planted ten acres to orchard in 1858.
They have had five children, viz.: Louise, wife of Thomas
Montgomery, San Jose; Margaret E., a teacher in the State Normal
School; Lloyd E., in business with his uncle, S. L. Jones, at San
Francisco; Fanny, a student at the State Normal School; and Milton
P. Mr. Schallenberger is a member of the Santa Clara County
Pioneer Society, by which association he is held in the highest regard,
both on account of his trials in the early days, and his character as a
citizen.
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. p. 56-57
Transcribed by Kathy
Sedler