BIO SAWYERS
SURNAMES: MADIGAN, SULLIVAN, SHEEHY, HANLEY, FITZGERALD,
MURPHY, DEAN, SEEBACH
The daughter of a worthy pioneer of Santa Clara County, who is an
esteemed resident of San Jose, is Mary E Scherrebeck, the daughter of
Patrick G. and Bridget (Madigan) Sullivan,
both natives of Ireland. The father was born in Askeaton, County
Limerick, in 1813, and his parents, John and Mary (Sheehy) Sullivan,
were natives of that county. In 1827 the family emigrated to
Eastern Canada and located in St. Edwards County, where he engaged in
farming and stock-raising, in which occupation Patrick was reared,
receiving at the same time a good education. He continued with his
father in operating the farm until 1842, when he took a portion of the
old homestead and operated it for himself. In 1842 he married
Miss Bridget Madigan, the daughter of Daniel and Ann (Hanley) Madigan,
natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada and in 1853 came to
California. Mr. Sullivan was engaged o his farm until 1851, in
which year he and his wife came by steamer to California via the
Isthmus of Panama. Arriving in San Francisco January 2, 1852, he
immediately located in Santa Clara County, where he rented land and
took his place among the pioneer farmers of the county. In
1854 he purchased his first land, comprising fifty-three acres located
just east of San Jose. He resided upon his land until 1856.
He then purchased 266 acres of land situated on the Alum Rock Road at
the corner of King. This he stocked with about 300 head of
cattle, among which was a dairy of seventy cows, and he became one of
the pioneer dairymen of the county. The land increased in value
and he made improvements upon it, then others claimed ownership under
Spanish grants, and he had to buy out the claimant, and in 1865 he
gained a complete title and ownership to the property. His
operations had proved very remunerative; also his fifty-three-acre
tract first purchased had become very valuable, and he ranked as one of
the most prosperous and wealthy farmers of his section, He
conducted his farming operations until 1879, when he retired rom
the active pursuits of life and sold his farm to his sons,. Mr.
Sullivan had previously sold fourteen acres of his
fifty-three-acre tract, and at his death, which occurred April 6, 1886,
left the balance of his valuable property to his widow. He always
ranked in public spirit, enterprise, and liberality in public
improvements, among the leading men of his section. He was one of
the projectors of the Alum Rock Road, and gave the right-of way through
his land, and fenced the road at his own expense. Of a family of
nine children, the subject of this review is the youngest, and only two
others are living, Annie A., now Mrs. Fitzgerald, and Frank J..
Mrs. Sullivan lived to be eighty-five years old.
Mary E. Sullivan was born on the site where she now reside, on the
northeast corner of Alum Rock Avenue and King Road. She was
educated at Notre Dame College, San Jose, remaining at home with her
parents until her marriage, which occurred April 3, 1888, and united
her with
Thomas J. Scherrebeck, a
native son of San Jose, born November 21, 1849. His father,
Peter Scherrebeck, was a native of Denmark and came to California,
around Cape Horn, in 1835. He was a seafaring man, and for
many years was engaged as a trader in the harbor of San Francisco and
surrounding country. His mother, Mary (Sullivan) Scherrebeck,
came to Santa Clara County in 1846, as a member of the family of
Martin Murphy, Sr. The father
passed away in San Francisco in 1862, and the mother in 1892.
Until the age of fifteen he attended school, receiving his education at
St. Ignatius College in San Francisco, and upon the death of his father
he became a clerk in a dry-goods store, continuing until eighteen years
of age. He then learned the trade of carpenter and followed this
until 1878. He then spent a year working in the lumber mills in
Mendocino County, returning to San Francisco in 1879. He
continued his occupation as a carpenter until April, 1888, when he came
back ot Santa Clara County, when he was married and took up his
residence here. Mr. and Mrs. Scherrebeck are the parent of two
children: Marie S. is a graduate of Notre Dame College and San
Jose State Normal, and taught at Napa until she became the wife of
Claude Harry Dean of Napa, who is with the Napa City Water Department,
and they have three children- Marie A., Dorothy D., and Doris E..
Thomas P. was educated at St. Joseph's high school , then spent
four years with Wells Fargo & Co. Express Company and a
like period with the San Jose and Peninsular Railway as motorman and
conductor, and is now fireman between San Francisco and Santa Barbara
for the Southern Pacific Railroad,. He is married to Miss Rosella
Seebach, a native of San Jose, and they make their home with his
parents. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus Lodge No. 879
of San Jose, and the Order of Railway Employees, and the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen