The Great Picnic Resort on the Pajaro, and its
Attractions. Hunting, Boating and Fishing. Stock-raising Farming and Cheese-Making. Brea Deposits and
Mineral Springs.
Sargent's is most beautifully located in a grove of oaks, upon the banks
of the softly-flowing Pajaro. It is a place of much natural
beauty, as the banks of the river are covered with alders and willows,
and the scenery along the river is charming. The hotel has been
surrounded with ornamental trees, and the grounds are provided with
platforms and rural seats. It has thus become a prominent picnic
resort, merry parties gathering there in the summer season from every
direction Bicycle and other clubs often hold annual meets here,
of which barbecues are usual features.
THE HUNTERS PARADISE
It is also a great gathering point for hunters, parties from San
Francisco, San Jose and other points meeting here for annual
outings. The wooded canyons are full of quail and pigeons, and the
deer are yet quite plentiful in the adjacent mountains. Wildcats,
coons and coyotes are plentiful, as well as smaller game. The
river teems with catfish and other varieties and salmon comes up the
river from the ocean in the spawning season.
ENTERPRISES AND RESOURCES
The village in comparatively small, containing only a depot, express
office postoffice, a hotel, kept by Alexander Graham, and a livery
stable. Yet there is considerable travel, and it is the shipping
point for an extensive territory. There are a number of large
dairies in the vicinity, and cheese forms one of the principal
exports. There are several large cattle ranches in the vicinity,
notably those of Henry Miller and J. P.
Sargent. Considerable grain is shipped from Sargents, and at
times the shipments of brea are important. The brea deposits
on the farm of J. P. Sargent, three miles from the station , are
extensive. The demand for asphaltum for street paving will no
doubt result in the upbuilding here of an important enterprise, Sargents
is the shipping point for San Juan and the contiguous territory in San
Benito County. Much travel center here, as the long bridge which
spans the Pajaro for many miles is located here.
LEGENDS AND LECTURES
A state runs between Sargents and San Juan, making several trips a
day. It is driven by the veteran Mark Regan, who was one of the
drivers on the old overland in early days, and who has been driving
here seventeen years. He has an inexhaustible store of the legends
concerning the people who lived here in territorial days, and tells
them in a remarkably entertaining manner. One of the features of
a trip to the Mission at San Juan is the historical and descriptive
lecture given by the gifted Regan.
THOROUGHBRED HORSES AND CATTLE
Some very fine stock is owned in the vicinity. Upon the Sargent farm
there is a fine heard of Durhams, and included in the Sargent
string of horses ithe Nutwood stallion Sevenoaks, whose sire was sold
for $23, 000; also Jim Mulvaney, with a record of of 2:19
1/4. Mr. Sargent also has some fancy-bred Berkshire and Poland
hogs. Four miles from Sargents Staton, upon land belonging to Mr,
Sargent, is a white sulphur spring, which is largely resorted to in
summer by camping parties. It is a very attractive resort, in a
deep, wooded canyon, where the scenery is uplifiting.
The Pajaro is the dividing line between Santa Clara and San
Benito Counties, and is spanned at Sargents by a handsome
bridge. The river at this point flows very gently, and the
overhanging trees and windings of the river make the river
scenery very beautiful. The river can be navigated with row
bots a distance of two miles below the station, and this feature is an
attractive one to the campers. Fish are usually very plentiful ,
as the stream flows into the ocean, and the supply of certain varieties
is inexhaustible. There is more game in the vicinity than in any
other portion of the county that is easily accessible, and parties
frequently come from a distance to hunt coyotes, kill quail, deer, and
other game larger and smaller. The Pajaro River is fed by
Carnadero Creek, San Benito, the Uvas and Llags, and empties into the
bay of Monterey at a point near the town of Watsonville.
PRODUCE AND SHIPMENTS
The shipments from Sargents consist pricipally of hay, grain,
fruit, cheese, butter and eggs. The shipments for the year ending
July 1, 1895, were: Hay, 1, 302,500 pounds; grain, 852,300;
fruit, 809,200; cheese, 139,200; butter, 93,900; eggs, 77,400;
poultry, 24,500; and miscellaneous, 136,600, making a total of
3,435,300 pounds.
SARGENT's JURISTAC RANCHO
One of the larges stock ranges in the county is that known as the
Juristac Rancho, consisting of abnout 10,000 acres, and located in the
extreme southwestern portion of the county. The proprietor, Hon.
J. P. Sargent, is widely known, as he came to California in 1849.
In that year in company with three brothers he established a store in
Weavertown, El Dorado County. In 1850 they commenced to
purchase stock, and in 1851 closed out their store and turned their
attention to stock-raising. In 1853 Mr. Sargent came to Santa
Clara County, and in 1850 [transcribers note- other references state the Rancho was purchased in 1856]
purchased the Juristac Rancho, where he has since resided. He has
retired from active business life, having placed the management of his
interest int he hands of his sons Upon his range he keps about
1,200 graded cattle. He has alwasy been a an ardent admirer of
good stock, and as early as 1862 purchased some Durham or
Shorthorn cattle with which to improve his herds. He
purchased some finely-bred horses, also, and now owns Seven Oaks and
Jim Mulvaney, the record of the latter being 2:19 1/4. He
owns also some fine Berkshire and Poland China hogs. Mr.
Sartent;s sons inherit their father's love for stock in a marked
degree. In addition to other animals, James Sargent owns some
thoroughbred fox terriers, which were awarded the first prize at the
Los Angeles bench show, and second prize in San Franicsoc.
James Sargent carries on a dairy, where about 206 head of cows are
milked. The output of the cheese factory is about seventeen flats
a day, of twenty-five pounds each. J. P. Sargent was elected by
the Repulblicans in 1872 to represent his district in the
Legislature. During the past few yeras he has lived very quietly
upon his farm, enjoying the fortune which he years ago
accumulated. Mr. Sargent married, November 4, 1864, MIss Agnes
Bowie, of San Juan. Recently bereavement came upon them and death
took from them their son, Ross, a most estimable young man.
transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, Sunshine Fruit and Flowers- Santa Clara County and its Resources- San Jose Mercury, 1896
Transcribers note------------the Juristac Rancho is currently in the news.............Follow the story in the Gilroy Dispatch.
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHY PROJECT
SANTA CLARA HISTORY AND GENEALOGY