Historical California Stone Carvers, Stone Cutters, & Monument Dealers

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Allen Orrin KENDALL, East Dorset, Bennington County, Vermont, & San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.

(Below are two separate sections for Allen O. Kendal: (1) The summary of Allen O. Kendall and his family’s life; (2) the chronological list for Allen O. Kendall and some family members. As Allen O. Kendall came to San Jose with Frederick Field, you may be interested in reading the section on Frederick Field, although no further information is presented there on Allen O. Kendall. A photograph of the Excelsior Marble Works in San Jose is included in the Frederick Field section.)

Allen O. Kendall Summary compiled from various sources:

I have not been able to obtain much information on Allen O. Kendall and his family other than the information presented below. Further down in this section you will find the individual city directory, voter registration, entries. Undoubtedly, more information is available in libraries and archives located in Vermont and California . If you have further information on Allen O. Kendall, please contact me and I will add it to this section. (Below this summary you will find a chronology of Allen O. Kendall’s life as far as my research has gone so far.) Peggy B. Perazzo

Allen Orin Kendall was born about 1844 based on his age when he married in 1891. The following information was provided by Linda French of the Dorset Museum in Dorset , Vermont , in 2000:

“Hartwell Kendall, Allen’s father, was a blacksmith. Allen had three brothers. One died in infancy. The other two, Silas H. ( Kendall ) and Henry Buffum ( Kendall ), worked in the marble industry as marble polisher, marble rubber (?) or engineer. All in East Dorset . Henry B. died in East Dorset , occupation listed as carpenter. Silas and his wife were living in Middlebury, Addison Co., VT, when they sold land in Dorset in 1905. I don’t know where or when Silas died.”

Allen O. Kendall came to San Jose , California , from Vermont at the same time - or somewhat later - than Frederick Field who came in 1874. In Frederick Field’s obituary published in The Weekly Herald, November 18, 1887 , the following is written:

“Fourteen years ago Mr. Field removed to California...He came here and bought a third interest in his present marble works on Second street, between Santa Clara and St. John. Mr. Kendall, who had worked with him in Vermont , subsequently bought an interest in the business, but finally Mr. Field purchased the entire business....”

The first record that I found for Kendall in San Jose , California , was an 1875 San Jose city directory entry where he was listed as: Allen O. Kendall, stone cutter at Excelsior Marble Works, San Jose . Upon arriving in San Jose , Frederick Field (who formerly operated monument shops in both Chicago , Illinois , and Niles , Michigan ) became a partner with John W. Combs and Timothy O’Neil in the firm operated by the name of Excelsior Marble Works.

By 1876 Allen O. Kendall was still working at the Excelsior Marble Company at 277 Second Street . The firm name in the city directory was listed as Field, Combs & Kendall. That same directory entry indicated he was living at the Lick House, a “well-furnished hotel.” San Jose city directories indicate that Kendall continued to work for the Excelsior Marble Company and resided at the Lick House through 1884/1885. The 1887-1888 San Jose city directory listed Allen O. Kendall as the foreman with F. Fields Marble & Granite Works at 42-48 North Second Street , San Jose .

In 1889 Kendall is listed as the foreman at the Western Granite & Marble Company. John W. Combs, one of the original owners of the Excelsior Marble Works, is listed as the vice president of the Western Granite and Marble Company at that time. Kendall was listed as the foreman of this company through to the 1898-1899 San Jose city directory.

In the 1899-1900 city directory, “Allan O. Kendall” was listed as the foreman of the Vermont Marble Company, San Francisco, residence 439 S Fourth.

Marriage of Allen O. Kendall & Margaret A. Boin in June 1891: According to their marriage certificate,* Allen O. Kendall married Margaret A. Boin on June 4, 1891 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. The marriage certificate indicates that Allen O. Kendall was 47 years of age, a native of Vermont ; and Margaret A. Boin was 35 years of age, a native of California residing in San Jose , Santa Clara County . (* The marriage certificate was provided by the History Museum of San Jose in 1998. “Recorded at request of N.A. Haskell, this 5 th day of June A.D. 1891 at 25 minutes past 3 o’clock P.M. and recorded in Book No. J of Marriage Certificates on Page 519 Records of Santa Clara County .”)

In the 1894 San Jose city directory, Allen O. Kendall and his wife Mrs. M. A. Kendall, resided at 26 South First Street . The directory entries for 1895-1896, 1896-1897, and 1898-1899 all state that Mrs. M. A. Kendall furnished rooms at 26 South First.

I have not found any documentation to indicate that James Kendall and Rubin Kendall were related to Allen O. Kendal. Both James and Rubin Kendall resided at 390 N Third Street in 1894. In the 1902-1903 city directory, Allen O. Kendall was listed as living at the same address as James Kendall, so it’s possible there was a family relationship of some kind. (There were several other people with the Kendall surname listed in the San Jose city directories through the years I checked.)

Beginning with the 1898-1899 San Jose City directory, Allen O. Kendall and his wife Margaret A. Kendall are listed as living at different addresses. According to the 1898-1899 San Jose city directory, Margaret A. Kendall (Mrs.) was still furnishing rooms at 26 South First Street , but Allen O. Kendall’s residence is listed as 42 South First Street in San Jose . In the 1900 city directory Mrs. A. O. Kendall’s residence was listed as 332 South First Street . The next year that I found Mrs. Martha A. Kendall listed in was the 1905-1906 edition which listed her as living at 242 South Third Street . (Her husband, Allen O. Kendall was listed as living at 103 East San Fernando .) The 1905-1906 edition showed James Kendall was living at 242 South Third - the same address as Mrs. Kendall. In the 1919 and 1920 San Jose city directories, there are entries that indicate that Mrs. Margaret A. Kendall was residing at “h 253 S 2d.” The 1922 and 1923 city directories list Mrs. Margaret A. Kendall’s address as “r 159 W Santa Clara .” Then in the 1925 city directory, her residence is listed as “r 485 4 th.” (In 1925 Margaret A. (Boin) Kendall would have been about 69 years of age.)

As I stated above, James Kendall was residing at the same address as Mrs. Martha A. Kendall (but not her husband Allen O. Kendall) in the 1905-1906 San Jose city directory. (In the 1902-1903 city directory, Allen O. Kendall was listed as living at the same address as James Kendall.) As James Kendall lived with both Allen O. Kendall and Martha A. Kendall at separate times I will include further information on James. In the 1906-1907 city directory James Kendall was residing at 141 South First Street ; he was not listed in the 1907-1908 city directory; and in the 1908-1909 city directory he was listed as residing at 1089 Alum Rock . He was again listed as residing at 1089 Alum Rock with others with the Kendall surname in the 1909-1910 city directory. The last year that I searched for and found James Kendall was in the 1910-1911 city directory in which he was listed as residing at Sheehan Avenue 1 north of Alum Rock avenue.

The last two entries in the San Jose city directories in which I located entries for Allen O. Kendall are in the 1920 and 1922 editions. Both of these editions list “A. O. Kendall” as a cutter at Schuh & Vertin Co., a San Jose monument business. (In 1925 Allen O. Kendall would have been about 81 years of age.)

Chronological Summary for Allen O. Kendall

1875 - Kendall, I. (sic) O., stone cutter, Exc. Marble Works, San Jose, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (Hand-Book Directory of Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Mateo Counties, 1875, Compiled and Published by L. L. Paulson, Francis & Valentine, San Francisco, 1875, pp. 93)

1875 - F. Field & Kendall

1876 - Kendall, Allen O. (Excelsior Marble Co.), res. Licks House, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (Bishop’s Directory of the City of San Jose For 1876 and a Directory of Santa Clara, 1876, Published by B. C. Vandall, San Francisco, 1876, pp. 159)

 1876 - Excelsior Marble Co., 277 Second (AKA Excelsior Marble Works), San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (Bishop’s Directory of the City of San Jose For 1876 and a Directory of Santa Clara, 1876, Published by B. C. Vandall, San Francisco, 1876, pp. 289) (The following names are some of the men who worked for Excelsior Marble Works in 1876 according to the San Jose City directory. - There are probably others that I missed, so do not consider this a complete list.) - John. W. Combs, sculptor; Frederick Field; Marshall J. Gillman, marble cutter; J. M. Gregory, marble worker; George W. Harris, marble polisher; John Harris, marble polisher and mantle setter; Allen O. Kendall; George W. Lee, agent; William Miskel, marble cutter; Charles Poulain, marble cutter; Lewis W. Stark, stone cutter; and Patrick F. Sullivan, marble cutter.)

1876 - Field, Combs & Kendall, 277 Second St. (bus.) Marble Works, Post Office: San Jose. (Historical Atlas Map of Santa Clara County, California, compiled by Thompson & West, San Francisco, Cal. 1876)

1878 - Kendall, Allen O. (Field & Kendall), res. Lick House, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory, 1878 - Microfilm #808, California State Library, pp. 162)

1878 - Field & Kendall (F. Field & O. A. Kendall), marble yard, 277 Second, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory, 1878 - Microfilm #808, California State Library, pp. 127); Field & Kendall, 277 Second, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory, 1878 - Microfilm #808, California State Library, pp. 277)

1881-1882 - Kendall, A. O., marble cutter, with F. Field, res. Lick House, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (Directory of the City of San Jose and Santa Clara County, 1881-1882, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, pp. 182)

1884-1885 - Kendall, A. O., marble cutter with F. Field, res Lick House, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties, 1884-1885, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, Oakland and San Francisco, California, pp. 133)

1887-1888 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman with Frederick Field, res. Lick House, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, San Mateo, and Santa Cruz Counties, 1887-1888, Ulhorn & McKenney, Publishers, San Francisco, California, pp. 153)

1889 - Kendall, A. O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., res. The Roberts, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey Counties, 1889, McKenney Directory Co., Publishers, San Francisco, CA, pp. 227)

1891 - Allen O. Kendall and Margaret A. Boin (Marriage License and Certificate) Allen O. Kendall and Margaret A. Boin Marriage License and Certificate of Marriage, Recorded at Request of N. A. Haskell, on the 5th day of June A.D. 1891 at 25 minutes past 3 o’clock P. M. and recorded in Book No. J of Marriage Certificates on Page 519 Records of San Clara County, California. Allen O. Kendall, age 47 years, Native of Vermont. Place of residence San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. Margaret A. Boin, age 35 Years, Native of California, Place of Residence San Jose, Santa Clara County, California.

1892 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., res. 42 So. First, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Monterey Counties, 1892, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA, pp. 265)

1893 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., res. 42 S First, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara Directory, 1893, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA, pp. 266)

1894 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., res. 26 S First, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose and Santa Clara Directory, 1894, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA, pp. 249)

1895-1896 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., r 26 S 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County: A Classified Business Directory of the County, 1896-1897, F. M. Husted, Publisher, San Francisco, CA, pp. 242)

1896-1897 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., r 26 S 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County: A Classified Business Directory of the County, 1896-1897, pp. 276)

1897 - Kendall, Allen O., foreman, Western Granite & Marble Co., r 45 E Santa Clara, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1897, pp. 256)

1898-1899 - Kendall, Allen O., r 42 S 1st, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1898-1899, pp. 250)

1899-1900 - Kendall, Allan (sic), O., foremanVermont Marble Co., San Francisco, r 439 S 4th, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1899-1900, pp. 257)

1900 - Kendall, Allen Orrin (California Great Register of Voters entry) Kendall, Allen Orrin, 58, 242 S. Third, Precinct No. 12 (California State Library, Microfilm #402)

1900-1906 - Kendall, Allen Orrin, (age) 58, 242 S. Third, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Great Register of Voters - 1900-1906, microfilm #402, California State Library, Sacramento, California, July 14, 1997)

1902-1903 - Kendall, A. O., marble wkr., r 242 s 3d, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1902-1903, pp. 256)

1920 - Kendall, A. O., ctr Schuh & Vertin, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1920)

1922 - Kendall, A. O., ctr. Schuh & Vertin Co., San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1922)

1923 - Kendall, A. O., marble ctr. r. 117 E. San Fernando, San Jose, Santa Clara County, California (California Polk-Husted Directory Company’s San Jose City Directory Including Santa Clara County, 1923)

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