Alameda County
Biographies
GEORGE A. DAVIS
During the colonial period of American history a member of the Davis family crossed the ocean from Wales and became a pioneer in the new world. A grandson of this original immigrant, Daniel Davis, sought fields of activity in the far west, and during 1849 came to California, where he bought property in San Francisco and acted as the first sexton of a cemetery in that city. In the family of this California pioneer was a son, Capt. Daniel O. Davis, who was born in New Hampshire and at seven years of age lost his mother by death. At an early age the necessity of earning his livelihood was forced upon him. Joining a training ship, by slow degrees he worked his way up to be captain, and for fifty-two years acted as master of vessels. All of this period, with the exception of twenty years on the Pacific coast, was spent in deep water navigation. Though his life has been one of unusual activity, during the course of which he has encountered many dangers, he bears his seventy-six years lightly and retains much of the physical and mental vigor of his prime. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Eleanor Jewett, was a member of an old family of Maine; her death, which occurred at sixty-seven years of age, was the result of an accident.
Bath, Me., is the native city of George A. Davis, and April 29, 1862, the date of his birth. When two years of age he accompanied his father on a cruise, and in childhood became so familiar with a sailor's life that he was given steady employment. At eighteen years of age he was made second mate of a full rigged ship, James G. Pendelton (sic), and in that capacity twice sailed to Australia. In 1887 he gave up a sea-faring existence and came to California. It had been his aim from early boyhood to succeed in the world. To attain $50,000 by the time he was fifty years old he made his ambition. Naturally it did not escape his observation that a sailor had few opportunities to achieve financial success, and hence he decided to seek another occupation. Shortly after coming to the Pacific coast he bought a small farm near Healdsburg, Sonoma county, and set out three acres of the land in hops. In addition he began to buy hops on commission for Lilienthal & Co., of San Francisco, and thus formed the association with Mr. Lilienthal which has proved so advantageous to both.
The Rancho del Valle near Pleasanton, which forms a portion of the immense estates owned by Mr. Lilienthal, had proved very unprofitable to its owner, who in 1892 secured the services of Mr. Davis as manager of the property. The new manager found conditions discouraging. The entire tract was a mere swamp, from which profitable crops could not be raised or expected. At once he put into execution an idea he had previously conceived, viz: the reclamation of the land by digging of nearly twenty miles of canal. In addition he took contracts for similar work for other property owners. The result of his effort is apparent when it is mentioned that the rancho is not only the largest hop field in the world, but one of the most profitable estates on the coast. During the year of 1903 he cleared about $182,000 for the company from lands that were once considered worthless. Under his supervision houses have been built, also barns, creamery, water works and other improvements. Besides managing Rancho del Valle he has charge of Rancho de Lomi at Livermore, comprising twelve hundred acres in hay and grain; Vina de Lomitas vineyard, one mile southeast of Livermore, consisting of four hundred acres in vines; and Rancho del Robles, of three hundred and fifty-six acres near Livermore, all in fruit.
While the management of these large estates, the supervision of the men (numbering from five hundred to thirty-five hundred according to the season) employed by the company, and the selling of the cattle, horses and hogs raised on the places, necessarily consumes much of Mr. Davis' careful attention and time, yet this work does not represent the limit of his activities. He superintends the care of the one hundred milch cows forming the dairy, the one thousand hogs that are raised each year, and the cattle numbering at times as high as seven hundred and fifty. He also owns and personally superintends Lilydale hop yard, comprising ninety acres near Pleasanton, and is further the owner of Rosedale stock farm of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, situated one mile north of Pleasanton. In 1898 he stocked the latter farm with thoroughbred running horses and the finest breed of trotting horses, since which time he has engaged in raising horses for the market. In 1903 he shipped seven car loads of fine trotting horses to the east, and competent judges declared these to be as fine horses as ever came out of the state. One horse possessing especially fine points sold for $7,000 and a two-year old brought $4,200, which has since paced a mile in one and three-quarter minutes. Since starting in the business he has sold altogether $42,000 worth of horses, and still owns eighty head of exceptionally fine strains. In Chicago he has a stable of runners that others race on shares, while he is constantly training trotters on the Pleasanton track. Through a careful study of horses, he has gained a knowledge of veterinary work superior to that possessed by many followers of the profession, and is enabled to treat promptly and effectively all diseases to which horses are subject.
When only eighteen years of age Mr. Davis established domestic ties, his wife being Miss Amanda Smith. The young couple had no money and he borrowed the $5 which he paid to the minister performing the ceremony. The morning after their marriage he and his wife walked six miles to a ranch where both secured work by the month. His father had offered to help him, but with customary independence he replied that he wished to make his own way in the world. A few years after marriage his wife died, leaving a daughter, Mary Eleanor, now the wife of Frank Edwards, of San Francisco. Later he married Miss Rose R. Spurr, daughter of Judge Spurr of Sonoma county, Cal. Of their union four children were born, namely: Barbara Frances, Henry J., Nettie R. and George A., Jr. Though quite active in local politics, Mr. Davis has always refused to accept office, preferring to give his attention to personal business affairs, yet he is always stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party. While he is pre-eminently a business man, he neglects no duty that falls to a man as a citizen. Movements for the benefit of Pleasanton and Alameda county receive his hearty sympathy and co-operation, and in every respect he has proved himself progressive and public-spirited.
Transcribed
7-4-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1225-1226. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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