Alameda County
Biographies
FRANK SYLVA
FRANK SYLVA. Up to the time of his death, June 24, 1891,
Frank Sylva kept fresh in his mind incidents connected with the earliest
settlement of Alameda county. He was a very ambitious
emigrant, for whereas the majority of the Argonauts thought it a hazardous and
almost incredible undertaking to reach the coast from the far eastern part of
the country, he sailed first from the Western Islands, or Azores, eight hundred
miles west of Portugal, in a ship of which his older brother, Joseph, was
captain. From New York he took ship for San Francisco by way of the Horn, and
after his arrival mined for some months, eventually assisting in the erection
of Fort Point in 1852. The same year he came to San Leandro and rented
land, and in 1864 bought a farm of seventy-five acres with his brother Antonio
a mile north of where Elmhurst now stands. His was one of the earliest farms
improved in this section, and the brothers worked together in harmony,
continuing to combine their interests and divide their profits until the final
summons came. A strange coincidence connected with this association was that
Antonio died five days before Frank, on June 19, 1891. Mr. Sylva
was a strong and uncompromising Republican, but could never be induced to leave
the peaceful occupation of farming for the strife of office seeking. He was a
devout member of the Catholic Church, and did much to build up the church in
San Leandro, contributing generously of his time and means.
In
San Francisco, in 1862, Mr. Sylva married Annie Fennigan,
who was born in County Armoch, Ireland, and who came
to America with her aunt when a child. Mrs. Sylva lived for some time in
New York City, and came to California in 1853, being a member of the first
train that crossed the Isthmus during that year. She, too, has many memories of
the early days, and in the time of struggle and deprivation stood bravely by
her husband, making a cheerful and comfortable home for him and for the children
that were gradually added to the family. When Mr. Sylva died it was found
that the estate had been deeded to her intact, and in 1894 she laid out the
Sylva tract in Elmhurst, now one of the pretty and promising residence sections
of the town. She still has forty acres in the home place, which she rents, and
from which the family derive a comfortable living. Mrs. Sylva is fortunate
in having several of her children either with or near her. Her eldest son,
Charles H., is married and living in the neighborhood; Frank J. and
Maria A. are at home; Emma L. is the wife of George Hans, of
Fruitvale; Edward lives in Montrose, Colo.; and John J. is living in
Colorado. Mr. Sylva was a kindly disposed and energetic man, and an
example of the most progressive and broadminded of the sons of Portugal.
Transcribed
by Marie Hassard 25 October 2015.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
825-826. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marie
Hassard.
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