Contra
Costa County
Biographies
ROBERT CAKEBREAD
Ceaseless industry, supplemented by good
judgment, has rendered possible the success gained by Mr. Cakebread
since coming to California in early manhood. Ranching has been his life
occupation, but of recent years he has made his home in Antioch, retired from
active labors, enjoying in the afternoon of existence the comforts secured by
indefatigable labor and wise investments. In spite of the fact that he ad his
wife came to this country entirely without means, they have not only reared and
educated a large family, but assisted their children in getting a start in the
world, and have themselves attained a position among the wealthy and honored
residents of Contra Costa county.
Of English birth and descent, Robert
Cakebread was born in Oxfordshire
May 12, 1838, being a son of Robert, Sr., and Hannah (Horton) Cakebread. Little of special moment occurred to
individualize the years of his youth, which were passed in the usual routine of
school training, home work and recreation. While still a mere lad he met Miss
Martha Smith, a native of Warwickshire, and a daughter of James and Martha (Lovegrove) Smith. Their engagement, entered into while they
were quite young, resulted in their marriage March 3, 1857. Neither of the
young couple had any means, nor were prospects in their home neighborhood
flattering. Accordingly they determined to seek the far-distant state of
California, and in May of 1857 took the long journey to San Francisco. From
there they proceeded to Stockton. Not being able to secure employment where
they could remain together, they went to different ranches and worked for three
months, then went to Tuolumne county and established a
primitive home in the midst of frontier conditions.
For a time Mr. Cakebread
worked by the day in mines, and in addition, worked claims of his own, meeting
with the usual succession of hope and disappointment that is the fate of the
miner. After nine years had been devote to mining he determined to take his
little capital and seek a home elsewhere. With this purpose in view he settled
in Contra Costa county, on the east side of Mount
Diablo, where he bought out a squatter an embarked in the sheep business. At
the expiration of five years he secured employment as engineer at the Somersville coal mines and continued in the same position,
receiving excellent wages for a period of nine years. With the money thus
earned he purchased a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres, partly covered
with timber. After planting a crop of wheat and barley he cut off the timber
and sold the wood. Others were amused at his attempt to cultivate timber land
and predicted a dire failure, but when they saw that the soil proved well
adapted for grain they followed his example. This one act furnishes the keynote
to his character. He has ever been independent in judgment, relying upon his
own convictions, rather than the judgment of others. In any community he would
be a leader, not a follower. Naturally a man of such a disposition would attain
prosperity. Not many years after his first purchase he had capital to invest
and for $5,000 bought a lease of nine hundred acres of the Marsh grant, which
he improved, but which he subsequently sold out to a son. He next purchased
one-half section of the Wills ranch, which he placed under cultivation to
grain. A little later he acquired an adjoining tract of eighty-four acres, of
which he planted twenty-two acres to almonds. On this property, as on the
previous purchase, he erected a large barn and granary. The last purchase that
he made of farm property comprised one hundred and sixty acres formerly owned
by F. P. Baker. In addition to buying these various tracts he made valuable
improvements on each and brought the land into the best state of cultivation,
studying the quality of each, in order to select for it the crop that would
produce the largest results per acre. By so doing he was enabled to reap large
harvests, while others less judicious failed to earn a livelihood from their
land.
Desiring to give his children city
educational advantages, Mr. Cakebread came to
Antioch, where he erected a residence that later was sold to Hon. J. P. Abbott,
and he then built his present house, the beauty of which is enhanced by the
well-kept lawn and surrounding garden bright with flowers. Since coming to
Antioch he has officiated as a trustee of the Christian Church, of which he and
his wife are earnest members. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, while she holds membership with the Rebekahs.
Fifteen children were born of their union, but four died in infancy, and three
others, Robert, Sarah and Arthur are also deceased. Those now living are as
follows: Mary Ann, wife of William Chick of Los Angeles; John, who married Lena
Guest; Lizzie, the wife of Frederick Wickham; William, whose wife bore the
maiden name of Henrietta Swindal; James, who married
Anna Smith; Charles, whose wife was formerly Adell
Paul; Robert J., who married Alfaretta Lincoln, and
Mattie, the wife of Samuel Morgan. The sons are prosperous ranchers and the
daughters are comfortably situated, forming altogether an honored and honorable
family deservedly esteemed among the resident of Contra Costa county.
Transcribed by: Cecelia M. Setty.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 987-988. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.
Contra Costa County Biographies