Santa
Clara County
Biographies
CALVIN
PORTER BAILEY
C. P. BAILEY. As one of the earliest and now the largest
breeder of Angora goats in the United States, C. P. Bailey has gained
wide distinction and gratifying success, and through his enterprising efforts
in the development of this industry has won a national reputation. From an early period he has been identified
with the industry by which he is best known, and through his efforts has
materially promoted the welfare of his adopted home, while at the same time
advancing his personal interests. The
family of which he is a member removed from Vermont to Wisconsin when the
latter state was upon the outskirts of civilization, and in 1841 he was born at
Delavan, Wis., where his father, Charles, was a pioneer farmer. One of his brothers, Willard C., came to
California and is still a resident of San Jose, where he follows the practice
of law.
After having completed his education in
the University of Wisconsin, in 1865, Mr. Bailey crossed the plains with a
large band of emigrants. At that time
the Indians were especially hostile and not a few of the emigrants’ horses fell
into the hands of the savages, but fortunately no lives were lost. The allurements of the gold fields at first
led him to try his luck in the mines near Carson City, Nev., but in a short
time he became convinced of his unfitness for the life of a miner, so turned
his attention to pursuits more congenial.
Going to Monterey county he began farming and
stock-raising in Carmel valley, but later removed to the Salinas valley, where
he acquired three thousand acres still in the possession of the family. A short time after coming to the coast he
determined to engage in the production of mohair. With this object in view he imported the
first female Angoras ever brought to the Pacific coast, and since then has made
different importations from Asia Minor and South Africa.
The history of Angora goats in the
United States dates back to the year 1848, when Dr. James B. Davis of
South Carolina brought with him on his return from Turkey nine head of
goats. Of these two were purchased by
Col. Richard Peters, who in 1854 purchased the remainder of the
importation with its increase. The
second importation was made in 1866, when W. W. Chenery,
of Boston, Mass., secured a shipment from Turkey and sent six head to
California, two of which were purchased by C. P. Bailey at a cost of
$500 each. In 1869 Israel Diehl, United
States minister to Turkey, and Charles S. Brown, of Ohio, imported over
one hundred head. Being anxious to send
these animals to California as a speculation, Mr. Bailey advanced the
money for their transportation with the agreement that he should have the
privilege of first choice at the sale.
From the time of this importation no goats were brought into the country
until the importation made in 1876 by Hall & Harris, of whom in 1879 he
purchased forty-one head of thoroughbred goats.
During the entire time Mr. Bailey has bred for special points,
hence has brought his flock to a point surpassing the original imported specimens.
During 1872 Mr. Bailey removed to
San Jose, where he has since maintained his residence and business
headquarters. Near the city he bought
eighty acres, which he planted in prunes and subsequently sold. Another purchase, comprising a prune and peach
orchard of thirty-five acres on the Doyle road, he still retains in his
possession. At Napa he set out one
hundred acres in prunes, pears and apples, and this orchard is now one of the
properties of the company of which he is the head. In 1877 he moved his grade flock of one
thousand head of Angoras to Lander county, Nev., where
he has a goat ranch of twenty-five thousand acres, with excellent water rights,
adequate buildings and facilities for raising large tracts of alfalfa by
irrigation. In July of 1902 the
C. P. Bailey & Sons’ Company was incorporated, with the
following officers:
C. P. Bailey, president; Dr. Willard C. Bailey,
vice-president; C. E. Bailey, secretary, and F. T. Bailey,
treasurer. All of the properties, both
orchards and ranches, are owned and operated by the company. In the Salinas alley they have the Soledad
ranch of three thousand acres, one-third of which is under cultivation to
grain, while the balance is utilized for the pasturage of Angoras of the finest
breeds. Altogether, on their various
ranches they have from twelve to fifteen thousand head of goats, being the
largest breeders of Angoras in the world.
In addition, in their factory at No. 400 Fourth street, San Jose,
they manufacture Angora robes and men’s gloves of all kinds.
While living in Delavan, Wis.,
C. P. Bailey married Miss Philena Tuttle, a
native of Marion, Ohio, and daughter of S. E. Tuttle. Born of their union were four children,
namely: Charles Everett, a graduate of the San Jose high school and secretary
of the company founded by his father; Dr. Willard C., a graduate of
the Cooper Medical College; Frederick T., who received his education in
the San Jose Normal School and Leland Stanford University, and is now treasurer
of the company; and Laura C., a member of the class of 1905, Leland
Stanford University.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 518-519. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Donna Toole.