Santa
Clara County
Biographies
ORREN HENRY BARNHART
The
Barnhart family, which has a representative in California in the person of
Orren Henry Barnhart, a well-known rancher located on the Monterey road at
Perry Station, Santa Clara county, was established in
America by Waterbury Barnhart. At an
early day he came from his native country of Germany and located in New York state where he engaged in the hotel business and also
conducted a tannery. He later removed to
Michigan, thence to Iowa, making his home in Muscatine until his death, living
with his sons, who were editors of a paper in that city. These sons afterward removed to Chicago,
Ill., where they conduct a large type foundry.
In his family was a son, Henry W., who was born in Chautauqua county, N.Y., and in manhood became a farmer. Upon removing from his native state in 1866
he located near Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo county, Mich.,
where he formerly engaged in agricultural pursuits, but is now living retired
from the active cares of life. He
married Mary Leet, also a native of Chautauqua county,
N.Y., born on the banks of the lake of that name.
Of the
five sons and one daughter born to his parents, Orren Henry Barnhart was the youngest
son and next to the youngest child. He
was born in Chautauqua county, N.Y., February 9, 1850, and was reared and
educated in New York state and Michigan.
In young manhood he entered and graduated from the Kalamazoo Business
College, after which he engaged in the lumbering business in the northern part
of the state. In several different mills
he was largely interested as well as owning timber land in conjunction with his
brothers. For some years he engaged as
salesman and made his home in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Deciding to locate in the remote west, he came to California in 1886 and
became identified with the Western Granite Marble Company, of which he acted as
vice-president and general manager until 1895, their business being located in San
Jose. Disposing of his interest in this business,
he then removed to his present location, having purchased
his ranch of two hundred and thirty-seven acres in 1887. He now devotes sixty acres to the cultivation
of prunes, apricots and various orchard fruits, while the balance is in pasture
and grain.
In
Kalamazoo county, Mich., Mr. Barnhart married Carrie Cobb, a native of
Kalamazoo, and of this union were born three sons and five daughters: Glenn, of
the firm of Barnhart & Swassey, printers and advertisers of San Francisco;
Prudence, at home; Clifford, in the wholesale grocery business at Grand Rapids,
Mich.; Della, Frank, Ruby and Carra, the last four named being still at home
with their parents. Fraternally Mr.
Barnhart was a member of the Blue Lodge, F. & A.M.; the Chapter, R.A.M.;
and Commandery, K.T., all of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Politically he adheres to the principles advocated in the platform of
the Republican party, and in the interests of the same
has served as school director and road overseer.
Transcribed by
Louise E. Shoemaker, May 07, 2015.
Source: History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 544-545. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Louise E. Shoemaker.