Santa Clara County
Biographies
JOHN FRANKLIN BARRY
JOHN FRANKLIN BARRY. For half a century the Barry family have been prominent in the history of San Jose, Cal.,
and vicinity, and the above named member of this worthy family is no exception,
being one of the substantial citizens of the community, where he is held in
high esteem by a large circle of acquaintances. A native of San Jose, where he
was born February 22, 1864, Mr. Barry is the youngest of five
children born to John P. and Margarite (Martin)
Barry, both of whom were natives of Ireland. The father, born in the city of
Limerick, in 1834, emigrated to America at the early
age of fourteen and located for a few years in Buffalo, N. Y. Here he
conducted a hack line until 1855, going south that year to New Orleans. In 1856
he crossed the Isthmus of Panama and proceeded to California, at once locating
in San Jose.
Here he again turned his attention to the hack business
and for some years conducted the only hack line in that city. The same year he
built the halfway house, which he sold about ten years later. He subsequently
removed the stage stables to the Gilroy road and in 1870 sold his hack line,
and in partnership with a Mr. Wallace, he engaged in the livery business,
conducting the Gray Eagle stables for several years. The same year he built the
New York Exchange, a building which sold some time afterward for $60,000. In
1872, Mr. Barry sold his livery business to John Bramer
and about five years afterward built the Russ House. Three years later he
opened a hotel business here which he carried on successfully until 1890,
selling out at that time for $40,000. During this time he also conducted a
livery business at the Dexter stables, selling out later to his son,
Thomas C.
It was in 1890 that Mr. Barry bought land in Omaha.,
Neb., and built the Delmonico Hotel, on Twenty-seventh and N streets,
South Omaha. He still retains the ownership of this fine property, which he
leases out, but continues to reside in South Omaha. He also purchased a cattle
ranch of one thousand acres in the vicinity of Pacific Junction, Iowa, and this
also was sold afterward to his son, John F. He now owns a cattle ranch on
Snake river at Mountain Home, Idaho. He is now seventy
years old. He wedded Miss Margarite Martin,
and of the five children born to them four were sons and one a daughter; the
latter and two sons are still living.
John Franklin Barry had the advantage of a good
education; he attended the common schools of San Jose and subsequently entered
the San Jose Business College, where he took a full commercial course,
graduating from that institution in 1888. In 1890 he was made deputy county
clerk of Santa Clara county and served two years; in
1892 he became deputy county recorder and served for an equal length of time;
in 1894 he was appointed deputy assessor, and after serving two years he
resigned. In 1896, being a member of the fire department and foreman of the
Relief Hose Company, he was one of three firemen who were seriously injured by
a falling building.
In 1897 Mr. Barry left California temporarily, purchasing
at that time the extensive cattle ranch from his father at Pacific Junction,
Iowa. This ranch he afterward sold, but remained in that vicinity until the
great flood of 1901, after which he returned to San Jose, and has continued to
reside here. He then purchased the place which is now his home, and here upon
this twenty-acre fruit ranch, on the Senter road,
about two and a half miles south of San Jose, he carries on fruit culture, raising
principally prunes and cherries. He also buys green fruits, having upon his
place an artificial dryer, with a capacity of three hundred tons per season.
By his marriage in Oleta, Cal.,
he was united with Miss Emma Votaw, of American
parentage, but who was born in Melbourne, Australia, in 1870. Her father, John Votaw, a Missourian, crossed overland to California in 1850, and for several years followed mining pursuits. In
1854 he went to Australia to work in the mines and did not return to California
until 1876. He then engaged in the hotel business in Amador county,
in connection with farming pursuits, and he died in that county. Mr. and
Mrs. Barry have two children, one daughter, Adele M., and one son,
John T. The family worship at the Catholic Church. Politically,
Mr. Barry is an ardent Democrat, being quite active in political affairs.
He served four years as township trustee, while a resident of Pacific Junction,
Iowa. He is one of fourteen, four only being now living, who organized the San
Jose Parlor, of N. S. G. W. He also assisted in installing the
Hollister Parlors. As a citizen, Mr. Barry is interested in all measures
that tend to promote the welfare of his section, and he is highly esteemed in
the community of which he is so valued a member. He had the honor of being
entrusted with the safe conveyance of the $40,000 lens to Mount Hamilton, and
it is now in the Lick Observatory at that place.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 08 May 2015.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
589-590. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marie
Hassard.