Santa Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE BLAINE
The years of usefulness granted to Mr. Blaine, a pioneer resident of Santa Clara county, have been more than the usual number, for at the age of seventy-four years he is still giving to his affairs his personal supervision. As far as outside work is concerned, however, he is at present retired, living upon his forty-acre ranch on Lincoln avenue, San Jose, where he gives his attention to thirty acres of prunes and six of cherries. For many years previous to his retirement he was active in the industrial life of the community, acting as superintendent of the Santa Clara Valley Mill & Lumber Co. of San Jose, and had held various positions in the west before accepting this last named one. Born in Seneca county, N.Y., January 9, 1830, he was the son of James Blaine, also a native of that state.
James Blaine was a mechanic by trade, and in the latter part of his life also followed farming. In 1833 he removed from New York to Cleveland, Ohio, where he made his home for two years, after which he located in Livingston county, Mich., near Dexter, where he engaged in the manufacture of furniture and cabinets. In 1839 he became a pioneer of Ingham county, in the town of Mason, erecting the second house and conducting a hotel. Later he built a hotel and traded it for a farm in the same county, making that his home until his death at the age of fifty-two years. In his political convictions he was a Whig. His wife, formerly Nancy Bartley of New York state, died a short time before his death occurred, in the same place and at about the same age.
Of the six sons and two daughters born to his parents George Blaine was the fifth in order of birth, and received his education in the common schools of Michigan. In youth he was apprenticed to learn the trade of carpenter, upon the completion of the work following the same with his brother David in that location. Later he resided in Illinois for three years, then went to New York, Baltimore and Charleston, then back to Michigan. Afterward he made a trip down the Mississippi river which lasted a year, and then returned to Michigan, where he remained a few years. In 1857 he went to Illinois and located in Lincoln, where, with his brother David, he engaged in the grocery business and grain dealing, continuing in the same until the spring of 1862, when he crossed the plains to Oregon. For the following two years he was employed as joiner for the Oregon Steam Navigation Company, being located at The Dalles. In June, 1864, he came to San Francisco and engaged in at the same trade for five years, when he came to his present place in Santa Clara county, in the Willows district, in the fall of that year, purchasing a small farm and erecting a small but comfortable home. Shortly afterward he became connected with the Santa Clara Valley Mill & Lumber Co. as superintendent, remaining so employed about seventeen years. In the meantime he purchased thirty-six acres on Hamilton avenue, near Campbell, and set it to fruit.
In Illinois, Mr. Blaine was united in marriage with Alazan Kenyon of New York, and of this union was born one child, Cora, since deceased. Fraternally, Mr. Blaine is identified with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He belongs to the Christian Science Church of San Jose, and politically casts his ballot with the Republican party. Not the least of the work of Mr. Blaine's life has been several inventions, among them the Little Giant Fruit Press, which has now been in use along the Pacific coast for many years. He has also many inventions of his own upon his ranch, which have tended to make it one of the most convenient in the community. Ability, energy and business tact have combined to make a success of the career of this well-known pioneer, and his own efforts have placed him in a position of trust and confidence.
Transcribed
2-5-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 973-974. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R.
Pankey.