Santa Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE HENRY BOSE
GEORGE HENRY BOSE. The name of George Henry Bose is
regretfully joined to that of the great host of pioneers who came to the coast
in their vigorous manhood, aided in its triumphant upbuilding, and who have but
recently passed on to the bourne from which there is
no return. Length of years was his, for he was born in Oldenburg, Germany,
December 30, 1825, and died on his farm on the Almaden road, near Los
Gatos, February 1, 1904. He embodied the best traits of his
industrious and thrifty countrymen, and left a worthy example of self earned
and substantial success.
Mr. Bose was seventeen years old when he stepped from the
sailing vessel to the dock in New York in 1842. He had a good constitution, and
as much education as could be expected of a youth inured to hard work on an old
world farm. His adaptability secured him a position as clerk in a grocery store
in New York City, and his faithfulness enabled him to keep it until 1846. An
inherent patriotism came to the aid of his stricken adopted country during the
Mexican war, and he served in the navy as a middy on
the flagship Ohio during the entire war. Arriving in San Francisco in 1848, he
was ill for twenty-one months, and during all that time lived in a tent, his
principal nourishment being raw potatoes, prescribed by his physician for the
scurvy. In 1850 he was sufficiently recovered to come to San Jose, where he
secured employment in a stove and tinware
establishment, and finally he became a partner in the concern with
Joseph Evans. In 1850 he returned to the occupation of his youth on a farm
of three hundred and fifteen acres on the Almaden road, and through successful
stock and general farming operations soon had his land paid for. He was an even
tempered, methodical and practical man, more or less secluded in his habits,
and slow to make friends. He did not long suffer from his want of education,
for he was a great reader his entire life long, and as
such soon made up for his early deficiency. His greatest happiness was found
beside his own fireside, for he was essentially a home loving man, caring
naught for the political or other honors which he was eminently fitted to
share. He was a Republican in political preference, and was one of the builders
of the pioneer school house of his district. He was also one of the organizers
and for years one of the chief promoters of the Grange, in which organization
his wife also took an active interest.
In California he was united in marriage with Mary McAspert, a native of Ireland, and a California pioneer of
1852. Her death occurred June 7, 1897. Three children were born of
this union, of whom Margaret is the wife of John Horstmann,
a traveling salesman of San Francisco; Lottie is the wife of Fred Bailey,
of Santa Rosa ; and Lena M., the wife of Herman McAbee,
is living on the home place.
Mrs. McAbee was born on the
farm she now occupies, and was educated primarily in the old pioneer school
house which her father helped to build. In San Jose, in 1896, she married
Herman McAbee, who was born in New York state, and came to California in 1888. Since his marriage,
Mr. McAbee has managed the Bose estate of three
hundred and fifteen acres, which remains undivided. He is a successful and scientific
farmer, abreast of the times, and eminently fitted for his large
responsibility. In political affiliation he is a Republican, and in religion is
a Roman Catholic.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 07 May 2015.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
584. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marie
Hassard.