Santa Clara County
Biographies
EDWARD CARROLL
EDWARD CARROLL. The vales of California have revealed
great possibilities in gardening and fruit culture, especially in the region of
the Santa Clara valley, and in among the foothills we find many fertile and
productive farms. Such a one is owned by Edward Carroll, who purchased
fifty-six acres in the vicinity of Evergreen, in 1870, and here he has resided
ever since. A part of his ranch, about fifteen acres, is planted in orchards
and the balance in hay and grain, with the exception of a forty-acre vineyard.
Besides this farm, which is located seven and a half miles east of
San Jose, he owns other valuable real estate, including a residence in
San Jose.
Born in 1837, in County Tyrone, Ireland, Mr. Carroll
is the seventh child in a family of ten born to James and Rose (McUsker) Carroll, both of whom were
natives of Ireland and spent all their lives in the vicinity of their birth.
The father was prominent as a land owner and there they reared their children,
eight sons and two daughters. The schooling of Mr. Carroll was rather
limited, as he attended only the common schools of his section, and those quite
irregularly. He afterward followed farm work on his father’s estate until 1856,
sailing that year for America. His first location in the United States was in
Cook county, Ill., near Chicago, and here he continued
to reside and follow farm pursuits for some time, subsequently going east to
Philadelphia, where he worked in the foundries. He was then induced to go to
California, making the trip by the Panama route. After two months in San
Francisco, he went to the mining district of Virginia City, Nev., and here
he followed mining pursuits four years, working by day in the Golden Curry
mines.
Discontinuing the life of a miner Mr. Carroll
returned to San Francisco, and after his marriage he engaged in the transfer
business there for three years, making a specialty of heavy hauling. It was not
until September, 1870, that he went to Santa Clara county and purchased the
farm he still owns in the foothills, where he has lived ever since. He wedded
Miss Catherine Cavanah, a native of Bellemafa, Ireland, their marriage taking place in San
Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Carroll now have six children: Rose, now
Mrs. Greg, of San Jose; Anna, now Mrs. Williams, of the sane city;
Edward; John; Josephine and Frank; all are at the home place except the two
eldest daughters. They unite in worshiping at St. Patrick’s Catholic
Church. Politically an Independent, Mr. Carroll has never been active in
politics, being content to exercise his franchise as a simple American citizen.
Fraternally he affiliates with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. His life
record is praiseworthy, containing many points of interest, and as a citizen he
is highly esteemed in the community of which he has for so long been a valuable
member.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 17 April 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
1074-1075. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.