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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Santa Clara Biography

Golden Nugget Library