Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HUGH
CENTER
Into whatever portion of the
world the Scotch people have gone they have exemplified in their lives the
traits of honor, integrity and thrift that gives their home land a prestige
surpassed by none.
In no respect have the members of the Center family proved themselves alien
from their race. After many generations had lived and labored in Scotland,
where they had been established by Anglo-Saxon progenitors, during the
nineteenth century a number bearing the name sought new fields of activity,
where the rewards of industry were more alluring. During the historic year of
1849 John Center landed in San Francisco, and purchased large tracts of land
that have since been incorporated in the city limits. Still a resident of that
city, he is one of its large property owners and successful real estate
dealers. Twenty years after John Center established himself on the Pacific
coast his brother, George, father of Hugh Center, came from Scotland to
California and settled on a farm near Santa Clara, where he afterward engaged
in agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in Santa Clara in 1902, when he
was eighty-seven years of age. When a young man he had married Sophy Lillie, who was a French-Huguenot extraction but of
Scotch parentage for generations. She died in Scotland. On both sides of the
family they were identified with the Presbyterian Church.
In the family of George Center there were
twelve children, all but two of whom attained maturity and came to California.
Of the sons James is an agriculturist at Lawrence, Santa Clara county; George resides in San Francisco, in which city
Samuel has a real estate office on Montgomery street. Hugh, who is manager of
the San Jose & Santa Clara Railroad, is one of the most influential of the
sons. He was born in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, in
1853, and at the age of sixteen years preceded his father to America, settling
in California, where he later assisted his father on the ranch in the Santa
Clara valley and also worked for his uncle in San Francisco. During 1875 he was
engaged to go to Hawaii, Sandwich Islands, in the interests of the Spreckels sugar industry. For a year after going there he
worked on the construction of a canal. He then became manager of the Hutchinson
plantation for Spreckels, remaining in that position
for twelve years. The ensuing five years were devoted to the management of the
Hawaiian Commercial plantation, at that time perhaps the largest sugar
plantation in the world.
On relinquishing his interests on the
island, in 1893, Mr. Center returned to San Francisco. Meanwhile his uncle had
become interested in the Alum Rock Railroad, extending from East San Jose to
Alum Rock. The track was a narrow gauge and steam was utilized for motive
power. In 1894 Hugh Center became financially interested in the road and
assumed its management, completing it from the canon to the tunnel, and thence
to Alum Rock. In 1901 his company purchased the San Jose & Santa Clara
Railroad, which was the first elevated electric road on the coast. In addition
to taking up the management of this road he also changed the motive power of
the Alum Rock road from steam to electricity, consolidating the two lines, so
that they now operate twenty-one miles of electric road. The shops are in East
San Jose, the car barn and machine shops on the Alameda, and the power house
for the Alum Rock division is situated at the mouth of the canon. The present
excellent equipment of the road is due to the indefatigable energy of the
manager, who is satisfied with nothing less than prompt service for the patrons
of the line. Although his previous experience was in an industry altogether
different, he has proved himself to be a capable railroad man, keen,
discriminating, ambitious to secure the best, and desirous of keeping in touch
with every development made in railroading.
The marriage of Mr. Center took place in
San Francisco and united him with Miss Mary Stuart, who was born in Chicago,
and by whom he has one son, George Stuart Center. Mrs. Center is identified
with the Episcopal Church of San Jose and a contributor to its charities. In
national politics, though not a partisan, Mr. Center is a believer in
Republican principles and always supports his party at presidential elections,
but in local campaigns he favors the right man rather than any special party,
believing that the progress of a community is always best promoted by the
presence, in official positions, of men of spotless honor. Through his
membership in the Chamber of Commerce he has been enabled to give his support
and co-operation to measures for the commercial growth of the city and for the
development of its resources. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, a
member of Mission Lodge No. 169, F. & A. M., in San Francisco, in which he
has passed the Chapter, and is a member of the Knights of Pythias
of San Jose.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 277. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2014 Cecelia M. Setty.