Santa Clara County
Biographies
RAMON CHABOYA
RAMON CHABOYA. One of the few things that have been
spared by a relentless past, whose habit is to sweep the things of yesterday
into oblivion, is the preservation of the old missions of California, whose
story is very interesting. They stand as a dream of the Old World, and so long
as one stone remains upon another and a single arch is left standing, an
atmosphere will abide there, the spirit of consecration, it may be, that does
not come from mountain, vale or sea. These missions must remain among the most
interesting monuments in our fair land, suggestive, as they are, of a peculiar
phase of earnest and simple human life and quaint environment,
that forever is past. The life story of Mr. Chaboya
will be found doubly interesting from the fact that he is a direct descendant
of one Marcus Chaboya, who was born in Spain, came to
California before the establishment of the missions, and was one of the first
settlers in the Santa Clara valley, where he assisted in establishing the San
Jose Mission, which was built as early as 1797. He was the paternal grandfather
of Mr. Chaboya, and died in San Jose. His son, Antone, the father of Ramon, was also born in Spain and
accompanied his father to this land. At one time he owned six leagues of land,
all in the Evergreen district, and died on his ranch. He was thrice married,
his second wife being Miss Ramona Higara, a
native of the Evergreen district, and she died at about the age of thirty years,
leaving one son and four daughters to the care of her surviving husband.
This personal history concerns the life of one of her
children, Ramon, who was born in Santa Clara county
and received his schooling there. His father also died before he grew to
manhood and he was thus doubly bereaved. He engaged in farm work after leaving
school. As his part of the father’s estate he received one hundred and fourteen
acres on the hills and thirty-nine acres in the valley; he sold the former but
retained the latter and upon this farm he still carries on orcharding,
his entire place being planted in vines and fruits. His place is well located
on the Quimby road and is in every way an attractive
home. By his marriage, Mr. Chaboya was united to
Miss Gomazunda Narviez, a
lady born in California, and their family consists of four sons and two
daughters, who are named Filburt, Willie, Charles,
Ramon, Jr., Laura and Gussie. The family are devout
Catholics, and in his political views Mr. Chaboya
is a stanch Republican. He is popular in his locality
and possesses those qualities which constitute a good citizen and a successful
business man.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 July 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
1242-1243. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.