Santa
Clara County
Biographies
RICHARD M. DEMEZA
Richard M. De Meza, a successful
fruit rancher in Santa Clara County, Cal., owns a productive ranch of nineteen
acres located among the foot-hills six miles of San Jose, devoted to the
raising of prunes and apricots. Since purchasing the place in 1901 he has added
a number of substantial improvements, putting his land in a fine state of
cultivation. His broad experience in fruit culture prior to making this
purchase gave him an insight into the business and has been a prime factor of
his success.
Of German-American parentage, Mr. De
Meza was born in Saxon, Germany, March 7, 1865, being the only child of his
parents. His father, Charles De Meza, was a Californian by birth. While still a
young man he went to Germany and at Saxon he followed mercantile life,
conducting a dry goods store there for two years. There he married Miss Louisa
Rudolph, a native of that city. After the birth of their son the latter was
left to the care of his maternal grandmother and the parents returned to the
original home of the father in San Francisco. Here Mr. De Meza again entered
mercantile life, which he followed until his death, which took place when
Richard M. was nine years old. The latter was reared by his grandmother until
he attained the age of twelve years, being sent to school in Germany. In 1877
he came to the United States, in company with a lawyer of Saxon, a friend of
the family. Joining his mother in San Francisco, he was entered as a student at
Mound College, where he pursed his studies for two years. Mrs. Louisa De Meza
died in San Francisco in 1884.
It was not until 1880 that Mr. De
Meza became identified with Santa Clara county industries, and in that year he
came to San Jose and for a number of years thereafter followed farm pursuits in
this county, a part of the time working for others and at other times renting
land on his own behalf. He followed this life until 1901, the date upon which
he purchased his foothill ranch, which has been his home ever since. By his
marriage in San Jose he was united with Miss Mary S. Marten, who was born in
Santa Clara county, and they have two children,
Frederick M. and Loueva Georgia. Politically Mr. De
Meza is a Republican.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1417. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.