Santa
Clara County
Biographies
JAMES DUDFIELD
In James Dudfield San
Jose had a pioneer settler who contributed much to her building interests, and
the county a man who thoroughly understood and developed its agricultural
resources. His death, June 17, 1900, left a void in the ranks of the truly
industrious and capable, for, though long since retired from active life, his
influence and good work remain. Mr. Dudfield was an
Englishman who embodied the lighter as well as more serious characteristics of
his countrymen, and his earliest youth was spent among the inspiring scenes of
London, England, where his birth occurred December 4, 1837. His father, John, a
master plasterer by trade, brought his family to Chicago, Ill., about 1855, and
in the meantime James, his only son, had followed in his footsteps and
perfected himself in the same occupation. The lad was educated in the public
schools of London, and had well employed the eighteen years of his life. The
family came from New York to Chicago, Ill., but father and son failing to find
sufficient work at their trade, removed soon after to Oskaloosa, Iowa, where
the father died after several years of business success. This severing of home
relations was a severe blow to the son, for he had depended upon his father for
practically his entire life, his mother, formerly a Miss Haywood, having died
when he was a year old, in 1838.
In time Mr. Dudfield
worked up a large contracting and building business in Oskaloosa, and in 1861
felt justified in establishing a home of his own, which he did by marrying
Elizabeth Phillips, the ceremony taking place June 6. Miss Phillips was born in
Pittsburg, Pa., and is a daughter of Joseph Phillips, also a native of
Pennsylvania, and a manufacturing cooper of Washington county,
Pa., for many years. Mrs. Dudfield’s paternal
great-grandfather used to haul cannon balls across the mountains to the
Delaware river during the Revolutionary war. John
Phillips left Washington county in 1855, settling in the then small town of
Oskaloosa, Iowa, where he engaged in building and contracting. He was one of
the pioneers of that part of Iowa, and died there at the age of sixty-seven.
His wife, formerly Julia Miller, a native of Allegheny county, Pa., survived
him for many years, her death occurring in San Francisco at the age of
seventy-two. There were thirteen children in this family, eleven of whom
attained maturity and of whom four sons and three daughters are living. Two
years after his marriage, in 1863, Mr. Dudfield
arranged to cross the plains with ox teams, and laid in a sufficient store of
provisions to last during the long journey At the last moment he changed his
mind and decided to reach the west by way of Panama, arriving in San Francisco May
1, 1863, and remaining there for six months. Going then to Portland, Ore., he
engaged in contracting and building, meeting with more than expected success,
but was obliged to leave the city owing to the health of his wife. Returning to
San Francisco, he removed to San Jose in 1868 and entered upon an active
contract plastering career, continuing the work until his retirement from
business in 1873.
Essentially a lover of the country,
and in perfect harmony with the life of the agriculturist, Mr. Dudfield located on a ranch near Watsonville for a year,
then bought a ranch of twenty acres of the Archer tract, on the Story road,
where he raised fruit and prospered for twelve or fourteen years. He then sold
his ranch and permanently retired from active life, locating in San Jose, where
his death occurred. He was a Democrat in national politics, but never an office
seeker, and locally was led in his decisions by considerations of personal
worth, rather than party issues. He took great pride in the career of his only
child and son, John, who inherits his steadfastness of character, as well as
his shrewd business judgment, and has advanced to the responsible position of
president of the Dudfield Lumber Company of Palo
Alto. Mr. Dudfield was highly respected by his
business associates, and in the circle which comprised his family and friends
was beloved for his amiable and kindly nature, his great generosity and his
sympathy. His wife shared his popularity and friendships during the years of
their married life, and since his death continues to shed the light of her
noble and helpful character upon the many who delight in calling her friend.
She also is liberal, of strong character, and manifold mental endowments, and
who know her feel the sincerity of her convictions and the high ideals which dominate
her life.
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., Pages 1284-1285. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.