Santa
Clara County
Biographies
HENRY WILLIAM EDWARDS
During almost the entire period
of his life Mr. Edwards has made his home in California. Starting with
practically no capital and operating a rented farm, he gradually accumulated
sufficient to enable him to purchase a small tract and later he added from time
to time to his holdings until his possessions have assumed considerable
proportions. For many years he made his home on the same farm, a beautiful
tract of land lying eight miles from San Jose, fronting both on the Cottle road and Downer avenue. However, when his elegant
farm house was burned to the ground in 1891, he left the ranch and removed to
San Jose, purchasing property on Second street, where
he has since resided. Under his management a reorganization was effected of the
Home Union, a large general store in San Jose, and he has since been president
of the concern, giving his attention largely to its oversight, although also
maintaining a supervision of his large farm property.
When Henry, father of Henry William
Edwards, came from his native England to America, he settled at Utica, Ill.,
where he engaged in buying and shipping cattle and also conducted a meat
business. In 1850 he crossed the plains to California and for two years engaged
in mining at Placerville, afterward following the butcher’s trade in Marysville
and Sacramento. During 1853 he opened a hotel, known as the Farmer’s Home, at
the corner of Fountain Alley and First street San Jose where he continued for
little more than a year. From this city he removed two miles into the country
and embarked in farm pursuits on the Coyote, where he bought a quarter section
of land. Upon selling that property he bought land on the Almaden road, and
there remained until his death, in 1872. Twice married, he had one son and two
daughters by one union, and by the second marriage two sons and a daughter.
Henry William Edwards was born in Chicago
March 1, 1841. He received his education in common schools and Gates College,
and came with his father to California when a mere boy. One of his first efforts
toward making a livelihood was the renting of a farm on the Coyote, but he
remained there only one year. In 1863 he went to Virginia City, Nev., where he
engaged in mining and also carried on the Eureka hotel for a year. For a short
time he also tried his luck in the mines at Austin, Nev., but meeting with ill
fortune in 1864 he left there for Nye county, Nev.,
where continued misfortune followed his mining ventures. Soon he went back to
Virginia City and worked on a turnpike, receiving $30 per month. When he
arrived in San Jose again he had only $50 as his sole capital. Renting a tract
of land, he began to cultivate the same. When he had saved a little money he
bought eighty acres of the farm, and added thereto until he had acquired four
hundred and forty acres. The land is fertile and the improvements valuable. In
crops he made a specialty of hay, wheat and barley, and he also had a fine
prune orchard of forty acres. The attractive appearance of the place is
enhanced by the rows of eucalyptus trees which border the entire length and
breadth of the farm. These old trees, most of which were
planted in 1858, present a view of picturesque beauty when seen from the
Monterey road. All of the improvements are first-class, and prior to the
burning of the residence, there was no prettier homestead than this for miles
around.
The marriage of Mr. Edwards,
December 11, 1867, united him with Alice C. Hall, a native of Missouri, but
from childhood a resident of California. They became the parents of two
children. The daughter, Cora, born August 15, 1869, became the wife of Edward
P. Conklin and is now deceased. The son, William J., born November 6, 1873, is
assistant cashier of the Security State Bank of San Jose. Active in the work of
the Republican party, Mr. Edwards never fails to cast
his ballot in support of its principles and men. He is a stanch advocate of the
principles of Masonry and maintains a warm interest in the work of San Jose
Lodge No. 210, F. & A. M. Few men have been more
successful than he among the residents of Santa Clara county. Nor has his
prosperity been in the accumulation of property only, but he has also been
successful in winning and retaining the friendship of associates and the
confidence of those with whom he has had business transactions.
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 914-915. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.