Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MOSES C. ELLIS
Now retired from the practical duties which have
engrossed his attention for so many years, Moses C. Ellis is passing the
eventide of his life in the seclusion and peace of his home, which is located
upon a fruit ranch four miles west of Santa Clara, on the San Francisco
road. Identified for more than a half
century with the pioneer incidents of California r Ellis has occupied a
prominent place in the business life of the west, his special interest being in
the organization and management of flouring mills, many companies throughout
the state having known in him an
important factor in their promotion. In
addition to his person interests he has also been a progressive and enterprising
citizen, giving the best of his efforts toward the upbuilding [sic] and advancement
of the country which he had made his by adoption, as a member of the Vigilance
committee exerting a strong influence in behalf of law and order. Born near Utica, Oneida county,
N.Y., May 22 l829, he boasts a New England ancestry which has given to him the
sturdy qualities characteristic of the natives of that section.
The grandfather
of Mr. Ellis, Nathaniel by name, was a native of New Hampshire, in which state
his death also occurred. He was a
patriot during the Revolutionary war. His
son, Moses, was born in Nantucket in 1780, and in manhood he removed to Utica,
N.Y., where as a cabinetmaker, he earned his livelihood. Later in life he relocated near Buffalo, and
while a resident in that locality he gave every aid toward the successful
manipulation of the famous underground railway.
Mr. Eilis [sic] now having in his possession a quilt upon which the
escaping negroes [sic.] slept. Dying in 1862 there passed away with him the
strength of a strong and earnest nature, deeply religious his convictions lying
with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, in which he was active. He married Marguerite Hawks, a native of
Vermont, who died near Buffalo, in her ninety-fourth year.
Of the
three daughters and four sons born to his parents Moses C. Ellis was the eldest
son and the third child. In youth he
attended the common schools, after which he was apprenticed to learn the trade
of cabinetmaker in his native state. Being
just in young manhood at the time of the great exodus to California he was also
imbued with the adventurous spirit which distinguished the first
emigrants. In 1852 he made the journey
to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, seeking employment in the prosecution of his trade in San Francisco then the
pioneer city of the state. Shortly after
he engaged in the importation of furniture from Boston and New York City to San
Francisco. On account of his wife’s
health he removed to Sutter county in 1858 and became
interested in stock-raising and also grain, managing a thousand acres of
land. In 1864 he removed to Marysville,
and eight years later purchased the Tehama Flouring Mills, leaving his family
in Marysville, while he conducted both the flouring enterprise and farming. In the spring of 1879 he returned to San
Francisco and engaged in the flour business, wholesale and retail, two years
later forming what is called the California Exporters’ Association and
discharging the duties of president for two years. There are thirteen mills in the association
and they chartered ships for Liverpool and various other foreign ports. Mr. Ellis was also one of a party of three
that built the Victor Mills at Hollister, Cal., also acting as president of
this organization for two years. In the
same year he formed the Tehama Milling Company, became president of this, as
well as holding the same office in the Southern Pacific Milling & Warehouse
Company for two. In 1882 he sold his
ranch and the property in Marysville. In
1888, on account of impaired health, he gave up all business and coming to
Santa Clara county purchased thirty acres of land on
the San Francisco road, later adding eighty acres. This ranch is devoted entirely to fruits,
sixty acres in prunes, and the balance in various deciduous fruits. He also has a fruit dryer on his place. In 1902 he organized the Sunnyvale Fruit
Packing Company giving the force of his energy and ability once more in
business circles.
In San
Francisco he was united in marriage with Kate Kyne, a native of Ireland, who
died in Marysville in 1878. A year later
he married Florence Reardan a native of Hanford county,
Md., near Baltimore. She is a daughter
of Dr. James Reardan and Elizabeth Burckhead, of Maryland. Of the first marriage were born fourteen
children, of whom the following are living:
A.T., manager of the Tehama Flour Mills; Frank M.C., of the Sperry Flour
Company; and William J., of the Swabecker Flour Company; Eugene, manager of the
telephone company, with headquarters at Oakland. Of the second union were born the following
children: Moses C., Jr.; Austin,
connected with the telephone company; and A. Leo, an architect of San
Francisco. Mr. Ellis is a member of the Roman
Catholic Church, and in politics is a Republican and has always been active in
the promotion of the principles he endorses.
Transcribed by
Louise E. Shoemaker March 21, 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1102-1105. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Louise E. Shoemaker.