Santa
Clara County
Biographies
THOMAS
FARRELL
THOMAS FARRELL. A man of industry, integrity and sterling
worth, Thomas Farrell is well known throughout San Jose as the superintendent
of Calvary Cemetery. This beautiful
resting place of the dead occupies a ten-acre tract of land, lying about two
miles east of San Jose, on Alum Rock avenue, and is well laid out and well
cared for. Its beautiful avenues and
walks are shaded by trees of a noble growth, and its attractiveness is due to
Mr. Farrell’s judicious management.
A native of Ireland, he was born in County Longford, where his parents,
Patrick and Mary (Farrell) Farrell, spent their entire lives, owning and
managing a farm.
The third child in a family of five
children, Thomas Farrell is the only one that ever crossed the ocean, the
others remaining in the Emerald Isle.
Brought up on the home farm, he remained in his native country until
1883, when he immigrated to the United States, the supposed paradise of the
poor man. For three years he lived in
Brooklyn, N.Y., working at any honest employment. Migrating to California in 1886, he took up
his residence in San Jose, and for the next ten years was actively engaged in
agricultural pursuits. From 1896 until
1904, Mr. Farrell worked as an employe in the
Calvary Cemetery, performing his duties so conscientiously and ably that on
May 1, 1904, on the death of the former superintendent, Peter Sax, he was appointed to his present position as
superintendent of the cemetery. In this
capacity he is laboring with commendable fidelity, giving his undivided
attention to his duties, which he performs with credit to himself, and to the
satisfaction of all concerned.
In San Jose, at St. Patrick’s
Church, of which he is a member, Mr. Farrell married Mary Black, who was
born and reared in Ireland.
Mr. Farrell is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Ancient
Order of Hibernians.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
THOMAS FARRELL
1912
Feb 18, San Jose Mercury News, P23, San Jose, California
Was
18 Years in Charge of Calvary Cemetery
Thomas Farrell Passed Away Wednesday
Following Two Days’ Illness
Funeral Held Yesterday Morning With Services at St. Patrick’s Church
Following an illness of but two days,
Thomas Farrell passed away Wednesday night at his home on Alum Rock avenue, aged 50 years.
The decedent was a well-known resident of San Jose and had lived in
Santa Clara County for a period of 18 years.
For the last 16 years he was Superintendent of the Calvary Cemetery, and
was highly esteemed by his numerous friends.
The funeral was held yesterday morning, the cortege proceeding at 9
o’clock from the family home, thence to St. Patrick’s Church, where high mass
was celebrated for the repose of the soul of the decedent. The Rev J. Lally,
the pastor, was the officiating clergyman, and he paid a touching tribute to
the memory of the departed. In the
sanctuary were the Rev. J. B. McNally, the assistant pastor; the
Rev. William Culligan, pastor of St. Joseph’s Church;
the Rev. Father Melchers, S. J., pastor of St. Mary’s Church, and the Rev.
Father Madon [text
faded] of San Francisco. Special
music was rendered by the church choir, under the direction of Mrs. D. J. Gairaud and many beautiful floral tributes covered the
pall. The burial was in Calvary Cemetery,
and the pallbearers were James McKagney, Matt Glennon, Joseph McKiernan, Sr., John McAleen,
Matt O’Neil and Frank Decker. The
surviving relatives are the widow, Mrs. Maria Farrell, and sister-in-law, Miss
Julia Black.
1941 Jan 7, Oakland Tribune, P29,
Oakland, California
Black – In San Jose, Jan. 6, Julia
Black, daughter of the late William and Mary Black, sister of Mrs. Maria
Farrell, a native of Ireland, aged 72 years.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1265. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna Toole.