Santa Clara County
Biographies
DAVID WILLIAM GISH
Prominent among the native born citizens of San Jose who have spent their entire lives within its precincts, adding in every possible way its growth and development, whether relating to its agricultural, industrial or financial interests, is David William Gish, whose birth occurred April 5, 1856. His father, David Ellison Gish, was one of the early pioneers of California, and his grandfather, David Harrison Gish, who was a farmer in Indiana, spent his last years in this state.
Born and reared in South Bend, Ind., David Ellison Gish remained on the home farm until 1849, when in the full vigor of young manhood he came across the plains with an ox-team train to the mining fields of California, where he searched for gold for a few years, wielding the pick and shovel to some purpose. Subsequently settling in San Jose, he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on what is now known as the Gish road, and by sturdy industry and energy improved a good orchard and a valuable farm, on which he is now residing, retired from active pursuits. He married Mrs. Mary J. (Lemon) Glover, who was born in Missouri, where she lived until after her marriage with Mr. Glover. In 1846 Mr. and Mrs. Glover started from Missouri with the Donner party, which subsequently was separated into two parts, and came across the plains with the division that took the longest route, arriving safely in California. Mr. Glover went with others to the relief of the other division of the party, and died soon after his return. Mrs. Glover married for her second husband Mr. Gish, and died in Bishop, Inyo county, on the farm of her son, A. E. Gish, in January, 1904. Of the ten children born of her second marriage, nine are living, David William being the second child, in order of birth.
Born and brought up in San Jose, David William Gish has watched with pride and gratification its growth from a small, unpretentious hamlet to a thriving, busy city, alive with business enterprises and teeming with energy. He was educated in the public schools, and in the days of his boyhood and youth assisted in the management of the parental homestead, becoming familiar with farming and stock-raising. By nature of an enterprising and active disposition, he enlarged his operations after attaining his majority, purchasing a hay press, and for sixteen seasons was busily employed in baling hay, during many of the summers baling on an average over three thousand tons. In 1898 Mr. Gish began firing the stationary engine at the plant of the San Jose Light & Power Company, on Fourth street and subsequently became assistant engineer. He was afterward associated with the United Gas & Light Company as engineer in their gas works, and in July, 1903, accepted the position of chief engineer at the Red Star Laundry. He is natural mechanic, and has acquired considerable notice as the inventor of an oil burner, the only one made with a double steam jet. It is called the J. & G. burner, and is manufactured by Mr. Gish and his partner, W. E. Jackson, who also installs the burners in plants of different kinds.
Mr. Gish was married in San Jose, by Judge Belden to Cora Conners, who was born in San Francisco, and they are the parents of four children, namely: Lorena, Ralph, Edna, and Ada. Fraternally Mr. Gish is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. He also belongs to the National Association of Stationary Engineers, and is a member of its executive board, and a member, and one of the trustees, of the International Union of Stationary Engineers.
Transcribed by Joyce Rugeroni.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 860. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Joyce Rugeroni.