Santa Clara County
Biographies
CHARLES WILSON HOWARD
Although a resident of the state of California for more than forty years, it was not until 1880 that Mr. Howard took up his residence in Santa Clara county, near San Jose, and since then his interests have been closely identified with those of this section. In the fall of that year he purchased the farm still occupied by him as a home. This ranch contains twenty-two acres, and is well located on the Los Gatos road, about four miles southwest of San Jose, and in 1895 a fine residence was built upon the place, making it one of the most attractive places on this road. For the first year or two after locating here, Mr. Howard engaged in raising grain, but he soon discontinued this line of farming entirely and planted his place in orchards. Since then he has devoted himself exclusively to fruit raising, having at the present time twelve acres in prunes, six acres in cherries, and the balance in peaches, apples and apricots.
An Englishman by birth, Mr. Howard began his existence December 5, 1837, near the great city of London, and his father, Charles Howard, was a native of the same vicinity. His mother, whose maiden name was Miss Ellen Wilson, never left her native country but died in England when Charles W. was small. In 1844 the father came to this country and located in Wisconsin, purchasing a tract of new and undeveloped land about twenty miles west of Milwaukee. His farm was mostly forest land and here he spent the balance of his life clearing and cultivating his farm and also following lumbering pursuits to some extent. To him and his wife were born five children, as follows: John, Charles W., Henry, Ellen, and one who died in infancy.
Being only seven years of age when brought to this country by his father, the education of Mr. Howard was necessarily very limited, owing to the unsettled condition of the country where the family settled, as scarcely any schools were to be found there in those early days. He remained at home assisting his father on the farm and in his lumber operations until 1862, when he went west to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Arriving in this state, he engaged in mining pursuits at Downieville for the six years following with fair success, and in 1868 he purchased land in Solano county and followed ranching pursuits there for about fourteen years. Going farther south in the fall of 1880 he found a more favorable location in Santa Clara county, and purchasing his present place he has been active in the development of this section ever since.
Mr. Howard has been twice married; his first union took place in Solano county and united him with Miss Eliza Curry, formerly of New Brunswick. Three children were born of this union and some time ago Mr. Howard was deprived of his companion by death. He subsequently wedded Miss Irene Canright, in Oakland, Cal., and the present Mrs. Howard is a native of New York. They have no children, and in their religious views they are active members of the M. E. Church. Politically Mr. Howard has ever been a sincere Republican, a champion of the cause which he believes to be right.
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 1178. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Joyce Rugeroni.