Santa
Clara County
Biographies
GEORGE
S. KIDDER
The family of which George S. Kidder is a
member has been prominent in the history of the Santa Clara valley since
pioneer days, his father, Charles S. Kidder, having crossed the plains in the
early ‘50s. The elder man was a native of Maine, and was a painter and designer
by occupation, but was as well a natural mechanic who could turn his hand to
anything. On the old Owens ranch at the corner of Stevens
creek and Los Gatos road he conducted a carpenter and blacksmith shop and
carriage making until his death, at the age of sixty years and seven months.
Previous to this he followed his trade in Santa Clara and San Jose. He was a
stanch Republican in politics, and a faithful supporter of all movements
calculated to advance the general welfare of the community. He married Sarah
Frances Owen, who was born in Indiana, a daughter of the Rev. Isaac Owen, one
of the founders of the University of the Pacific. Mr. Owen was a native of
Indiana, where he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1849 he
brought his family to California across the pains, traveling in a large train
of which he was captain. They passed through the Indian country and were
several times molested by the savages, who made attempts to steal the stock,
which resulted in a small loss to the emigrants. They forded and swam the
streams and endured the hardships and privations of their long and dangerous
trip, and upon their arrival Mr. Owen first located in the Sacramento valley.
Soon afterward he came to Santa Clara county and near the city of that name, on
what is now the corner of Stevens creek and Los Gatos road, engaged in farming
on a ranch of one hundred and fifty acres. The greater part of his time,
however, was given to the upbuilding of the interest of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, founding congregations and churches, and in 1852 he established the
school which has since become the University of the Pacific. He continued his
missionary work until his death at the ripe old age of eighty years. After the
death of her husband Mrs. Kidder reared her family of seven children
principally on the farm in the San Felipe valley. She now makes her home in San
Jose, the widow of Cornelius McHugh, whom she afterward married, and by whom
she had one child. In religion she is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church.
The sixth of a family of eight
children, George S. Kidder was born February 25, 1874, in Santa Clara, and was
reared to manhood on the paternal farm in this county. In youth he attended the
district schools in pursuit of an education. When eighteen years of age he went
to Sacramento and worked in the railroad shops, as a natural mechanic being
able to turn his hand to various occupations. Responding to his country’s need
in 1898 he became a member of the First California regiment, being mustered
into Company C at the Presidio and sent with the first troops to Manila. Mr.
Kidder was afterward taken ill and in February, 1899, was honorably discharged
and returned home. He spent about a year in recovering his strength when he
went to work for the Garden City Transfer Company, and six months later
purchased the business, now conducting successfully a general transfer company
and storage business. In addition to this business he also owns farming land in
the county, and takes a deep interest in the upbuilding of the best interests
of the community.
Mr. Kidder is a member of the Red
Men, a charter member of the Spanish-American War Veterans, and an active
member of Company B, Fifth California regiment, National Guards. He politically
is a stanch Republican.
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., Page 647. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.