Santa
Clara County
Biographies
JAMES A. KIDWARD
JAMES
A. KIDWARD. A man of great enterprise
and ability, James A. Kidward is a typical
representative of the self-made men of our times, and occupies an assured
position among the active and respected citizens of San Jose. He has been identified with the official
management of the city as chief of police, and is now connected with one of its
leading business enterprises as treasurer and manager of the Lick Livery and
Hack Company, which is one of the largest and best-equipped establishments of
its kind in southern California. A son
of James Kidward, he was born November 16, 1863,
in Cleveland, Ohio.
A
native of Wales, James Kidward immigrated to this
country in early manhood, landing in New York city,
where he worked as a day laborer for some time.
Having accumulated quite a sum of money he moved to Cleveland, Ohio,
where he established himself in the wholesale liquor business. Lured to the Pacific coast by the salubrity of its climate as told by visitors, he came to
California in 1880, and soon afterward selected Gilroy as a place of
residence. Rather than remain in
idleness, he began raising poultry for amusement, but after a short experience
in that line of industry gave it up, and thenceforward lived in San Jose, retired
from active pursuits, until his death, in 1897, at the age of seventy-three
years. His wife, whose maiden name was
Carrie Smith, was born in Boston, and is now a resident of San Jose. Three children
blessed their union, namely: Edward,
deceased; Alice, deceased; and James A.
After
completing his early education in the schools of Gilroy, James A. Kidward began his active career as a clerk, and afterwards
established himself as a merchant in that town.
A progressive and public-spirited man, and a natural politician, he soon
became quite influential in public affairs, and after coming to San Jose served
as deputy constable one or more terms, and was afterwards constable and deputy
sheriff for several terms, serving under Sheriffs J. Sweigert,
G. E. McDugal and G. Y. Bullinger. In 1892
Mr. Kidward was elected chief of police of San
Jose, on the Independent ticket, and in 1894 was re-elected on the Republican
ticket. He was subsequently appointed to
this position of responsibility under the new charter, and served with
characteristic ability and faithfulness for a number of years. In July, 1902, he resigned the office, his
resignation to take effect January 1, 1903, his
personal affairs requiring his entire attention.
In
1899 Mr. Kidward bought the livery business of
L. Lord and at that time organized and established the Lick stables. December 28, 1902, he reorganized the
firm, making it into a stock company, with A. L. Chambers as
president, and Mr. Kidward as secretary and
manager. Purchasing the Dashaway stables, he consolidated them with the Lick
stables, which he already owned, and having enlarged and remodeled both is now
identified with the most extensive and finest livery business in the city or in
the county. This enterprising firm is
well equipped in every respect, its horses, hacks, equipages and turnouts of
all kinds being unsurpassed for private or public use. The firm makes a specialty of party, wedding
and funeral outfits, and handles all the hearses in the city, keeping
twenty-five men all of the time, and eight extra men the most of the year. Mr. Kidward
has also dealt in real estate to some extent, but sold out the greater part of
his city property in 1904, retaining, however, his handsome residence on South eleventh street.
Mr. Kidward’s first marriage united him with Mary Elliott, a
native of Ohio. She died at the age of
forty-three years, leaving two children, Carrie and George, who are living at
home. Mr. Kidward
married for his second wife May E. Cottle, who
was born and reared in San Jose. Taking
great interest in fraternal societies, Mr. Kidward
belongs to several leading organizations of the city, including the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, Independent Order of
Foresters (of which he is past chief ranger), Knights of the Maccabees, Ancient
Order of United Workmen, Modern Woodmen of the World and Knights of Pythias, of which he is past chancellor.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 748-751. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Donna Toole.