Santa Clara County
Biographies
SAMUEL E. MORELAND
A business man of considerable prestige, Samuel E. Moreland is the leading painter, paper hanger and decorator of San Jose, having been a contractor of this city since 1874 and employing as many as thirty men at a time. He has done all the heaviest work of the city, having held contracts for nearly all the public buildings, among them the court house, normal school, Agnew Asylum, Almshouse, First Presbyterian Church, North Methodist Episcopal Church, German Methodist Episcopal Church, South Methodist Episcopal Church, Christian Church, and every school in the city, besides many of the finest homes where the costly and elaborate work speaks eloquently of his ability in this line; bank buildings and stores also show an evidence of his painstaking work. The beautiful and ornate work of the Odd Fellows' hall was planned and executed by Mr. Moreland as he was chairman of the Building Committee for the association, of which he was president. In addition to all these interests he has been extensively associated with many of the business enterprises of the city and has taken an intelligent, active and helpful interest in all that pertains to the advancement and upbuilding of the resources of San Jose.
Born in Scotland county, Mo., December 29, 1849, he was the son of Richard Moreland, who removed with his family to Iowa in 1863, where our Mr. Moreland completed his education and grew to manhood. He remained in the middle west until 1874 when he was compelled to seek a change of climate on account of impaired health. Coming to California in June of that year he experienced such decided relief at once that he lost no time in locating permanently in the state. Selecting San Jose as his place of residence he at once entered upon the business which has since claimed his attention, throwing into the work all the energy of an ambitious temperament and the talent which has so strongly developed in the passing years. His efforts have been thoroughly appreciated and a place of prominence and importance accorded him in the business activity of the city.
In Iowa Mr. Moreland was united in marriage with Gertrude Smith, a native of that state, and she now presides over their pleasant home in San Jose. Fraternally Mr. Moreland is quite prominent, being a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which organization he is past grand, being identified with this order for the past thirty-four years; also belongs to the Encampment and Rebekahs; the Masons and Eastern Star; and Ancient Order of United Workmen. During the years in which Mr. Moreland has been a resident of San Jose he has made nine trips back to his home in the middle west, as well as visiting various of the eastern states on these trips. Not content with his experience he is continually adding to his knowledge by a comprehensive observation of the best work in his line throughout the country and is thus constantly increasing the excellence of his work. He justly merits the position of high esteem in which he is held throughout the community.
Transcribed
1-12-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Page 932. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R.
Pankey.