Santa Clara County
Biographies
EDMOND S. MORROW
Induced by the prospect of restoring health undermined by a strenuous wholesale hardware business in Indianapolis, Ind., Edmond S. Morrow came to California in 1888, and while working in the open air under the clear skies of Santa Clara county, realized the expectation which had uprooted him from his native surroundings. His first ranch was located on the Stevens Creek road, three and a half miles west of San Jose, and after four years of successful fruit growing and general farming he sold out and purchased his present ranch in 1892. He owns fifteen acres of land bordering on Stevens creek, Santa Clara and Los Gatos roads, of which eight acres are under prunes and seven under English walnuts. His improvements have been suggested by a thorough and scientific knowledge of horticulture, and his home and surroundings appeal to easterners of culture and refinement. He has a drier on his place, and every facility for curing, boxing and preparing for shipment the fruit of which he is making a specialty.
Mr. Morrow is a native son of the Hoosier state, and was born in Indianapolis, March 26, 1852. His father, Alexander Morrow, was born in Pennsylvania, and his mother, Hannah (Stoddard) Morrow, was a native of New York state. Alexander Morrow removed from Pennsylvania to Indiana, equipped with a determination to succeed and a knowledge of the hatter's trade. He became one of the pioneer manufacturers of hats there, plying his trade in the laborious and accurate manner known to the artisan ere his outlook was cheered by the advent of modern machinery. When the ingenuity of man caused lessened demand for his work he entered the retail hat business, and was thus employed until his retirement from active life in 1894. His sober and industrious habits bore results, for he lived to be ninety-one years of age, passing away June 15, 1904. His wife died in Connersville. Of their five children, three daughters and two sons, Edmond S. is the youngest.
The hat-making trade being within easy reach, Edmond S. Morrow learned it from his father, and for several years assisted him in his business. In 1880 he embarked on an independent career, becoming associated with the wholesale hardware firm of Hanson, Van Camp & Co. of Indianapolis, in which business he worked his way up from the bottom, finally becoming a stockholder and secretary of the corporation, and manager of one of its departments. As before stated, he severed his connection with the enterprise in 1888, and has since been one of the successful ranchers of Santa Clara county. He is a Republican in political affiliation, although locally he believes in voting for the best man. With his wife, whom he married in Indianapolis, and who was born in Aurora, Ind., he is a member of the Second Presbyterian church of San Jose. Mr. Morrow is an enthusiastic Californian, devoted to his trees and flowers, and is eminently grateful for the happy inspiration which directed his steps to the western coast.
Transcribed
2-5-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 970-973. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R.
Pankey.