Santa Clara County
Biographies
JAMES HENRY PEARCE
JAMES HENRY PEARCE. In Santa Clara county, Cal., as well
as in other communities, almost every branch of trade is represented by men of
ability, who have learned well how to cater to the public wants in an
exceptional manner, furnishing excellent values to their customers, yet, by a
system of quick sales and small profits, realizing a neat profit on their
investment. Mr. Pearce is just such a man and for the past twenty years he
has conducted a general merchandise store in Los Gatos, handling hay, grain,
wool, feed and hardware, with a complete line of both staple and fancy
groceries. Commencing business on a small scale, he has enlarged his stock from
time to time, showing a great deal of enterprise by his methods, and his
business has increased correspondingly.
It was in the faraway state of Wisconsin, in Blue Mounds,
Dane county, that Mr. Pearce was born, September 7, 1857, and he
is the eldest of six children born to William and Louisa (Dunstan) Pearce, both
natives of Cornwall, England, the former born January 26, 1819, and
the latter in January, 1828. The father emigrated to the United States of
America in 1848, settling for a time near Hartford, Conn. He was a miner by
occupation and a little later removed to Wisconsin, and it was in that state
that his marriage took place, he being united with
Miss Louisa Dunstan at Blue Mounds, in 1856. Mrs. Pearce
accompanied her parents to Canada in 1841, and they located for a few years at Charlottetown,
Prince Edward Island, and in 1849 they removed to Dodgeville, Wis. Mr. and
Mrs. Pearce reared a family of five sons and one daughter, and in 1860
they came to California. Mr. Pearce followed mining pursuits in British
Columbia for a brief period, and afterwards engaged in quicksilver mining at
New Almaden for some twelve years, then moved to a ranch in the suburbs of Los
Gatos, Cal. Many useful years of his life were devoted to the general
merchandise business in Los Gatos. It was about 1869 that he bought his ranch
in the vicinity of Los Gatos, purchasing at that time one hundred and eight
acres of land and turning his attention to general farming. Selling to
advantage in 1884, he engaged in mercantile pursuits as stated, and a
successful business was carried on there under the firm name of the
W. L. Pearce Co., Incorporated, until his retirement in 1895. He
died in Los Gatos, October 8, 1902. He was a member of the Christian
Church, and in politics a Republican.
Being but a few years old when his parents located in
California, James H. Pearce received his scholastic training in the common
schools of that state, and in April, 1875, he became apprenticed to learn the
blacksmith’s trade near Santa Clara. In 1877 he continued his trade in Los Gatos
and the following year entered the employ of Mr. George Seanor, working at his trade as a journeyman for several
years. Not being entirely satisfied to continue working in this capacity and
desiring to fit himself for mercantile life, he accordingly entered business college in 1882, taking a complete course in San
Jose, Cal., spending the summers in clerking in a store. In 1884
Mr. Pearce, in partnership with his father, started in a general store at
Los Gatos and for several years was associated with him, but in 1887 he sold
his interest in this store to his father, and embarked for himself in Los
Gatos, thereby laying the foundation for his present business.
The marriage of Mr. Pearce in 1886 took place in Los
Gatos, and he was united with Miss Henrietta G. Gray, daughter
of James W. Gray, formerly of London, England, the birthplace of
both. Mr. Gray was a painter and paper-hanger, and emigrating
to America, located in Kansas City, Mo., in 1865, and in 1882 he went to Los
Gatos, Cal., his present residence. Two children, James H., Jr., and
Rita, brighten the home of Mr. and Mrs. Pearce. In his political
convictions, Mr. Pearce is a stanch supporter of
the Republican party, and he is a valued member of the
K. of P., I. O. O. F. and Rebekah
lodges. He takes a fitting interest in educational and municipal affairs,
having served on the school board, and at the present time is a member of the
city council.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 July 2016.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page
1252. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Marie Hassard.