Santa Clara County
Biographies
JAMES
A. PECKHAM
JAMES A. PECKHAM. A
native-born citizen of California, and the son of a pioneer of prominence,
James A. Peckham of San Jose has ever taken
great interest in the welfare of the state, and has been actively identified
with the promotion of its industrial and business growth. As a man of ability
and energy, possessing good intelligence and much force of character, he is
highly esteemed as a popular and useful resident of this enterprising city. The
descendant of an early colonial family of New England, he was born
March 11, 1854, in Santa Cruz, a son of the late Robert F. Peckham.
Born in Charlestown,
R. I., on the farm of his father, Robert Peckham,
Robert F. Peckham spent his boyhood days on
the parental homestead. Having an adventurous disposition, and being a lover of
the salt water, he shipped as a boy on a whaler bound for the Indian ocean, and
made a trip around the Cape of Good Hope. Being disappointed in finding whales,
the vessel crossed the Pacific ocean to the western coast of the United States,
and when it stopped at Sausalito for water August 30, 1846, he took
French leave, and started on foot across the hills to the Mission Dolores.
Meeting some friendly Mormons, he continued his journey to the pueblo of San
Jose, where he secured employment with Mrs. Bennett, who afterward married
Harry Love. A few days later, Mr. Parks, whom he had met at the mission,
persuaded him to go to the San Joaquin valley, where he remained three months.
Returning to San Jose, he served a short time in a military company, and then
began working for William Randall, a general merchant. When gold was
discovered he took a stock of goods to the mines, where he was engaged in
mercantile pursuits for awhile. Subsequently locating on the corner of Market
and San Antonio streets, he started one of the first stores in San Jose. While
thus employed, he began the study of law, for which he had a natural aptitude,
and at the end of six months was admitted to the bar, being admitted, as he
afterward said, because he was wanted as the candidate for the office of
district attorney. Beginning the practice of his profession, he had as contemporaries
S. B. Buckner, C. T. Ryland, Judge Moore and others. Giving
up the law in 1869 he organized the San Jose Woolen Company, which erected a
mill on the corner of Hobson and San Pedro streets, and in June, 1870, began
the manufacture of blankets and cassimeres. In 1895,
having served as president of the company from the time of its organization, he
resigned the position, and thenceforward lived retired until his death, in
1896, at the age of sixty-eight years.
In January, 1849,
Robert F. Peckham married Ann E. Smith, who was born
in Rondout, Ulster county, N. Y., a daughter of
John Smith, who was a direct descendant of one of the old Knickerbocker families that settled on the Hudson river in
early days. A surveyor and civil engineer, Mr. Smith came with his family
across the plains to California in 1848, bringing his tools with him, and
locating in San Juan, San Benito county, where he followed his profession until
his death, a few years later. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Peckham ten children were born, nine of whom grew to years
of maturity, namely: W. H., engaged in the laundry business in San Jose;
Mrs. Martha J. Pray, who died in Boonville, Cal.; James A.,
the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Mary Pillot,
an educator, of San Jose; Mrs. Fannie Bronson, a teacher in San
Francisco; Lois, a teacher in that city; Mrs. Lucy Morgan, of San
Jose; B. L., in San Francisco; and Carrie, engaged in teaching in
Monterey. The mother died in San Jose in 1886.
Until five years of
age James A. Peckham lived in Santa Cruz,
and the following seven years lived with his parents in Watsonville, where he
obtained the rudiments of his education. Coming to San Jose in 1865, he
continued his studies in the grammar and high schools. In June, 1870, he
entered the employ of the San Jose Woolen Mill Company, beginning as assistant
foreman in the carding room, and subsequently being promoted to the spinning
room, where he remained as foreman until 1880. The following four years Mr. Peckham was engaged as a salesman in the wholesale house of
Huntington & Hopkins, in San Francisco. In 1884 he returned to San Jose,
and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as a clerk in
the freight office, and since 1890 has been chief clerk of the freight
department, and one of its most efficient employes.
Mr. Peckham has other interests of importance, being
a stockholder and a director in the San Jose Woolen Company, and also having an
interest in the Home Union. In 1900 he built the handsome house which he
occupies, at No. 74 North Twelfth street, and has other valuable residence
property in the city.
In San Jose Mr. Peckham married Catherine A. Higgins, who was
born in Boston, Mass., and died in this city in 1896, leaving six children,
namely: Eunice, Gertrude, Robert F., Arthur, Ignatius and Mary. The two
older daughters were both graduated from Notre Dame College, and Gertrude
graduated from the State Normal School, and is now attending the
Leland Stanford, Jr., University. The oldest son, Robert F., is
a clerk in the Southern Pacific Railroad Company’s freight office. Politically
Mr. Peckham is a straightforward Republican. He
belongs to the Palo Alto Parlor, N. S. G. W., and also to the
Society of the Sons and Daughters of Pioneers.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
21 April 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 478-481.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.