Santa Clara County
Biographies
JOHN FRANCIS PYLE
No one man, mayhap, has done more to advance the agricultural, horticultural, manufacturing and commercial interests of this section of California than John Francis Pyle, of San Jose. Enterprising, energetic and progressive, he has developed one of the most substantial and best-paying industries of Santa Clara county, and as head of one of the largest canning plants in this vicinity is carrying on a prosperous business, being senior member of the well-known firm of J. F. Pyle & Sons. A son of Thomas Pyle, he was bon January 1, 1845, in Buchanan county, Mo. His paternal grandparents, Edward G. and Mary Rosanna Pyle, were both born and reared in Kentucky, living there until after their marriage. They subsequently removed to Illinois, thence to Missouri, where they carried on farming until 1846. Migrating then to California, both spent the remaining years of their lives in this state. They reared three sons, namely: Thomas, the father of John Francis; Edward, who was lassoed and dragged to death by the Spaniards in 1851; and John, who died in Oregon.
Thomas Pyle was born March 1, 1810, in Kentucky. With his parents he went to Illinois, and was subsequently actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in that state, in Indiana and in Missouri. May 26, 1846, he left his Missouri farm and started overland for California, arriving in Sacramento October 20, 1846. He, with his father and brothers, had intended to go to Oregon, but on their journey met Mr. Hastings, who spoke so highly of the advantages of California as a residence that he concluded to locate here. He and his company were among the very first settlers of that place, preceding and breaking the way for the Donner party, which arrived the following year. He and his brothers, and all the available men thereabout, immediately joined Colonel Fremont and his scanty force of frontiersmen, and assisted in retaining possession of California until it was ceded to the United State at the close of the Mexican war. In 1850 Thomas Pyle located in San Jose, buying a Pueblo tract of about five hundred acres of land of his brother and sister-in-law. Subsequently putting up a house, he embarked in stock and grain raising. Under the pueblo lease he paid a rental of $3 per year, and when it was put on the market by the city commissioners the heirs of Thomas Pyle paid for the five hundred acres at the rate of $1.25 per acre. He continued his work as a general farmer until his premature death, by accident, August 1, 1853. As a member of the Vigilance Committee in 1851 he was earnest and faithful in enforcing the state laws. He married Elizabeth Goodwin, who was born in Gallatin, Ohio, a daughter of Levi and Mary Goodwin, both natives of Pennsylvania, and of their union four children were born, namely: Edward G., a resident of East San Jose; Mrs. Mary Overfelt, living on a ranch near San Jose; and John Francis, the subject of this sketch. The mother, who married for her second husband Daniel Tanner, died on the old homestead in 1897.
After attending the district schools of San Jose for a few months John Francis Pule completed his early education in the schools of Berryessa. At the age of fourteen years he rented land, and for three years engaged in the raising of grain and hay on his own account. The ensuing two years he worked for wages, for one year being in the employ of Mr. Overfelt, and working one year for Mr. Richardson. Assuming charge then of his own farm of seventy-two acres, and renting his brother William’s ranch, he carried on general farming most successfully, raising hay, grain, stock, vegetables and fruit. Continuing his agricultural and horticultural labors, Mr. Pyle has since added marked improvements to his estate, having erected a commodious residence, and a fine set of farm buildings of all kinds. Wishing to further increase his business opportunities he embarked in the canning industry in 1895, beginning on a modest scale, and has met with a success far outreaching his expectations. Responding to the demands of his trade, Mr. Pyle has constantly added to his original plant, and has now a cannery 80x116 feet; a very large drying establishment; three warehouses, one 24x60 feet, one 36x50 feet, and the other 32x30 feet; a box house 20x40 feet; two large boilers; a large engine for pumping, and two smaller ones. He seven wells bored on his place in one pit, water being carried to every part by pipes. He raises a large part of the fruit and vegetables that he cans, devoting sixty-five acres of his land to tomatoes, fifty acres to rhubarb, twenty-five acres each to peas and beans, and in his orchards raises peaches, plums, and apricots. He buys a part of the fruit and vegetables used in his cannery, and is carrying on an enormous business, sending out last year over thirty thousand cases of canned good and thousands of pounds of dried fruits. His products are recognized as among the best in the market, his brands, Pyles’ Berryessa, being found in the leading cities of the Union. During the busy season he keeps from one hundred and twenty-five to three hundred hands employed. In the establishment and management of this thriving business Mr. Pyle is not alone, his sons being in partnership with him, the firm name being J. F. Pyle & Sons.
Mr. Pyle has been twice married. He married first, in San Jose, Kate Keliher, who was born in Ireland, reared in Boston, Mass., and came to California when a young lady. She lived but one short year after their marriage. His second marriage, in San Jose, united him with Maggie Elizabeth Houston, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, came to New York when young, and after living in Brooklyn five years came to California. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pyle, namely: Frank Grant and Harry Thomas, both in partnership with their father; and Ethel May, a graduate of the State Normal school, and the wife of George H. Resseguie. In politics Mr. Pyle is independent, voting without party restrictions as his conscience dictates. He is a member of the Santa Clara Pioneers’ Association, and of the Merchants’ Alliance of San Jose.
Transcribed
Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 508-511. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Joyce Rugeroni.