Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MICHAEL RAFFERTY
In the front ranks of every business and in
every community, we find men whose success in life may be attributed to their
own individual efforts, and who have attained prosperity in the way open to
all, by hard work and persevering endeavors, and to this class of citizens
Michael Rafferty belongs. Since 1877 he has been a citizen of the United States
and of California, his interest still being identified with the latter section
of the country. Born in County Tyrone, Ireland, also the birthplace of his
parents, Mr. Rafferty is the youngest in a family of six children born to Michael
and Ellen (Scanlen) Rafferty. His parents never left
their native land, but spent their entire lives in one community. Three of
their children were sons. Michael was educated in the common schools, and when
old enough to choose a vocation in life became a butcher, and followed that
occupation successfully in his native land.
In company with one brother and two
sisters he left Ireland in 1877 and upon his arrival in California he located
on a farm in the vicinity of Menlo Park, San Mateo county,
having purchased land in this locality prior to leaving the old country. He
gave his entire attention to his farming interests, remaining in that locality
until 1890. During this year he rented three hundred acres of land southwest of
Mayfield, a place he still leases and farms, although he owns to other tracts
of land. One place of thirty acres is adjacent to Mayfield, and one-half mile
south of Mayfield, on the San Francisco road, he owns thirty-five acres devoted
to hay and grain, the former place being devoted to peach and prune orchards.
In San Francisco he wedded Miss Mary
Farwell, also a native of Ireland, and they have four sons and two daughters,
as follows: Frank, Hugh, James, William, Mary and Maggie. All are at home. The
family worship at the Catholic Church, of which they are members. Politically
Mr. Rafferty is a firm adherent to the Democratic party.
He is one of the foremost farmers of his section and is a man of progressive
ideas. In addition, he is a good, substantial citizen, interested in the growth,
welfare and prosperity of Santa Clara county. His home
is one of the most popular and attractive spots in the neighborhood of
Mayfield.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1353. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.