Santa
Clara County
Biographies
JOHN
REA
Among the successful men in Gilroy,
Santa Clara county, Cal., John Rea may well be classed, and having located in
that city about eighteen years ago, he has been identified with the wine
industry and hotel business there ever since. At his place of business on
Seventh street, he conducts a hotel which is largely patronized, has a fine
sample room in connection, with distillery, where all kinds of wines and
brandies are manufactured. Although he has devoted himself assiduously to his
business, he has not abstained entirely from participation in public life, and
for the past twelve years he has served as deputy sheriff and deputy constable
of Santa Clara county, having been elected on the Republican ticket. His
individual success is due largely to his own personal efforts and ability to
make his own way, as he left his native land, Switzerland, when but nineteen
years old, unaccompanied by friends or relatives but with a thorough knowledge
of a good trade.
United by close ties to Minusio, canton of Ticino, Switzerland where his birth took
place April 19, 1859, Mr. Rea testifies that so far as he has any trace of
them, his ancestors were natives of the same city, including great-grandfather,
grandfather, father and mother. The latter, who before marriage was known as
Miss Marie Decarli, was of unknown parentage, having
been reared in an orphan asylum. The father of Mr. Rea, Rocco Rea, was a
laborer in his native land and for thirty-six years he served as watchman in
the mountains of that country in the service of the government, protecting
lands and forests. His death took place September 1, 1888, but his widow still
survives him, a resident of the old home place in Switzerland. Seven children
blessed the union of this esteemed couple, two sons and five daughters, all
having died but three.
Being the eldest child of his
parents, John Rea, at fourteen, became apprenticed to learn the trade of a
wheelwright and for five consecutive years he labored diligently in one shop,
mastering this trade in all its details. Being ambitious to attain individual
success, in 1878 he swelled the tide of emigration then sweeping toward
America, and upon reaching this country he located in Chicago, Ill., where for
a period of nine months, he found employment at his trade, but being a stranger
in a strange land, with no knowledge of the English language, he made little
headway in so large a city and, discontinuing his trade, he took up railroading
in the hopes of drifting into more congenial atmosphere, and in this way worked
his way to California as an employe of the Union and
Central Pacific Railroad. For several years thereafter he continued to follow
railroading through different parts of Arizona, Texas, Nevada, New Mexico,
Mexico and California.
It was not until 1886 that Mr. Rea located
permanently in Gilroy, Cal., where he arrived December 24, and purchased a
half-interest in a Swiss hotel, saloon and wine factory, in partnership with
John Berri. The partnership then formed lasted ten months, Mr. Rea selling out
to his partner and starting in a similar business for himself. In 1889,
however, he again sold out and returning to his former stand, purchased the
entire business from Mr. Berri. About two and a half years later, he built the
fine hotel and winery on Seventh street, into which he moved in 1893, and where
he has conducted a lucrative business ever since. By his marriage May 11, 1899,
Mr. Rea was united with Catherine Berri, born in Switzerland in 1867, and their
union has been prolific of seven children: Rocco; Alfred; two who died in
infancy; Aurelia; John and Virginia; those living are all at home. Being
Republican in his political convictions, Mr. Rea also takes a fitting interest
in municipal affairs. For a number of years he has been a member of the
volunteer fire department of Gilroy, having filled all the offices. He is quite
prominently connected with a number of social orders, among them the following: St. Lorenzo Lodge No. 147, I. O. O. F. of Santa
Cruz, having passed through all the chairs; No. 130, Druids of Gilroy, having
also passed through all the chairs; No. 6, Eagles of San Jose; and No. 8,
Knights of the Royal Arch of the same city.
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., Pages 1364-1365. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.