Santa Clara County
Biographies
PETER GEORGE REALE
One of the most venerable of the horticulturists of Santa Clara country, Peter George Reale is also one of the successful ranch owners, having a beautiful home in the midst of a fertile region and operating thirty-five acres under assorted fruits and asparagus. Since 1870 he has lived on the same place near San Jose, and each year has witnessed some improvement in his surroundings, some pronounced effort to keep abreast of the times and maintain the prestige of the county as a notable fruit-raising center. He has a drier on his place and other facilities for caring for his fruit and vegetables, and during the busy season employs many hands.
While the greater part of Mr. Reale's business life has been passed in California, his claim upon the consideration of his fellow-men is by no means confined to the western coast. Upon his breast he wears medals conferred by both Victor Emmanuel and King Humbert, in recognition of his services in the Italian Revolution of 1848-9. He spent four and a half years in the infantry attached to the Third Battery under the leadership of Mazzini, the patriot and revolutionist, participating in many of the battles which marked the disturbance with Austria, and receiving for his valor wounds and continued illness. Vividly he recalls the clashing armies, the tent life and long marches under the intolerable Italian sun, and his most prized possessions are the tributes of appreciation from his two progressive and humane sovereigns. Mr. Reale's life began in the picturesque town of Genoa, Italy, January 2, 1819, and in youth he attended the public schools. His parents, John Baptist and Theresa (Traverso) Reale, had three sons besides himself, and three daughters. At an early age he embarked on a vessel for Buenos Ayres, South America, where he worked at the bricklayer's trade for two and a half years, and in 1853 came around the Horn to Valparaiso, Chili(sic), reaching San Francisco in March, 1853.
In the vicinity of San Francisco Mr. Reale conducted a vegetable garden for about eighteen years, spending most of his time out of doors and living close to the heart of nature. Each morning he drove in town with his crisp vegetables, returning at night with an always to be relied upon addition to his substance. During 1853 he engaged in mining in Downieville, but was unsuccessful and gladly returned to the garden which gave him both pleasure and profit. In San Francisco he married a countrywoman, Mary Belloli, born in Piedmont, Italy, and who has become the mother of eight children, five sons and three daughters. Mr. Reale has never espoused the cause of any particular political party since he took up his residence in America. With his family he is a member of the Catholic Church. He has brought success out of his ability and opportunities, and has proved himself not only a high-minded and public-spirited citizen, but one of exceptional bravery and lofty patriotism.
Transcribed
5-9-16 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource:
History of the State of California &
Biographical Record of Coast Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A.
M., Pages 1161-1162. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marilyn R.
Pankey.