Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MRS. LYDIA A. RODERICK
Mrs. Lydia A. Roderick, a prominent business woman of San Jose, was born near Salem, Marion county, Ill., a daughter of John F. Draper, who came of an old and honored family originally of English ancestry. Lewis Draper, the English ancestor who settled upon American soil, served the mother country in the Revolutionary war, after which he located in North Carolina and there reared his family. His son, John Draper, was born in that state, where he became a planter and served in the war of 1812 against the country for which his father had fought. He reared a family, among whom was a son named John F., who was born in Randolph county, N.C. In young manhood he came as far west as Illinois, where he participated in the Black Hawk war, during which time he was a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln. He was a prominent Democrat and held important offices in his adopted state, serving in turn as judge, sheriff and member of the state legislature. He was elected quartermaster of a regiment during the Civil war, but on account of failing health was unable to take part in that historic struggle. He died in Illinois at the age of fifty-five years, leaving behind him the record of a high principled Christian gentleman, of unswerving integrity and unquestioned honor, and one whose doors were always opened with the generous hospitality of the southerner. His home was the resort of ministers and the prominent men of the state. His wife was formerly Margaret Griffin, a native of Randolph county, N.C., and the daughter of Lewis Griffin, a planter of Welsh descent and a soldier in the war of 1812. She died at the age of fifty-six years. Of the fifteen children born of this union twelve attained maturity, of whom two sons, James M. and Frank M., served throughout the Civil war, the former in an Illinois regiment and the latter in a Wisconsin. The eldest daughter, Louisa J., who became the wife of Hervey(sic) Hawks, now makes her home with Mrs. Roderick, at the advanced age of eighty years.
The youngest of this large family was Lydia A. Draper, who was reared to young womanhood in her native state, receiving her education in the district school in the vicinity of her home. In 1877 she came with relatives to Gold Hill, Nev., thence to Sacramento, and two years later located in San Jose, where she became identified with the piano business. She was first located in the Tantau block on South First street, where she became the first occupant of the block, after which she went to San Francisco and engaged with Sherman Clay & Co., for a part of the time conducting their branch store on Market and Grant avenue. Later she was associated with the H. H. Bancroft Company as manager of their piano house in the History building, San Francisco, remaining in their employ until they discontinued business. She then entered the employ of the F. W. Spencer Company, a firm located in the same building, and has remained with them ever since. During these years she has made her home in San Jose, building the beautiful residence on the corner of Grant and Spencer avenues and improving the value of the property by setting out palms and plants of all descriptions. She has also built a residence adjoining.
In Illinois, Lydia A. Draper became the wife of Capt. G. C. Harper, a native of Indiana; his death occurred in Illinois. They had one child, Harry Harper, who is now a bookkeeper of San Jose. Her second marriage occurred in San Jose and united her with J. R. Roderick. Mrs. Roderick is a member of the Illinois Society and was for some time connected with the Red Cross Society. She is also a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church. A brother of Mrs. Roderick, William Draper, came to California across the plains by ox teams in 1849, and became a resident of Weaverville, Trinity county, where his death occurred. He was a very prominent Mason in California.
Transcribed
7-11-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 680-683. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.