Santa Clara County
Biographies
JAMES SINGLETON
For thirty-six consecutive years Mr. Singleton resided in Santa Clara county, Cal., and during that time was identified with almost every enterprise of magnitude or worth that was brought before the public in his section. A stanch Republican in his political preferment and ever an active partisan, he was one of the organizers of the Farmers’ Union, was a life-long director of the same and also served as deputy county assessor. He was also largely interested in educational affairs in his locality and often officiated as school director. He was a charter member of the Santa Clara County Pioneers’ Society, of which his wife was an honorary member.
Mr. Singleton was born near Lexington, Ky., November 23, 1820, and at the age of seven was taken to Missouri by his parents and for two years his home was in Marion county. The family then moved to Adams county, Ill., and this continued to be their home until 1843, and there it was that Mr. Singleton received the greater part of his education. After leaving Illinois he spent several years in the lead mines of Wisconsin, and in the spring of 1849 he made the memorable trip overland to California, starting April 1 behind ox teams. The trip covered a periods of six months and at Salt Lake City the oxen were exchanged for horses and mules, whereupon the journey to California was soon completed. After a three months’ stay in Grass valley Mr. Singleton went to Coloma, Eldorado county, and followed mining pursuits there until the spring of 1850. He then went to Rich bar, on the north fork of Feather river, in Plumas county, for a short time, afterward returning to Grass valley. He subsequently followed mining pursuits in Placerville, Calaveras county, and in other mining localities until 1853, being on the whole quite successful.
Discontinuing mining in that year, Mr. Singleton turned his attention to farm pursuits and during the same year purchased three hundred acres of choice land in Santa Clara county, spending the remainder of his life here. At the time of his demise he owned considerable property; his home place of one hundred and fifty acres of highly improved land is located on McLaughlin’s avenue, near San Jose. Upon this ranch, which was the scene of so many happy and useful years, his death occurred, being due to an accident. November 17, 1889, while returning from San Jose with an express wagon drawn by two horses, he approached Coyote creek on his own ranch, and in fording this creek he was accidentally drowned. His death was deeply deplored by the entire community.
The marriage of Mr. Singleton took place upon his home ranch near San Jose, uniting him with Miss Pauline Cottle, born near St. Louis, a daughter of Edward Cottle, whose biography is also given in this history. Mrs. Singleton crossed the plains with her parents in 1854 and the following year was united in marriage with Mr. Singleton, whom she survives. After his death she continued to reside on the ranch until 1890, when she leased the farm and moved into San Jose, residing at the present time at No. 852 South Third street. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Singleton, as follows: Laura C., who is still at home; Thomas M., a miner at Keswick; Charles, deceased; Henry A., whose sketch is also found in this history; Walter E., a dentist of San Francisco; and Hazel.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1155. The Chapman Publishing
Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Joyce Rugeroni.