Santa Clara County
Biographies
ALEXANDER HAMILTON THRIFT
ALEXANDER HAMILTON
THRIFT. Three generations of the Thrift family have been residents of Knox
county, Ohio, to which state the grandfather, William Thrift, went in an early
day. He was born in Virginia, and went to Ohio about 1812, locating at first in
Lincoln county, but later taking up his abode in Knox county, where in addition
to farming he also filled the pulpit of the Baptist Church. His son Absalom,
the father of A. H. Thrift, was born in Loudoun county, Va., in 1808,
and accompanied his father in the removal to Ohio when a lad of about five
years. As a merchant in Fredericktown, Knox county, he carried on a successful
business for many years, later conducting a livery in conjunction with managing
a farm, and finally he became proprietor of a grocery store. For two terms,
beginning in 1842, he served as sheriff of Knox county, and from 1842 until
1850 was deputy United States marshal. His death occurred in Fredericktown when
he had reached the advanced age of eighty-eight. The mother of
A. H. Thrift, before her marriage Miss Amanda Brown, was a daughter
of David Brown, both father and daughter claiming the Old Dominion as their
birthplace. The acquaintance of the Thrift and Brown families dates back many
years, when Absalom Thrift and David Brown made the journey to Ohio, both
settling in Knox county. David Brown, who was a hatter by trade, died in Knox
county, Ohio. A family of eight children were born to Absalom and Amanda
(Brown) Thrift, seven sons and one daughter, of whom one child died in infancy.
Alexander H. Thrift
was born in Knox county, Ohio, September 8, 1837, and was the fifth
child in order of birth in his parents’ family. From the age of thirteen years
Mr. Thrift began the struggle of life on his own account, having as a
start an exceedingly limited knowledge of the rudimentary branches as taught in
the common schools near his parents’ home. While still a lad, in 1852, he
crossed the plains with a party of gold seekers, full of hope and expectation,
but fully one-half of his companions met their death as a result of cholera,
which attacked the party before they reached their destination. Mr. Thrift
left his Ohio home March 1, 1852, and it was not until September 20
that he reached The Dalles. In order to get a start
financially he worked at anything that presented itself, and for one month was
employed at setting up ten pins in a bowling alley in Portland. It was his
intention to go from there to the mines at Jacksonville, but instead he went to
Bear creek, where, until May, 1853, he was interested in the care of horses,
and during this time the first pack train that ever traveled the road between
Jacksonville, Ore., and Crescent City, Cal., was sent out, Mr. Thrift
riding the bell mare. The trip was a long and tedious one and could not be made
in less than two weeks. Mr. Thrift formed one of the party of explorers
sent out to learn more of the country now known as Coos and Curry counties, and
was so pleased with the country that he remained in Coos bay, and until 1854
ran a ferry boat for Captain Harris. In the year last mentioned he became
interested in the Randolph mines in that county, but when they became
inoperative he went to the Sixes river, and during one season followed mining
there. Going back to the Randolph mines, he resumed operations there and until
March of 1862 met with indifferent success in his labors, and from then until
the following November was interested in the Salmon river mines. Then going to
Coos county again, after prospecting for gold on Back beach he resumed mining,
and fifteen months later sold his mine, which was known as the Pioneer mine.
This proved to be his last experience as a miner, for upon going to Curry
county after the sale of his mine he went into the stock business on a ranch of
eight hundred and sixty-five acres between Port Orford
and Coquille river, also conducting a dairy in connection therewith. In 1892
Mr. Thrift laid out the town of Dairyville on
his farm and still owns his property there, besides town property in Port
Oxford. It was not until 1899 that Mr. Thrift came to California and
purchased the property on which he now resides, three miles south of San Jose,
on the Tully road. His property consists of twelve acres, four acres in orchard
and planted to prunes and peaches, and although he has resided here but a short
time, comparatively speaking, he has improved his land and surroundings, and
now has one of the finest ranch properties in Santa Clara county.
In Curry county, Ore.,
was celebrated the marriage of A. H. Thrift and Miss Mary Jane Goodman, who was
born in Boone county, Mo., and they became the parents of eight children.
Edgar B. is his father’s assistant in the care of the home ranch; Belle,
Mrs. Lowe, resides in Coquille, Ore.; Absalom is a resident of Alameda,
Cal.; and Harriet, Alva, Roy and June (the two latter twins) reside at home.
When the family resided in Dairyville they were
identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church of that place but as yet they
have not joined themselves with any denomination in San Jose. Politically
Mr. Thrift is a Democrat. For ten years he served efficiently as
postmaster of the year Langlois post-office in the
town of Dairyville.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 01 August 2014.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 268-271. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2014 Marie Hassard.