Santa Clara County
Biographies
JAMES TORMEY
Coming to California as one of the early pioneers of the state, the late James Tormey, of San Jose, gained a noteworthy position among its most faithful and loyal citizens, and during his active life contributed his full share in securing and promoting the advancement of this section of the Union. Industrious and thrifty, he became identified with the mining and agricultural interests of his new home, and by persistent effort and sound business methods acquired a handsome competency. He was born in Westmeath county, Ireland, in 1821, and died at his home in San Jose, Cal., August 12, 1896.
Emigrating with his parents to America when a young man, James Tormey settled with them in Grant county, Wis., and was for a number of years a resident of the town of Fennimore. Ambitious and courageous, he started with three of his chosen comrades for the gold fields in 1849. The tedious journey of six months was made across the plains with ox teams, that being the most expeditious mode of traveling in those primitive days, before the network of railways now spanning our country made journeying so rapid and comfortable. For a short time he was engaged in mining, but his success was not encouraging. Buying land, therefore, near Grizzly Bend, Cal., he embarked in agricultural pursuits on a large scale, and met with pronounced success from the start, making and saving much money. Going back to Wisconsin in 1867, he remained there about a year, visiting his relatives, and renewing the acquaintance of his old friends and neighbors. Returning to California in 1868, Mr. Tormey located in San Jose, on South Thirteenth street, building a cozy and comfortable residence, in which he lived retired from active business cares until his death, in 1896, at the age of seventy-five years. He was a Catholic in religion, and a valued member of St. Joseph’s Church. In politics he was a loyal Democrat.
In 1867, in Chicago, Ill., the birthplace of the bride, Mr. Tormey married Mary Burns, a daughter of John and Mary (White) Burns. Mr. Burns was a prominent contractor and builder of Chicago, and for more than fifty years resided on the same home lot in that city, although not occupying the same house, his original residence having been burned in the great fire of 1871, after which he rebuilt on the old site. Of the five children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Burns, four are living, Mrs. Tormey, who was educated in Chicago, in St. Mary’s Academy, being the only one in California. Mr. and Mrs. Tormey became the parents of four children, namely: Catherine, a gradate of the State Normal School; Mary, also a graduate of the State Normal School, and now a teacher in the Lowell School, in San Jose; Thomas, the representative of a western meat firm; and James J., a real estate dealer in San Jose.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1349-1350. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Joyce Rugeroni.