Santa
Clara County
Biographies
THOMAS TURNER
Numbered among the well-to-do agriculturists of
Santa Clara county is Thomas Turner, who is pleasantly
located in the Canada valley, about ten miles southeast of Gilroy, where he has
a large and well appointed farm. He is a typical representative of the self-made
men of our times, having begun life for himself with no other assets than
strong hands and a willing heart, and by unremitting industry, prudent thrift
and wise management having accumulated a competency. Like many others of California’s
most prosperous and respected citizens he is of foreign birth and breeding. He
was born in Ireland, in 1825, and lived in the Emerald Isle
until after attaining his majority, obtaining a limited education in the common
schools.
With a zealous ambition to better
his material and financial condition, Mr. Turner immigrated to the United
States in 1850, and went directly to Iowa, locating near Dubuque, where he
worked as a farm laborer for two years. In 1852 he came across the plains to
California, and for sixteen years thereafter was successfully employed in
mining at Moore’s Flat, Nevada county. Coming then to Santa Clara county, he
invested a part of his savings in land, buying two hundred acres in the Canada
valley where he has since been extensively and profitably engaged in general
farming, raising hay, grain and cattle.
In Nevada county, Cal., Mr. Turner
married Margaret McCall, who was born in Ireland, and of the seven children
born of their union only five are living, namely: Patrick, Peter, John, Mary
and Katie. In politics Mr. Turner is independent, voting for the men and
measures he deems best, regardless of party affiliations. Religiously he is
true to the faith in which he was reared, and is a valued member of the
Catholic church.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Page 1381. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.