Santa
Clara County
Biographies
DAVID WILLIAMS
In the early settlement and development of
Santa Clara county David Williams, late of San Jose,
took a conspicuous part. Coming to California in 1849, he was from the first
identified with the highest and best interests of this part of the state,
becoming an active promoter of its mining, mercantile, agricultural and
horticultural industries. A man of shrewd common sense and practical judgment,
possessing excellent business capacity and tact, he won success in life by sheer
force of will and persistency of purpose. The son of a manufacturer, he was
born, reared and educated in Greene county, N. Y., spending his earlier years
in his native town. In 1849, with his younger brother, Thomas, he came around
Cape Horn to California, sailing on the ship Panama.
They began at once their search for
gold, and Mr. Williams and his brother continued their interest in mining
operations as long as they lived, at the time of their death owning a rich and
productive gold mine in Tuolumne county. Early in the
‘50s Mr. Williams located in San Jose, and he and his brother became pioneer
fruit growers of this section of the state, setting out a large vineyard in
Santa Clara county. They also engaged in mercantile
business, being general merchants at Almaden, and were likewise large and
successful stock-raisers and dealers. Mr. Williams subsequently became
prominently identified with the industrial growth and prosperity of San Jose as
one of its earliest soda manufacturers, his plant being located on St. John’s street, on which he erected several buildings. He
made wise investments of his money, purchasing land in the Sierra district of
the Calaveras valley, where he owned a fine stock ranch of more than two
thousand acres. With characteristic vigor and ability, he managed his vast
interests with profit until his death, which occurred May 7, 1897, at his home,
on the corner of Fourth and St. James streets. He was a strong Republican in
politics, and although he never was prominent in public affairs he took a
genuine interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his adopted town,
and was numbered among the most respected and valued residents of the city. He
was a member of the Santa Clara County Pioneers’ Society, and did his part
toward maintaining the organization.
Mr. Williams married Miss Nellie Hadlock in San Jose, the daughter of Hubbard Hadlock, an early pioneer of Santa Clara county.
She died in 1882, aged thirty-eight years. She was a woman of estimable
character, beloved by all who knew her, and was a faithful member of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. Of the four children that were born of their union,
but one grew to years of maturity, Mary E., who occupies the family residence
at the corner of Fourth and St. James streets, and still owns a part of the old
ranch, near Milpitas.
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., Pages 1042-1043. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.