Santa Clara Biography
John Jeffries
Was born in London, England, January 1, 1814; served seven years at the trade of dyeing; in the year 1835 emigrated to the United States; worked at his trade in New York one year, but finding very poor pay joined a party of stone-cutters engaged to build the locks on the canal at Fort Wayne, Indiana, but after enduring fever and ague, and swindling contractors for nearly a year, pulled up stakes and next found himself in Louisiana, in the employment of United States Surveyors. This he soon left. He then went to Natchez, Mississippi. Here he carried on the manufacture of cigars in partnership with Mr. Bryant for about five years. The great tornado in that place destroyed his place of business, burying him under the ruins, from which he barely escaped with his life. He then went to Boston, Massachusetts. Stayed one year, but not liking the cold weather, went to Florida, where he was variously employed till 1846, when he left for St. Louis, Missouri. He there started business at his old trade of dyeing; continued at that till early in 1849, and then left for California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and arrived at Santa Clara in the rainy season; tried gardening on the Stockton ranch in partnership with a Mr. Dickson, since deceased; was with Charles Clayton in a store for a short time; started a farm near where the town of Saratoga now stands, where he was doing pretty well till driven of by the stock-men. He then came to the farm now owned by his brother, James Jeffries, containing one hundred and nineteen acres. John Jeffries died November 21, 1880.
History of Santa Clara County, California,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, October, 2007 Page 556
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