Alameda County Biographies

VALENTIN ALVISO

Transcribed by:  Kathy Sedler, September 2004

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

Valentin Alviso, a prominent Californian of Livermore, was born in the town of San Jose, 
February 14, 1841, son of Agustin Alviso and Maria Antonia Alviso, nee Pacheco.  His father, 
Agustin, was the son of Ygnacio, who figured conspicuously in the early history of California, 
under the Spanish government.
	To the brothers-in-law jointly, Agustin and Tomas Pacheco, in consideration of 
services rendered the Mexican government, was given the Rancho Potrero de los Cerritos, now in 
Alameda County, and consisting of 13,000 acres, where our subject, Valentin, spent the greater 
portion of his time.  On October 16, 1871, he removed to Livermore, near which place he has 
since been engaged in farming and stock-raising.  He received his education in Kingston 
(Massachusetts) College, and has since filled many offices of importance in Alameda County.  
In 1875 he was elected County Supervisor and served two years; in 1881 he was elected to the 
State Legislature and served two terms at the regular and extra sessions.  He was also an 
employee of the Federal Government in connection with the naval office in the port of San 
Francisco, which place he, being a Republican, resigned in 1885.
	Mr. Alviso is a prominent Republican, and at times has rendered considerable service 
to his party.  By invitation of the State Central Committee, he delivered addresses throughout 
the southern part of the State in favor of the election of Grant and Colfax in 1868.
	When a young man he was of an adventurous disposition; was one of the Fraser River 
victims in 1858; in 1860 he associated himself with Judge Noble Hamilton in connection with  
the Potosi mines in Virginia City, Nevada, purchasing and owning stock in that mine for two 
years, but sunk several thousand dollars without return.  He also has been associated with 
several local enterprises, as the Livermore Water Company, of which he was Vice-President two 
years.  He is a member of Vesper Lodge, No. 62, A.O.U.W., of Livermore.
	He was married at Mission San Jose, March 25, 1868, to Miss Josephine, daughter of the 
later Robert Livermore, the first settler of Livermore Valley, and they have three children, 
Christine M., Maria A. and Rosa E.

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, Lewis Publishing Co., 1891, pages 368-369