Santa Clara County Biographies


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



 
Henry A. Harms
American Biscuit Company
San Jose , California
 
Surnames: Koch

An enterprising , experienced business man who is making splendid progress is H. 
A. Harms, who is employed as the representative for the American Biscuit Company 
in the Santa Clara Valley. He was born August 10, 1863, in San Lorenzo, Cal, the 
son of August T. and Louise E. (Hauschildt) Harms. His father came to California 
in 1859, and here he was married and they settled in San Lorenzo, later moving 
to Pleasanton, where the mother is still living, but the father passed away in 
1890, aged sixty years.

Henry A. Harms was born and reared on a farm and attended the public schools of 
Pleasanton, and when he was nineteen he took charge of the hay and grain 
department in a general merchandise store at Pleasanton, where he continued for 
the following fourteen years. On July 21, 1896, he located in San Jose, 
purchasing a one-half interest in the local agency of the American Biscuit 
Company, and at the end of a year bought his partner's interest , and here he 
has resided since that time, making steady progress. He has built up a very good 
business, and in proportion to the population of his territory his sales rank 
with the highest.

Mr. Harms' marriage in 1897 united him with Miss Emma Koch, and they are the 
parents of a daughter, Helen, who is now Mrs. F. M. Braun, of San Jose. Mr. and 
Mrs. Harms are very popular in social circles and are members of the Second 
Presbyterian Church of San Jose. Mr. Harms is interested in Santa Clara County 
and San Jose and is always for good measures that will help in the upbuilding of 
this commonwealth. He is a Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite Mason, in which he 
has attained the K. C. C. H., and a Shriner, holding membership in Islam Temple 
A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco; also is affiliated with the Sciots, the Odd 
Fellows, and the Woodmen of the World. He is associated with the progressive 
work of the Chamber of Commerce and the 100% Club, and is likewise a member of 
the Merchants' Association. A true American, he showed his patriotic spirit in 
the various war drives, and he he was very active as the chairman of the Fourth 
Ward district. He is on the board of directors of the Masonic Hall Association 
and the vice-president and secretary-treasurer of the Scottish Rite Hall 
Association.

Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara 
County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. 1539