Contra Costa County Biography

JAMES ROST VAN TONNIGEN

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

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

 
Although but a few years have passed since locating in this county. James R. Van 
Tonningen successfully established himself as one of the representative men and 
has made many friends in a business way who esteem him for his business ability 
and personal characteristics. He is a native of Holland, and was born December 
29, 1880, the son of Marinus and Helena Van Tonnigen, both natives of Holland. 
His father was manager of a Dutch syndicate having timber and agricultural lands 
near Riga, Russia. In his infancy his family removed to Russia, where James 
partially acquired his education. When he was ten years old, his parents 
returned to their native land, and here James received a year's schooling. In 
1896 the family came to America and located in Santa Cruz County, at Aptos, 
where the father purchased twenty-five acres, which is devoted to horticulture. 
Marinus Van Tonningen is considered one of the best authorities in his section 
on fruit-growing, as he has made it a study for years. In the parents' family 
there are three children - Johanna, wife of Henry Jansse, of Brentwood; Agnes, 
wife of Cornelius Van Kaathoven, of Oakley; and James, subject of this review. 
James R. Van Tonningen completed his education in the public schools of Santa 
Cruz. After finishing education he assisted on his father's place until 1907, 
when he engaged with the California Fruit Canners' Association, which is now the 
California Packing Corporation. For six years he did all sorts of manual labor, 
and three years ago was given the management of 1060 acres at Oakley. His 
success and recognized familiarity with the asparagus industry led to his 
promotion. He was married to Miss Muriel Bligh, January 22, 1914. She was a 
native of England.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 554-555.