Santa Clara County Biographies


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



ALFRED ROE WOODHAMS 
 
is the proprietor of the "Roble Alto Farm," which is located on the Homestead 
road, in the Milliken District, near the western limits of the town of Santa 
Clara. This farm contains 143 acres of choice land, upon which stands a fine 
residence surrounded by beautiful grounds. It is the old homestead occupied so 
many years by his father, who was one of the pioneers of this county, and whose 
sketch will be found in this connection. The ranch is devoted principally to the 
growing of hay and grain, and to stock-raising. Twenty-five acres, however, are 
in orchard, the principal trees of which are prunes in full bearing.
        The subject of this sketch was born in Orange County, New York, May 30, 
1832. His father, Joseph Woodhams, and his mother, Annie (Maurice) Woodhams, 
were natives of England. His youth was spent in obtaining an education, and in 
helping his father in his trade, which was that of a miller and millwright. In 
1844 he accompanied his mother and family to Chili, South America, where they 
joined his father and eldest brother, who had preceded them the year before. He 
remained with the family until December, 1848, when he left for the gold-fields 
of California, landing at San Francisco in April, 1849. Though but seventeen 
years of age, he entered into the whirl and rush of the pioneer life of 
California, being first engaged at carpenter work at $6.00 per day. After 
working at this for some months he went to the mines and commenced operations at 
Hawkins' Bar on Tuolumne River, where he remained from August, 1849, until the 
following January, when he returned to San Francisco and engaged in teaming 
until the arrival of his father's family from Chili. He then joined the family, 
and in the fall of 1850 came to Santa Clara County, where they took up their 
residence upon the property now owned and occupied by the subject of this 
sketch. From that time until the present (1888) Mr. Woodhams has been closely 
identified with the growth and building up of this beautiful valley, and has 
ever been an ardent supporter of all enterprises which tended to increase the 
prosperity of the section in which he lives. An intelligent, observant, and 
public-spirited man, trained to habits of business, his action in matters of 
public interest are duly noted and appreciated by the community in which he 
resides.
        He is a member of the San Jose Grange, and of the American Legion of 
Honor. He was also one of the promoters and incorporators of the San Jose 
Horticultural Hall Association. Politically, he is an independent Republican, 
and was a prominent member of the Union League during the war.
        He has been twice married, his first marriage, in 1865, uniting him with 
Miss Cynthia Dopking, daughter of Daniel Dopking, of Yolo County. She died in 
1876, leaving no children. Mr. Woodhams married, in 1877, Miss Lizzie Saul, the 
daughter of Thomas Saul, of Boston, Massachusetts, who died while she was an 
infant. Her mother, Sarah (Halpin) Saul, is now a resident of Essex, 
Massachusetts. Mrs. Woodhams was born April 17, 1844.  She is the mother of four 
children, of whom but two are now living, viz.: Laurola Saul Woodhams and Willie 
Elmo Woodhams.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 428-429