Santa Clara County Biographies


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



 
JOSEPH WOODHAMS, 
 
deceased. The subject of this sketch was born in England, October 23,  1803. His 
youth and early manhood were spent on his father's farm, where he became 
proficient in one of the occupations which he so successfully pursued in after 
life. He also devoted considerable attention to mechanical pursuits. At the age 
of twenty-four, namely, in 1827, he came to the United States, landing at New 
York. He first settled in Westchester County, New York, where he was engaged as 
a miller; afterward he went up the North River and settled at Newburg, at which 
place he continued the occupation of a miller and millwright until 1843. In that 
year, accompanied by his oldest son, Maurice, he went to Chili, South America, 
where he was joined by his family one year later. During his stay in Chili, he 
held the position of manager of the extensive flouring-mills of Burdon & Co. He 
continued his occupation and residence in that country until 1850, when he 
emigrated to California. After a short stay in San Francisco, he came to the 
Santa Clara Valley, arriving here in the fall of the same year, and, settling 
upon the land now occupied by his son Alfred, he at once commenced its 
cultivation and improvement. The first dwelling erected by Mr. Woodhams upon 
these lands was of building material framed and prepared in New Brunswick, and 
shipped to San Francisco around Cape Horn in sailing vessels. The subject of our 
sketch was an energetic and intelligent mechanic, as well as a farmer. At that 
early day agricultural implements were not to be obtained in the county, and 
after threshing his first crop in the primitive manner then in vogue, he set 
himself at work for improvements, which resulted in his manufacturing a 
threshing-machine and separator, and placing the same in successful operation 
upon his farm. This was one of the first machines of the character ever built in 
Santa Clara County, if not in the State of California. In 1852 or 1853 he 
erected a small flour-mill, the motive power for the operation of which was 
furnished by eight or ten horses. The products of this mill found ready sale in 
Santa Clara and in the Redwoods.
        The energy and business tact displayed by Mr. Woodhams in those 
enterprises were characteristic of the man, and made his name known throughout 
the county. Combined with this, he was well known and universally respected as 
one of the most public-spirited men of the section. Consequently he was sought 
for and enlisted in all the public enterprises of that date. In his death, which 
occurred July 1, 1887, in his eighty-fourth year, the community lost a man of 
solid value.
Mr. Woodhams married Miss Annie Maurice, a native of England. From this union 
were born the following-named children: Maurice, born March 23, 1830, now a 
resident of San Mateo County; Alfred R., born May 30, 1832, residing on the old 
homestead, a sketch of whom is contained in this volume; Oscar, born August 17, 
1837, who makes his home in San Francisco; Mary E. and Lucy A., the former a 
resident of Santa Clara, and the latter the wife of Henry Smith, and a resident 
of Oakland, California.
 
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