California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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


JOSEPH ROSA SILVA is one of the men whose names deserve longest memory in connection with the 
fruit and general agricultural husbandry of Ventura County in Southern California.  In his time he 
looked after some very extensive interests and he was a man of original thought and methods, and 
helped to stimulate and increase the productiveness of Southern California.
 
He was born on the Island of St. George in Portugal October 1, 1860. With a public school education, he 
lived in his native land and worked on his father's farm up to 1876. Then sixteen years of age, he 
emigrated to the United States, and spent the first two years working in the mines of Virginia City in 
Nevada. From there he removed to Nevada City in California, and continued employment in the mines 
for three years.
 
It was after this experience that his successful venture as a farmer and rancher in Southern California 
began. Coming to Ventura County he rented 200 acres of the old Taylor Ranch near Ventura, and he 
farmed that successfully for four years. His next place was the Mayhew Ranch of 250 acres near 
Montalvo, which he rented and on which he raised beans for fourteen years. In that time he became 
recognized as one of the most successful bean growers in the southern part of the state. From that he 
moved to his own place which he bought, comprising forty acres, not far from Montalvo. This he 
planted and cultivated as a walnut grove.
 
In 1900 Mr. Silva was employed to go to Santa Monica and with F. D. Barnard he rented 1, 200 acres of 
the Wolfshill Ranch. On that property Mr. Silva had the distinction of becoming the pioneer bean 
grower in Los Angeles County. The crop of lima beans is rapidly increasing in Los Angeles County, and 
the original stimulus no doubt came from Mr. Silva's successful efforts. While he was there the Santa 
Monica Land & Water Company presented him with a silver loving cup asa token of esteem and 
appreciation of his efforts in growing the finest beans in the county.
 
Joseph Rosa Silva died February 7, 1906. He was still a comparatively young man, but few men in an 
even longer career accomplish more and better deserve the respect of future generations. He was a 
member of the U. P. E. C, was a republican and a member of the Catholic Church. In Ventura in 
September, 1880, he married Anna Peters. There are eight children: Joseph Rosa, Jr., and William 
(twins), now thirty-two years of age, the latter managing the Bastin & Cherry Ranch and warehouse of 
Fullerton, California; Frank, who is twenty-seven years of age and is a rancher at Sawtelle, California; 
Margaret, Mrs. Charles Curtis of Ventura; Clara, Mrs. D. J. Case of Los Angeles; Marie, Anna and 
Jeanette, all at home.
 
Joseph R. Silva, one of the eldest sons, was born in Ventura County May 29, 1884. Up to the age of 
eighteen he attended regularly the public schools, and finished his education in the Southern 
California Business College at Los Angeles. After leaving school he took his place on his father's ranch at 
Santa Monica, and was closely identified with the elder Silva in the varied enterprise already described 
in that section. In 1906 after his father's death he returned to Ventura County and has since looked 
after the home estate of forty acres. This is an extensive walnut grove and is one of the best managed 
walnut orchards in Ventura County. Mr. Silva is a republican. He is unmarried.