ALFRED FORBES TOMKIN
grandson of James Alexander Forbes
Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES: TUCK, MANNING, ATKINS, SPICER
A descendant of one of the oldest and most highly
respected families in Santa Clara County, Alfred Forbes Tomkin was born
at Santa Clara June 6, 1860, the oldest of seven children born to
Alfred Royce and Martha Frances (Forbes) Tomkin, and a grandson of
James Alexander Forbes, all represented in this work. When Alfred
F. was eight years of age his parents moved to San Jose, where he
attended the public schools. After his schooldays were over
he followed clerking for a time, but he preferred the great outdoors,
so he chose farming and soon drifted in to horticulture. In 1896
he purchased twenty acres of the San Martin ranch, five miles north of
Gilroy, where he built a large and comfortable residence and set out
orchards and vineyard, and there followed fruit raising. In 1908
he sold a part of the ranch and moved to San Jose, where his children
could enjoy better educational facilities. He makes his residence
at No. 33 Little Delmas Avenue.
Mr. Tomkin was married in San Jose, February 26, 1882, to Miss Lillie
Tuck, born in Cambridge, England, her parents being Henry and Susan
(Manning) Tuck. In 1871, on account of the father's health the
family moved to San Francisco where Mr. Tuck died the same year.
The widow with the children came to San Jose, where the daughter,
Lillie, completed her education in Notre Dame Convent.
Mr. and Mrs. Tomkin have six children; Frederick Royce, an electrician
with the San Jose Gas & Electric Company; William Joseph,
proprietor of the machine shop on South First Street; Charles
Alexander, a rancher in this county; Martha Frances is the wife of
Charles Atkins of San Jose; Alfred I. is a farmer at Orland; Madeline
Louis is Mrs. Spicer of San Jose. Mr. Tomkin has served as school
trustee of San Martin district. He and his wife are students of
Christian Science. He is now among the old settlers of the
county, as well as a native son, and can be well proud of his ancestors
who were among the very first English speaking people to locate in
Santa Clara County.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 1557
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