The Valley of Heart's Delight
A. RAY ANDERSON
History of Santa Clara-
SURNAMES: CAHILL,
A native son of Santa Clara County who has been associated with its
progress during all his years, A. Ray Anderson is well known for his
constructive work on the highways of the county, adding greatly in the
comfort and convenience of its inhabitants.
The son of Phillip and Rebecca (Cahill) Anderson, he ws born at
Berryessa, July 8, 1884. Phillip Anderson was born in Aberdeen,
Scotland, and when a young man crossed the ocean to Nova Scotia,
settling for a time at Amherst. Leaving the Maritime Provinces, he came
to San Francisco by way of the Isthmus of Panama, remaining there for
six months. Coming from there to Santa Clara County, he opened up a
blacksmith shop at Berryessa, being a pioneer smithy of this locality,
and his shop was known far and wide for the excellence of his work.
Mrs. Anderson was a native of Nova Scotia, of English descent, and she
also came to California by the Isthmus. She passed away in 1888, Mr.
Anderson surviving her until 1919. This worthy couple were the parents
of seven children; Margaret Alice of Berryessa; William W., a rancher
at Berryessa; Mabel V. of San Francisco; Leslie C., who died in March
1917; Roscoe A. of Los Angeles; A. Ray and Emily Oressa.
A. Ray Anderson attended the Berryessa school and finished his schooling at the San Jose high school
When he was twenty years old he took up the machinist's trade, learning
it thoroughly in every detail until he became a competent engineer. For
the past ten years he has been associated with the Santa Clara Road
Commission as an engineer handling the steam roller and grader, and the
tractors used in the road leveling work. An expert in this line he has
covered a great share of the mileage of the county, both in
construction and maintenance work.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Anderson is a member of the Eagles and of
San Jose Parlor, N. S. G. W. Many years ago his father purchased a
ranch of 252 acres in the hills east of Berryessa, on the Berryessa
Road, and Mr. Anderson is now an owner of part of this ranch, which he
inherited.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 546
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY
July 22, 2005