WILLIAM WATSON ABERNATHY
Saratoga
The Father
SURNAMES: HODGELL, CARPENTER, FORREST, MELONE
Among the highly-esteemed settlers of Santa Clara County are William
Watson Abernathy and his good wife, residents of the vicinity of
Saratoga, who are enjoying the fruits of courageous industry, foresight
and thrift. Mr. Abernathy was born in Ohio near Xenia, June 18,
1849,
the son of Samuel and Lydia Abernathy. His father was a farmer
and
when William was twelve years of age, his father moved to Lafayette,
Ind., and there William lived until he was twenty-one years old, then
returned to Ohio where he worked in a tile factory for two years.
Then
he went to Linn County, Iowa, and was married there at center Point,
September 1`, 1873, to Miss Sarah E. Hodgell, who was born near
Barnesville, Ohio, in 1853, the daughter of John and Emily (Carpenter)
Hodgell. The father was a native of Ohio and of English origin,
while
Mrs. Hodgell was a native of the same state. They were farmers
and
removed to Linn County, Iowa, in 1872, where they died. John
Hodgell
served in the CIvil War as a member of an Ohio regiment.
Mr. Abernathy engaged in farming in Iowa until 1876, when they moved
to Jewell, County, Kans., and engaged in farming near Jewell until
1901, when they came to San Jose, Cal. Mr. Abernathy was in
the feed
and fuel business for nine years and then he and his son bought their
present place on the Saratoga Road, near Moreland Station, and here
they have since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy have two
Children;
Minnie now resides in Iola, Kans., she if the wife of Frank R. Forrest,
and they became the parents of three children- Josephine, Edwin and
Wendell; A. Frank married Miss Nettie Melone and they have
two
children- Florence and Frances. A. Frank was Superintendent of
the
Sorosis Farm in Santa Clara County for about seventeen years but is now
running his own orchard. Mr. Abernathy's farm consists of fifteen
and a
half acres, two aces are set to apricots, one acre to peaches, and the
remainder in prunes. Mr. and Mrs. Abernathy are active member of the
Christian Church at San Jose. Mrs. Abernathy is a charming lady
of
talent and winning personality and has been a true helpmate to her
ambitious and industrious husband, He is a member of the Modern
Woodmen.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,
published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 928
FRANK ABERNATHY
The Son
Sorosis
Fruit Company Photo
MANAGER-SOROSIS FRUIT
COMPANY
BONNY ORCHARD of SARATOGA
SURNAMES: HODGELL, FORREST, MELONE
A
representative orchardist of Santa Clara County, Frank Abernathy
was for twenty-one years the capable and efficient manager of the
Sorosis Fruit Company, becoming well and favorably known as a
horticulturist and manager of large affairs but is now looking after
his own properties. He was born in Iowa in 1876 and is the son of
William Watson Abernathy, a native of Ohio, born in 1851. The
paternal grand-parents were Samuel and Lydia Abernathy and were
farmers. His father was also a farmer and when William was twelve years
of age, moved to Indiana and he lived there until he was twenty-one
years old, when he returned to Ohio where he worked in a tile factory
for two years. In 1873 William W. Abernathy was married to Miss
Sarah E. Hodgell, a native of Ohio born in 1853, and in 1880 they
removed to California, finally settled in San Jose in 1901. Mr.
Abernathy was in the fuel, feed and delivery business for several years
and then he purchased his present place on the Saratoga Road, where he
and his wife now reside. They are the parents of two children;
Minnie, the wife off Frank R. Forrest, and Frank is the subject of this
sketch.
Frank attended the public schools of Jewell, Kans., and then entered
the State Normal at Emporia; later he taught school for two years
in Jewell County. In 1901 he removed to California and entered the
employ of the Sorosis Fruit Company; owned by F. M. (Borax) Smith, and
in 1908 became the manager for the company and occupied that
responsible position for six months after Mr. Smith sold it to the new
owners. Wishing to give all of his time to the management
of his own orchards he resigned this position in January, 1922.
Since 1908 Mr. Abernathy has owned orchards, adding to his holdings by
the purchase of full-bearing groves from time to time, until he now
owns five different orchards in the vicinity of Saratoga, embracing 143
acres, devoted principally to raising prunes, although he also grows
apricots, peaches and pears. On his ranch at Congress Junction he
is also engaged in raising White Leghorn poultry, having modern
and well equipped yards for the purpose. His home ranch , known
as the Bonney Orchards, is located on the heights above Saratoga,
commanding a beautiful view of the Valley. His dry yards are
located at the Congress Junction ranch, where he cures all of his fruit
from the various orchards.
Mr. Abernathy's marriage united him with Miss Nettie Melone, a native
of Illinois, and they have two children, Florence and Frances,
Fraternally Mr. Abernathy is a Modern Woodman, and with his wife is a
member of the Christian Church of San Jose, being a member of the
official board.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,
published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 1080
Transcribers note- The Sorosis Fruit Company was purhcased by the TERESI Family in 1921
SANTA CLARA COUNTY -The Valley of Heart's Delight
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
