AUSTIN FLEMMING UMBARGER
Bio- Sawyers
SURNAMES:BOWEN, BLACKBURN
Among the successful and highly respected pioneers of Santa Clara
County who did much to improve and build up the Berryessa district as a
fruit section, was the late Austin Lleming Umbarger, who was born in
Wythe County, Va., on August 6, 1838, but at an early age he
accompanied his parents to Marshall, Ill., where he was reared on a
farm. On the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted as member
of the thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Second Brigade,
Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, in which he served three
years. Soon after the war was over he started to California via
Panama, arriving at San Francisco in 1866, then coming to Santa Clara
County.
On November 29, 1874, Mr. Umbarger was married to Miss Josephine Bowen,
a native of Barrington, Ill., and they made their home on thier ranch
on the Penetencia Creek Road. Here they set out orchards and
brought the place to a high degree of cultivation so that the Umbarger
ranch was considered one of the valuable properties of this locatily.
They spent the remainder of their days on this ranch. Mrs. Umbarger
passed away Marcyh 16, 1912, and the father died November 5,
1918. He was a member of the Odd Feloows and the G. A. R. On the
Umbarger ranch their only daughter, Nellie was born and reared, her
education being acquired in the schools of this district and in the San
Jose high school. On June 27, 1911, she was married to Earl E.
Balckburn, a native of Callaway County, Mo., who came to California in
1908. They reside on the Umbarger ranch, which Mrs. Blackburn
inherited at her father's death, continuing the care of this valuable
property, which is in full-bearing orchards of prunes, apricots, and
cherries. Mr. and Mrs. Blackburn's marriage hsa been blessed with
the birth of a daughter, Jean Evelyn, and from thier attractive home,
like the Umbargers, they readiate the old-time hospitality.