Santa
Clara County
Biographies
MRS. CATHERINE E. BARRY
SURNAMES: Fenton, Callahan
MRS.
CATHERINE E. BARRY.--The memory of a public-spirited man who was widely known
for his keen interest in the general welfare of the community, state and
nation, is revived in the life-story of Mrs. Catherine E. Barry of 490 North Fourth Street, San Jose, the
highly-esteemed widow of John T. Barry, a New Englander who came here as a
veritable pioneer. She was born in far-off New Zealand, the daughter of Patrick
Fenton, of County Cork, Ireland, who had married Miss Ellen Callahan also of
that county, while they were still on the green soil of Erin. They then sailed
for New Zealand, and for three years followed farming in that country; and
after that they migrated to Chile, South America, and for six years continued
agricultural pursuits there.
In 1849, stirred up by the world-wide excitement over the
discovery of gold in California, Mr. and Mrs. Fenton came to San Francisco and
engaged in business until 1856; then they settled on a ranch about six miles
north of Santa Clara in the vicinity of the present site of Agnew. There they
had about 200 acres, and they devoted the land to the raising of grain. They
did so well that Mr. Fenton continued there until he died at the age of sixty
years; and Miss Catherine was living on this ranch at the time she was married.
She
had attended the Dominican Convent at Benicia and was a cultured, accomplished
young lady when, on August 15, 1868, at Santa Clara, she was married to John T.
Barry a native of Boston, Mass., who had come out to California in 1856. He had
not only attended the excellent grammar schools of the "City of
Culture", but he had enjoyed a college education as well in the New
England metropolis, and hence was just the kind of timber wanted for
commonwealth building. After their marriage, they took up their residence in
San Francisco, and there for twenty years Mr. Barry was connected with the San
Francisco Monitor. In 1901 Mrs. Barry removed to San Jose, and here she has
lived ever since. Mr. Barry, who died in Sacramento, in 1894, was always alive
to everything that would contribute to community uplift, and as a stanch
Democrat, he worked hard for civic reform. Mrs. Barry, also as a stand-pat
Democrat, has endeavored to continue this good work, and from her hospitable
home where she has lived since returning to San Jose, she has sent out much
influence for the benefits of others.
Two
children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Barry. Marcella J. is an instructor,
well trained and very popular with the pupils of the Horace Mann School in San
Jose; while the son, Charles J. Barry has been connected for twenty years with
the Hibernian Bank in San Francisco.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County, California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 446