Santa Clara County Biographies

HENRY TRUE BESSE

Henry True Besse, residing on Delmas Avenue, near San Jose, was born in the town of Wayne, Kennebec County, Maine, August 16, 1823. He is the son of Samuel and Mercy (Dexter) Besse. The founders of both families, Besse and Dexter, settled near Plymouth during its early history, and descendants of both families were pioneers of Maine. Jabez Besse, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, settled in Wayne, Kennebec County, over 100 years ago, and the maternal grandparents, Constant Dexter and his wife, settled I the same town about the same time. They were men of sturdy New England habit, strong in principle and religious faith.

Henry T. Besse was reared to manhood in the State of Maine, spending his youth on a farm, receiving his primary education in the common schools, and attending higher schools and teaching later. He left home and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, for the year that he attained his majority (1844). The gold fever caused him to seek his fortune on this coast, and he embarked at Boston, November 12, 1849. The voyage was long and tedious. Off Cape Horn an albatross was caught, and to it was fastened a collar, upon which Mrs. Besse had inscribed these words: “Bark Orion, off Cape Horn, Feb. 19, 1850." The albatross was again caught, with a hook, from another vessel, and the inscription and circumstances were published in Boston papers, causing the greatest anxiety on the part of those who had friends on board the Orion. However, the vessel reached San Francisco in safety on the sixth of May, 1850.

Mr. Besse engaged in placer mining for a few months, but during the following October started on the return trip to the East, this time choosing the Isthmus route, and reaching Massachusetts in January.

On the twenty-second of April, 1851, he married Miss Harriet Frost, in Lowell, Massachusetts. Mrs. Besse was born April 2, 1822, and is the daughter of Aaron and Rosetta Frost. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Besse lived in Massachusetts until 1855, leaving on the twentieth of March of that year for Boone County, Illinois, where they engaged in agriculture. Soon after locating there Mr. Besse entered the ministry of the Wesleyan Methodist connection. He remained in the ministry until he came to California, thus spending about thirty years in the service of the Master. In 1871 he became a resident of Kansas, settling in Sterling, Rice County. In 1877 he returned East and took charge of a church at Eagle Harbor. He acted as pastor of churches at that place, and at points in Steuben County, for five years. Thence he removed to Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, where he spent nearly three years in the ministry. From Pennsylvania he came to Santa Clara County, arriving here August 28, 1885. His present home, of five acres, he improved from a stubble-field. He also owns a half interest in a Plummer Avenue orchard of eight-year-old trees, comprising prunes, cherries, apricots, and peaches. On his home property he has erected a fine residence. This is surrounded by grounds tastefully laid out, at the entrance to which are placed the letters of the word “Home.” After spending much of his life before the public, Mr. Besse now enjoys a somewhat retired life in his pleasant and inviting “Home.”

Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. Foote. - Chicago:

The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.

p. 459,460

Transcribed by Debbie Combs

William R. Pender owns one of the finest fruit orchards in his part of Hamilton District. He took possession of his fine residence (erected by himself in 1882-83) on Washington’s birthday, 1883. The sixteen acres upon which his orchard stands were prepared from a stubble-field, and planted with 1,700 trees, entirely by himself. His orchard is now five years old, and consists chiefly of prune, apricot, and peach trees. Several varieties of plums and cherries are also found.

Mr. Pender was born in England, November 1, 1829. He followed a seafaring life for several years before coming to this State, in 1854. He engaged in mining for a number of years in Sierra County, making that place his home until he came to the Hamilton District. In 1861 he returned to England, and on the second of January, 1862, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Coon. They embarked at Southampton for St. Thomas, and from St. Thomas for Aspinwall, on the British steamer Trent. It will be remembered that the Trent was the vessel from which the Confederate ambassadors, Mason and Slidell, were forcibly taken by Commodore Wilkes, o the United States Navy - an act which came near adding to our domestic trouble a war with England. This happened during the first half of the trip, Mr. And Mrs. Pender being passengers of the same steamer on her return trip, from St. Thomas to Aspinwall.

Mr. And Mrs. Pender have two children. Agnes, born in Sierra County, is a teacher, having taught five terms in the home district; she is now in Colusa county, where she is acting as Principal. The younger child, David, also born in Sierra County, is a drug clerk in San Jose.

Mr. And Mrs. Pender are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church in San Jose. Mr. Pender is a member of San Jose Lodge No. 10. F. & A. M. Politically he is a Republican.

His orchard gives ample evidence of the energy and care expended upon it. His home is a handsome one, and is built to suit the convenience and please the taste of himself and his wife, as they expect to make it their permanent residence.

Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. Foote. - Chicago: