ANDREA MALOVOS
BIO Pen Pictures
SURNAMES:GASSIVODA, ALVISO
ANDREA MALOVOS owns and resides upon an extensive farm and orchard
property of 286 acres, known as the "Light-house
Farm," and situated in
the Midway School District, lying half a mile east of the San Jose and
Alviso road, about five and a half miles north of San Jose, and three
and a half south of Alviso. He is largely interested in horticulture,
having 140 acres in orchard, producing principally peaches of the
"Lemon Clingstone" variety. This large orchard also furnishes cherries,
prunes, plums, apricots, apples, pears, and quinces. Seven acres are in
grapes of the Verdal variety, sixty acres in asparagus, and the
remainder in hay and grain. Mr. Malovos is also interested somewhat in
stock-raising. There are five artesian wells on this farm, most of them
flowing freely, but to increase the water supply he has erected fine
steam pumping works, with a capacity of from 1,500 to 2,000 gallons per
minute. Mr. Malovos employs a large force of men to carry on the
extensive enterprises of his immense orchard, having from ten to sixty
men, as the exigencies of the season require. He hires none but white
labor, being opposed to any labor element that does not tend to enrich
and build up the country of his adoption. With characteristic energy,
he has erected one of the finest residences of the section, surrounded
by beautiful and extensive grounds, and filled with all the comforts
and luxuries of modern life.
The subject of this sketch was born in Giuppana, Dalmatia, Austria,
October 18, 1845. He is the son of Pietro and Margerita (Gassivoda)
Malovos, both natives and residents of the place of his birth. In youth
he had fair opportunities for acquiring an educatin, of which he
availed himself. He lived on his father's farm until fourteen years old
at which age he entered the marine service. He followed a seafaring
life until 1862, when he located at Matamoras, Mexico, at the mouth of
the Rio Grande. Here he engaged in lightening stores from vessels lying
off the mouth of the river to the landings. He found this work very
profitable. It was during Maximilian's occupation of Mexico and the War
of the Rebellion, and as this was a neutral port, business was brisk.
Beginning with one small schooner, Mr. Malovos soon increased the
number to five, the largest of which he himself commanded. The closing
of the war and the restoration of peace in Mexico threw open the
neighboring ports, and thus destroyed Mr. Malovos' business. After
suffering heavy losses, he closed up his affairs in 1868, and came to
this State, arriving in San Francisco on the eighth of April of that
year.
He came directly to Santa Clara County, and here spent the two
following years in various pursuits. In 1870 he took possession of the
ranch upon which he now lives, and at once commenced its cultivation
and improvement, with the results of which we have spoken in the
beginning of our sketch.
In the same year he was united in marriage with Mrs. Maria J. G., a
daughter of Domingo and Magdalena Alviso. They have nine chldren, viz.:
Michael G., Peter, Marcus, Andreas, Stephen, Magdalena, Margerita,
Catarina, and Delfina.
As a man of intelligence and enterprise, as one who is bound to carry
through to a successful issue each enterprise in which he engages, Mr.
Malovos is well known. Coming to this country from one so entirely
different in manners and customs, he has yet become thoroughly
identified with his new home, making his residence here pleasant and
profitable for his associates, as well as for himself.
SOURCE: 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.- Page 268-269 transcribed by Carol Lackey
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