GEORGE BULL
MANAGER OF THE MURPHY RANCH
BIO- Pen Pictures, George P. Bull, page 235-236
SURNAMES: CESENA, FISHER, PIATTI, MARTIN, MURPHY,
George P. Bull resides on a fine tract of land west of the San Jose and
Milpitas road, on the west bank of the Coyote Creek. This tract
comprises 177 acres, located in the Orchard District, about three miles
north of San Jose. His land is all under a high state of cultivation
and very productive. Twenty acres are planted with strawberries of the
Sharpless variety, seven acres with raspberries, and three acres with
blackberries. Forty acres are devoted to the production of various
kinds of vegetables, and the remainder of the farm, with the exception
of a small orchard, is used for raising grain and hay, and for
pasturing stock. It is Mr. Bull's intention in the immediate future to
devote 100 acres to the culture of small fruits. One fine artesian well
furnishes plenty of water for all purposes. This splendid farm shows
the care and attention which Mr. Bull gives to it, and ranks among the
best in the district.
The subject of this sketch enjoys the honor of being a native
Californian, dating his birth in this county, August 24, 1853. His
parents were Dr. George H. Bull and Mrs. Liberata (Cesena) (Fisher)
Bull. His father was born in Troy, New York, and was the son of Judge
Archibald Bull, of New York. His mother is a native of Mexico, and of
Spanish descent. She came to this State in 1844, with her husband,
Captain William Fisher, who died not many years afterwards. Mr. Bull's
father came to California in 1850, and established himself in the
practice of medicine in San Francisco, and later in Santa Clara County.
In 1852 he married Mrs. Fisher, and at his death, which occurred in
1854, he left to the care of his widow their only child, the subject of
our sketch. In 1856 his mother married Caesar Piatti, a native of
Italy, and a pioneer of California, to which State he came in 1849.
Mr. Bull's educational advantages were of the best. After completing
the course of study in the Santa Clara College, he became proficient in
civil engineering and surveying, a profession which he followed until
1874, at which time he entered the employ of Daniel Murphy, as foreman
of his extensive farm and stock ranches near Gilroy (now owned by
Daniel M. Murphy and Mrs. Morgan Hill). After being thus engaged for
about a year, he married, June 20, 1875, Miss Elizabeth A. Murphy, the
daughter of James and Ann (Martin) Murphy, whose history appears in
this volume.
He then engaged in farming and stock-raising on lands near Gilroy, and
on his father-in-law's home property in San Jose Township. In this work
he remained about two years, and then went into the grocery business in
San Jose for three years. Returning to agriculture, he again took
charge, with his brother-in-law, D. J. Murphy, of the lands last
mentioned, and over which he had before exercised a partial
supervision. He was thus employed until, in 1884, he established his
family upon the property where they now live, which was his wife's
portin of her deceased father's estate.
Mr. and Mrs. Bull have three children, viz., George L., born July 19,
1876; James R., born June 29, 1878, and Anita B., born August 5, 1883.
Mr Bull is Democratic in his politics, but liberal in his views on all
political questions. He is greatly nterested in, and always ready with
time and means to advance, the prosperity and welfare of his section.
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.Transcribed by Carol Lackey- page 233-234
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY-The Valley of Heart's Delight