CAPT. JAMES
VARCOE
SHIFT BOSS- QUICKSILVER MINING COMPANY
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: MATTHEWS,ROWE, TONKIN,
Capt. James Varcoe,
shift boss of the Quicksilver Mining Company, New Almaden, is a native of
Cornwall, England, born July 31, 1837. His father, George Varcoe, was a miner
by occupation. His mother’s maiden name was Sarah Matthews. The subject of
this sketch was reared in Cornwall to the age of twenty years, at the age of
fourteen commenced work in the mines, and in 1857 emigrated to America, landing
at New York in August, 1857. He engaged in mining in New Jersey, but three
months later went to the copper mines of Lake Superior, where he was engaged for
three years, and then returned to England. Two years later he came again to the
United States, and after a brief time in the Lake Superior region, came to
California. His first location was in the Grass Valley diggings, but from there
he went to Virginia City, Nevada, and thence to Fresno County, California. He
came to New Almaden as a miner in 1867, and in 1876 was promoted to his present
position.
He was married in
New Almaden, December 25, 1870, to Miss Louisa Rowe, a native of England. They
have one child, Anna, the wife of Charles Tonkin, of New Almaden.
Captain Varcoe is a
member of San Jose Lodge, No. 34, I. O. O. F., and of Mt. Hamilton Lodge, A. O.
U. W. He is also identified with the Benevolent Society of New Almaden, of
which he is a Trustee, and he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In
politics Captain Varcoe is a Republican. He is acquainted with every detail of
his business, and is a man of excellent standing in the community.
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.
Pg. 332
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
Proofread by Betty Vickroy
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