BIO- Sawyers
SURNAMES: OWENS, McHUGH, ALBERT, LEE,
 NICHOLS, KRICKERBERG, INGRAIN, MOYER

A native son born near Santa Clara, Cal., February 25, 1874 George S. Kidder is the son of Charles S. Kidder, born in Norridgewock, Maine.  Arriving at young manhood he crossed the plains to California in 1856, and after mining for a shot time he settled in Santa Clara COunty.  He was a natural mechanic, having learned seven different trades.  He followed ornamental painting, designing an painting some of the early signs in this city, and is well remembered   He died on the old Owen ranch of Stevens Creek road in 1886.  He was married in this county to Sarah F. Owens, a native of Indiana, the daughter of Rev. Isaac Owens, who brought his family across the plains in 1849 at the head of an ox-team emigrant train.  He was the first superintendent of California missions sent out by the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Arriving in California he gave his time and labored faithfully, founding churches in different sections of the state.  He was presiding elder for many years and devoted his life to the Methodist Church and its institutions.  He was one of the founders of the University of the Pacific, and trustee for many years.  He owned a farm on the corner of Stevens Creek and the Los Gatos and Santa Clara roads.  His death occurred in San Francisco; four of his five children grew up: John, Sarah F., William, and Hiram, now all deceased. Mrs. Kidder later married C. J. McHugh, and she purchased a ranch in San Felipe Valley beyond Evergreen, where she reared and educated her family.  She spent her last days with her son, George S., passing away in 1917, aged seventy-three years.  Of her union with Mr. Kidder there were seven children, five living: Mary L, ws Mrs. Albert, who died in the spring of 1922; Elizabeth, was the wife of Frank Lee, and she died in 1920; Mrs. Lorena S. Nichols, resides in Shasta County; Charles L., lives in Shasta County; Geneva F., Mrs. Krickerberg, lives at the old home in San Felipe; George S., is the subject of this sketch; Gertrude J., is Mrs. B. Ingram of Escalon.  There was one child born of the second marriage, Cornelius J. McHugh, a mining man in Plumas County.
George Kidder grew up on the San Felipe Valley ranch receiving his education in the Highland school.  He assisted his mother on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in mining in Plumas County.  At the first tap of the drum for the Spanish-American War he immediately responded and enlisted in Mary, 1898, in Company C, First California Volunteer Infantry being mustered in at the Presidio, and was sent on the first expedition to the Philippines, following Admiral Dewey's victory at Manila, it being conceded it was the first expedition of the army sent from the United States to a foreign port.  Leaving SAn Francisco on the transport City of Peking, they sailed in tot he harbor of Guam, Ladrone Group, and took possession for the United State, leaving a small detachment of troops and come on to the Philippine Islands, landing at Cavite, July 3, 1898.l  They moved on to Paranque, where they ahd several engagements, and were in the final assault on Manila before its capture, August 12, 1898.  Being stationed there for several months he was taken with typhoid fever and nearly died.  When convalescent he was mustered out at Manila, December 25, 2898, and came home via Hong Kong. On his return he engaged in the transfer business in San Jose under the name of Garden City Transfer & Storage Company for several years, after which he again mined in Plumas County.  Returning to San Jose at the time of the earthquake, 1906, he did speical police duty, during which time he was accidentally shot through the leg, which laid him up for over a year.  He then had a private detective agency for nearly a year, with offices in the Ryland Block, afterwards serving two years as a patrolman. In 1910 he was appointed chief of San Jose by the Fire and Police Commission, under Mayor Charles W. Davisson, and continued during the two years of his second term.  Since that time he has been engaged as a real estate dealer, being associated with Cooper-Challen Realty Company.  Mr. Kidder is still interested in Mining in Plumas County, being one of the owners of the Rich Bar Mining Company. Rich Bar is a historic spot, being the place where the first while child was born and  the first postoffice established in California after American occupancy.  The mines there were very rich, millions of dollars woth of gold having been taken from the bar.  The Rich Bar Mining Company is now engaged in tunneling for the old mine bed on the east branch of the North Fork of the Feather River, with  a fine showing for a coarse gold property.
Mr. Kidder's marriage occurred in San Jose in 1907, where he was united with Miss Mabel M. Moyer, who was born near Ames, Ia., coming with his parents to California who where early settlers at Dos Palos.  Their union hsa been blessed with three children, Donald, Marion and Lois.  After his return from the Philippines Mr. Kidder joined the National Guard, serving a year in Company B. Fifth Regiment, until he went to the mines, when he obtained his discharge on account of his removal.  He belongs to the Spanish -American War Veterans of the Red Men, and San Jose Chamber of Commerce, and is an active member of the First Christain Church in San Jose.