THE VALLEY OF HEART's DELIGHT
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O. F. ALLEY
BIO- Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: CLARK, RAY, BUNKER
O. F. ALLEY, whose orchard home is situated on
the Almaden road, about two miles south of the courthouse at San Jose,
established his present residence in 1882, when he purchased the
property of John Paine. Fourteen acres is set with fruit-trees,
the larger part of which Mr. Alley himself planted. The leading fruits
are apricots and prunes, although a general variety of fruit is
produced. For irrigation a ten-horse-power engine is used,
which is capable of throwing from a well 600 gallons per minute.
The residence is commodious and convenient, embowered and shaded by
beautiful plants and fine trees, a typical rural home.
The subject of our sketch dates his birth at
Nantucket, Massachusetts, in 1824. He is the son of Obed and
Susan (Clark) Alley, and is able to trace his ancestry back to the
Pilgrim Fathers. At Nantucket, in 1851, he wedded Miss Phoebe
Bunker, the daughter of Asa G. and Mary (Ray) Bunker. Her father
was from an old New England family of English extraction, while her
mother was of Scotch descent. While yet a lad Mr. Alley became a
sailor. From 1839 to 1851 he spent most of the time on whaling
vessels, the scene of whose operations was the North Pacific. He
passed every grade from a sailor before the mast to master of a
vessel. His last sea voyage was as master of the merchant vessel Maria
of Nantucket, which, clearing at New York in November, 1850, made
the port of San Francisco in June, 1851. Off Cape Horn the vessel
was held back by head winds fifty-six days The season of
1851 was spent in placer mining in Calaveras County. Thence he
went to Contra Costa County, where his wife, coming by the Isthmus
route, joined him in March, 1853. He made his home in that county
until 1874, much of the time being engaged in public business, serving
either as County Treasurer of County Assessor for ten years. He
was also engaged in stock and dairy farming while a resident of
Contra Costa County. After removing to San Francisco, in 1874, he
was employed for several years as deputy in the offices of the County
Treasurer, Assessor, and other county officials.
Mrs. Alley is well-known as a natural or
magnetic healer. She was in active, successful proactive in San
Francisco for eight years, --a practice lucrative and pleasant, because
of the good she wrought in hundreds of cases. She now confines
her practice to the friends who come to her home for treatment.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Alley are member of the San Jose Grange, Patrons of
Husbandry. Mr. Alley is identified with the Republican party,
with whose principles he is thoroughly in accord.
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 578
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben
Santa Clara County Family Chronicles
Santa Clara County History- The Valley of Heart's Delight
Aug 3, 2005