THOMAS B. SHORE, of Millikin School District, is the owner of a
beautiful and productive tract of 320 acres, on the Saratoga and Alviso
Road, about three miles west of Santa Clara. The ranch, which is in a high state of
cultivation, is principally devoted to the growing of hay and grain,
for which it is well
adapted. The proprietor also pays considerable attention to the
raising of stock, both horses and cattle. Comfortable and well-ordered
buildings, in connection with the general appearance of the
ranch, denote a prosperous and successful result that must necessarily
attend such intellingent and energetic efforts as have been put forth
by its owner.
Mr. Shore was born in Washington County, Missouri, in 1834. His father,
Thomas P. Shore, was a native of Kentucky, and his mother, Isabella
(Hyde) Shore, of North Carolina. His early life was spent in work on his
father's farm, and in receiving such learning as the schools of that
new county afforded. In 1850 his father and himself (he being but fifteen years of age)
started for California upon the overland trail. The pack train toiled
and dragged along its weary journey, unattended by and starling incident, but undergoing
the hardships constantly occurring on a trip of that character, until
it reached Salt Lake City. Their provisions being exhausted, it was necessary that
more should be procured here, and in order to do this the party to
which the Shores were attached were forced to seek work from the Mormons, and
thus earn the money needed to supply their wants. When leaving Salt
Lake City, the company, against the advice of the Mormons, decided to enter California
by the southern trail. This portion of their journey was attended by
severe hardships and privations. Deep morasses and swamps, rendered almost impassable by
rains, rugged mountain trails, swollen streams, and arid deserts devoid
of water,---all these obstacles were finally overcome, and the party
arrived safely in California, in the year mentioned above. Mr. Shore's
previous outdoor life proved of great benefit to him on this expedition, readily enabling him to endure the exposure and hardships.
Soon after their arrival the father and son went to mining in what is
now known as Nevada County. Not meeting with satisfactory results, they
came into Santa Clara County in the autumn of 1850, and settled in the present
Braly School District, about five miles northwest of Santa Clara, thus
becoming early pioneers of the county. In 1851 Mr. Shore's father went East by the mail steamers, via the
Isthmus route, and returned to California the following year with his
family, making his second trip overland. He then settled in Mountain View, in this
county, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1873. The
mother died about three years later, and both parents lie in Mountain View
Cemetery. It is worthy of notice that both parents of Mr. Shore's wife
are also buried in the cemetery. In 1860 Mr. Shore married Miss Agnes O. Bubb, daughter of
William Bubb, of Mountain View. Six children have blessed this union,
their name and ages (in 1888) being as follows: Paul Henry, twenty-five years of
age; Oscar D., twenty years of age; Edith M., seventeeen years of age;
Clara B. and Mary A., aged respectively fourteen and ten years.
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 384 Transcribed by Roena Wilson