THATCHER F. BARNES.
Captain of the Alviso Rifles
Alviso Township

Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: FERRIS, VAN WIE, CONGER, FISK, CROSETTE

        Among the large land owners of the county we mention the subject of this sketch, whose fine farm of 260 acres in the Alviso District is located one-half mile
north of the Alviso and Milpitas road, and about two and one-half miles east of Alviso. An orchard, bearing apples, pears, and quinces, covers eight acres, while
nine acres produce strawberries of the Sharpless and Cheney varieties. Ten acres are devoted to asparagus, and the remainder of this large farm is used for the raising of hay and grain, and for stock purposes. Mr. Barnes is greatly interested in stock-raising, particularly in the improvement of the trotting stock of the county, to accomplish which he is breeding from several thoroughbred mares.

        The water required for irrigation, stock, and other purposes, is furnished by four artesian wells, two of which flow two and one-half inches over a seven-inch pipe.

        The subject of this sketch dates his birth in Cayuga County, New York, on the seventeenth of April, 1828. His parents were Luther and Zipporah (Ferris) Barnes, who were residents and natives of the place of his birth. He was reared as a farmer, and in his youth received a good practical education. In 1852 he crossed the plains to California, bringing with him considerable stock. He reached Oroville, Butte County, on the first of September of that year, and at once proceeded to Marysville, Yuba County. There he disposed of his stock, and after a short stay in Sacramento went to the mines of El Dorado County, where he spent one year. He then engaged in farming and stock-raising in Monterey County, and there made his home until, in 1856, he removed to Santa Clara County, and located. near Alviso, upon land rented from the Alviso estate. This land he cultivated as a grain ranch for about four years, and then purchased and took possession of the land heretofore described, to which he has since given his entire attention.

        In May, 1850, the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Miss Mary Van Wie, the daughter of Henry and Lydia (Conger) Van Wie, residents of Cayuga County, New York. They have two daughters,—Imogene and Eudora. The former is the wife of Rufus Fisk, formerly of Santa Clara County, but now a resident of San Luis Obispo County. The latter married Edward Crossette, of San Francisco.

        Mr. Barnes is an educated and intelligent man, one who, by energy and the practice of good business principles, has won much success as an agriculturist and man of business. He has accumulated a fair share of this world's goods, and has justly earned the esteem of his associates. Politically he is connected with the Republican party, taking a deep interest in all public affairs. During the dark days of the Rebellion he was made Captain of the Alviso Rifles, a position which he retained until their disbandment, in 1866.

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. 485

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