THE
VALLEY OF HEART's DELIGHT
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THOMAS
KEYS
Bio-Coast Counties
SURNAMES: GOODACRE
Among the most prosperous and
progressive business men of San Jose is Thomas Keys, and extensive
candy manufacturer and dealer, with factory at No. 133 South First
street. Possessing great energy and ambition, he has achieved
success in his chosen occupation, ad has proved himself a useful and
worthy citizen. A son of Thomas Keys, Sr.., he was born July 13,
1868, in London, Ontario, of English ancestry.
A native of England, Thomas Keys, Sr.,
was born ad reared near Leeds, Yorkshire. In early manhood he
emigrated to America , settling in London, Ont., where he was engaged
in business as a general contractor until his death, when but
forty-five years old. He married Christine Goodacre, who was born
in Leeds, England, and died in San Jose, Cal., at the home of her son,
Thomas, in 1890, at the age of fifty-nine years. Four sons and
four daughters were born of their union, and of these all of the sons,
and one daughter, grew to years of maturity, namely: William, who
located in San Jose as a contractor and builder in 1886, went to New
York on a pleasure trip in 1902 and was killed at Yonkers in a street
car accident: James, a wood and coal merchant came to California in
1891, and during the gold excitement went to Dawson, Alaska, where he
died in 1898: John died in Stockton, Cal.: Martha resides in San
Jose with her brother: and Thomas, the special subject of this sketch.
The youngest child of the parental
household, Thomas Keys was brought up in London, Ont., where he went
through the primary and grammar grades, and took the first year's
course in the high school. At the age of fourteen years he
entered the establishment of the D S Perrin Company, large manufactures
and wholesale dealers of confectionery, and after serving a full
apprenticeship at the trade of a candy maker continued with the firm
until 1889. In that year Mr. Keys came to San Jose, intending to
engage in contracting and carpentering with his brother William, but
after a month's trial decided that he was not fitted for that kind of
work. May 1, 1889, therefore, he began the manufacture of
confectionery on a modest scale, building a small factory near his
residence, at No. 315 West San Salvador street, and for three years
made candy for the retail stores only. By that time his business
had so rapidly increased that he leased a building at No. 360 South
First street, enlarged it, put in furnaces, and there continued in his
occupation for another three years, when, needing still more room, he
transferred his factory to the corner of San Carlos and First streets,
where he remained four years. In 1900, owing to the demands of
his business, Mr. Keys located at No. 133 South First Street, and has
since remedied and greatly improved his factory, putting candy making
and pulling machinery of the latest approved patterns, operating
them with electric power. Mr. Keys is an expert manufacturer of
confectionery, making all kinds of candy, and is carrying o a extensive
and lucrative wholesale trade, shipping his manufactures as far south
as Los Angeles, and throughout the San Joaquin valley and along the
coast into Alameda county. In his business he has the largest capital
invested of any manufacturer of the kind in the county, in addition to
his manufactory having a warehouse at No. 295 West San Salvador street,
and employing twelve persons to assist him. Mr. Keys also
manufactures ice cream by his power plant, having a capacity of one
hundred gallons a day, and at his store operates a soda fountain.
In religion Mr. Keys is an
Episcopalian, and is a charter member of the Y. M.C.A. In
politics he is a stanch Republican. He belongs to the Garden City
Wheelmen's organization, to the Grand Fraternity, to the Merchants'
Association of San Jose, and to the Knights of Pythias.
History of the
State of California of Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California- Guinn, 1904, page 1144
transcribed by cdf
SANTA CLARA
COUNTY
BIOGRAPHY PROJECT
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY