WILLIAM J. SANOR
PIONEER RANCHER of SANTA CLARA COUNTY
SURNAMES: HIGGINS, MURRAY
As a native son of California and a representative of a pioneer family,
W.J. Sanor has proved himself a worthy descendant of one of the most
respected pioneers of California. Born September 8, 1888, in San Jose,
he is a son of J. E. and Sarah (Higgins) Sanor, both natives of
California, and reared in Santa Clara County. The grandfather, Michael Sanor,
was an Ohioan by birth, his father and mother being among the early
settlers of Columbiana County. He came of a family of farmers, and when
they left Ohio in the spring of 1839 and journeyed to Ray County, Mo.,
they settled on a farm, but Michael was not content with farming, so
learned wool-carding and the cabinet-maker's trade He was employed at
these occupations until the gold excitement of 1849, when with his
father and two of his brothers he crossed the plains with ox teams,
reaching Carson Valley early in September, 1849, after a little more
than four months. Only a short time was spent in the mines, when Mr.
Sanor settled on a farm in Santa Clara County, commencing the
improvement of a farm of 148 acres in the vicinity of Santa Clara.
There the family lived until 1887, when he disposed of his ranch and
purchased a home on Delmas Avenue, and while residing there, the mother
passed away. The father of our subject, J. E. Sanor, was for many years
a business man of Santa Clara, but he is now living a retired life.
W. J. Sanor was educated in the schools of Santa Clara. After
graduating from the high school, he went on the road as a wholesale
cigar salesman and followed it for ten years; later he entered business
for himself, and this has steadily increased in volume from year to
year. Mr. Sanor's marriage united him with Miss Janie Murray and they
are the parents of five children: William J., Jr., George H., Sadie
Mae, Frances, and Janie. Mr. Sanor is a member of the Observatory
Parlor, N. S. G. W., San Jose.
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 1616 Transcribed by Roena Wilson
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY