Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy

"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 465.

Jacob K. Gries

Jacob K. Gries is one of the best known and highly respected citizens of Ventura County. He came to California in 1852, and has had large experience in the early history of the State, as well as the early settlement of Ventura County. He has been a leading man - a man of nerve and of great natural ability. His early experience in the Golden State would make a book of interest; but he declines to recount the privations, dangers and exciting times that tried men's souls in the settlement of the great State in which he has had a share, and in which he has borne an honorable part, and for which he is now rewarded by having his home in the most civilized, enlightened and delightful portion of the world. All new countries have their ruffians and renegades, and California was no exception to the rule, but she has proudly and grandly outlived the stormy days, and the pioneer looks with just gratification and pride upon the great country he has helped to develop.

Mr. Gries was born in Berks County, Pennsylvania, July 16, 1830. His father, Jacob Gries, was a native of the same county, and was a soldier in the war of 1812. In early life he had been a hat-maker, but after his removal to Ohio he became a farmer. He died on his own farm, in Ohio, in 1870. The subject of this sketch was reared in Ohio. At the age of twenty years he removed to Indiana, and a year later took his course westward to the Pacific Coast. He arrived in June, 1852, and July 16, following, he was twenty-two years old. He went to Foster's Bar, on the Yuba River, and mined until late in the fall, then, in company with others, he engaged in the hotel and staging business, two very important occupations at that time. The hotel in which he was interested was the Oregon House, in Yuba County, and he was thus engaged for three years. From 1857 to 1860 he was in the butchering and meat business. In the latter year he removed to Nevada, remaining there until 1869, ranching and mining. He owned a ranch in the Washoe Valley, which he sold in the fall of 1868, and removed to White Pine County, where, for several months, he was interested in the toll-road business.

November 1, 1869, Mr. Gries came to Ventura County and engaged in farming, raising barley, corn and wheat, on eighty acres of land which he purchased of the Briggs grant, near Santa Paula. This property he still owns. He also bought 360 acres of Thomas R. Bard, on the Colonia Ranch, which he afterward sold at a great profit, and bought 412 acres in the ex-Mission ranch, still retaining it. He has a one-half interest in 426 acres on the Colonia ranch. Mr. Gries came to Nordhoff in December, 1887, and has here built a fine residence, where he resides with his family. For a number of years he has been interested in the production of thorough-bred horses, mostly trotting stock.

In 1860, Mr. Gries was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Foulks, daughter of John Turbett. By her he had one child, Belle, born in Yuba County, California. She married Norris Claybury, and they reside near Santa Paula. After twenty-two years of wedded life, Mrs. Gries died. Four years later Mr. Gries married Mrs. Mary Simpson, a native of Texas, and widow of Frank J. Simpson. Mrs. Gries is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gries is a Republican; he was a Democrat before the war, but at that time took a strong stand in favor of the Union and has since affiliated with the Republican party. He is a man of strong convictions, a natural leader among men, and has been prominent in Ventura County ever since its organization. He has been active in helping to maintain law and order in his county, for which he has the respect and good will of every worthy citizen in the county. Mr. Gries has enjoyed pleasant business relations with others, and has had in his employ men who have remained with him for years, all of them speaking highly of Mr. Gries, and some of them having risen to wealth and influence. It is scarcely necessary to add that he is a warm admirer of California and considers Ventura County the cream of the great State.



Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.