JOSEPH WALTER DUDLEY BLABON-
Prune Grower, Santa Clara County
Surnames: White, Martin,
A man who by his own efforts has risen to a prominent pace among the
agriculturists and horticulturists in the Santa Clara Valley is Joseph
Walter Dudley Blabon, a native son of the county, born on the old
Blabon ranch on the Mountain View Road, June 12 1865. He is the
son of Walter L. and Anna F. (White) Blabon, natives of Chesterville,
Maine, and Boston, Mass., respectively. His grandfather, Dr. Otis
Blabon, was also a native of Maine and was a seafaring man, as well as
a physician. He had sailed all over the world, studied navigation
and in time became a captain. Deciding to come to California, he
and his son Francis secured passage in a four-mast schooner named
Sacramento, bound for San francisco. On the way the captain and
second mate died and when they put in to Acapulco the first mate was
very ill and it was thought wise to leave him. Thus it became
necessary that Otis Blabon take command as captain as he was the only
man aboard that understood navigation, and he brought the schooner
safely into port where he turned it over to the company agent in San
Francisco.
Dr. Blabon then came to Santa Clara County purchasing land on the
Stevens Creek Road where he resided on the farm and practiced medicine
until 1863. He then returned to Maine remaining there until 1875,
when he came back to Santa Clara County and located near
Saratoga. One of the sons, George Blabon, was the founder of the
George Blabon Company of Philadelphia, today the largest
manufacturers of oil cloth in the world. Walter Blabon came to
California via Panama in 1860 arriving in San Francisco on December
8. He farmed in the Cupertino district for four years. In
1864 he purchased the old homestead which consisted of 130 acres where
he engaged in farming and reared a family of four children.
J. D. Blabon, as our subject is familiarly known, has been a close
student of orcharding and is a pioneer in the fruit industry. By his
well directed efforts and close application he has become one of
the largest prune growers in Santa Clara County. His
land holding over the state are extensive, his favorite possession
being Madrone Mineral Springs,
a hunting lodge beautifully located in the center of 400 acres of the
Mount Hamilton range. Mr. Blabon first became interested in these
springs, when after a stay of five weeks the drinking of the
water entirely cured him of a serious stomach trouble that
different physicians had been unable to conquer, and on finding that
property was for sale, he purchased it. The medicinal property of
the water has great curative power, so pronounced by the leading
physicians of the state.
In San Francisco March 8, 1874, J. D. Blabon was united in marriage
with Miss Abbie Martin, a native daughter, and their union has
been blessed with three children:: Walter Vance, Kingdon B. and
Elodiie. The name of Blabon will always stand out prominently in
California and Santa Clara Valley, for the first members oft he family
in this state were forerunners of its development and aided materially
in brining about its present prosperity The younger generation
are following in the footsteps of their sires and are found in the
vanguard where progress is the watchword, and of these J. D. Blabon is
recognized as one of the leaders. His entire life has been
actuated by high principles and honorable actions and his efforts in
behalf of the progress of his community have been far reaching. As a
horticulturist he is among the most successful in the valley. He
is a man of great energy and has accomplished much in the development
of the great natural resoures of this famous valley.
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 596
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