The Valley of Heart's Delight
NICKOLAS ZAREVICH
From Majkovi, Dalmatia to Santa Clara County
1889
SURNAMES: Klunak, Simonitsch, Stockard,Ladner,
A successful and progressive rancher who has been a resident of Santa
Clara County since June 2, 1889, is Nickolas Zarevich, who was born in
the village of Majkovi, near Ragusa, Dalmatia, February 18, 1871, a son
of Anton and Mary (Klunak) Zarevich, farmers who were representatives
of very old farmers in that county, their lives having been devoted to
husbandry. Nickolas was the youngest of their five children and he and
his brother Anton, also of Santa Clara County, are the only ones in the
United States. He was brought up on the home farm, having the
advantages of public schools of his section. Having decided to
cast his lot with California, of which he had hears as well as read
favorable reports, he started for New York when eighteen years of age,
arriving in San Jose June 2, 1889. He immediately found
employment in orchards and began studying horticulture, thus obtaining
the knowledge and experience in this branch of agriculture that has
been so valuable to him in later years. During this time he was six and
one-half years in the employ of Capt. Blake of Cupertino. Having
accumulated some means, he invested his money in a ranch which he was
fortunate to sell at a profit and in this way owned four different
places before he purchased twenty-five acres, the nucleus of his
present place.
At. St. Mary's Church, San Jose, April 24, 1898, the ceremony uniting
Mr. Zarevich and Miss Annie Simonitsch, was performed by Rev. Joseph
Miller. Mrs. Zarevich was born at Richmond, Minn. Her
father, Jacob Simonitsch, was a native of Kranska, Austria, and and
came to Minnesota when a young man, becoming a prosperous
merchant in Richmond, Ther he married Gertrude Stockard, of
German descent. On accont of his wife's health, Mr. Simonitsch
removed to Oregon, where his wife died in 1889. In 1891 he came to
Santa Clara County and began fruit raising, becoming a large
orchardist. He passed away September 11, 1897, leaving two
daughters, Mrs. Mary A. Ladner of Cupertino and Annie, now Mrs.
Zarevich, who was educated in Notre Dame Academy, Santa Clara.
After their marriage, Mr. And Mrs. Zarevich engaged in fruit raising on
their orchard place, which they have given great care. Meeting
with success, from time to time have purchased additional acreage until
they now own 112 acres, all in a body and conveniently located on
Stevens Creek Road; ninety-five acres of the place is devoted to a
prune orchard and the balance is in apricots, the place being operated
with the most modern machinery. Mr. and Zarevich have two children;
Teresa is a graduate of Note Dame high school, San Jose, class of 1919,
now attends the State Teacher's College in San Joe. Ivan was
educated at Santa Clara College and Headland Business College, San
Jose, and is now assisting his father. Mr. Zarevich is a member
of the Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph's Benevolent Society, the
Austrian Benevolent Society, the Salavonian- American Benevolent
Society of An Jose and with his family is a member of St. Joseph de
cupertino catholic Church. Mrs. Zarevich is an active member of
the Alter Society of the above church and of the Catholic Daughter
of San Joe. Mr. Zarevich is a believer in and supporter of
the Republican principles, and is a member of the California Prune
& Apricot Association.
PHOTO OF THE ZAREVICH PROPERTY
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,
published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 1650
SANTA CLARA COUNTY MARRIAGE INDEX
9201124 06/12/1892 ZAREVICH, ANTONE MIGLIAS, NICOLETT
2300498 07/14/1923 ZAREVICH, NICKLOS J GULIERMOVICH, CATHERINE
9801031 04/24/1898 ZAREVICH, NICOLAUS SIMONITSCH, ANNA
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORIC BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY The Valley of Heart's Delight