Thomas Barrows

Thomas Barrows is a native of Massachusetts, born on Martha's Vineyard, April 14, 1843. His father, James Lloyd Barrows, was also a native of that State, and was a merchant and manufacturer. Their ancestry came from England. His mother, Hannah Cottle, was born in Massachusetts, the daughter of Captain Edward Cottle, a sea captain of merchant ships. Mr. Barrows finished his education at Gorham, Maine. He began his business career at Indianapolis, as clerk in a wholesale dry-goods  house. After this he accepted the position of general traveling agent for the Grover & Baker Sewing Machine Company, and acted in that capacity for several years. He next took the general agency for the Victor Sewing Machine Company, for the Northwest, with headquarters at Chicago, the firm being Thomas Barrows & Co. During this time he was a partner in the Elgin Iron Works, manufacturers of small engines and castings. Their sewing-machine business in Chicago became quite extensive, sales reached 8,000 machines in the best year, and altogether they disposed of 25,000. They were caught in the great Chicago fire and lost quite heavily, but were again receiving orders the week following the fire.

    In 1875 impaired health caused Mr. Barrows to leave Chicago and come to California. He was first in Oakland and San Francisco. His disease was hemorrhage of the lungs and attending troubles, and his physician advised the mildest climate possible. The Ojai Valley was decided upon, and he arrived at this place in 1878. He purchased 160 acres of unimproved land, which, under his judicious care and management, now presents a very different appearance. He has erected a comfortable home, planted a large variety of trees and vines, and his property has become a lovely tree-embowered retreat. Mr. Barrows has long since regained his health, and is now in a situation to enjoy life, under the shade of the vine and fig tree of his own planting. His ranch is provided with ample barns. He is now engaged in raising Holstein and Jersey cattle and fine blooded horses of the A. W. Richmond stock, and is also raising work-horses; has had as high as 300 head of horses and cattle at one time. He has dealt some in real estate, and owns about 250 acres of choice land in the valley. He is engaged in orange culture both at his home and also at Pomona.

    Mr. Barrows was married, in 1869, to Miss Sarah W. Coffin, a native of Edgartown, Massachusetts, daughter of Jared W. Coffin, who traces his ancestry back to Nantucket. This union was blessed with a daughter, and a few days later the young mother and beloved wife was called away, and thus a most sad bereavement came to him. The daughter, Charlotte C., is now attending the Pomona College. Several years after his wife's decease, Mr. Barrows was again married, in 1872, to Miss Ella A. Cole, of Medway, Massachusetts, daughter of Captain John Cole, a sea captain of whaling and merchant vessels. They have one child, David P. Barrows, who is also attending Pomona College, in the freshmen class. All the family are members of the Congregational Church. While in Chicago Mr. Barrows was superintendent of the Tabernacle Sunday-school and deacon in the Tabernacle Church; is now a deacon in the Nordhoff Congregational Church, and also an active worker in the Sunday-school. He is a gentleman of pleasing and genial manners, and one whose influence for good is felt in the community in which he resides. Politically, he is a Republican.

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