Waite Gerry

Waite Gerry came to Ventura in September, 1873. He was born in New York in 1824, the son of Euroclydon and Pauline (Avery) Gerry, the former a native of Hatfield, Massachusetts, and the latter of New York. His grandfather's name was Nathan Gerry. His maternal ancestors were English and Welsh, and one of them, Benjamin Waite, was the hero of Hatfield, Massachusetts. Mr. Gerry's parents had two children, a daughter and son, the former being now the wife of Mr. Burr, of New York. Mr. Gerry received a common-school education and completed his studies in Williston Seminary, Massachusetts. The principal part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pursuits, but for a time he resided in Pennsylvania, where he ran a sawmill and conducted a store. He also spent some time in Indiana. In 1864 he crossed the plains with Major Bridge, and after returning he emigrated to Cass County, Missouri. Having a love for pioneer life, he continued his way westward, and engaged in mining in Utah, and after returning from this trip he came to California in 1872. For a time he was employed in Oakland, after which he came to Southern California and worked at Los Angeles for the telegraph company. From Los Angeles he went to San Bernardino, and from there he made an overland trip to Reno, Nevada, to see the country.

    In 1873 Mr. Gerry sent for his family to come to Ventura County, where he had rented a farm from Mr. William Collins. On this ranch of 550 acres they lived a year and were very successful. The next year he removed to Saticoy, leaving his family in Ventura, where they had built a home on a lot he purchased. Mr. Gerry engaged in farming, in company with J. L. Starr, in Aliso Canon, and also kept a small apiary. In 1880 he purchased seventy-five acres of choice land at $22 per acre. On this property he has built a good house, planted trees, and the place has become valuable, being rated at $200 per acre. The principal crop raised on this ranch is beans, but it also produces corn and fruits. The land yields 3,500 pounds of shelled corn to the acre, and as high as 2,500 pounds of beans per acre.

    Mr. Gerry was married in 1850 to Miss Ester Craig, who was born in Pennsylvania, May 12, 1827. Her father, John Craig, was a native of Russia; came to America in 1817, and settled near Scranton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Gerry's family consists of six children, four daughters and two sons, namely: Mary E., born in New York, September 2, 1851, and is now the wife of J. L. Stone, of Los Angeles; Eva P., born in Pennsylvania, April 5, 1854, wedded Mr. A. Everett, of Saticoy; Isabell G., born in New York, February 17, 1857, now the wife of J. S. Collins, of Ventura; Lacetta H., born in Indiana, April 24, 1861, now the wife of George E. Preble, of Tustin City, Orange County, California; Ellsworth E., born February 4, 1863, in Indiana, is now renting the home ranch; Edmund W., born April 2, 1868, in Missouri. Mrs. Gerry and the family, save one, are all members of the Presbyterian Church. Ellsworth and Edmund are members of the Y.M.C.A. Mr. Gerry has been a Republican but he and his sons are now Prohibitionists.

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