Redman-Hirahara Foundation - Help Us Save the Redman House in California

Born April 11, 1856 in Monroe County, Missouri, James Redman, original owner of the Redman House, arrived in the Pajaro Valley at the age of nine years with his parents Kendrick Francis Redman and Matilda Farrell Redman. James had several surviving siblings, four sisters; Sara Ann, Mary (Mollie), Oda B., LeVina (Vina), and two brothers; Francis Kendrick (Frank) and Christy Gentry. Three brothers died on the journey across the plains to California and were buried along the trail.

James Redman was married two times. On March 14, 1880 he was wed to Fredericka Louise Werner from San Francisco. Fredericka died May 18, 1912. They had no children of their own but they adopted a daughter, May Nelson. May married a Carey and had a son, born in 1909, who was killed in an auto wreck on May 13, 1931 on the Beach Road. James' second marriage was to Ella Woody on June 30, 1915.

James Redman was a farmer like his father. His father had grown potatoes and sugar beets during the times that these were the highly marketable commodities in the Valley. In 1882 James moved to the Beach Road property owned by his father. In the 1883 Census records he is shown as owning 70 acres of land valued at $5,170 and by 1903 he is credited with 120 acres of rich bottom land. In addition, he owned 81 acres of orchard land in Monterey County where he had 600 pear trees. During 1902 his sugar beet crop averaged 15 tons per acre and in previous years yields were even higher. He and his father had both been major contributors to the funding of Claus Spreckel's sugar beet plant in Watsonville. One of James' interests was the breeding of fine horses and it is noted that his high-grade stock was sought after by discerning horsemen.

When James died January 21, 1921 at age 64, the local newspapers noted:

"Jim Redman was a good man of a quiet, unassuming, retiring nature, his many sterling qualities were recognized by those who knew him. As a farmer he was keen, energetic resourceful and capable and it was said of him by his acquaintances that the county had no agriculturist more enterprising than he. "

Redman Family Photo Album

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Redman-Hirahara Foundation
PO Box 2526
Watsonville, CA 95077-2526