Monterey-San Francisco-Calaveras County CA Archives Biographies.....Zabala, Pedro 1826 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 15, 2007, 12:41 am

Author: Luther A. Ingersoll, Editor (1893)

PEDRO ZABALA. -This gentleman, though not himself boastful or vain, it is but
just to remark, bears a name distinguished in the annals of Spanish history, and
is himself descended from one of the most noted families that did honor to the
name.

  Mr. Zabala was born in Bilbao, Biscay, Spain, June 29, 1826. Although brought
up in a fertile country, where the soil was generous and compensating, and where
he was inured to farm life in childhood, he always evinced business tastes and
aspirations. After studying in the government schools, he took a commercial
course and was shortly afterward placed behind the counter as a clerk in his
native city.

  In 1843 he set out for the west coast of South America, which so many of his
countrymen had sought and where they had achieved fortune, and landed in
Valparaiso, Chili. There he was employed in a large importing and shipping
house, and so thoroughly adapted to the business did he show himself that after
five years of service he was sent by his firm to San Francisco to dispose of a
large cargo, and determine upon the expediency of opening up a branch house in
that city which had become the cynosure of the commercial eye by reason of the
wonderful gold discoveries. He arrived in San Francisco, February 20, 1849,
disposed of his cargo, and, like many thousands of others, was lured to the
mines. He prospected, with indifferent success, in what is now Calaveras county,
and other localities. Tiring of the uncertainties of a miner's reward, he
returned to San Francisco after an absence of a few months, intending to sail
direct for Chili. Hearing of Monterey, of its climate and harbor, and that
business was brisk and inviting there, he went to Monterey, arriving October 1,
1849. There he engaged in general merchandising, conducting it profitably for
nine years and laying the foundation of his present affluent position. Having
acquired large tracts of land, he retired from business and devoted his energies
to the cultivation of the soil and to the raising of stock, in which he is still
prosperously engaged. He has made Salinas his home for many years, it being
convenient to some of his largest holdings.

  Mr. Zabala was married April 24, 1859, to Miss Anna Hartnell, a daughter of
the distinguished and highly esteemed pioneer, William E. P. Hartnell. Nine
children out of the fifteen born to them are now living, and Mr. Zabala in the
evening of his days is as blessed with domestic happiness and worldly goods as
man could well desire.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Memorial and Biographical History of the Coast Counties of Central California.

Illustrated.

Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast from the
Earliest Period of its Discovery to the Present Time, together with Glimpses of
its Auspicious Future; Illustrations and Full-Page Portraits of some of its
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers, and Prominent
Citizens of To-day.



HENRY D. BARROWS,
Editor of the Historical Department.

LUTHER A. INGERSOLL,
Editor of the Biographical Department.

"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendants."-Macaulay.


CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
1893.


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