Marion Thomas and Annie Bell Gwinn first arrived in San Martin
in August 1904 with their four young children, William, Dorothy,
Thomas and Raymond.
Marion Thomas and Annie Bell Gwinn first arrived in San Martin in August 1904 with their four young children, William, Dorothy, Thomas and Raymond.
Four more children and quite a few decades later, four generations of Gwinns gathered to celebrate the family’s 100th year in the area. The reunion, held Aug. 14 at Mt. Madonna Park, included everyone from 15 grandchildren to one great-great-great-grandchild.
The Gwinn family continued to grow after its arrival, making the Gwinn name a common one in the area. The San Martin-Gwinn School (originally The Raymond Gwinn School) was named after M. Raymond Gwinn, son of Raymond Gwinn and grandson of Marion and Annie Bell.
Of Marion and Annie Bell’s eight children, seven – their son Warren died at age four from diabetes – went on to marry and have children of their own.
Charles Gwinn, son of William Gwinn, was the naval aviator who spotted the surviving sailors from the USS Indianapolis sinking in World War II.
As the family grew, some moved out of the area to other parts of California and various Western states. Two Gwinn families still make their home in San Martin, six in Morgan Hill, two in Hollister and 16 in San Jose and the Bay Area.
