Along with farm labor, Asian immigrants filled many roles around the farm and home at Patterson Ranch, including cook. Clara Patterson hired Hideo, seen sitting on the back steps of the old Patterson House kitchen in the photo above, as the family cook. In addition to Hideo, the cook position was held by Ah Sin, a 19-year-old from China, and George Ishi, a 22-year-old from Japan.
Hideo had a studio photo taken of his family when he returned to Japan (below). He sent Clara a copy of the photo and wrote on the back “To Mrs. C. Layson, Wish you to remember us. Hideo Nakagaki, 1072 Nishitobe Machi, Yokohama”. Hideo was proud of his connection to the United States.
Clara Patterson Layson visited Japan in 1908. She made it a point to visit Hideo’s family at their home (bottom). Hideo is on the far left in the photo to the right, and Clara is on the far right. She rode in a rickshaw to get there.
