One of the names that comes to us from the earliest historical records of the county Is that of “Valencia”.
The Valencias were large landholders during the early pioneer days of the county and still retain a small portion of these large early holdings in the vicinity of San Bruno, where Mrs. Valencia and some of her daughters are still living in the family home, bordering on the State Highway.
Mr. Valencia came from a large family, his brothers being Leonard, Frank, Eustaquio and Antone. His father’s name was Juan Sotelo Valencia.
Mrs. Valencia was married fiftytwo years ago at the Mission Dolores which was established in 1777 in San Francisco. She was blessed with a large number of children-ten in all. The names of those still living are: Mrs. Petra Whitaker (whose husband ran the famous Union Hotel in San Francisco) ; Mrs. Francis Colleta; Mrs. Anne Fernandez, Miss Celestine Valencia, Mrs. Pauline Ford, Mrs. Clara Stevens, Mrs. Inez Overholser, Mr. Samuel Valencia, and Mr. Edward Valencia.
Mr. Guadaloupe Valencia had the distinction of belonging to the San Francisco Fire Department in the early days of that city, and was, just before his death, the oldest living member of that organization.
Mrs. Valencia was born in San Rafael, but was raised in San Mateo County where she has lived ever since being married.
