California

Biographical Sketch of Mark E. Ryan

Mark E. Ryan, electrical contractor and proprietor of Ryan’s Electrical Store in the Sequoia Hotel Bldg., Redwood City, arrived in that city seven years ago, after lie had traveled in all parts of the United States. The climatic advantages and business opportunities quickly appealed to Mr. Ryan, and lie decided to establish himself in business in Redwood City and make it his home. Mr. Ryan has had a wide and varied experience in electrical work which he has followed since boyhood. After completing his education in -New York City, he worked as a lineman in New York and large cities … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Horace E. H. Ruggles

The task of educating children of one of the peninsula’s most flourishing cities is the responsibility that falls on Horace E. H. Ruggles, supervising principal of the Burlingame schools. It was not long ago that Burlingame although destined to become one of the county’s leading cities, did not have a single school house within its boundaries. It was shortly after that Mr. Ruggles accepted his present position. With 217 children the Burlingame system was founded. In only three years the number of pupils increased to nearly 500. Burlingame has two handsome, modern, up-to-date school houses of which any community would … Read more

Biography of Mrs. George C. Ross

There is not a resident of San Mateo County whose life history is more closely woven into the fabric of the chronology of this county than Mrs. George C. Ross. Having lived here the best part of her life, she has the added distinction of being the second white child born in San Mateo – Mrs. Frank Miller, now a resident of Berkeley, being the first. Possessed of sufficient wealth to live in any part of the world, San Mateo County has nevertheless always been her first choice. When married, on December 24, 1877, in San Mateo, she went with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Calvin Robb

One of the progressive and influential citizens of the first township is Jesse Robb of Millbrae, manager of the Millbrae Dairy and superintendent of the D O. Mills estate for the past twenty-seven years. Mr. Robb was born at Bonaparte, Iowa, on September 9, 1885 and came to California thirty-nine years ago. After passing ten years in San Francisco he became connected with the country estate of D. O. Mills at Millbrae. Under his supervision this has become one of the show places of California. Although busily engaged looking after this large tract of land, Mr. Robb found time to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of D. A. Raybould

One of San Mateo County’s newcomers who has risen to a place of esteem in the community is D. A. Raybould of the San Francisco Chronicle. Mr. Raybould is known in all parts of the county as one of its wide awake, energetic young men who has at heart the welfare of the county as well as the interests of his paper. During the few years that Mr. Raybould has represented the Chronicle in San Mateo county he has enjoyed a reputation for fairness. His news articles have kept the peninsula cities in the foreground and not a day passes … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Francis T. Rapp

One of San Mateo’s hustling young men who stands high in the business circles of the county is Francis T. Rapp. insurance broker and chief probation officer of San Mateo County. Mr. Rapp was born in San Mateo and has spent the twenty-six years of his life in the county. After graduating from the San Mateo schools he attended Santa Clara University where he took a leading part in athletics and student activities. He played right field on the famous Santa Clara team of 1908 which won the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate championship. Since finishing college Mr. Rapp has been prominent … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Harry H. Putnam

After months of travel in the United States looking for a business opening, Harry H. Putnam, contractor and builder of Redwood City, chose California as the state offering the most to the newcomer. He then spent two years deciding beyond a doubt that the peninsula offered him more opportunities than any other place in the state and that for one in his line, Redwood City was the logical place to locate. Since coming to Redwood City, Mr. Putnam has developed a large contracting and building business. He has erected 10 homes in the Redwood Highlands district alone and his contracts … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Allan R. Powers

The thriving industrial center and model city of South San Francisco exerts a strong attraction upon the professional man as well as the captain of industry and business man. This is exemplified by the coming to this community of Dr. Allan R. Powers and other capable professional men who saw an excel field wherein to build up a desirable practice. Dr. Powers was located at Rio Vista, Solano County for two years before coming to San Mateo County Before he took up his study of medicine he was in the United States Forest Service. Dr. Powers received his university education … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. H. D’Arcy Power

Dr. Power has been a resident of San Mateo county for a period of ten years, and although his professional duties are confined for the most part to San Francisco, he takes an active interest in county affairs, as serving as chairman on the Board of Health of Burlingame signifies. Although a resident of the state for twenty-two years, Dr. Power believes that his choice of Burlingame as his home will be permanent. Dr. Power has risen high in his chosen profession, -medicine- being Dean of Medicine in the San Francisco Polyclinic, Staff Physician of the San Francisco Hospital and … Read more

Biography of George Carl Plump

George Carl Plump is one of Redwood City’s citizens who can really say that he grew up with the town. Born in Redwood City 45 years ago when Redwood City was a scant settlement, Mr. Plump has watched a full-fledged city gradually unfold and cover the green fields and pastures that he used to romp over as a boy. Mr. Plump never wavered from his belief that the town of his birth was destined to become a thriving commercial city. After receiving his education in Redwood schools, Mr. Plump’s business activities over several years finally focused on Plump’s Grocery store, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Pitcher

An old and highly respected settler, being one of the original forty-niners coming across the plains from St. Louis in ox teams. He was born July 25, 1827 at Vincennes, Indiana; and has resided in San Mateo County for the past 55 years. Mr. Pitcher has the distinction of being the oldest public official, holding the office of Justice of Peace, for the past 35 years. Mr. Pitcher has been very successful during his stay in Halfmoon Bay, acquiring a large farm, town property in San Francisco and many other interests. Mr. Pitcher is today, what he has always been, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Paul Pinckney

Under the head of “The Press” comes the name of Paul Pinckney, one of the foremost newspaper men of the county, and editor and proprietor of the San Mateo Times. Mr. Pinckney was born in South Carolina on March 24, 1869. His early education was accomplished in the common-schools and supplemented by a course under private tutors. At fifteen, instead of going to college he decided to see the world as both his parents had passed away. Ever since this he has “been seeing the world” through the eyes of a newspaper man, serving in the capacity of both reporter … Read more

Biography of Sean Perichon

Mr.Perichon is the popular host at the Perichon House; and in the role of hotel keeper and genial host is, probably one of the best known and well liked characters in the city of San Mateo as well as the entire county. Mr. Perichon was born at Vichy, France, September 24, 1870, just a few months before the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71. When a comparatively young man he came to America where he has lived ever since during the last twenty-one years. His first years in this country were spent in New York City where he followed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jesse Penton

To Jesse Penton, landscape gardener of San Mateo, can be attributed the beauties of many of the pretentious estates for which the peninsula is famed. Mr. Penton has made San Mateo county his home for the last forty-five years and during that time he has laid out and superintended the gardening of many of the county’s show places. Hundreds of the homes around San Mateo owe their floral embellishments to Mr. Penton, but the work for which he is best known was done on the estates of Harry Hastings, Mrs. Bothin, R. G. Hooker, Henry P. Bowie, and C. Frederick … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ferguson Owen

One of San Mateo County’s most efficient peace officers is Ferguson Owen, constable of the 2nd Township. As well as the important part Owen has played in the suppression of crime in his township, he has figured in many important criminal cases. One of the best known is the capture of Nick Greelish (James C. Greelish), the highwayman, who assaulted Mrs. L. Guggenheim in the Home of Peace Cemetery. While a thousand officers were in pursuit of this criminal, Constable Owen cleverly worked out his own set of clues and tracked him into a saloon on the state highway. Working … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ernest L. Norberg

Architect Ernest L. Norberg and his associate, Architect Thomas M. Edwards, with offices in the Phelan Building, San Francisco, have through their branch office in the Bank Building at Burlingame established a thriving clientele in this community. Judging from the number of public and private buildings already constructed from their designs and under their supervision, the future prominence of this firm is assured. Mr. Norberg’s early architectural training was obtained at Hopkins Art Institute, and later under the American Society of Beaux Arts. He was afterward associated with the most prominent architects of San Francisco, including Willis Polk, whom he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roy Donald Mullenhour

Roy Donald Mullenhour, proprietor and manager of the San Mateo Motor Car Co., of San Mateo, is making the study of automobiles and mechanics his life work. Mr. Mullenhour received his first training in the bicycle and novelty shop of his father in a small Ohio town. He showed such skill and natural aptness at this sort of work that it was quickly decided he should follow it throughout his career. Mr. Mullenhour became an expert in repairing bicycles but when automobiles came into use he branched out into this more promising field as it developed from the old “one-lungers” … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Norman D. Morrison

Because of his extended practice and prominence in public affairs, Dr. Norman D. Morrison is one of San Mateo’s best known physicians. Dr. Morrison came to San Mateo eleven years ago. From the day of his arrival he has been successful as a practicing physician and surgeon and his clientele of patients includes some of the peninsula’s most prominent families. Dr. Morrison has unselfishly devoted his time to civic service. During his years of residence here he has served many terms on the Board of Health and for the splendid sanitary conditions of San Mateo, few men share more in … Read more

Biographical Sketch of William Alexander Moore

The subject of this sketch was born July 19, 1851 on his father’s ranch north east of the village of Pescadero. His father Alexander Moore was one of California’s earliest settlers, coming to California from Jackson County, Missouri, in 1847 and making the trip over the plains with ox teams, arriving at Johnson’s ranch on Bear river, October 2, 1847, where he remained until he removed to Santa Cruz, Nov. 15, 1847. The early life of Moore was spent in farming and stock raising with such success that he has continued to follow this vocation. On April 9, 1883 he … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Archie Leonard Offield

From years of practice in this county Dr. A. L. Offield of Burlingame is one of its oldest physicians. He gave up a large practice in San Francisco to come to Burlingame nine years ago. At that time Burlingame was one of the smallest towns on the peninsula but its growth bears out the predictions that Dr. Offield made for it at that time. Dr. Offield is a member of the Burlingame Board of Health which has given Burlingame one of the best health departments of any municipality on the peninsula. The activity of the health board is apparent in … Read more