Mr. Casey was born in the county where he has spent both his activities in business and public life.
He was born on January 10, 1861 in San Mateo and grew up on his father’s ranch of 327 acres which was located just six miles out of town. About sixteen years ago this ranch was sold by Michael Casey, his father, to the Spring Valley Water Company at a fraction of the amount that the land would command at the present time.
Mr. John E. Casey has successfully turned his talents to two totally different pursuits, dairying and contracting. For thirteen years he had charge of the Palace Hotel Dairy with headquarters in San Francisco. When it was proposed to move the dairy over to Mill Valley, Mr. Casey who did not believe this was practical, refused to manage the business any longer under those circumstances. As a result, the Palace Hotel Company gave up this plan and have thereafter bought their milk, rather than assume the responsibility of running a dairy without Mr. Casey’s assistance.
Mr. Casey then went into the contracting business, devoting his energies to street paving. He has done a great deal of work on the State Highway as well as such private contracts as the picturesque De Sabla driveway and the roads and drives upon the Parrott Estate.
Besides his private business interests, Mr. Casey found time to serve the city both as town trustee and as school trustee. This was five years ago, and he has since been asked to run again for school trustee, but refused as he desired to devote all his time to his rapidly increasing business interests.
On January 6, 1886, Mr. Casey was married in San Mateo to Miss Anne Josephine Coleman, of the well known Coleman family. Mr. Casey has a son, Harold and a daughter Irene. Mr. Harold Casey is in the motor truck business and contracting business for himself, with headquarters in the Coleman Building, San Mateo.