History of San Mateo County California Collections – Page 3 of 8

Biographical Sketch of Rufus H. Hatch

When the discovery of gold made in California the Mecca of the hopes of so many thousand people flocking from all parts of the world, to share in the treasures proclaimed, there were some who saw at once what had escaped the eyes of those looking below the surface of the land, the rich valleys and verdant hills and sunlight as bright as the glitter of gold. With almost every day of his life, spent in tilling the soil, it was little wonder that Rufus H. Hatch felt his eyes gladdened by the sight of such productive farming land, and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Roy W. Cloud

As head of the San Mateo County school system, Roy W. Cloud, Superintendent of schools, is known in almost every household in the county, and he is known to be fully competent and capable to discharge the responsibility that falls upon one in charge of the county’s future citizens. This is Mr. Cloud’s ninth year of office, having been elected for a third term in 1914. During his incumbency the San Mateo County schools have expanded to one of the finest systems in the state with a teaching corps and a set of buildings that should be a pride to … 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 Richard Frederick Chilcott

Among San Mateo County’s foremost citizens is R. F. Chilcott of Redwood City, secretary of the San Mateo County Abstract Company, who has been intensely active for the past twelve years in the affairs of the county and particularly those of Redwood City. After a thorough training in abstracting and record searching in other counties of the State of California and the State of Washington, Mr. Chilcott came to Redwood City in 1904 to engage in this line of work. Days spent, year in and year out, examining the San Mateo county records has made him an authority on this … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard Charles Stickle

The career of Mr. Richard Charles Stickle, particularly since he settled in San Mateo county, is well worth reading and points a moral. Nine years ago he came to San Bruno practically without a penny in his pocket, and went into business for himself carpentering and contracting. For quite a time he labored under considerable difficulty, as he was without capital. Being an exceptionally good carpenter and thoroughly conscientious, business came his way-and it was not so very long before he had plenty of money to swing his contracting operations. Perhaps Mr. Stickle’s success can better be portrayed by a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. W. A. Brewer

No man has been more closely identified with the growth and best interests of San Mateo County than Rev. W. A. Brewer, Mayor of Hillsborough and, until its discontinuance a few months ago, rector of St. Matthew’s Military School. Mr. Brewer is known throughout the State for his tireless energy in putting the county in the foreground. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the San Mateo County Development Association. As its executive he contributed perhaps more than any one individual in putting this organization on its firm basis and in bringing about the achievements and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. Bradford Leavitt

Rev. Leavitt is a minister of the Gospel; he is indeed more than this, for he is the pioneer in a new vocation in which his qualifications as a minister fit him for the perfect administration of his self imposed combined duties of clergyman and funeral director. When Rev. Leavitt entered this new field comparatively recently, opinion was divided as to the wisdom of his decision. Today the many hundreds whom he has served in this double and truly Christian role will testify that he was most certainly right in his decision; as he has proved that he could with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Porter Emerson Lamb

Far more extensive than his enviable record as a magistrate, which is known in every corner of San Mateo County is Porter Emerson Lamb’s fame as an athlete. Although it was back in 1903 that Porter Lamb was at Stanford, his remarkable feats on the cinder path are still vivid in the memories of all followers of sports. For ten years Lamb’s record of 22 2-5 for the 220-yard dash at Stanford stood unassailed. In those days he was also holder of the world’s record for the fifty-yard dash. in the sprints and as a member of the relay teams … 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

Biographical Sketch of P. P. Chamberlain

Mr. P. P. Chamberlain came to Redwood City in 1868. He accepted the first position that offered and became grocery clerk for Isaac M. Schlouecker. Soon after this he went into the merchandise business with W. J. Wilcox, and after the withdrawal of his partner, carried the business on alone, under the name of P. P. Chamberlain which firm is still in existence. During early days of the grocery business, Mr. Chamberlain was elected county treasurer which office he has faithfully administered for more than thirty years. Mr. Chamberlain is interested in the Redwood City Building and Loan Association and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. J. Cochran

P J. Cochran, a modest, unassuming San Mateo blacksmith, has the distinction of having shod more record breaking horses than any man living. In the days when racing flourished, horses were brought from far and wide to Cochran’s shop as the owner of every fast string of ponies had heard of Cochran as the originator of the famous Palo Alto shoe. Among Cochran’s prized possessions is a cabinet of horses’ shoes. They are shoes that were worn by kings and queens of the turf. Among them are names familiar to every follower of the turf. There are such record holders … Read more

Biographical Sketch of P. G. Schneider

P. G. Schneider, vice president and general manager of the Pacific Car & Equipment Co., which has one of the largest plants of the South San Francisco Industrial district, is a native of California, having been born in San Francisco forty-five years ago. He was educated in the San Francisco schools and started the business career which launched him into his present position of prominence in South San Francisco. As general manager of the Pacific Car & Equipment Company, Mr. Schneider has built up one of the largest and best equipped industrial plants in the county. The big orders and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. William Douglas

Of the few surviving women who lived through the infancy of San Mateo County, Mrs. William Douglas of San Mateo is one of the best known. Mrs. Douglas has lived in the county for fifty years in which time she has seen a few scattered settlements develop to the present peninsula cities. Mrs. Douglas’ career has been most interesting. While in her ‘teens she came around the Horn in a sailing vessel which took eight months to make the trip. She arrived in San Francisco in 1850 and a year later she was married. She then spent a few years … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Henry C. Finkler

Prominent in the club life of the county and the State is Mrs. Henry C. Finkler, president of the Redwood City Woman’s Club. Although one of the most active club-women of the county, Mrs. Finkler has devoted her energies to many other good causes which has placed her in the front rank of the county’s leading women. Mrs. Finkler has lived in California almost all her life. The last eight years she has spent in Redwood City. Her first work after taking up her new place of residence was to take a leading part in the organization of the Redwood … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. Guadaloupe Valencia

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 … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Mrs. E. F. Brown

Few residents of this county realize that just north of Redwood City is the largest and possibly the most valuable lot of dogs on the Pacific coast. The kennels called the Browndale Kennels and famous in dogdom the world over, are conducted by Mrs. E. F. Brown who has been interested in dogs for many years. Mrs. Brown specializes in collies and the dogs which she owns of this breed are the best in the world. A still greater honor that comes to Mrs. Brown is the fact that the dogs that have defeated all comers in shows in all … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Miss. Mercedes Silvia

Belonging to one of the oldest and most representative families of the county, Miss Mercedes Sylvia has much to remember and to be justly proud of in the part that her forbears took in the settlement and upbuilding of San Mateo County in the early years when there were hardly any settlers, inadequate transportation and no conveniences to speak of. She was born in San Bruno, July 23, 1887, educated in San Mateo county, and has continued to live here ever since. Provided with ample means that would enable her to live anywhere she chose, she has nevertheless elected to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Michael Sheehan

Few police officers in California can boast of the record of Michael Sheehan, sheriff of San Mateo county. A list of the important captures made by Sheriff Sheehan in the sixteen years he has been a peace officer, would include some of the most desperate men who are in the State Prisons today serving for daring crimes not only committed in this county but in every county of the state. Sheriff Sheehan was constable of the Second Township for twelve years and refused to again become a candidate although urged by the residents to enter the race for Sheriff. In … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Michael F. Healy

Michael F. Healy is a San Mateo County pioneer who has proved his confidence in the county and particularly in South San Francisco by the investment of his fortune in that city. Healy has resided in San Mateo county for 24 years, most of them being spent in South San Francisco where he is now the owner of a large grocery business and many other interests. Since coming to South San Francisco Mr. Healy has engaged in many lines of business. ‘He was best known as a lumber man, his yards supplying lumber and building material to South San Francisco … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Maurice F. Boland

Maurice F. Boland, proprietor of Boland’s Cigar Store and Billiard Room in San Mateo, and for eleven years Chief of Police of San Mateo is well known throughout the county. As police chief, Boland had an enviable record. In addition to preserving order in the community, Chief Boland figured in the capture of many famous criminals. So satisfied were the citizens of San Mateo with his work, that he was re-elected several times and was in office at the time his business interests forced him to retire from public life. Of powerful physique Boland was a splendid athlete when a … Read more