San Francisco California

Biography of Charles Wood Davis

A significantly varied, distinguished and interesting career was that of the late Charles Wood Davis, and fortunate it was for the State of Kansas that he early established his residence within its borders, for his splendid initiative and executive powers came most effectively into play in the furtherance of the eivic, industrial and general material development and progress of this commonwealth. He was one of the famous argonauts of the year 1849 in California, was long and prominently identified with railway interests, was a recognized authority in all matters pertaining to the basic industry of agriculture, was a pioneer in … Read more

Biography of Perry D. Cover

Perry D. Cover is one of Riverside’s early settlers, and has been associated with her various industries for the past fifteen years. He is a native of Richland County, Ohio, dating his birth in 1843. His parents were Daniel Cover, a native of Frederick County, Maryland, and Lydia Cover, nee Stevenson. Mr. Cover was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father’s farm until 1862. He then volunteered in the service of his country and enlisted as a private soldier in Company D, Eighty-seventh Ohio Volunteers. His regiment was sent East, and after some time in camp at Baltimore, was placed … 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

Biography of John Rose

John Rose, who for several years had been numbered among the leading oil producers in Montgomery County fields, and resided at Independence, is a thoroughly practical as well as successful man, as his career indicates. When only thirteen he started out for himself, and had since hewed his way through difficulties, through poverty, to a successful position in the world. He was born February 26, 1861, near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and is of Scotch parentage. His father, James Rose, was born in Scotland in 1822, was reared and learned the trade of stone mason in his native country, and about … Read more

Wood, Lord, Adelyn – Obituary

Funeral services for Adelyn W. Lord, 69, 2250 4th Street will be conducted a 11 a. m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Beatty Chapel. The Rev. Merle W. Burres will officiate with internment in Hillcrest Cemetery, at La Grande, Oregon. Mrs. Lord was born July 8, 1896, at Columbus, Nebraska, the daughter of George S. (Sedgewick) and Nancy Ellen (Bunney) Wood, and attended school in Columbus, Missouri. She received her nurses training in California, and practiced nursing in Letterman General Hospital, at the Presidio, in San Francisco, and the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Los Angeles. She had been a resident … Read more

Biographical Sketch of L. C. Brandt

One of the great army of commuters who believes that there is no place like San Mateo for the home of the San Francisco business man, is L. C. Brandt, manager of the San Francisco branch of the Buffalo Brewing Company of Sacramento. Mr. Brandt moved down the peninsula six years ago, and each succeeding year has strengthened the convictions which caused him to locate in San Mateo. The city has profited handsomely by having Mr. Brandt as a citizen. When he bought property in San Mateo Heights he started to safeguard the interests of that district. He became one … Read more

Biography of Timothy Guy Phelps

Foremost among San Mateo County’s greatest men and best loved pioneer, stands the name of Timothy Guy Phelps, statesman and farmer. Big hearted, strong and lovable, his accomplishments are written large upon the scroll of the county’s greatest achievements, as well as those of the state. Many times a State Assemblyman and Senator, once United States Congressman during Lincoln’s administration, twice Collector of the Port of San Francisco, Regent of the University of California for 21 years and Chairman of the Lick Observatory during that time -these were some of the posts of trust held by Timothy Guy Phelps. Timothy … Read more

Anderson, Evelyn Ruth Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Evelyn Ruth Anderson, 80, of Baker City, who pioneered the 4-H horse program, died Nov. 10, 2004, at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Boise. Her memorial service was Friday at the Cornerstone Baptist Church in North Powder. She was born on Sept. 15, 1924, at San Francisco. She enjoyed many careers in her lifetime, some of which included working as a computer operator, phone system administrator, elementary school secretary and nurses assistant. But the true love of her life was horses. She successfully lobbied to have horses accepted as a legitimate 4-H project in the 1950s. She had … Read more

Biography of James Wilson

A man who has fought his country’s battles in two wars, manifesting in it all a courage never excelled and rarely equaled, constant in all kinds of frontier and seafaring life for many years, a pioneer to this valley and one of the most intrepid and daring men in Wallowa County, facing the bloodthirsty savages in the time of their war here, the subject of this sketch is eminently fitted to appear in honorable mention in any history of the county or of the northwest, and it is with pleasure that we grant him space in our volume. James Wilson … Read more

Biography of Leroy S. Dyar

Among the pioneers of Ontario and representative men of that beautiful colony, mention should be made of Leroy S. Dyar, who was born in Franklin County, Maine, in 1833. His father was Colonel Joseph Dyar, a well-known agriculturist of that county. His mother was Mary S. Gay. Both of his parents were natives of that State. Mr. Dyar was reared and schooled in his native place, closing his studies in the high school and academy. He was reared as a farmer. In 1858 he decided to try his fortune on the Pacific coast, and came by steamer to San Francisco. … Read more

Biography of Capt. John Harford

CAPT. JOHN HARFORD. – This distinguished captain, whose portrait is given here, is now a resident and one of the principal owners of the townsite of Pataha City, Washington, and was born in Westchester county, New York, February 14, 1828. In 1842 he removed to Kendal county, Illinois, and in 1850 journeyed westward to the city of San Francisco. In 1852 he located in Placer county, California, on a ranch where now stands the little city of Lincoln. He removed thence to Marysville, where he engaged in the butcher business until 1855. There he purchased a band of sheep at … Read more

Wolfe, J. T. – Obituary

Former Union Resident Dies In California The San Anselmo (California) Herald gives the following account of the death of J. T. Wolfe, who, with his wife and three sons, made their home in South Union some years ago. John Taylor Wolfe, 83, a pioneer and educator of Wyoming, who had been a resident of San Anselmo for 12 years, died Saturday morning in a San Francisco hospital following an illness of two weeks. He had been in failing health since the death of his wife, Mrs. Bessie Wolfe, two years ago. Born in Indiana, Mr. Wolfe, with his parents had … Read more

Chandler, Herberta G. – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Herberta G. Chandler, 91, of Baker City, died Oct. 25, 2004, at her home in Baker City. Her graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Jack Bynum of the United Methodist Church will officiate. Herberta was born on Jan. 27, 1913, at Baker City to Herbert and Linda Bodmer Chandler. She attended Baker City schools. After completing her college education, she worked as a clinical social worker with a master of social work degree. She pursued her career in the San Francisco Bay area helping many families. Upon retirement she moved … Read more

Biography of David Morey

David Morey, one of the pioneers of Redlands, was born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, in 1824. His father, Jacob Morey, moved to Delaware County, Ohio, at an early day, and took a farm out of the woods. He died there at the age of ninety years. His mother, Barbara (Jacobs) Morey, is still living, at the advanced age of ninety-two years. The subject of this sketch left home at the age of fourteen to learn the cabinet trade. He worked at this trade in Marysville, and in 1842 went to Indianapolis, where he remained until 1845. He then went to … Read more

Biography of Calvin R. White

Calvin R. White, one of the best known pioneers of Idaho, now residing in Boise, was born near Boston, Massachusetts, July 27, 1836, his parents being Samuel B. and Sarah (Richardson) White, natives of the Bay state. The father was for many years connected with the Boston & Lowell Railway, and died in the city of Boston when about seventy-six years of age. He was a son of Samuel White, also a native of Massachusetts, in which state his death occurred when he had passed the psalmist’s span of life of three-score years and ten. The mother of our subject … Read more

Laird, William Edward “Bill” – Obituary

William Edward “Bill” Laird, 66, of Baker City, died April 16, 2005, at his home after a long bout with brain cancer. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Bill was born on Nov. 15, 1938, at Ketchikan, Alaska, to Ruth and Edward Laird, who was an engineer with the Lighthouse Service, now the Coast Guard. Bill’s mother died when he was a baby and he was mostly raised by his stepmother, Anna Laura Laird. The family moved to California when Bill was 5, followed by several other moves around the country. … Read more

Biography of John M. Silcott

Almost forty years have passed since John M. Silcott took up his residence in Idaho, and he is therefore one of the oldest and most widely known pioneers of the state. He came in the spring of 1860 to establish the government Indian agency at Lapwai, and has since been identified with the growth and development of this section. He is a Virginian, his birth having occurred in Loudoun County, of the Old Dominion, January 14, 1824. His French and Scotch ancestors were early settlers there, and during the Revolution and the war of 18 12 representatives of the family … Read more

Biographical Sketch of A. J. Howe, M. D.,

A. J. Howe M. D., of Santa Ana, was born in Vermont in January, 1850. His father, Philip Howe, M. D., is still living in this city. He moved to Illinois when the subject of this sketch was only four years old, locating in Macoupin County, where he remained until 1863. He then made a three months’ trip across the plains to this State. Dr. Howe graduated at the State Normal School in San Francisco in 1870, and subsequently taught school in several different counties in this State, and at the same time prosecuted medical studies. In 1873 he graduated … Read more

Biography of Terence Masterson

Terence Masterson, street commissioner, capitalist, and proprietor of the Wisnom Hotel, has been a resident of San Mateo for twenty-five years. He came here a total stranger; but his fair dealings, enterprise and confidence in San Mateo’s future, have made him one of the leading citizens of the community. As city trustee and street commissioner Mr. Masterson has been devoting the greater part of his time to the welfare of San Mateo. His keen business ability is reflected throughout the work of the city trustees. The streets of San Mateo were never cleaner and in a better state of repair … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ambrose McSweeney

San Mateo County’s officialdom has not a more popular and efficient member than Ambrose McSweeney of South San Francisco who for the past five years has been Tax Collector. Mr. McSweeney is serving his second term of office, being returned to that position at the last county election by a majority that stamped his popularity. The standard of efficiency in the Tax Collector’s office was never higher than during Mr. McSweeney’s regime. He has supplemented his own competency and ability by a staff of high-class deputies. They have put this important function of the county’s government into such a splendid … Read more