Biography of Racine McCoy McRoskey

Racine McCoy McRoskey was a native of Oregon, raised and educated in Portland where she passed with credit through the grammar and high schools of that city. In her early womanhood she moved to San Francisco where she lived until after the earthquake of 1906. In 1907 the McRoskeys came to San Mateo where they were living at their home on San Mateo Drive at the time of Mrs. McRoskey’s death in April, 1915. Mrs. McRoskey took an active part in club and social affairs, being a member of the Thursday Club and the Woman’s Club of San Mateo and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Buchmann

Edward Buchmann is one of San Mateo’s oldest merchants, having been in business in that city for more than a score of years. He was founder of Buchmann’s Hotel and the San Mateo Bakery, both of which have become old landmarks and have kept up with the pace of the times. For many years Mr. Buchmann was the proprietor of a wholesale liquor store. In 1914 he bought out the San Mateo grocery and combined it with his liquor business. He now operates them both under the name of “E. Buchmann & Co., Wines and Groceries.” Mr. Buchmann has been … 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 H. Brown

No person is more responsible for San Mateo County’s highway system than William H. Brown, Supervisor from the Second Township. The scenic boulevards which lure thousands of autoists into the county every day is a realization of Brown’s dream of years ago. The second township shows Brown’s good roads mania. Practically all its paved roads and boulevards have been built during his term of office. At a cost of $10,000 he has just completed the resurfacing of the road from Beresford to Redwood City. As a member of the Board of Supervisors and chairman for one term, Brown has worked … Read more

Biography of George E. Jones

The same high standards which mark all departments of Burlingame’s city government are found in the police department which has been built up to its present state of efficiency and usefulness by George E. Jones who still retains the position he has held for many years as Chief of Police. In this capacity Mr. Jones has done much for Burlingame. Being a man of lofty ideals he has kept the city free from anything that would cast a single reflection on its moral status. He has had traffic rules enacted and directed the passage of vehicles through Burlingame in such … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Edward Rucker Dixon

One of the most popular young men in the banking circles of San Mateo County is Edward Rucker Dixon, who was born at Merced, California, March 21, 1883. After leaving high school, he secured a position with the bank of Newman, California, where he remained for twelve years, serving faithfully in every branch of the banking business. It is partly due to his efforts that this bank has been developed to one of the most influential banks of the great San Joaquin valley. Mr. Dixon came to the National Bank of San Mateo, January 10, 1916, to fill the position … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph B. Gordon

Few men owe their success more to their own efforts than Joseph B. Gordon, junior member of the law firm of Kirkbride & Gordon of San Mateo. His path was not strewn with roses. It was one over which only sheer pluck, courage and perseverance can take the traveler. Mr. Gordon had had only a high school education when he aspired to be a lawyer. After preliminary study he became a law clerk with Mr. Charles N. Kirkbride in 1904. While so engaged Mr. Gordon took a four year law course at the San Francisco Law School. Before its completion … Read more

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 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

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

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

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

Biography of Sadie Lindblom

Mrs. Sadie Lindblom has achieved a notable success in her chosen field of endeavor – the motion picture world, not only as a producer but as an actress of exceptional ability. Although very wealthy in her own name, and with the millions of her husband Erik behind her to draw upon, Mrs. Lindblom has chosen to work and work hard for the motion picture business is, as everybody knows, one of the most exacting in the world. The hours are long and the work is strenuous. This is especialy true in the case of Mrs. Lindblom, who not only plays … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank P. Simmen

Mayor Frank P. Simmen stands out as one of the most progressive and constructive executives San Mateo has ever had. Being a sound business man of the highest type, Mr. Simmen set out not to play to a political gallery but to give San Mateo a clean-cut businesslike administration. The condition of the city finances, the completion of the new city hall, the extensive street improvements, the proposed municipal baths and a dozen other matters bear out the success of Mayor Simmen’s policies. Mayor Simmen is a man of many responsibilities; and San Mateo is to be congratulated on securing … 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 W. L. Glascock

Mr. Glascock is principal of the San Mateo Union School. This short statement is perhaps the most interesting faut in Mrs. Glascock’s life; and is the keynote to his chosen vocation, education. He was born in Indiana, and has been a resident of California for a period of seventeen years, four of which have been spent in San Mateo with the school department of that city. Mr. Glascock graduated from the University of Indiana, in Bloomington, with the degree of A. B., having worked his way through that college. His next move was to come out to California and take … Read more

Biography of Eugene Charlie Cottier

Eugene Charlie Cottier who owns a plumbing and tinning establishment at No. 37 B Street, San Mateo, is a man who did not learn his trade “from the ground up” but “from the box up.” He was just a youngster in short pants when he first took up the solder irons, and in order to work on the high bench he had to stand on a soap box. This old shop in Minneapolis where he learned his primary lessons in the trade, still stands; and Mr. Cottier is still known to the old hands there as the man who learned … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. P. Kinnison and H. A. Kinnison

J.P. and H.A. KINNISON. – These two brothers, who have united their fortunes through life were born on the Mississippi river about one hundred miles below St. Louis in the years 1838 and 1840, respectively. They received a common-school education, and, developing a riving disposition, crossed the plains in 1853. San Mateo, California, was their first home, and stock-raising their business until 1862, when they came to the Powder river valley, and were the first to break the ground of that beautiful region. They have been engaged in agriculture and stock-raising every since, and consider themselves fairly successful. In 1876 … Read more

Biography of Charles E. Hart

“Let’s go to Hart’s Theatre tonight.” The writer took out his pencil and paper and started to figure out, just how many times San Mateans said these magic words each evening after supper as they were planning the evening’s amusement. How many times do they say this each month and how many hundreds of thousand times a year? Mr. Hart is known as the owner and manager of Hart’s Theatre located in the heart of town on B Street, and has earned the reputation of being a sterling business man who has made most of his money right here in … 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