San Mateo County CA

Biographical Sketch of Ellis C. Johnson

Mr. Ellis C. Johnson is one of Daly City’s most influential citizens as well as having the distinction of being that city’s first Postmaster, and City Recorder ever since that municipality was incorporated. He is also serving as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Johnson was born in Philadelphia, July 1860. He has been a resident of California since 1881, while San Mateo County has claimed him only since 1907. Before coming to Daly City, Mr. Johnson was located in Stockton, being the superintendent for the Haggin and Tevis Ranch.

Biographical Sketch of Horace W. Amphlett

Brilliant futures are In store for some of San Mateo county’s young men. Among these is H. W. Amphlett, formerly assistant postmaster of San Mateo and amateur playwright. Famed not only for his literary talents but admired for his sterling character, rare personality and keen ability, Horace Amphlett easily takes a place among the best liked young men on the peninsula. After acquiring his early education in the San Francisco schools, Mr. Amphlett continued his studies in San Mateo graduating from the local high school in 1908. He immediately went Into the postoffice and in only two years he worked … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Dickie

One of San Mateo County’s most distinguished citizens is George W. Dickie of San Mateo, marine architect and naval designer who drew the plans for the famous old battleship Oregon and a score of other vessels of the United States Navy. Mr. Dickie is known the world over as a designer of fighting craft. Perhaps his most famous work was the Oregon, “the bulldog of the American navy,” which at the time it was commissioned, was the most notable warship afloat. Other vessels that were designed by Mr. Dickie are the battleships Wisconsin and Ohio, the armored cruisers Colorado, South … Read more

Biography of Robert Sheldon Thornton

The life history of Mr. Robert Sheldon Thornton reads more like a narration based on fiction, than the actual events of a most useful and instructive career of one of San Mateo county’s leading citizens. Mr. Thornton was one of the earliest settlers in the county and took an active and unselfish part in the upbuilding of the community, assuming the role of democratic leader for a considerable period. When 33 years old he reached San Francisco, in the year 1852. He did not take the long route around the Horn but came by way of Panama. He crossed the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John F. Davis

John F. Davis, justice of the Peace in the first township and City Attorney of Burlingame, is one of the county’s promising young lawyers. He has practiced for the past eleven years, the last seven of which have been in the courts of this county. As City Attorney of Burlingame Mr. Davis has played an important part in the growth of that city. He has done all the legal work in connection with hundreds of thousands of dollars that Burlingame has spent on sewers, sidewalks and street improvements, the municipal water system and the extension of the city’s boundaries. During … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ezra Durand

Ezra Durand was born in Seneca Falls, New York, on March 8, 1833, and is the youngest of a family of thirteen sons and daughters of David and Betsey (Crowell), Durand. His father was a farmer and his early boyhood was passed on a farm. His opportunities for gaining an education were limited to a few winters at the district school. At an early age he left home and went to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he obtained employment in a musical instrument factory. This was followed by similar work in a factory at Norwich, Connecticut. He seemed to have a natural … Read more

Biography of John William Whalley

Whalley, John William, was born on the 28th of April, 1833. His ancestors on his father’s side had, for a long period, been yoemen residing at Dent in the West Reding of Yorkshire, England, who had migrated there from Norfolk, and belonged to the same family of which Edmund Whalley of the Cromwellian Army was a member. Many of the family held respectable positions, both in the church, the army and at the bar, the elder sons usually owning and managing the small estate of the family, the younger members making their living in some of the learned professions. On … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. William C. McLean

It is safe to say that it would be hard to find any city or county official in San Mateo County whose duties keep him busier than do those of Dr. William C. McLean, Health Officer and Dairy Veterinarian for the city of San Mateo. Dr. McLean was born in Palo Alto and came to San Mateo when a boy. Since then, up to the present time he has resided in the county almost continuously. He began his education in his chosen profession, in the Veterinarian Department of the University of California which was located at Post and Fillmore Streets, … 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 Daniel P. Flynn

Daniel P. Flynn was born and raised in San Mateo County, and has spent his busy and useful life in activities which have had the county of his birth for a setting. His recent appointment, on February 7, 1916 to fill the unexpired term of C. D. Hayward (deceased), the former County Assessor, was a signal mark of recognition of the ability which has characterized all his business career. Mr. Flynn was born in Redwood City on November 23, 1875. He attended the public schools of this city, and later embarked in a business career, in which he has successfully … 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 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 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

Biography of Clarence S. Crary

Mr. Clarence S. Crary is not only a banker, but has in the comparatively few years of his business career, earned the title of “Builder of Banks.” Mr. Crary is the Cashier of the Bank of Burlingame, and resides in Burlingame, where he is prominently identified with the business and social life of that city, being the Treasurer of the Burlingame Commercial Club and the Treasurer of the Merchants’ Association of San Mateo and Burlingame. He is also a member of the San Mateo lodge of Elks, and a member of the Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Stanford University, where … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. Arthur J. Belton

Dr. Arthur J. Belton, dentist of Burlingame, stands prominently among the large class of young professional men who have selected San Mateo County for their field of practice. When Dr. Belton took his degree at the University of California in 1910 he was confronted with the most important question of his career, where to locate and establish his practice. A painstaking and thorough investigation, which is characteristic of Dr. Belton, was made before he paid Burlingame the high compliment of deciding that it was the field of greatest opportunity for a young man starting out in a profession. Dr. Belton … 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

Biographical Sketch of Henry T. Daley

Mr. Henry T. Daley, a dentist of Burlingame, is one of the leading young professional men of the peninsula. Before coming to Burlingame to establish his practice, Dr. Daley had offices in San Francisco. He has practiced in Burlingame since 1909. Dr. Daley is a native son. He was born at Lockeford in 1885. He received his early education in California. Dr. Daley was married on June 25, 1911. He is associated with several college and business organizations and is a member of the San Mateo Lodge of Elks and the Royal Arcanum.

Biography of Laurits Walse Therkelsen

Laurits Walse Therkelsen was born in Denmark, twelve miles east of Copenhagen, in 1842. He had limited educational advantages and early in life became apprenticed to the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked in his native town until he arrived at the age of eighteen years when he came to America, and, in 1861, landed in San Francisco. Here for the next ten years he followed his trade with the exception of one year at San Jose, when he engaged in contracting. In 1871, he came to Portland and for ten years following was largely engaged in contracting and building … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Eric Wold

Eric Wold who has been city engineer of Burlingame for the past four years and at present is also acting in the same capacity for the infant municipality of San Bruno, has been engaged in engineering work the greater part of his life. His college training and wide experience has splendidly fitted him for the important work that he is now doing; while Burlingame’s streets, the water system and other municipal improvements well bespeak Mr. Wold’s ability. Anxious to have their municipality profit from the same competent engineering that Burlingame did, the San Bruno citizens retained Mr. Wold. He is … Read more

Shaw, M. C. – Obituary

Killed By a Cable Car Death of a Well-known Railroad Locating Engineer Mr. G.W. Hunt, who has been in the city for several days, left for his home in Walla Walla last evening. Mr. M.C. Shaw, who was killed by a Geary street cable car in San Franscisco a few days since, was in the employ of Mr. Hunt for four years as locating engineer, and located all the lines of the Hunt system of railroads, except about 40 miles. He was one of the best locating engineers in the country, and a very bright, genial fellows, highly esteemed by … Read more