San Francisco County Archives - Page 2 of 4

Biography of Behrend Joost of San Francisco

Behrend Joost, born in Amt Lehe, Hanover, Germany, became a prominent business figure in San Francisco, significantly contributing to the city’s economic development. Emigrating to the U.S. at fifteen, he joined his brother in San Francisco in 1857 and initially worked as a salesman. By 1859, he opened a grocery store, later transitioning to a successful hardware business with his brother Fabian in 1887. Joost was instrumental in founding the first home loan and building association in California and the San Francisco & San Mateo Electric Railway system. He married Anna Miller in 1874, and they had five surviving children.

Biography of Grove Lawrence Johnson of Sacramento

Hon. Grove Lawrence Johnson, born March 27, 1841, in Syracuse, New York, was a distinguished lawyer and Republican leader in California. Educated in public schools and admitted to the bar at twenty-one, he moved to California in 1863. Johnson served as a state legislator, state senator, and congressman. Known for his legal acumen, he played a key role in major litigations and legislative reforms. He was also active in various fraternal organizations. Johnson married Annie Williamson de Montfredy in 1861, and they had five children. His career was marked by dedication to both his profession and public service.

Biography of Earnest Martin Hoen

Ernest Martin Hoen, an accomplished architect, was born in Santa Rosa, California, in 1872. He is the son of Berthold (“Barney”) Hoen, a German immigrant and city founder of Santa Rosa, and Marie Andersen Gade Hoen, a Danish immigrant from a distinguished family. Ernest graduated from Washington University’s Manual Training School in St. Louis in 1889 and established a successful architectural career in San Francisco and Sacramento. In 1899, he married Edna Lewis of Sacramento, and they have a son, Martin Lewis Hoen. Ernest is active in the Masons and the Elks, and is a dedicated Republican.

Biography of John M. Higgins of Sacramento

John M. Higgins, born on September 3, 1863, in New Jersey, is the foreman of the bindery department at the state printing office and a member of California’s General Assembly. He was educated in San Francisco, where he completed high school at seventeen. Higgins apprenticed under bookbinder A. Buswell, later buying and running the business until 1889. Moving to Sacramento, he joined the state printing office, becoming foreman in 1903. An active Republican, he has served in the thirty-fifth General Assembly and is involved in the Bookbinders’ Union, Elks, and Eagles.

Biography of Charles J. Heggerty of San Francisco

Charles J. Heggerty, a distinguished lawyer from San Francisco, was born on December 27, 1860, in Smartsville, Yuba County, California. His parents, Morris Heggerty and Mary O’Donnell, were Irish immigrants who settled in Yuba County in the mid-19th century. After being orphaned at 14, Charles pursued education at St. Mary’s College in San Francisco, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1880. He studied law with prominent attorneys and was admitted to the California bar in 1889. Heggerty gained prominence through significant cases, including those involving hydraulic mining rights and the extensive Fair estate litigation. He married Annie M. Cashin in 1890.

Biography of Captain Zephaniah J. Hatch of San Francisco

Captain Zephaniah J. Hatch, a notable figure in steamboat building and operation in the Pacific states, was born on June 15, 1846, in Monticello, New York. Son of Cornelius and Jane (Trobridge) Hatch, he initially worked as a teacher and banker before moving west. In Oregon, he joined the steamboat industry, eventually forming the U. B. Scott Steamboat Company. Despite facing significant financial setbacks, Hatch persisted and achieved success in steamboat operations and wheat handling. He married Adeline Tremain in 1881, and they had five children. Captain Hatch retired in 1898, focusing on managing his business from his offices.

Biography of William J. Hassett

Hon. William J. Hassett, born on November 7, 1839, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was the mayor of Sacramento known for his dedication to public service and reform. Starting as a printer at fourteen, he moved to California in 1863 and worked in San Francisco before relocating to Sacramento in 1885. There, he managed A. J. Johnston’s printing business for eighteen years. Elected mayor in 1903, Hassett’s administration was marked by business-like methods and progressive reforms. A Democrat, he was deeply involved in local and state politics. He married in 1866 and returned to California with his wife, contributing significantly to Sacramento’s development.

Biography of William Benjamin Hamilton

William Benjamin Hamilton, born June 1, 1857, in Centerville, Alameda County, California, had a distinguished career in public service. Son of Noble and Lydia D. Hamilton, he began his career in the internal revenue and customs service at seventeen. He held various significant positions, including chief deputy county recorder of Alameda County and deputy naval officer at the port of San Francisco. In 1897, he became the cashier of the San Francisco custom house and was later appointed special deputy collector of the port in 1901. Hamilton married Ceil Doyl in 1889, and they had a son, Allan Wooster Hamilton.

Biography of Hon. E. J. Gregory of Sacramento

Hon. Eugene J. Gregory, born in San Francisco in 1854, was a prominent figure in Sacramento and New York City. He led the Gregory Brothers Company, enhancing California’s produce industry. Elected as Sacramento’s mayor in 1887, Gregory was known for his reformative policies and efficient governance. He was deeply involved in various civic and fraternal organizations, including the Masons and Odd Fellows. Married to Emma Crump in 1874, they had one son, Julius, who joined him in the patent business. Gregory’s contributions to both business and public service left a lasting impact on California’s community and economy.

Biography of Henry F. Fortmann of San Francisco

Henry F. Fortmann, born in San Francisco in 1856, was a prominent figure in the salmon canning industry as the president of the Alaska Packers’ Association. Under his leadership, the company, capitalized at five million dollars, became the largest salmon canning enterprise globally, employing eight thousand men and operating a hundred sea-going vessels. Fortmann, who had a thorough education in Germany, initially joined his father’s brewing business before co-founding the Arctic Packing Company in 1884. He also held directorial roles in financial institutions and owned ships in the coasting trade. Fortmann married Julia Schindler, and they had two daughters.