USA > California > San Francisco County > San Francisco > The builders of a great city : San Francisco's representative men, the city, its history and commerce : pregnant facts regarding the growth of the leading branches of trade, industries and products of the state and coast > Part 28
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Vice-President; J. A. Morrow, Sec- retary; John S. Reese, Manager, and W. H. Morrow, Manager of their Portland, Or., branch.
The business had from time to time extended until the whole Pacific Coast was brought within the range of their field of operations, and in 1880 their trade in the Northwest liad grown to such an extent that they found it necessary to open a branch house in Portland, Or., and Mr. W. H. Morrow was sent there to take charge of it.
Since its incorporation the com- pany's stock increased, until now the capital is $60,000. The excellent standing of the company, commer- cially, and its reputation throughout the coast for fair and honorable deal- ing, in addition to the acknowledged fine quality of all the material turned out of its shops, has made it in all re- spects one of the strongest concerns in San Francisco. To placing the business upon the firm financial basis it now enjoys Mr. Morrow con- tributed no small share. His death, which brought about a slight change in the directorship, Mr. John S.
Reese, who is an experienced metal expert, being elected President, has, however, not in the least affected the growing prosperity of the company.
There was no important public movement but found in Mr. Morrow an earnest friend and promoter, and he was always looked upon as one of the city's most enterprising men. Of a genial and unassuming demeanor he was endeared to a host of friends, and the community in which he lived esteemed and honored him as an upright man and a representative eitizen.
In April, 1882, he was married to a very estimable lady of Oakland, Miss Kirkman, the result of which union was two daughters, whose ages at the time of his death were respectively six and four years.
Mr. Morrow's death was brought about by being kicked in the fore- head by his horse, causing a fracture of the skull. Two days before his demise his skull was trepanned but to no avail. He died on the 23d of April, 1889, and was buried from the Plymouth-avenue Congregational Church, Oakland.
S. G. MURPHY,
SAMUEL GREEN MURPHY.
VERY section of the Union has contributed the talent, genius and enterprise of its sons to help build up this great common- wealth on the Pacific; so also has every rank and section of society. Some of our best commercial men and kings of finance have been re- cruited from the ranks of the people, and havo climbed the ladder from the very lowest to the topmost rung. The bankers of San Francisco are not excelled in financial knowledge and business ability by those of any other section of our great country. Amongst those who have been 1:0- ted for their success in banking af- fairs, Samuel Green Murphy is not tho least prominent. He was born in Guilford County, North Carolina, on November 6, 1836, and is there- fore still in the prime of an active life. He father was a farmer, but he was connected with some of the best families of his native State. His grandfather took an active part in the revolution that freed the col- onies, while the noted jurist, Judge Murphy, celebrated in the history of North Carolina, was a great-uncle. While yet a boy he went to work iu a country store at the not munificent salary of $30 a year-board and washing included. Even under these unfavorable circumstances he saved the first year tho sum of $4 25, not a great foundation for a future fortune- But the lad was full of grit and enter. prise, and this circumstance, thoughi trifling in itself, gave geod promise of what his future was to be. He then took employment in an uncle's store and gave such satisfaction that in three years he was sent to New York to act as purchasing agent for the house; and then, acception of sales-
man in one of the larger dry goods houses. He was then engaged by the New York house at a salary of $1800 a year, which was a big salary for those days. He remained in this position for two years, and on being taken sick he returned to North Care- lina. After he recovered his health he went into business with his uncle, who was engaged in the manufacture of tobacco. He traveled throughout the South and West as salesman for the establishment. When Lincoln was elected he was in northern Kan- sas, where he came near losing his life in a snow-storm. Going to Chi- cago he secured a position in a com- mercial house there. When he saw that war was inevitable he resigned, and returned to his nativo State. Excitement ran high, but the con- servative people were in favor of settling the trouble by peaceable means. Mr. Murphy was of the opinion that the matter should be settled by Congress, and not by an appeal to arms. But such counsels were not suited to the then excited temper of the people, and war being declared, he cast his lot with his native State, and served with distinc- tion. After an almost fatal illness he retired from the service. When peace once more happily prevailed through- out the land he returned to New York city, and there for about a year was engaged in the commission business. Going thence to Columbus, Ga., he formed a partnership with G. P. Swift (establishing the firm, Swift, Murphy & Co.), who was conducting a general warehouse and commission cotton fac- tor for the planters. Here he married Mr. Swift's daughter, a handsome and estimable lady, on June 1, 1870. The business prospered, and he and
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Mr. Swift together built a large cotton-mill. In August, 1876, he visited this coast on a pleasure trip, and being delighted with the climate concluded to make his future home in the Golden State. In June, 1877, he settled himself permanently in California. Having some business at the Pacific Bank, he was offered the position of assistant cashier, without asking for it. This he accepted, and in 1878, when the cashier retired, Mr. Murphy took his place. He remain- ed in the bank four years, thence go- ing to New York and engaging in banking there. But he could not for- get California, and returned in 1884 and again took the position of cash- ier of the Pacific Bank where he re- mained until January, 1888. He was then offered and accepted the posi- tion of President of the First Na- tional Bank. He has an interesting
family, including two daughters now at school. He has traveled much, having made several trips to Europe for pleasure and in search of informa- tion. He has seen much of life in his somewhat eventful career, and his judgment of things is generally ac- curate and reliable. The necessities of his position, that of banker, have made him cautious and conservative, characteristics indispensable in a financier. In conversation he is pleusaut and agreeable, but as a rule is strictly business, and wastes little time in discussing pleasantries or other frivolities of the day. He has no political ambitions, being sat- isfied to serve his country in the ranks. He stands high amongst bankers, and his advice in financial matters is generally followed. We predict for him a long career of use- fulness in his chosen profession.
CARLTON NEWMAN.
CARLTON NEWMAN.
AN FRANCISCO - California - can never sufficiently pay the deep debt of gratitude it owes to our pioneer manufacturers. Without manufactures a community is robb 'd of two-thirds of its wealth, and must always remain poor until they are solidly established. A his- tory of the trials and struggles of the pioneer men would be one of ab- sorbing interest. To them is due all and every honor the commonwealth can bestow. Their brains, capital and labor have been used unstint- ingly to lay deep the foundation of its prosperity, and future genera- tions, as well as the people of our own day, will have cause to bless the enterprise and courage of those who have been successful. Among the manufacturers, we know none of more inventive brain and indomit- able energy than the late Carlton Newman. He was a born inventor, and one of the best business men of his day. ' The magnificent industry built up by him from nothing suffi- ciently attests this. He was born in Wheeling, W. Va., June 26, 1829. At an early age he learned the trade of glassblowing. He removed with his mother and brothers to Pittsburg, Penn., in 1848. Here his early man- hood was passed amidst the busy in- dustrial scenes of " the smoky city." He received a good common school education, and supplemented this in after life by diligent study of what pertained to his calling.
In Pittsburg he perfected the knowledge of his trade, though he was all his life a diligent student of mechanical problems. He was an early inventor, many of his inven- tions pertaining to his own line of business. With the result of the sale
of two patents he obtained the means to reach this coast, where, with his family, he arrived in 1863.
In 1865 he saw an opportunity to build up the glass business known as the San Francisco Glass Works, located on Ritch and Townsend streets, Carlton Newman and P. Brennen composing the firm. They were engaged in the manufacture of green and black glassware. In 1867 a new copartnership was formed -- that of Hosstetter, Smith & Dean- and with increased capital they es- tablished the first flint glassworks in this city-an eight-pot furnace for making white glassware. The loca- tion was on Townsend street, be- tween Third and Fourth. Here Mr. Newman was the manager and prac- tical business man.
In 1868 the works, having been but fairly started, were destroyed by fire in the Fall of the year. Mr. Newman was again thrown ou his own re- sources to battle with the world. He had nothing left save indomi- table pluck and perseverance, and a knowledge of his business which was not easily paralleled. So, nothing daunted, in 1870 he started again, organizing the San Francisco Glass Works, of which Newman and Duval were proprietors, Mr. Newman being senior partner. In his strug- gle against adverse fortune he was aided by some of our leading business men, who had admired bis honesty, energy and ability. From this time on he prospered in business, and the San Francisco Glass Works soon became a power in the industrial world.
In 1876 a consolidation was effected with the Pacific Glass Works, and John Taylor, proprietor of the latter,
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retired. Later Mr. Newman became sole proprietor of the San Francisco and Pacific Glass Works, as the new organization was known. Several attempts were made to start opposi- tion factories, but none succeeded; no less than seven factories having started and made failures.
In 1883 he built a furnace espe- cially adapted to what is known as flint glassware. This was the second venture of the kind in San Fran- cisco. He believed that an oppor- tunity existed for its successful es- tablishment. He found, however, after spending $18,000 that it would not be profitable and he closed this department. This did not, however, interfere with his manufacture of black, green and amber glassware, which is to-day a success.
Mr. Newman died March 8, 1889. He was attached to no particular church, but fulfilled all the precepts of a practical religion, and, though making no show, was benevolent and charitable in a private way. He was a man of warm heart and generous impulses, manly and outspoken ; a good brother and a kind father ; an excellent business man ; a typi- cal American, possessing great love for our flag and country. In politics he was a Republican, but was above party narrowness, and favored the right regardless of the side it was found on.
He was a member of the Manu- facturers' Association, and was ( a matter in which he took no small pleasure ) elected unsolicited a Director of the Mechanics' In- stitute a few weeks before his death. When the latter took place the Directors of the Institute adopt- ed, for presentation to his family, a series of eulogistic resolutions in honor of his memory. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a member of San
Francisco Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M .; a member of Occidental Lodge, No. 22, F. and A. M .; a member of Yerba Buena Lodge, No. 1788, Knights of Honor; a member of Yerba Buena Lodge, No. 15, I. O. O. F., and of Fidelity Lodge, American Legion of Honor.
In dying he left a widow and one son, George, and three daughters, all the latter married. His oldest son died in his early infancy. His son George is now identified with the successful business that his father built up and planted ou such broad foundations.
During the closing year of Mr. Newman's life he had great faith in the fruit-growing possibilities of this State, and wishing be- sides to establish a country home where he could occasionally rest from the busy cares of city life, he purchased a large ranch in Santa Clara County which he set out with the choicest of fruit trees. This, outside of the successful establish- ment of the glass industry in this State, was one of the great objects of his ambition, but at last death came and cut him off in the prime of life, while yet planning many notable triumphs in the industrial field. As the founder of the glass manufactur- ing industry of this city and coast amidst difficulties almost unsur- mountable, he proved himself a man of mark, and one entitled to the gratitude of posterity, for this is bound to be one of the greatest of our manufactures. He was univer- sally esteemed for his honesty, worth and sterling business quali- ties, and in h'm San Francisco has lost one of her most enterprising industrial workers, a public bene- factor, and a man who may be class- ed pre-eminently as one of "The Builders of a Great City."
GEORGE W. OSBORN.
GEORGE W. OSBORN.
HE world owes a deep debt of gratitude to the early pioneers of California. They it were who rendered possible the development of the myriad resources of the Golden State and its consequent boundless future riches. The result of the ef- fort of each particular one has not in all cases been great, but when we multiply this one hundred thousand fold some inadequate idea may be had of the mighty work performed by those who left home and kindred to seek their fortunes in an un- known land. We read the reward, and in many instances the only re- ward, vouchsafed to their heroic and self-sacrificing efforts. Many, how- ever, have amassed a liberal fortune as the result of their early toils and labor. Amongst these may be counted George W. Osborn. This gentleman possesses a memory re- tentive of names, facts and faces, and as for the past forty years he has been brought into almost daily contact with the leading men of San Francisco, and besides has a rich fund of pioneer experience to draw from, he is one of the most racy raconteurs who tell of the olden times and relate stories of camp, field and foray. The world has never produced so many good story tellers as are numbered among the Argonauts, who acquired the art in the mining camp, where were gener- ally congregated men with vivid im- aginations, filled with the spirit of emulous wit, rendering them unable to tell their experiences, except in a humorous vein, and making them wander from the straight paths of fact into those of fun and fiction, as if to do so were a part of their nature.
George W. Osborn first saw the light of day among the white moun- tains of the American Switzerland, New Hampshire, in 1831. His father was the keeper of a modest inn, and the owner of a blacksmith shop, with a wagon making place attached. While he was still a small boy, his family moved to Boston, and again to Waltham, and in the latter place he finished his education, but, in his own expressive language, "more time was devoted to sport than to books."
When the news of the new El Do- dora reached the East, the gold fever seized upon young Osborn, and with but a trifle more money than was necessary to furnish his passage, he hardly stopped to say "good-bye" to any one, and was soon on his voy- age.
Reaching Panama, 1850, without friends or means, he found that the steamer he intended to take had not arrived and might not for weeks to come. He had no money to pay for lodging, and so made his bed under the trees outside the walls of the city. Through the efforts of Tom Hyer, a noted sport and pugilist of those days, he got his ticket changed, and as a deck passenger was soon on his way to San Francisco. One of his fellow voyagers, who was very sick with Panama fever, was nursed tenderly by him until he died. He then took possession of the dead man's berth and blankets, and, with fifty dollars, which he had borrowed of a sympathetic traveling compan- ion, the balance of the trip was made in comparative comfort and luxury.
Arriving here, he first found work in Benicia, and for a few days was employed in unloading vessels; after
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this he was engaged in lathing a building, and making good wages he was soon in the possession of suffi- cient funds to pay his way to the mines on Bear River, where he was quite successful for a time, but the report of rich diggings on Scott River induced him and others to try their luck there. The expedition was fitted out at Sacramento, and as the pack train was leaving the town, a man came running at full speed down the street, crying out, " Os- born, Osborn." It was the very party from whom he had borrowed the fifty dollars on the steamer; he said he was "dead-broke," and asked if Mr. Osborn could help him. "Certainly, my dear fellow, come right into the store," was the reply; and there picking up the weight that was used in handling groceries, le laid it on one side of the scale and began pouring the gold dust from a bag into the tray which he continued to heap up until the fellow begged him to des.st, and with tears in the eyes of both, they said " good-bye," and never met again.
The Scott River venture proved a failure, and Mr. Osborn returned to San Francisco penniless. He went to a cheap hotel and frankly told the landlord his condition, who promised to care for him until he could find something to do.
Next morning, in looking over the Alta, he saw a notic . of the death of his father, who, without his knowl- edge, had followed him here, and died in the mines. He went to the place where his father had been min- ing, but finding n , business there, he returned to San Francisco, and took a position as drayman, where, in time, he earned enough money to buy a team and dray of his own, and became the drayman for Canfield, Pierson & Co. He followed the draying bus ness for some time, un- til the position of salesman for the same firm was offered him, and finally closed up the concern when they went out of business. While
employed here, he married Miss Susan E. Garfield, a cousin of the late President Garfield. By her he had one child, G. W. Osborn, Jr. After the close of the war he, in company with his wife and son, vis- ited the East and all the noted battlefields of the rebellion.
Upon his return he, accompanied by Edward C. Sessions, of Oakland, began a real estate business at 619 Merchant street, San Francisco, which proved very successful. They handled much property, and their clients were among the millionaires of the city. One of the first opera- tions of the new firm was in pur- chasing the ground now known as Oakland Point, subdividing it into lots and selling it. They next bought the Wadsworth Tract, and subdivided it, where now stands some of the finest houses in Oak- land. Then they handled the Wat- son Tract; sold with profit to the sellers and buyers. He bought the Minturn estate in Alameda, which he subdivided and sold. Many of the lots have made the buyers rich men. He has taken great interest in and given considerable aid to public improvements, and is, him self, a large r al estate owner. In 1889, on the 26th of March, he had the misfortune to lose his ami ble wife. She, with her son, had been traveling in Europe for eight years, but on arriving at London on Ler return she died.
He was the originator of the idea of widening Dupont str et, went to Sacramento, and worked two whole winter sessions in his effort to get the Assembly bill passed. He was finally successful. The result shows the wisdom of the act. It has enhanced the value of property in that section, and improved the appearance of the city. Regarding this period in his career Fleet F. Strother, as City Auditor, says: "In 1875 or 1876 the Dupont street property holders organized, and I was elected President and Chairman
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of a committee to go to the Legisla- ture, for the purpose of getting a bill passed to widen Dupont street from Market street to Broadway. The active men who did the work were G orge W. Osborn, Jacob Kohn, myself, and another. Mr. Osborn and I made ten or twelve trips to Sacramento, where we had access to the committees of both houses of the Legislature. I addressed them a number of times on the subject, and without the efforts of Mr. Osborn and myself the street would never have b en widened, as Mr. Kohn only attended once. Mr. Osborn was an active worker from the beginning to the end-his services were simply invaluable. We never missed a meeting of the Legislature. He counseled and assisted me, and was never weary of devising ways and mean- for the passage of the bill. We were unable to extend the stree to Broadway, as a number of property owners objected, par- ticularly the church, so we had to be contended to have it widened to Bush street. This we did the last day of the session. The prop- erty holders did nothing. The only money paid by them was $450 to Governor Haight for drawing up the bill and for other legal ex- penses to Senator Pierson. All the work was done in the face of strenu- ous opposition, particularly of Gov. Irwin, Senator McCoppin, who was particularly opposed to it, and Don- ahue. Through me, however, Mc- Coppin was kept in town until the bill was passed. We never received one cent of remuneration. It was through me, Mr. Osborn and Con. O'Connor that the name was changed, first to Fleet street, and then because that happened to be my name, to Grant avenue. Here again his service was invaluable."
His son, G.W. Osborn, Jr., is a San Francisco boy, being born in this
city in 1860, near the present location of the Grand Opera House, and re- ceiving as good an education as the public schools of our city could afford. He next was a graduate of the Pacific Business College. He was then sent to Harvard, and graduated from the Law School of that famous university. He was subsequently admitted to the Bar, and to the right of practicing in all the courts in San Francisco-City, State and Federal. He is a member of Fidelity Lodge, F. & A. M., of this, city, in which organization he has advanced to the thirty-second degree, something unusual in one so young.
G. W. Osborn, Sr., is now inter- ested in mining, and is the owner in whole or in part of several very large mining properties. He is half owner in the celebrated Boyle Mine on Humbug Creek, Siskiyou County, and which, in the opinion of min- ing men, will prove to be one of the richest mining properties in California. He is a member of Unity Lodge, I. O. O. F., in this city. While with Canfield, Pier- son & Co. he joined the Volunteer Fire Department, being a member of Young America Company, which made a notable record in early days. He is still proud of this, and of being an Exempt Fire- man, as are so many of our old and valued citizens. He is of a pleasant, genial disposition, fond of his joke, and never happier than when relating some of the humorous or eventful incidents connected with his life in the mines, and which would furnish abundant material for a dozen good stories of the Bret Hart type. Though forty years a resident of California, he is still hale and hearty. His step is elastic and vigorous, and his eyes bright as of yore, while a still useful life opens up its pleasant vista before him.
LOUIS B. PARROTT.
LOUIS B. PARROTT.
HIS city has boasted a notable succession of shipping houses; some dating as far back almost as 1848, and all worthy of remem- brance for the services which they have rendered to our trade and com- merce. Even the completion of the overland railroad has hardly interfered with their importance, to which there are promises of a magnificent acces- sion in the future, when we have an in- teroceanic canal and swift steam com- munication with all the ports of the world. The founders of these houses have done as great service in build- ing up the trade of San Francisco as have those of later date in putting her manufacturing industries on a secure footing.
The old and well-known banking house of Parrott & Co. was founded away back in the early days, and had a most successful career for twenty- two years. At the expiration of this period, in 1870, its business wasturned over to the London and San Fran- cisco Bank. At that time Mr. John Parrott was the proprietor of the bank. In retiring from banking, he, Tiburico Parrott, William F. Babcock, Joseph W. Alsop and W. B. Duncan conducted a shipping and mercantile business in which they had been interested for several years previous. This was known as the importing and commission house of Alsop & Co., which had been repre- sented in this city almost continu- ously for nearly twenty years.
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