Alameda County
Biographies
LESTER G. BURPEE.
More than a quarter of a century ago Lester G. Burpee entered the First National Bank of Oakland in the capacity of bookkeeper and has remained with the institution to the present time, winning successive promotions until elected vice president in 1906, which position he now holds. His birth occurred in Jacksonville, Oregon, on the 4th of September, 1860, his parents being Joseph S. and Irene J. Burpee. In 1873 the father came to Oakland, California, and embarked in business as a building contractor, being thus successfully engaged until the time of his retirement in 1906. In former years he was an active member of the Municipal League.
Lester G. Burpee attended the graded and high schools of Oakland until 1879 and then became private secretary to E. C. Sessions, who was at that time president of the Oakland Bank of Savings. In 1881 he left that position and went to Solano county, where he purchased a fruit ranch, operating the same until he disposed of it in 1883. In that year he returned to Oakland and here secured a position as clerk in the office of the deputy city marshal, while at the end of a year he became deputy in the office of the city treasurer, discharging the duties of the latter position for six months. Subsequently he was employed as bookkeeper in several mercantile houses until 1886, in which year he entered the First National Bank as bookkeeper, afterward serving as exchange clerk, receiving teller and cashier in that institution. In 1906 he was elected vice President and in that position has since remained an important factor in the control and management of the bank, being also a director. He likewise acts as vice president and director of the First Trust & Savings Bank, which is affiliated with the First National Bank. His rise in financial circles is further attested by the fact that he is now serving as vice president of the Oakland Clearing House, while formerly he was a director of the People's Water Company and the New Oakland Hotel.
In January, 1882, at Oakland, Mr. Burpee was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Isabelle Adams, by whom he has four children, as follows: Earl Lester, who is employed as a salesman by R. A. Leet Company of Oakland; Joseph S., Jr., the cashier of the West Oakland Bank; Donald, who is a public-school student; and Mrs. Roy B. Baker, of Oakland.
Mr. Burpee gives his political allegiance to the republican party and in religious faith is a Methodist. He acts as treasurer of the Young Men's Christian Association and Young Women's Christian Association and is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to Oakland Lodge and Chapter and having attained the fourteenth degree of the Scottish Rite. He likewise belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Woodmen of the World, the Nile Club, the Commercial Club, the Home Club of Oakland, the San Francisco Fly Casting Club and the Oakland Scottish Bowling Club. Mr. Burpee looks at life from a broad standpoint, recognizes its obligations and its opportunities and in the enjoyment of the latter never neglects the former.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 56
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
EDWARD J. TYRRELL.
Edward J. Tyrrell, state senator, is a native of Oakland. He was born May 19, 1880, and in the public schools of his native city acquired an education. On the 1st of April, 1905, he was appointed secretary to Mayor Frank K. Mott and served in that capacity until January 1911, when he resigned to attend the session of the legislature, having been elected state senator in November, 1910.
Mr. Tyrrell is a lawyer by profession, having been admitted to the bar on the 15th of October, 1909, since which time he has engaged in active practice. On the 1st of August, 1913, he was appointed attorney for the California State Commission in Lunacy.
Mr. Tyrrell is a married man and is identified with several fraternal and social organizations. He has membership with the Elks, the Moose, the Knights of Columbus and also in the Commercial Club and the Chamber of Commerce.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 57
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
E. R. ANTHONY.
Among the well known residents of Alameda, California, is E. R. Anthony, who holds the important position of assistant superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railway Company. Mr. Anthony was born in Sacramento, California, in 1860, and has been a resident of Alameda, Alameda county, ever since 1875. After completing his education, he entered as a youth the services of the Southern Pacific Railway Company and gradually rose to importance. For seventeen years Mr. Anthony was a paymaster of the company and for ten years has been assistant superintendent. He is successful largely on account of his rare executive ability, and he also has the knack of handling a great amount of detail work without overlooking the more important phases of work under his direction. Mr. Anthony stands in the most cordial relations with the men who work under him, who esteem him as a man of character and one who is just in all of his dealings. He corrects by censure where such a course is needed but he is just as ready to commend any of his employes for their enterprise and faithfulness, and stands high in the estimation of his superior officers.
Mr. Anthony was married on the 20th of June, 1883, to Miss Helen V. Hitchcock, a native of Illinois and to them have been born three children. Gerald is a resident of Alameda; E. R., Jr., is with the American Radiator Company at San Francisco; and the daughter, Helen, is at home.
Mr. Anthony is socially popular in Alameda, where he has many friends. He is well known in commercial circles and has done much toward popularizing his company among business men of the place add section. Fraternally he is a Mason, exemplifying in his life the beneficent principles of that order, and politically he is a republican, having been active in the interest of his party for many years. For twenty years he has been the president of the Alameda Republican Club. Mr. Anthony is a business man of probity, energy and good judgment, and the high position which he has attained in railroad circles has come to him in response to hard work and close application. He interests himself in all public measures that will make for the improvement of local conditions and is in every way a public-spirited man and valuable citizen.
Past & Present of Alameda County, California – Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914
p. 58
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler