Contra
Costa County
Biographies
The name of Edward M. Downer has come to be
regarded as synonomous with banking and business interests in Contra Costa
County. He has been guided and controlled by a spirit of enterprise and
progress. He is a man of varied interests, and for many years the influence
of his ability and personality has been a constructive element in the
advancement of the county. He was born in Yuba county, California, April 28,
1869, the son of James Edward Downer. His father was a native of New York
state. Mr. Downer's father crossed the plains during the pioneer days and
engaged in mining until his death, which occurred at the age of
seventy-five. The subject of this review acquired his education in the
public schools of Nevada City, after which he studied telegraphy and filled
various positions of importance and trust with the Southern Pacific Company.
On February 1, 1891, he was made station agent and operator at Pinole. He
served as postmaster at this place for several years. In 1894 he established
the Pinole Times, the first and only paper ever published in that
town. Mr. Downer has been active in banking and real-estate matters in this
county. He is president of the Bank of Pinole, of the Bank of Crockett, and
of the Mechanics Bank of Richmond. Under his wise and able management all
three banks have grown to their present proportions and importance. More
extended mention of the history of these banks will be found in the banking
chapter. It is largely due to Mr. Downer and to his progressive policies
that the basks in Richmond, Pinole, and Crockett have become what they are
today in the commercial and financial life of the three places. Mr. Downer
was united in marriage to Miss Lizzie Bouquet, a native of Contra Costa
County, and a daughter of the late Frederick Bouquet. To this union have
been born two children - Hazel I., born April 15, 1898, attending Mills
College, and Edward M. Jr., born August 13, 1905, now attending school. Mr.
Downer is a Royal Arch Mason, and has filled the various chairs in his
chapter. He is regarded as one of the substantial and reliable upbuilders of
Contra Costa County.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California,"
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 584-585.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, November, 2006.
William Lincoln White, of Alamo, one of the notable factors in the
recent development of southern Contra Costa County, was born at East Aurora,
New York, close to where Ebert Hubbard reared his famous Roycroft community.
He took up the profession of chemistry, and is today the sole owner of one
of the largest drug stores in Michigan. Being an enthusiast in the National
Guard of that State, Colonel White was commissioned a regimental commander,
and during the Spanish-American War held that rank in command of Michigan
volunteers. He is also prominent in life-insurance circles, and was
vice-president of the Federal Life Insurance Company of Chicago and director
in the Niagara Life Insurance Company of Buffalo. It was in the furtherance
of his insurance interests that Colonel White visited California, and while
touring the State passed through the San Ramon Valley. He was so impressed
with its attractions that four years ago he decided to make it his permanent
home. He purchased the Benson ranch at Alamo, consisting of eight hundred
and twelve acres, which is now known and famed as White-Hall Acres, one of
the hospitable homes in Contra Costa, over which Colonel White's charming
wife reigns as chatelaine. The subject of this sketch is vice-president of
the First National Bank at Walnut Creek, president of the Tassajara Land &
Live-stock Company, a corporation that farms seven thousand two hundred
acres in Contra Costa County. He is a director in the Berkeley Thousand Oaks
Realty Company, a commissioner of the famed Mount Diablo Park Club, one of
the notable organizations of its character in the United States. Colonel
White is the owner of the Contra Costa Courier at Walnut Creek and the Danville
Journal at Danville. Despite his multifarious business and professional
interests, he always finds time to devote his energies to the promotion of
Contra Costa County's interests.
Source: "The History of
Contra Costa County, California," Elms Publ. Co., 1918, pp. 600-601.
Transcribed and submitted by
Sally Kaleta, November, 2006.
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