San Diego County
Biographies
MRS. MARY J. BIRDSALL.
When the advocates of female suffrage advance arguments in support of their cause they are too apt to appeal to sentiment, and to overlook one of the most forcible arguments, and that is, the ability with which women direct those branches of business that are popularly supposed to fall within the special province of men. When we find a woman who combines executive ability with attention to detail, who has a talent for direction as well as a faculty for managing—who is, in fact, a thorough woman of business—the most ultra opponent of equal rights to the gentler sex is apt to surrender his opinions. When we find a specimen of this stronger type of womanhood, she not only excites our admiration but commands our respect. We admire the gifts with which nature has endowed her, and respect the manner in which she has applied them. Among that body of able, enterprising, and progressive pioneer residents that gave the impetus to San Diego's growth, there is to be found the name of a woman—Mrs. Mary J. Birdsall. Coming to San Diego when it was but a hamlet, she has lived to see it advance to a bustling, commercial city, and by her business prescience she has been enabled to participate in the general prosperity that has attended its wonderful growth.
Mrs. Birdsall was born near Jefferson City, Missouri, but was raised in Tennessee, and educated at the Young Ladies' Model School in Summerville, Tennessee. She graduated at the age of fifteen, and within a year afterward was married. About twenty years ago she came to California, by way of the Isthmus, and for two years lived in the northern part of the State. Then, in 1870, she came to San Diego. At that time what is now the city of San Diego contained but a few board houses. The erection of the Horton House, the first brick building, had just been completed, and it gave little promise of the great future before it. In company with her husband, Mrs. Birdsall started the Home Restaurant on the ground where the Commercial Hotel now stands. It was afterward known as the Lyon Restaurant. In 1880–'81 she kept a hotel known as the Commercial, situated below the Horton House, on the ground now occupied by the Chadbourne Furniture Company. In 1881 she began the erection of the fine house at present occupied and managed by her, the Commercial Hotel, on the corner of Seventh and I streets. It contains 115 rooms, and is admirably arranged for the purpose for which it was designed. It is strictly a temperance house, and no liquor has ever been sold in it. It is especially popular with the old residents of this section of the State. Being cast upon her own resources, Mrs. Birdsall cultivated her natural business ability, and by strict attention to her duties she has acquired a most enviable position in the community. While directing her hotel in an admirable manner she has, by the exercise of judicious investments, acquired a handsome competency. Besides the Commercial Hotel she owns considerable city real estate and county property. During San Diego's darkest days, Mrs. Birdsall never lost faith in the future—her confidence in the city's ultimate importance was unbounded.
Mrs. Birdsall has two sons and one daughter, the latter being married. One son is a graduate of St. Augustine Military College at Benicia, Solano County, California, and one resides in Arizona. her father died here in 1880. Mrs. Birdsall is a lady of retiring disposition, never seeking publicity. She is, however, very
charitable, and has contributed liberally to all good objects.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 288-289
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WILLIAM H. VAN SLYKE,
deceased, formerly a prominent citizen of Oceanside, was born July 20, 1840, on the Hudson, in New York. His father, William Van Slyke, was a native of New York and belonged to one of those old Dutch families of that State; his mother, Mary (Hotailing) Van Slyke, was one of a very noted family of New York. They had seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the oldest. The family removed to San Francisco when he was thirteen years of age. After leaving the public school he took a course in a commercial college. He was a miner from 1861 to 1884. He mined in the following places: Grass Valley, Nevada County, Idaho, Virginia City, Pioche and Arizona, where he had charge of the works of the Grand Central; he then returned to California. Mr. Van Slyke had located the Good Hope mine, near the present town of Perris, in San Diego County. This was the richest little mine in Southern California. The best ore from it went $6,000 to the ton. Mr. Van Slyke worked it six years and took from it $160,000 in gold. Since his death the mine has been sold for $25,000, and a new company is now at work at it. Mr. Van Slyke came to Oceanside in July, 1886, and invested in real estate. In 1887 he commenced building the South Pacific Hotel, the finest building in and greatest improvement to the young town. The house was completed in eleven months and is a credit to the town and a monument to its builder. It cost, completed and furnished, $70,000. It is four stories high, has sixty commodious rooms, not counting the fourth story, which is not entirely finished as yet. The building stands near the grand Pacific ocean and in front of the town, and is a perfect model of beauty in its outside architecture, and inside it is a model of safety, convenience and comfort. It is good enough for any town in any country, no matter how rich. Mr. and Mrs. Van Slyke opened the house February 22, 1887, and commenced its management. He was taken sick soon after it was opened, and after a severe illness, which lasted sixteen months, he died in the fine house he had taken so much pleasure and exhibited so much public spirit in building. Mr. Van Slyke was a Chapter Mason and a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. He was married in San Diego, September 2, 1886, to Mrs. M. E. Barber, widow of the late Mr. A. Barber, a Boston merchant. Her father, O. S. Sparks, was from Massachusetts. She was born in San Francisco, June 26, 1847, and was the first American child born in the city. Her people lived in San Francisco fourteen years. She is now carrying on the hotel and Dr. E. A. Tuttle is her business manager. The Doctor was born in Boston, September 13, 1848, and has been a physician and surgeon for several years, but more recently abandoned the practice of his profession to engage in the hotel business, and has had good success.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 289
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler