San Francisco County
Biographies
John E. Bettancurt, proprietor of a wine house and restaurant on Fourth street, near the Broad-Gauge depot, San Rafael, is a native of St. George, Western Island, born December 31, 1858. He was reared and educated in his native country, and was the second of seven children born to John and Mary (De Gages) Bettancurt. In 1875 he emigrated to America, locating at San Rafael, where his early life was passed on a dairy farm. He now owns a large dairy farm in Sonoma county, near Petaluma, where he makes a specialy of butter-making, and employs six men the year round in connection with that enterprise. The products are sold to the San Francisco markets, where they bring good prices and find a ready sale. More than 100 cows are milked daily on this ranch. Mr. Bettancurt is also largely interested in a number of other business enterprises throughout the State. He is the owner of two vessel in mercantile service on the bay plying between San Francisco, Petaluma, this city and Stockton, which gives employment to a number of coast sailors. For several years Mr. Bettancurt was actively engaged in the coasting trade, but of late his various business interests demand his attention in the interior.
He was married in San Francisco October 15, 1883, to Miss Francis Ignacia, a native also of the Western Islands. Mr. And Mrs. Bettancurt have an interesting family of four children, namely: John E., Frances, Mary and Rafael. Politically he is a staunch Republican, and takes an active interest in school matters.
Transcribed Karen L. Pratt.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, page 598-599, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
C. A. BROWN
C. A. BROWN, contractor and builder, Alameda, is a native of the Hoosier State, born in Switzerland county, March 19, 1837, where he was reared and educated. He is the son of James and Deborah (Hatch) Brown, who had eleven children, our subject being the sixth. The father was a native of the Buckeye State, and moved to Indiana in 1816. His parents were of Scotch- Irish ancestry and came to America before the Revolutionary war. The grandfather of our subject was a participant in the destruction of tea in Boston harbor. Mrs. Deborah Brown was a native of New York, her people being of the influential families and early settlers of that State.
Mr. Brown came to California and located in the city of Alameda in 1876, and has since been connected with the building trade. He has designed and erected a large number of handsome residences in the city and suburbs.
He was elected a member of the Board of Education in 1884, and is now president.
Politically he is allied with the Democratic party on all national matters, although not active in local politics. Socially, he affiliates with Oak Grove Lodge, No. 215, and Chapter No. 70, F. & A. M.; K. of P., No. 81, and United Workman, lodge No. 5, all of Alameda.
He was joined in marriage at Mt. Sterling, Indiana, in 1872, with Levica M. Cotton of this State. The family is numbered among the early settlers of Indiana. The grandfather was one of the framers of the State Constitution.
Mr. and Mrs. Brown have two sons, viz.: Loyd B. and Philip E.
Mr. Brown is a useful and worthy citizen and has the respect of the community in which he resides.
Transcribed by Walt Howe.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages 590-591, Lewis Publishing Co., 1892.
HARVEY S. BROWN
Harvey S. Brown, an honored member of the Society of California Pioneers, and one of the oldest members of the bar on the Pacific coast, was born in Delaware county, New York, in 1823. His ancestors were New England people and were early settlers of New York State, his father being a lumberman and farmer. Mr. Brown was reared and educated in his native State. He studied law in the office of Hon. Samuel Gordon at Delhi, New York, and was admitted to the bar.
When the gold discovery in California attracted the attention of the whole country, he joined a party of fifty and started overland. They had a semi-military organization, Charles V. Stewart being Captain and Mr. Brown Lieutenant. At Salt Lake they halted six weeks. Continuing their journey, they were induced by the Mormons to take the southern route into California. The Piute Indians were then very troublesome, but Lieutenant Brown, who was at that time in active command, met the Indians in council and drew up a treaty with them, after which the emigrant party proceeded on their way and were not molested. They reached Los Angeles in October, 1849, and after remaining there a short time came north via the San Joaquin valley, landing in San Francisco in January of the following year. Mr. Brown went to the mines, but was not enamored with the prospect, and his mining experience was very brief--one day. The next morning he started for San Francisco, and upon his return engaged in the practice of law before the alcalde, Governor Geary being alcalde and judge. The following spring he was elected Justice of the Peace, which was then a more remunerative position than that of Supreme Judge. He was afterward elected Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions. Previous to this time almost all of the criminals were tried in the District Court, but by change of law they were to be tried by Court of Sessions. There was a large calendar, and in order to clear it the court sat day and night. It was during this time that the noted Jansen robbery occurred, and the Vigilance Committee was organized. Judge Brown was in favor of legal methods and opposed the committee and its methods. (See copy of his letter of resignation in Bancroft's History.) Judge Brown was called out of bed one morning at 4 o'clock by Governor McDougal and the under-sheriff, under Jack Hayes, with information that they had taken two prisoners from the Vigilance Committee, had them in jail and wanted Judge Brown to call out a guard to protect them for trial, and he ordered 100 men, all lawyers, for that purpose. This guard, all well armed, stood on the roof of the jail all day. There were thousands in the angry mob who surged and threatened to break down the doors of the jail and take the prisoners. Colonel Jack Hayes was prevailed upon to withdraw the guard under promise that the prisoners would not be molested; but the following Sunday during services they were siezed by the Vigilance Committee, taken out and hanged. Judge Brown resigned his position on the bench and resumed the practice of his profession, and for several years devoted his attention to the consideration of Mexican land grants. In 1858 he was appointed District Attorney by the Board of Supervisors, and was elected to this position in 1858 and 1859 and again in 1860, holding the office four years. Again he resumed his law practice, which he continued until 1869, when he became Attorney for the Central Pacific Railroad Company, and since then for the past twenty-two years has been connected with the law department of this great corporation.
Judge Brown chose for his life companion and wedded Miss Mary Augusta Flower, of Delhi, Delaware county, New York. They are the parents of seven children, six sons and one daughter.
Transcribed 11-10-04 Marilyn R. Pankey
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, page 605-606, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
Anthony Crimmins, one of the best and most progressive dairymen and farmers of Marin county, is a native of Grafton county, New Hampshire, born July 14, 1864, the fourth in a family of nine children. His parents were John and Ellen (Kellog) Crimmins, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire and of Scotch extraction.
Our subject, reared to farm life, came to California in 1883, and for one year was engaged in delivering milk on a service in the city of San Francisco. He then took charge of the famous dairy ranch, located four miles north-west of San Rafael and known as the White Ranch. He conducted this dairy for seven years in the interest of its present owner, and during those years had also bought and sold stock on his own account. Being a practical farmer and a good judge of stock, he has been very successful in his speculations. In 1890 he and his brother John F. Crimmins, leased the farm, bought the stock and have since conducted a prosperous dairy business, milking 125 cows the year round and giving employment to seven or eight men. Their daily output of butter alone will average from eighty to eighty five pounds, in addition to their large service or milk delivery in San Rafael, which is not less than ninety gallons daily. The facilities on the ranch, being perhaps second to none in Marin county, the dairy is no doubt conducted, so far as cleanliness is concerned, in a superior manner. The stock looks well and is in a good healthy condition,—two very important factors. The ranch consists of 1,000 acres of rich farm and grazing lands, with splendid shelter for stock; the main barn is a large structure with basement, is 120 x 70 feet in ground area, and has a capacity for tying up 100 milch cows at one time; the loft will contain 200 tons of loose hay or 500 tons of baled hay. The cows are all fed from separate boxes and inspected daily by Mr. Crimmins. This he holds is essential in order that he may be able to guard against possible disease in due time. In addition to the dairy ranch he also has leased the adjoining tract, consisting of 1,200 acres, a portion of which is devoted to general farming, the rest to grazing.
Politically, Mr. Crimmins is a staunch Republican and has been a member of the County Central Committee. He takes an action interest in school matters and has been one of the Board of School Trustees in his district.
He was joined in marriage in Marin county, in August, 1888, to Miss Janet Walker, a native of Scotland.
Transcribed by Donna L. Becker
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 1, pages 609-610, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.