San Mateo County
Biographies
ANDREW SKELLY BARRON
When Andrew Skelly Barron, of good Scotch stock, landed in New York City fifty years ago with his bag of luggage and pocket of savings, he first did two things. He took out his naturalization papers and became a citizen of the United States the day he arrived; and then looked for the land of the greatest opportunity.
In this quest the good ship Moses Taylor brought him around the Horn to San Francisco. Having been raised on a farm, Mr. Barron followed agricultural pursuits which eventually brought him to San Mateo County.
This was twenty-six years ago. At that time Mr. Barron saw an opening in the dairy business and he rented three cows. This was the beginning of Mr. Barron’s present business. He now operates one of the largest dairies on the peninsula at Beresford, besides farming large tracts of land in this county. There are 135 cows now at his Beresford dairy. Among his other interests is his fertile Romac ranch of 300 acres.
Andrew Skelly Barron was born in Ayar, Scotland on March 10, 1851. His parents were Scotch farmers and before he emigrated to America Mr. Barron spent most of his time on the farm. Not only is Mr. Barron a self-made man but he has helped many others through the struggle of life. He helped bring up his sisters and their children who came out her from Scotland. Mr. Barron is a member of the Masons having joined the order while in Halfmoon Bay.
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 152. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.
FREDERICK ERNEST BEER
Frederick Ernest Beer, one of the proprietors of the San Mateo Garage, came to San Mateo in 1907, and with his partner, Mr. C. B. Morton, opened the San Mateo Garage and Machine Works. Since then the business has steadily grown, and today is one of the larges on the Peninsula.
Mr. Beer’s early business training fitted him splendidly for the managership of a garage. By profession he was a mechanical engineer and for six years he was connected with a firm which manufactured mine supplies. He traveled into all coroners of the globe installing mining machinery. He was also engineer on various steamship lines running out of San Francisco and New York.
Mr. Beer has his share of civic pride, and every movement for the welfare of the community finds an enthusiastic supporter in him. At present Mr. Beer is Master of the San Mateo Masonic Lodge.
Frederick Ernest Beer was born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, on June 20, 1880. He has been in California fourteen years. Mr. Beer was married in San Francisco on May 23, 1903 and lives with his family at 335 Griffith Avenue.
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 113. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.
L. P. BEHRENS
Few men have brought more honor and recognition to San Mateo county then L.P. Behrens, cashier of the First National Bank and president of the San Mateo County Savings Bank of Redwood City. As a banker and financier Mr. Behrens has become known throughout the state so favorably that the honor of being president of the California Bankers’ Association fell to him.
This was a rare distinction to come to a man from a county which had so few members of the Association and was so unimportant compared with the great financial centers of the state. As a recognition of the splendid service of Mr. Behrens to the Association, he was presented with a beautiful loving cup when he retired from office.
As the directing genius of two of the county’s largest financial institutions, Mr. Behrens has been a potent factor in the development of Redwood City and the peninsula. He has financed many large business enterprises and has been instrumental in locating several large industrial plants on the peninsula.
The $1,250,000 bond issue for good roads is only one of the big movements for the betterment of the county that has received Mr. Behrens’ hearty support and which can attribute its success in a great measure to his work and influence.
Mr. Behrens’ business demands have partly restricted his activities in public life, although he has found time to serve as a member of the Board of Governors of the San Mateo County Development Association and president of the Sequoia Union high school board.
Mr. Behrens was born in Shasta City, Cal., on August 24, 1860. Before coming to Redwood City twenty-five years ago he had interests in Colorado and Alameda County. He belongs to the Masons and Odd Fellows.
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 162. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.
DR. ARTHUR J. BELTON
Dr. Arthur J. Belton, dentist of Burlingame, stands prominently among the large class of young professional men who have selected San Mateo County for their field of practice. When Dr. Belton took his degree at the University of California in 1910 he was confronted with the most important question of his career, where to locate and establish his practice.
A painstaking and thorough investigation, which is characteristic of Dr. Belton, was made before he paid Burlingame the high compliment of deciding that it was the field of greatest opportunity for a young man starting out in a profession.
Dr. Belton has laid a firm foundation for the practice of dentistry. In addition to graduating from the University of California, he has pursued special study under eminent specialists and dentists. Since leaving college he has practiced one year in San Francisco and five in Burlingame.
Dr. Belton was one of the leading spirits in the formation of the Burlingame Commercial Club; and since its organization he has been untiring in serving on important committees and carrying on the work of the club. At present he is secretary of the club.
Dr. Arthur J. Belton was born in San Francisco on November 4, 1887. He has lived in California his entire life and has been a resident of San Mateo County for the past eight years. He was married in Burlingame on September 8, 1915. Dr. Belton is a member of Masonic lodge, No. 400.
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 152. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.
FRANK B. BETTENCOURT
With a record of having shown over 14,000,000 feet of film, Frank B. Bettencourt, operator at Hart’s Peninsula Theatre in San Mateo, lays an easy claim to being the leading moving picture operator in the county.
Mr. Bettencourt went into the moving picture business when it was in its infancy. He began in San Mateo with Charles Hart. In the eight years that he has operated the cameras in Mr. Hart’s theatre, Mr. Bettencourt has projected over 14,000 reels which include all the important pictures that have been manufactured.
During his spare time Mr. Bettencourt has conducted extensive investigations and experiments. He is now waiting for patents on accessories to moving picture machines which he has invented. The two most important are an automatic shutter and a take up device which overcomes the flicker so bothersome to the eyes.
Mr. Bettencourt has given many private exhibitions in the county. He has shown pictures at the San Mateo Polo Club, the Burlingame Country Club, the Beresford Country Club and at many private homes.
He recently started with a brother, Mr. C.E. Bettencourt a pictorial news service of the county events for use in the moving picture houses of the peninsula.
Mr. Bettencourt was born in San Mateo on December 22, 1892 and has spent his entire life in California. He is endeavoring to secure a charter of the International Alliance of Theatrical State Employees and Moving Picture Operators of the United States and Canada, for San Mateo County, which will be organized shortly.
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
Source: History of San Mateo County by Philip W. Alexander & Charles P. Hamm page 140. Press of Burlingame Publishing Co., Burlingame, CA. 1916.