REV. W. A. BREWER

 

             No man has been more closely identified with the growth and best interests of San Mateo County than Rev. W. A. Brewer, Mayor of Hillsborough and, until its discontinuance a few months ago, rector of St. Matthew’s Military School.

             Mr. Brewer is known throughout the State for his tireless energy in putting the county in the foreground.  He was one of the organizers and the first president of the San Mateo County Development Association.  As its executive he contributed perhaps more than any one individual in putting this organization on its firm basis and in bringing about the achievements and accomplishments for the good of the county that marked its first year.

             As Hillsborough’s first and only Mayor, Mr. Brewer has given his town a progressive and business-like administration that has made it a model in city government.  Mr. Brewer was active in bringing about Hillsborough’s incorporation and was one of the leading figures in many conferences that preceded the moulding of the scattered countryside into an ideal suburban city.

             Rev. W. A. Brewer was born in Detroit, Michigan on June 2, 1863.  In September 1895 he was married in San Francisco to Miss Ellen Douglas Wheaton.  He has two sons, William Augustus, Jr., aged 15, and Wheaton Hale, 18, a student in the University of California.

             Mr. Brewer is an Episcopal clergyman and is now pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Burlingame.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson.

TERENCE MASTERSON

 

             Terence Masterson, street commissioner, capitalist, and proprietor of the Wisnom Hotel, has been a resident of San Mateo for twenty-five years.  He came here a total stranger; but his fair dealings, enterprise and confidence in San Mateo’s future, have made him one of the leading citizens of the community.

             As city trustee and street commissioner Mr. Masterson has been developing the greater part of his time to the welfare of San Mateo.  His keen business ability is reflected throughout the work of the city trustees.  The streets of San Mateo were never cleaner and in a better state of repair than during his administration.  He has also supervised the vast amount of street improvements made during the last few years.

             Mr. Masterson has extensive business interests in San Mateo.  Besides being proprietor of the Wisnom Hotel he is a stock holder in several banks of the county and the Peninsula Rapid Transit Company.  He is also a member of the Board of Governors of the San Mateo County Development Association and the energy he devotes in this cause is only a small part of his civic devotion.

             Among the interests that Mr. Masterson holds outside of the state is stock in the famous Silver King mine in Utah from whose ore treasures, over $25,000,000 in metals has already been taken.

             Terence Masterson was born in Quebec, Canada on March 19, 1864.  He was born on the old family farm which has been owned by his family for over 100 years.  Once a year Mr. Masterson migrated back to the old home for a visit; until last year when he was called back on the sad mission of attending his old mother’s funeral.  Mr. Masterson was married in San Francisco four years ago and has one son, Hugh, who is three years old.  Mr. Masterson is a member of San Mateo lodge, No. 1112, B.P.O. Elks.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson.

MICHAEL SHEEHAN

 

             Few police officers in California can boast of the record of Michael Sheehan, sheriff of San Mateo county.  A list of the important captures made by Sheriff Sheehan in the sixteen years he has been a peace officer, would include some of the most desperate men who are in the State Prisons today serving for daring crimes not only committed in this county but in every county of the state.

             Sheriff Sheehan was constable of the Second Township for twelve years and refused to again become a candidate although urged by the residents to enter the race for Sheriff.  In these years the Second Township was the terror of criminals who seldom stepped over the border before they were apprehended by this alert constable.

             As sheriff, Mr. Sheehan has built up one of the strongest organizations in that office in the history of the county.  He has secured a co-operation between the constables, the police departments of the different municipalities and the Sheriff’s office that has been the dream of all sheriffs.

             Perhaps Sheriff Sheehan’s greatest service for the county has been as a probation officer.  He handled probation matters for eight years so efficiently that he was again appointed after being elected sheriff; but the press of his duties forced him to resign.

             Michael Sheehan was born in Ireland on February 2, 1861.  Of the thirty-two years he has spent in California, thirty were passed as a resident of the Second Township.  Mr. Sheehan belongs to the Knights of Columbus, the San Mateo lodge of Elks, the Foresters and the Eagles.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson.