Davenport Bromfield

 

Davenport Bromfield, Esq., of Redwood City, California, has been a resident of this State since 1883.  He is a native of Australia, born in 1862, son of James A. Bromfield, a chemist.

 

Mr. Bromfield served a four years’ apprenticeship as a Civil Engineer, and thoroughly prepared himself for the profession he had chosen.  He served two years as Deputy County Surveyor of San Francisco under George Rogers; was subsequently employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, as Civil Engineer, and in 1890 was elected County Surveyor of San Mateo county.  The latter position he is at present occupying.

 

In 1879, previous to his coming to California, he was united in marriage with Mary Ware, by whom he has two sons and two daughters.

DR. WILLIAM ANSYL BROOKE

 

             Dr. Brooke was born 52 years ago at Dranion Springs, a little town near Placerville in El Dorado County.  He studied medicine at Cooper Medical College in San Francisco, and practiced first in Sacramento, as intern in the City and County Hospital, later moving to Alameda.  He came to Halfmoon Bay, eleven years ago, and has resided there ever since.  He is a member of the San Mateo Medical Society, State Medical Society and American Medical Association.  He was appointed Coroner and Public Administrator on April 7, 1915, which term he is now serving.  His personal popularity and professional ability have won for him the highest regard of his fellow citizens.

             He also belongs to a number of fraternal organizations, among them being the Masons, Native Sons, Eagles, and Maccabees.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

P. P. Chamberlain

 

Mr. P. P. Chamberlain came to Redwood City in 1868.  He accepted the first position that offered and became grocery clerk for Isaac M. Schlouecker.  Soon after this he went into the merchandise business with W. J. Wilcox, and after the withdrawal of his partner, carried the business on alone, under the name of P. P. Chamberlain which firm is still in existence.

 

During early days of the grocery business, Mr. Chamberlain was elected county treasurer which office he has faithfully administered for more than thirty years.

 

Mr. Chamberlain is interested in the Redwood City Building and Loan Association and the Redwood City Realty Company.  He has always taken an active interest in the social side of the city and county life, and now although seventy-four years old, he may still be seen enjoying himself at public functions, dances and receptions.  He takes a keen interest in fishing.  He is a member of the San Mateo B. P. O. Elks.

 

Mr. Chamberlain’s boyhood life was spent in Ohio from which he went into the wilderness of Minnesota, and lived the rough and ready life of the lumber camps before he journeyed westward and threw in his lot with the old timers at Redwood City.  He brought west with him an enviable record as a soldier.

LOREN COBURN

 

             Although a resident of Pescadero, the active years of Mr. Coburn’s life have been spent in the mining regions of California and the growing cities of Oakland and San Francisco.  Loren Coburn was born in Berlin, Orange County, Vermont, January 11, 1826, with New England blood, a promise of future success.

             When ten years of age, his home was changed to Massachusetts, where he remained until he started for California in 1851.  He shipped from New York on the steamer Falcon, bound for Cuba.  After passing over the Isthmus of Panama he took passage on the ship Panama, arriving in San Francisco on June 1, 1851.

             From there he went to the northern mines, by way of Sacramento, Greenwood valleys, and remained four months at the placers, on the middle fork of the American River.  On returning to San Francisco, laden with the fruits of his successful mining experience, he was induced to enter a business life.

             He engaged in the livery business in Oakland where he remained four years, after which he disposed of his stable and bought another in San Francisco, continuing in active business for twelve years.

             While still in the city, Mr. Coburn purchased the Punto del Ano Nuevo Rancho, a Spanish Grant of four leagues.

             After the sale of his San Francisco business he leased his ranch to the Steele Brothers, and in 1866 took his long deferred trip back to the land of his birth.

             Returning in 1868, he spent the next four years in San Francisco and at the expiration of the Steele Brothers lease in 1872, he removed to Pigeon Point and assumed charge of his vast property, having added to it, 10,000 acres on the Salinas river in Monterey County, and a large tract of timber land near Pescadero.

             The famous Pebble beach is located on this property, and on it he has erected a beautiful hotel.  The United States lighthouse is also located on property once owned by Loren Coburn.  For many years he engaged in the dairy and stock business with the same success that characterized his early efforts.

             Mr. Coburn has made Pescadero his home for many years, and has won the esteem of his fellow citizens by his worthy efforts to make himself an honor to the land of his adoption.  He has the honor of being the largest individual land owner in San Mateo County.

             Mr. Coburn married Miss Mary Antoinette Upton, a native of Reading, Massachusetts.  She died in Pescadero in 1896, leaving one son, Wallace Loren Coburn.  Mr. Coburn then married Miss Satira S. Upton, an estimable woman and sister of his dead wife, who has brought him happiness and companionship during his declining years.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson