P. H. McEVOY

 

             The subject of this sketch was born May 9, 1848, in Sidney, Australia.  He left Australia with his parents in 1849, for San Francisco, by way of Honolulu.

             After leaving Honolulu the vessel met with such adverse winds and weather, that it was six months before land was sighted at Monterey, California.  This long voyage had depleted the stores of provisions and water to such an extent that for two weeks prior to sighting land, everyone on shipboard was put on an allowance of both food and water, passengers receiving such small rations that when land was sighted they compelled the captain to land them at Monterey, rather than take any further chances of landing at San Francisco.

             After a residence in Monterey of less than three years, he moved with his parents in March, 1852, to the Carey Jones ranch, south and west of what is now Redwood City, and now known as the Hawes ranch, which was at this time part of San Francisco county, San Mateo county being organized in April, 1856.

             He attended the first school in San Mateo county, which was located on the extreme corner of what is known as Redwood Highlands, continuing until 1863 when he entered what is now known as St. Mary’s College, on Mission Hill, San Francisco.

             At the age of eighteen we find him farming 320 acres on the Woodside road near his parents’ home.  He continued farming and contracting until 1914 when he retired to private life.

             Mr. McEvoy was naturalized in the 12^th district court in August, 1869.  He has been a life-long Democrat, serving his party as supervisor of the third township for sixteen years.

             He has the distinction of being the first and only democratic supervisor who has held office in the third township for the period of sixteen years.

             Mr. McEvoy is still very active, hale and hearty, and his many friends in this county have urged him again to seek the office of supervisor.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson

Ed. T. McGettigan

 

About five months ago a new Chamber of Commerce sprang into existence in Redwood City that has already done as much for the advancement of its chosen field, as any similar promotion organization in the entire State.

 

The creator and moving force of this association is Mr. Ed. T. McGettigan who has made community building, trade-development and trade-protection a life study.

 

Mr. McGettigan was born in Vallejo, California,  March 3, 1875.  Early in life he attended the “College of Hard Knocks,” obtaining his education in a life of practical experience, including in his curriculum, salesmanship, government clerkship; and finally taking up newspaper work, which he followed for twelve years.  His newspaper experience covered a field ranging from San Francisco to Denver.

 

The positions he is now filling are: Secretary-Manager of the Redwood City Chamber of Commerce, and General Manager of the Peninsula Industrial Commission, an organization formed for the purpose of the making known, through widespread newspaper publicity, the merits of San Mateo County.   In a little over two years, Mr. McGettigan’s articles on the good road of San Mateo County have been published in magazines and papers in nearly every state in the union as well as in Canada and Australia, being largely responsible for the recent development of the County during the last two years.

 

Mr. McGettigan lives in Wellesley Park, Redwood City with his wife and four children.  He is Past Exalted Ruler of Vallejo lodge of Elks, the B. P. O. E., being the only fraternal order of which he is a member.

 

John J. McGrath

 

San Mateo is fortunate in having so many of San Francisco’s substantial business men listed among its residents.  John J. McGrath is one of them who, although burdened with the responsibilities of an important position, gives pains-taking support to every movement for the good of the city and enable the community to reap the benefit of having men of his type as a resident.

 

Mr. McGrath is an expert sales-manager, having been in this line for twenty-five years.  His first sales position was with Swift & Co., when he had emigrated from Ireland and settled in Chicago.  Two years later he came to California and became identified with the Western Meat Company.  He ascended to the position of assistant sales manager in the eighteen years he was with this company.  He left them five years ago to become traveling representative in San Francisco for Folger & Co.

 

In his twenty-five years experience in selling goods, Mr. McGrath has handled hundreds of salesmen and has become a recognized expert in this work.  The rules and suggestions that he makes for his friends have urged him to print them in book form,  that more persons may benefit from them.

 

The heavy tax that business imposes on Mr. McGrath’s time has not prevented him from taking an active part in civic affairs, and every movement that is launched for the public good, finds him a substantial backer.

 

John McGrath was born in Limerick, Ireland, on July 23, 1872.  He received his education in his native land.  With the exception of two years spent in Chicago, Mr. McGrath has lived in San Mateo continually since coming from Ireland twenty-five years ago.  He married Miss Mary Kelly, a native of San Mateo.  His daughter Carmelita, aged 13, is a pupil in the San Mateo schools, while his son, John G., aged 18, is preparing for the priesthood at St. Patrick’s seminary.  His youngest daughter, Manolin, aged 6 years, is also a pupil of the San Mateo public schools.  Mr. McGrath is a property owner in both San Mateo and Hillsborough.

 

John J. McGrath has recently, on January 7, 1916, been appointed by President Wilson to be postmaster of San Mateo for a term of four years, relieving Thomas E. Byrnes, whose term expired Dec. 20, 1915.  Mr. McGrath was specially endorsed for this office by the Democratic County and State Central Committees, and by United States Senator James D. Phelan.

 

The office of Postmaster is an important one, as it carries a great responsibility; and those who are appointed to this office may consider themselves highly honored by the trust imposed in them by their fellow townsmen, as well as by the Chief Executive of the United States.

MRS. LEONARD H. McROSKEY

 

                  Racine McCoy McRoskey was a native of Oregon, raised and educated in Portland where she passed with credit through the grammar and high schools of that city.  In her early womanhood she moved to San Francisco where she lived until after the earthquake of 1906.  In 1907 the McRoskeys came to San Mateo where they were living at their home on San Mateo Drive at the time of Mrs. McRoskey’s death in April, 1915.

             Mrs. McRoskey took an active part in club and social affairs, being a member of the Thursday Club and the Woman’s Club of San Mateo and also of the Women’s Pacific Coast Press Club and Laurel Hall Club of San Francisco.  Besides these she belonged to a number of social clubs in Burlingame and San Mateo.  However she will be remembered best as the author of “Drift O’Dreams,” a collection of poems and short prose sketches; and “The Missions of California,” a sympathetic study of the buildings and work of the Franciscan Fathers in the state.

             The nervous break-down which caused her death was the direct result of overwork incident to the writing and publishing of this book.

             While the artistic temperament was dominant, there was also a strongly practical side to her nature as was evidenced when she served so efficiently as chairman of the finance committee on the first grand jury in which women were chosen.  Though Mrs. McRoskey was not a militant suffragette, she took an active interest in political matters and local campaigns, and was an officer of the San Mateo County Civic Center.

             She was one of the talented and energetic women of San Mateo county and is richly deserving of a place in the local hall of fame.  Her untimely death is a distinct loss to the community and a sad bereavement to her family, friends and admirers.

             Not only for her social activities will Mrs. McRoskey be remembered long in the community in which she lived, but also for her quick sympathy and steadfast loyalty which her friends will always associate with the name of Racine McRoskey.

 

Transcribed by Betty Wilson