The San Mateo County Women's Hall of Fame, 1984-1994: Portraits of dedication

Burgett, Shirley

Custom & Limited Editions

<p>In 1824, a 16-year old named William Davis Merry Howard, son of a wealthy Hillsboro, New Hampshire shipping magnate, sailed on one of his father's ships from Boston around Cape Horn to the West Coast. Upon returning home, he convinced his father of the fortunes to be made in the West and returned to California some fifteen years later. Howard became a partner in a general merchandising firm in 1845.The following year, he purchased "Rancho San Mateo" from the Mexican governor, Pio Pico. The Rancho was a tract of land that became the city of San Mateo. He paid $25,000 for the tract, or approximately $3.88 an acre. For the next few years, Howard and his wife, Agnes, lived in a comfortable life on the isolated Peninsula. Here they built a fine home which they called "El Cerrito" and made San Mateo a successful working ranch.When the Gold Rush began a few years later, the thousands of prospectors flooding California needed provisions and only a few outlets were present. In a short span of time, Howard and his partner became wealthier than even the most successful gold seekers.Mexican rule ended legally in 1848 and California became a state in 1850. Although Howard himself died in 1856, his children and his wife's family "set the pattern for genteel living down on the Peninsula," according to historian Frank Stanger. The Howards, the Poetts, and several other families became the leading members of the community. By the late 1860's, parcels of the Howard estate had been sold in pieces large enough to provide ample estate property for the new generation of the founding families. The area also became attractive to many San Francisco businessmen who wanted to live in a relaxed country setting while working in the city.</p>

No Sidewalks Here: A Pictorial History of Hillsborough, California

History

Svanevik, Michael

Americas

Custom & Ltd. Editions

<p>In 1854, pioneer settlers Dennis J. Oliver and Daniel C. McGlynn acquired 1,700 acres on the north bank of San Francisquito Creek. To mark their land, the pair erected a giant arched gate upon which they painted the name Menlo Park to remind them of their homeland in Menlough County, Galway, Ireland. A decade later, when the tracks of the San Francisco &amp; San Jose Railroad reached the creek, railroad officials took the name Menlo Park for the station. Thereafter, this name was applied to the entire region and subsequently the town. Perhaps no Peninsula city has a more fabled and exciting history. Menlo Park became the first enclave of wealth and privilege south of San Francisco. For a time there were more great houses, more wealth and more human power concentrated in Menlo than any other California community. Almost from the beginning, a special dynamic developed between the wealthy, who eventually broke away to form the town of Atherton, and the townsfolk, those who had come initially to serve the grand estates. These people established and built the town of Menlo Park. During the course of 150 years, Menlo Park has acquired a significance far greater than its geographical size of population suggerts. Hardcover, illustrated with many black and white photographs and artwork. Decorated endpapers and accompanying text.</p>

Menlo Park, California: Beyond the Gate

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