Alameda County
Biographies
PETER
A. CAMERON
PETER A. CAMERON. The
life of Peter A. Cameron, a retired building contractor of Oakland, affords a
striking illustration of the value of many of those traits of character which
for hundreds of years have distinguished the Scotch race and their descendants.
Beginning life at the foot of the ladder, he gradually worked his way upward
until he had achieved honor and distinction in industrial and financial
circles. He came to California poor in pocket, but rich in energy, ambition and
resolution, and by persistent application to his chosen calling acquired a
fortune, and now, rounding out his years in ease, is numbered among the most
substantial and highly respected residents of Oakland.
A son of Alex Cameron,
he was born on Prince Edward Island, Canada, and received his education in the
schools of his native province, remaining at home until sixteen years of age.
Migrating then to the United States, he located in Boston, Mass., in 1862, and
there served an apprenticeship at the carpenter’s trade. For several years he labored
diligently as a journeyman, saving all the money possible, and in 1869 found
that he had sufficient to pay the expenses of his passage to the Pacific coast.
Accordingly he sailed in the latter year by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and
upon his arrival in San Francisco found that he had but two dollars and fifty
cents of his savings left. Being a master of his trade, he had no trouble in
finding employment, and within a year began taking contracts for the erection
of houses in Oakland. The demand for his services increasing, in 1871 he
entered into a partnership with J. B. McDonald, an old-time
schoolmate and friend who came to California with him, and as head of the firm
of Cameron & McDonald conducted an extensive business for twenty-seven
years. At first the firm took contracts for small buildings only, but as their
work became known, and the confidence of the people won, they sought and
obtained more important contracts, and erected many of the largest and best
buildings of both Oakland and San Francisco, including residences, churches and
business blocks. In Oakland they erected the Prescott school building, then the
largest and finest in the city; a number of business blocks, the Savings Bank
building at the corner of Eleventh and Washington streets, a block on
Fourteenth street, and entire blocks of tenement houses, ninety, in all, for
Gail M. Fisher. They also constructed and sold thirty-five dwelling
houses. Mr. Cameron erected his own handsome residence at No. 728
Eighteenth street, Oakland, and is also the owner of much other valuable city
property. Fraternally he is a member of Oakland Lodge No. 118,
I. O. O. F., and of Oakland Encampment.
Mr. Cameron’s
work as one of the most important of the actual builders of the modern city of
Oakland entitles him to recognition as one of the factors in the history of the
municipality. During his long, honorable and useful career, he his given abundant evidence of a breadth of mind and
generous public spirit which have contributed materially to the welfare of the
community in which he has resided. Mr. Cameron has always supported those
projects intended to advance the best interests of the people, and has become
known as one of the best types of the representative adopted citizen of the
commonwealth.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
07 May 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 572-575.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.
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