Alameda
County
Biographies
LEANDER
LINEKIN
LEANDER LINEKIN. Numbered among the oldest business men of
Haywards is Leander Linekin, who located here when the place was only a
village, and with but little to presage the prosperity which has attended its
upbuilding. He was one of the organizers
and first trustees of the Lone Tree Cemetery, and in addition to his commercial
interests has always given his best efforts toward the development of the town
and county, purchasing three acres and putting up a beautiful and attractive
home in Haywards where he raises various fruits, such as oranges, lemons,
apples, etc. Although he has no children
of his own he has given his care and attention to the rearing and training of
several who were deprived of such care from the natural source, and they now
look to him with the affection and respect due his efforts. He is universally esteemed for his admirable
personal characteristics, and for the long and honorable career which has
brought him a material success.
Born in Knox county, Me.,
November 15, 1833, Mr. Linekin remained in the paternal home until
attaining the age of fifteen years, when he followed the example of so many new
England lads and went to sea on a coaster.
He was afterward employed on a cotton ship which plied between New
Orleans and Europe, serving as mate during these six years – from 1855 to 1861
– after which he returned home and shipped on a lumber vessel to Australia in
the capacity of mate. From there they
went to Borneo and took on a cargo of rice, half of which, however, they were
compelled to throw overboard on account of the ship being nearly wrecked. After going to London and Liverpool he
shipped to New York city, thence by Panama to California, landing in San Francisco
in July, 1863. He went at once to the
mines of Tuolumne county, where he remained until 1865, but not finding the
success which he had anticipated he returned to San Francisco and shortly after
went to work on a ranch near Oakland. He
was so employed until December of that year, when he removed to Haywards and
undertook the management of the branch meat market in that place. Later, in partnership with another, he
purchased the business and built the first butcher shop in the town. In the fall of 1867, Mr. Linekin sold
his interest to his partner and opened a small hardware store, carrying a
supply of tinware, pumps, etc. As the
trade increased he enlarged the business from time to time, and later became a
practical plumber. Finding so much of
his time taken up in the laying of pipes, etc., he took in a partner, the firm
now being known as that of Linekin & Allen. They are conducting a successful and
lucrative business and have a wide patronage.
The marriage of Mr. Linekin
occurred in New Orleans and united him with Mary C. Parker, a native of
England. She early removed to the
Crescent City and there grew to womanhood, coming to California in 1863. A misfortune which Mr. Linekin
experienced occurred while he was superintending the digging of a sixty-five
foot well. He lost his balance and
seeing that he was going to fall he jumped, landing on the bottom of the well
on his feet, breaking three ribs and a bone in his ankle, which incapacitated
him for eight months. In his political
convictions, Mr. Linekin is a stanch[sic] Republican, and cast his first
ballot for Fremont. He was one of the
incorporators of the town and served for thirteen years as town trustee. After having aided materially in securing sewers
for the town he resigned his position.
He was also school trustee for several years and took a broad interest
in all educational affairs. Fraternally
he is a member of Sycamore Lodge No. 129, I.O.O.F. and belongs to the
Encampment, of which he has been treasurer for twenty years. Mr. Linekin’s success is the result of
his own unaided efforts, and while acquiring a competency he has also won the
esteem and confidence of all who have known him either socially or in a
business way.
Transcribed
by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 927-928. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Donna
Toole.
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