Butte County
Biographies
JOHN FRANKLIN PENDERGAST
JOHN FRANKLIN PENDERGAST.—A popular
and well-liked citizen who caters to the wants of the motorists of Butte
County, as proprietor of a gasoline service station at First and Broadway,
Chico, is J. F. Pendergast, who has built
up a good business. A native Californian, he was born in San Francisco,
October 28, 1868, into the family of Thomas and Mary (Palma) Pendergast. Thomas Pendergast was
born in Ireland and came to California as a forty-niner and engaged in the
foundry business as one of the proprietors of the Aetna Iron Works in San
Francisco. The business was carried on under the names of Pendergast
and Smith and was one of the first foundries to be established in that city.
Mr. Pendergast was connected with it until his
death. His wife had come around the Horn in a sailing vessel, in 1848. She
became the mother of eleven children, of whom John Franklin was the fifth in
order of birth. Mrs. Pendergast died in San
Francisco.
J. F. Pendergast
was reared in San Francisco and received his education in the public schools
and at St. Mary’s College. He then went to sea in the employ of the
Pacific Mail steamers of the Spreckels line, also on
steamers plying to South American ports, in time becoming an assistant
engineer, and later, a marine engineer. He followed the sea for several years,
after which he returned to San Francisco and there he spent six years as a
member of the fire department. In 1898, he resigned from the department to
enter the office of Charles Curry, then secretary of state, as keeper of
archives. He served twelve years in that capacity under Curry and two years
under Jordan, giving good satisfaction to his superiors.
About this time Mr. Pendergast
received an offer from the Union Oil Company to open a station at Chico, Butte
County. He resigned his position and in 1913 assumed his new duties. He
selected the site for the station and it was built under his supervision, after
which he had charge of it for seven months. An opportunity then presenting
itself, he decided he would engage in the business on his own account, and he
opened his present establishment, where he has built up a fine business.
Besides having his own affairs to look after, he is a special agent for the
Associated Oil Company; he selected the site for their station on Sacramento
and Nord Streets and built their plant, opening it in 1914, and ever since then
he has divided his time between his own establishment and that of the
Associated Oil Company. He is very courteous and obliging, and retains his
friends and patrons, all of whom esteem him for his many fine qualities and
business acumen.
In Sacramento, Mr. Pendergast
was married to Miss Sophia Kelley, a native of that city, and they have two
children to brighten their happy home: Grace and John Franklin, Jr.
Mr. Pendergast is a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423,
B. P. O. Elks; the Native Sons of the Golden West, at Chico; and
the Woodmen of the World, at Sacramento. While he was living in Sacramento, Mr.
Pendergast was a member of the Republican county
central committee and an active worker at all county and
state conventions. He has always been a true blue Republican and has
many friends throughout the state, whom he has met at conventions.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
02 November 2009.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1287-1288, Historic Record Co, Los
Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies