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.

 

 

 

 

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