Contra Costa County
Biographies
MATHESON
BROTHERS
MATHESON BROTHERS.
Among the successful ranchers of Contra Costa county may be mentioned the
Matheson brothers, Alexander and Daniel, who are widely known and esteemed for
the many qualities which have distinguished their citizenship. They are both
natives of Sutherlandshire, Scotland, born
respectively in 1843 and 1845. Their parents, Adam and Ann (McCay)
Matheson, brought their family to Canada in the early days of emigration,
locating in Toronto, where the children were reared to maturity. The father
died in that locality, the mother surviving him and spending her last days with
her children among the pleasant scenes and genial climate of Contra Costa
county. The children born of this union were as follows: William, deceased;
Jessie and Samuel, both of whom died in Canada; Ann; Alexander; Daniel; and Margarite. Jessie Matheson became the wife of
William High and at her death left three children. Ann makes her home with
her brother Alexander. Margarite married
John Wallace, by whom she had two children. Both her husband and children
are deceased, and she makes her home in San Francisco.
The first of this
family to come to California was Alexander Matheson, who made the trip via the
Isthmus of Panama and settled in Sonoma county. For the first year he rented a
ranch in that location, later rented a ranch in San Mateo county for four
years, and then spent a like period of time in Butte county. Returning south he
located in San Francisco and engaged in teaming, which he continued
successfully for four years, when he located upon his present property in
Contra Costa county, having two hundred acres which he devotes to general
ranching interests. He has lived here for about twenty years and has won the
respect and confidence of all who have come to know him. He married
Annie Gunn, a native of California and the daughter of John Gunn. She
died at the age of forty-five years, leaving one child, Jessie.
William Matheson came
to California in 1866, his first employment in the state being as foreman of
the Lux Mills in San Mateo county, which position he
retained for two years. He then bought a ranch in Butte county upon which he
made his home for nineteen years. At his death, when fifty years of age, he
left a widow, formerly Marie McPherson, and four children, one child,
Edmond, being deceased. The surviving children are named as follows: John,
Jessie, Linda and Annie. After the death of William Matheson his family moved
to Contra Costa county.
Daniel Matheson came
to California in 1863, following ranching on rented land for three years, when
he went into the dairy business in San Francisco. He remained thus engaged in
that location for two years, when he removed to Butte county and purchased one
hundred and sixty acres, which he farmed for three years. Disposing of that
property he then came to Contra Costa county, about twenty-one years ago,
purchasing the ranch upon which he now lives. He married Isabella Kinchlon, and of this union were born the following
children: William, Robert, Alexander, Zachariah and Victorine.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 21 April 2015.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 464-467.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Marie
Hassard.
Contra Costa County Biographies