Sacramento County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. LARKIN
WILLIAM H. LARKIN.--Another energetic executive whose experience enabled him to direct the business affairs entrusted to him with exceptional foresight and skill, is William H. Larkin, now deceased, the former manager of the well-known establishment of J. N. Larkin & Son, located at 2211 K Street, Sacramento. He was the proprietor of that important house, and this gave him a freer hand in the development of the firm's trade. He did something more, however, than develop his own business affairs; public-spirited to an admirable degree, he always stood ready to help along trade in general.
William H. Larkin was born at Sacramento on December 17, 1866, the son of J. N. and Sarah (Fern) Larkin. He entered the family of a pioneer who came to California in 1852, and remained here until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he returned to his native state of New York and enlisted in a New York Regiment and fought throughout the great conflict. After that he returned to California. Miss Fern came about the same time, and they were married at Sacramento. She is still living, while J. N. Larkin is dead. Both made an enviable record for useful pioneer work.
William Larkin went to the schools in San Francisco, and then attended the Oakland high school. After that he came into his father's establishment in Sacramento, and from him thoroughly learned the printing trade, serving seven years at his trade. When J. N. Larkin retired, in 1905, our subject succeeded him as both manager and proprietor. William Larkin built a new building at 2211 K Street and moved from the old location on J Street, between Third and Fourth; at the time installing a new and larger plant.
At Sacramento, in the year 1902, Mr. Larkin was married to Miss Jeanette Cantrell, a daughter of Yolo County, whose parents were Joab and Martha Louise (Beeve) Cantrell, born in Tennessee and Missouri, respectively, who crossed the plains to California in 1852, later engaging in ranching in Yolo County. Mrs. Larkin was educated in the Sacramento high school, after which she taught school until her marriage. Mary Louise and Jeanette Larkin are two attractive young ladies of the ensuing household. Mr. Larkin was a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner, an Odd Fellow, Red Man, and Elk; he also belonged to the Native Sons of the Golden West. In national politics he was a Republican. Since his death, Mrs. Larkin continues the business and is meeting with deserved success.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 797-798. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.