Santa Clara County
Biographies
MATTHEW
LENNON
MATTHEW
LENNON. The business standing attained by Matthew Lennon was the result of
years of practical experience as a merchant in Gilroy, and his moral and
ethical influence emanated chiefly from his association with the Episcopal
Church of the town, of which he was one of the establishers and one of the stanchest supporters. Mr. Lennon was an American by
adoption, having been born in Bolton, a manufacturing town eleven miles from
Manchester, Lancashire, England, August 27, 1821.
True to his surroundings and the inherited tendencies of generations of his
family, James Lennon, the father of Matthew, embarked upon the cotton
weaving business at an early age, but died when quite young, leaving three
children and his wife, formerly Ann McCaffrey, who died in Hannibal, Mo.
The children grew to manhood and womanhood, and one, John, was engaged in the
merchandising business in Denver at the time of his death. The daughter, Jane Lennon,
also died there, thus leaving Matthew the sole survivor of his family.
After
completing his education in the public schools of Manchester,
Matthew Lennon learned the cotton weaver’s trade, later still serving an
apprenticeship to a machinist with the James Wickworth
Company. In time he advanced to the position of foreman, and after acquiring
sufficient experience started a business of his own. After the death of his
first wife he sold his business and came to America in 1856, locating in
Berlin, Worcester county, Md., where he assumed charge
of a mercantile establishment until 1866. That year he came to California by
way of the Isthmus of Panama, and after a few months in a general store in
Petaluma went to Santa Cruz in 1867, engaging first in a grocery business on
Mission Hill. In 1869 he came to Gilroy and opened a grocery business, and for
twenty-nine years was in business on Monterey and Fifth streets. This
occupation proved both congenial and profitable, and he became one of the
largest as well as most enterprising of the merchants of the town, continuing
thus until disposing of his enterprise April 6, 1897. From then until
his death he lived retired, occupying the beautiful home erected several years
ago, and which is surrounded with fruit and flowers and guarded by two sentinel
pine trees, which owe their infancy to pioneer days and are steadily towering
skyward. Mr. Lennon’s second marriage was with Miss Eliza Brittingham, a native of Maryland. Five children blessed
their union: Lida, of Gilroy; Mark, Roy, and Roger of
San Francisco; and Jean, the wife of D. J. Riley, of Gilroy.
Mr. Lennon was a stockholder in the Bank of Gilroy for over a quarter of a
century, and was a director of the same for more than twenty years. Politically
he belonged to the Democratic party, and among other
offices has held that of city treasurer.
When
Mr. Lennon arrived in Gilroy in 1869 he found no Episcopal place of
worship, nor a resident clergyman of that denomination. He sadly missed his
church associations, and subsequently obtained a license as a lay reader,
holding services in the Y. M. C. A. hall. A Sunday school also
was maintained for the children, and through these two
sources the idea of a church building was rapidly developed. It was largely
through the energy and enthusiasm of Mr. Lennon that a start was made in a
practical direction, but it was determined upon after Mr. Linforth had agreed to contribute everything in the
hardware line required for the completed structure. Without a dollar as a
foundation, Mr. Lennon bought a lot for $300, and while a beginning was
being made he solicited funds from those interested, and even received
assistance from members of other denominations. The new church grew in beauty
and completeness, and the first service, held January 29, 1871, marked the end of a long struggle on the part of the people
and their chief promoter. To-day the structure is an attractive place of
worship. Thirty-three years this temple of God has housed its congregations and
resounded with the songs of praise of its children; tendering social
inducements to young and old, and maintaining always that spirit of humanity,
sympathy and good will which raises the Christian believer above his fellow
non-believers. During all these years Mr. Lennon served as warden of the
church and was the ever-present friend and wise counsellor in all deliberations pertaining to the welfare
of the church. Though removed from the scenes of his labors, his influence and
example are left as a heritage to those who were privileged to know him.
Mr. Lennon died July 21, 1904.
Transcribed
by Marie Hassard 25 October 2015.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
824-825. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marie
Hassard.