San Francisco County
Biographies
J. BROWELL
J. BROWELL, one of
the oldest mechanics in San Francisco,
has been a resident of this State since the early fifties.
He was born in England,
April 1, 1827, and grew up
and attended school in his native land.
He served an apprenticeship to the trade of shipbuilding. In 1852 he emigrated
to America and
two years later came overland to California. This overland journey was a long and tedious
one and occupied two seasons. When they
reached Omaha all their provisions
were washed away, and a fresh supply had to be obtained from St.
Louis. After
his arrival in this State he worked for a time at his trade of ship carpenter
and afterward turned his attention to contracting, capping, piling, building
wharfs, etc. He also engaged in
manufacturing cement pipes, and was among the first to originate and
manufacture sewer pipe, which is acknowledged to be the best and most practical
in use, and also makes chimney tops, stove linings, etc. He has had an extensive experience in this
work here, having been in the employ of Michael Reese over thirty years; also
A. B. McCreery, Abel Guy, G. Touchard,
B. Davidson and many other old settlers.
On several
occasions Mr. Browell has visited Europe,
and at one time remained nearly two years, working for the best French and
English houses and studying the most approved methods and applying the same in
manufacturing here.
Mr. Browell was married in 1849, to Miss Wallace, daughter of a
ship captain. They have four sons and
five daughters, and reside at their attractive home, 217
Lombard street, this
city.
Transcribed
by Cathi Skyles.
Source: "The Bay of San Francisco," Vol. 2,
page 313-314, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2005 Cathi Skyles.
California Biography Project
San Francisco County
California Statewide
Golden Nugget Library