San Francisco County
Biographies
KATHRYENE C.
EISENHART
The record of Kathryene C. Eisenhart as city protective officer of San Francisco, covering a period of eighteen years of loyal and efficient service, is one unsurpassed in the history of women’s participation in civic affairs.
Mrs. Eisenhart was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a daughter of William Tabott and Emily Margaret (Smith) Cottier, the former having been born on the Isle of Man and the latter in London, England. When Mrs. Eisenhart was a child, she came with her parents to Oakland, California. William T. Cottier was the inventor of the Cottier system of ventilation, and after his daughter Kathryene had completed her education in the schools of Oakland, she was active in the management of the business of her father for nine years. The Cottier system is widely considered one of real merit, and among the early users of the system were the public schools of the bay cities and the municipal street cars of San Francisco, also the public baths. Mrs. Eisenhart acquired extensive business training in conducting the Cottier ventilator concern. Then, in 1913, she became the first woman protective officer of San Francisco, under C. White and Captain of Detectives Mooney. She rated number one in the civil service examination for this position, and was appointed by Mayor James Rolph, Jr. For eighteen years, Mrs. Eisenhart gave her services to the city in this capacity, and in the fulfillment of her many important assignments and duties she won the sincere commendation of her superiors. She was a valuable public servant, and possessed natural ability to cope with the difficulties and experience of her work. In 1917, she met with an accident while in the discharge of her duties and suffered injuries which eventually necessitated her retirement, on pension, in the year 1931. She left with the sincere regret of all with whom she had come in contact during her eighteen years of activity, and has carried with her into private life the true friendship of many who profited by her kindly words and deeds.
On February 10, 1910, Kathryene Cottier married P. M. Eisenhart, who is now the purchasing agent for the Howard Automobile Company of San Francisco, the offices of which are at 1601 Van Ness avenue. Mrs. Eisenhart is a member of Golden Gate Chapter, No. 1, of the Order of the Eastern Star.
The military record of P. M. Eisenhart is a most creditable one. On November 16, 1917, he enlisted in Company C of the Twenty-sixth Engineers at San Francisco; went overseas January 18, 1918, and returned to the United States, April 18, 1919. He participated in the following engagements: Grand Pre, Hindenburg Line, Meuse-Argonne, September 26 to November 11, 1918; Seicheprey and St. Miheil, September 12 to 18, 1918. He also served in the defense sector of Lorraine and was with the Army of Occupation at Coblentz, Germany, from October 18, 1918, to January 19, 1919. His company was awarded five citations.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 3 Pages 208-209.
© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN
FRANCISCO BIOGRAPIES