San Francisco County
Biographies
RANSOM NASH GETCHELL
RANSOM NASH GETCHELL, wholesale and retail dealer in coal, coke and charcoal, at foot of Broadway, Oakland, was born in Machias, Washington county Maine, December 24, 1847, a son of John Otis and Elmira (Holmes) Getchell, both natives of Maine. The father, born 1815 became a mason, Plasterer and builder, being also engaged at one time to a considerable extent in lumber interests, was always deeply interested in politics. In
early life as a Whig and later a
Republican, he filled several of the minor local offices, and was much
respected in the community in which he lived. He came to California in 1868,
with his wife and five children, by way of Panama, arriving in San Francisco,
July 2, and settling in Mendocino County, on account of its large lumber
interests, of which line of business he had acquired a good knowledge in his
native State. In 1870, however, he moved to
R. N. Getchell, educated in the public schools of his native town, helped on his father’s farm to the age of seventeen, when he became a “Yankee Peddler,“ serving two years for wages. He then drove a wholesale “Yankee notion“ wagon on his own account.
He
came with the emigration of the family to this coast in 1868. Here he first
worked eight months on a dairy ranch, then as a teamster four or five months,
when he found work in a lumber yard as tallying clerk, following that vocation
until 1876, when he became shipping clerk for Burnham, Standiford
& Company, of this city, with whom he remained seven years. In 1883 he went
into the firewood business on his own account, and from this has grown his
present, very considerable business in wood, coal, coke and charcoal, using his
own wharf at the foot of Broadway since 1888, with a branch yard at Fourth and
Grove streets, and an office at 461 Twelfth street. He has also built up a
general freighting and teaming business, using some eight wagons and seventeen
horses. In 1891 he was elected School Director from the fourth ward, running
ahead of his ticket and receiving 635 votes, a plurality of 353 over his
Democratic competitor and a majority of 300 over all. Mr. Getchell
was married in
Transcribed by Kim Buck.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Pages 595-596,
Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Kim Buck.