San Francisco County

Biographies


 

 

 

 

WILLARD WESLEY GLIDDEN

 

 

      A representative citizen of San Francisco was the late Willard Wesley Glidden, who was associated as a salesman with the Marine Electric Company at the time of his death, and who was most favorably known in business and social circles of his home city. Mr. Glidden was born in Sausalito, California, May 22, 1880, and was a son of Albert Putnam and Laura (O’Connor) Glidden. Albert Putnam Glidden was a New England Yankee by birth, and died in Sawtelle, California, when he was eighty-five years of age. During his active career, he was a contractor and builder by trade.

      Willard W. Glidden attended the grammar school in Madera, California, and also studied in San Francisco and Alameda. His first work of consequence was in the capacity of salesman for a coal company in Oakland and in Alameda, while later he became an employe of the Marine Electric Company as an outside salesman, which position he held with success and credit to his ability until his death, which occurred January 22, 1926.

      Mr. Glidden was married April 22, 1921, to Lillian B. Kearney, a native of San Francisco, and daughter of Thomas H. and Mary Catherine (O’Brien) Kearney. Her father came to the coast with General Hancock, and was in the real estate business. He was among the oldest exempt firemen in San Francisco, and was the one who organized pensions for widows of firemen. He was a stanch democrat in politics. Mr. Glidden had three children by a former marriage: Ardath, Donna, and Willard Wesley, Jr.

      Mr. Glidden served his country in the Spanish-American war, and during the World war period he acted as an inspector on boats until the vessels were purchased by the United States Shipping Board. In political affairs, he gave his support to the republican party, and he was a member of the blue lodge in Masonry. Mr. Glidden was in every sense of the term an exemplary citizen, and was respected and liked wherever he was known. His widow survives him, and resides at 3979 Clay street in San Francisco.

 

 

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 308-311.


© 2008 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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San Francisco County