San Francisco County
Biographies
GEORGE HYDE
One of the notable figures in the history of San Francisco was the late George Hyde, who served as the first alcalde of this community. He was a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and traced his ancestral line to the English nobility. His family was possessed of much wealth, and held a high position in the social scale of New England. George Hyde was the fourth of his line to be so named. The second of the name was the founder of the Clarendon Press, which property was handed down from generation to generation. George Hyde (III), the father of the immediate subject of this review, died prematurely when he was only twenty-eight years of age.
In 1846, George Hyde came to California on board the United States frigate Congress, and was then secretary to Commodore Stockton. He served as second alcalde under Lieutenant Bartlett during the time that officer was a prisoner in the Montana hills. He was appointed first alcalde by General Kearny on May 28, 1847, and served as such from June following until April 3, 1848. When Lieutenant Bartlett was made prisoner by the Californians, George Hyde was appointed by Captain Hull, and stayed in the place until Bartlett’s release.
In 1848 and 1849, George Hyde lived on Clay street near Dupont, occupying the house later known as the Sazerac. Afterward he moved to Broadway, and subsequently took up his abode on an extensive lot, then far out of town, near the present junction of Post, Market and Montgomery streets, opposite the site of the Palace Hotel. Here he built a pretentious house, surrounded by attractive lawns and gardens, which was an innovation in the San Francisco of that day, and called forth much attention. The Mechanics Library now occupies a portion of this lot, and the remainder is yet in the possession of the Hyde estate.
George Hyde’s vocation in life was that of judge and lawyer, and he was a man of estimable character in every respect. In Pennsylvania, he was united in marriage to Miss Ellen McCoy. He has descendants now residing in San Francisco, among whom may be mentioned Mrs. Grace M. Horn and Mrs. Alexander E. Garceau.
Mrs. Grace M. Horn is the granddaughter of George Hyde, being the daughter of the late Mrs. Frances A. Martin, his daughter. Mrs. Martin died February 14, 1931. Her husband, who preceded her in death, was the Spanish consul in San Francisco. William P. Horn, husband of Mrs. Grace M. Horn, is the son of Thomas Horn, who came to San Francisco in 1852 and founded one of the first wholesale tobacco firms in this city. Mr. and Mrs. William P. Horn are the parents of two children, Palmer and Constance.
Mrs. Alexander E. Garceau, daughter of George Hyde, was married in San Francisco in 1891. Her husband, who here passed away in 1912, was a prominent representative of the medical profession in this city.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Byington, Lewis Francis, “History of
San Francisco 3 Vols”, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1931. Vol. 2 Pages 238-242.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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