San Francisco County
Biographies
CHARLES N.
KIRKBRIDE
Charles N. Kirkbride, a well known corporation lawyer with a background of thirty-eight year’s experience in the profession, is a member of the firm of Kirkbride, Wilson & Brooks, of San Francisco. He was born in Pueblo, Colorado, November 15, 1868, a son of Rev. Charles H. Kirkbride, who was a native of Mount Holly, New Jersey, and of Scotch and English lineage. The family name was derived from the town of Kirkbride in the north of England, Sir Richard de Kirkbride being the original ancestor. Joseph Kirkbride, the founder of the family in America, was a Quaker who came to America as an employee of William Penn and cast in his lot with the early settlers of New Jersey. Charles H. Kirkbride was reared and educated in New Jersey, completing his studies in Pennington Seminary. He was ordained a minister of the Methodist Church and served in pastoral work in several states, pointing out to others, by example as well as precept, the higher course in life. In 1864 he journeyed westward to Colorado, settling finally in Pueblo. In 1883 he came to California and remained a resident of this state until his death, which occurred in San Mateo in 1925. His wife, Louise (Holloway) Kirkbride, was a native of South Bend, Indiana, and of English ancestry. She was a direct descendant of John Woolman, a member of the Society of Friends and a noted exponent of the Quaker religion. Mrs. Kirkbride’s father was born in Virginia in 1798 and in youth went to Ohio, but subsequently removed to Indiana. Mrs. C. H. Kirkbride survived her husband for five years and passed away at San Mateo in 1830. Of the three sons born to them the youngest died in infancy. The second son, Walter Harold Kirkbride, is chief engineer of maintenance of way for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and makes his home in San Francisco. The record of his life appears elsewhere in this work.
The eldest son, Charles N. Kirkbride, was graduated from the College of the Pacific at San Jose in 1887 with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy and won the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois, in 1893, entering upon his career as an attorney in the fall of that year. He has been admitted to practice before the supreme courts of the United States, Illinois and California and the district court of the United States for the northern district of California. His attention is largely given to the law of municipal corporations and special assessments and of financial investments. In 1895 he was called to public office, becoming city attorney of San Mateo and serving continuously until 1923—a period of twenty-eight years. Aside from his professional work Mr. Kirkbride has been active in financial affairs and was the founder of the San Mateo Mutual Building & Loan Association. He was president of the Broadway Commercial & Savings Bank of Burlingame prior to its absorption by another bank and is financial adviser for a number of other corporations.
On the 25th of May, 1919, Mr. Kirkbride was married to Miss Mabel S. Goode, of San Mateo, and they now have three children: Bruce C., Harold E., and Elizabeth Louise. The family residence is at 360 Elm street, San Mateo. While Mr. Kirkbride occupies an office in the Peninsula building, San Mateo, he also maintains an office in the Mills building, San Francisco.
In the record of his life there is an interesting military chapter which had its beginning in 1911, when he became a member of the California National Guard, with which he was connected for six years. In 1917 he entered government service with the National Guard with the rank of Captain in the Coast Artillery. A such he served as ordnance officer in the coast defenses of San Francisco until 1919. After his discharge he was made a major in the officers reserve corps of the United States Army, Coast Artillery Section, and in 1929 was promoted to lieutenant colonel.
He belongs to the United States Army Association and to the American Legion. Socially he has connection with the Commonwealth Club and the Engineers Club of San Francisco. In religious belief he is a Methodist. In politics he is a republican. Keenly interested in educational matters, he is trustee of the College of the Pacific at Stockton, California, and for eighteen years was trustee of the San Mateo Union high school district. He was one of the founders of the League of California Municipalities and in 1923-4 was its president. For years, Colonel Kirkbride has been a member of the local administrative committee for San Mateo county of the State Bar of California, which has supervision of law practice in this state. He is also a member of the San Francisco Bar Association and of the American Bar Association.
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 229-231.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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