San Francisco County
Biographies
DUNCAN
MATHESON
Duncan Matheson, treasurer of the city and county of San Francisco, was born in Pictou county, Nova Scotia, October 26, 1865. His parents, William and Isabella (Douglas) Matheson, were born in that county in 1829 and 1831, respectively. They were descendants of Scottish Highland clans, and emigrated to Nova Scotia during the eighteenth century.
The Matheson and Douglas clans are recorded in Scottish history since the tenth century. Rev. George Matheson, M. A., D. D., of Edinburgh, author of several books on theology; Duncan Matheson, chaplain of the Highland Brigade and Scottish evangelist who became famous because of his caustic criticisms of the Crimean war; and Sir James Matheson of the firm of Jardine and Matheson of China and India, were conspicuous members of the family. The Douglas family was probably one of the most militant and conspicuous in the history of Scotland.
The Treasurer is a high school graduate, class of 1878, with a postgraduate course at Pictou Academy, 1880, where he specialized in mathematics. He came to California alone in December, 1881, and first obtained employment on the construction of the Elk River Railroad in Humboldt county, and later was with the California Redwood Company. Having a desire to see the world, he visited New Zealand, Australia, and India in quest of opportunities; and finding nothing of promise, returned to California in 1887. He obtained employment with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, in the maintenance of way department. Advancement was rapid, and he was appointed roadmaster in 1895, also awarded a gold medal for having the best roadmaster’s district Pacific system.
Mr. Matheson resigned from the service, and was appointed a member of the San Francisco police department in 1900, having been on the first civil service list. He thereafter took all the examinations for promotion, and after the first examination passed number one on all lists, and served in every grade and rank of the department. He was the first civil service appointee to reach the rank of captain. He retired as captain of detectives on September 2, 1929, after serving twelve years in that capacity.
Mr. Matheson organized the traffic department and was its first commander. The original police traffic plan, including street improvements, traffic arteries and boulevards, has never been changed or deviated therefrom. The detective bureau was reorganized in its entirety, and the work of the bureau was divided into special details to investigate classified crimes. Records made under this plan have never been equalled anywhere in America.
In 1921, Mr. Matheson organized the Peace Officers’ Association of the State of California, and has been the secretary and treasurer ever since. The organization has a membership of two hundred and fifty, including chiefs of police, sheriffs, district attorneys, and peace officers throughout the state. The purpose of the organization is to improve proper administration, to protect life and property, and to advance proper and reasonable legislation for the benefit of the people. He is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, and has been chairman of the resolutions committee for several years.
Mr. Matheson has no financial interests in any institution and is not connected directly or indirectly with any business that would interfere or would tend to influence the business of the treasurer’s office. He is a straight line republican, but has never participated in partisan politics. He is a thirty-second degree Mason, being a member of California Lodge, No. 1, the Knights Templar and the Shrine, and is a knight commander of the Court of Honor, a Sciot and a Royal Jester. He is a member of the Down Town Association, the Commonwealth Club, the Academy of Sciences, and various civic organizations. He is a Presbyterian, and president of the Men’s Club of St. John’s Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Matheson was married September 7, 1896, in Los Angeles, to Christibel Douglas of River John, Nova Scotia. Mrs. Matheson is of Swiss, French and Scottish ancestry--Swiss and French on her mother’s side, and Scottish on her father’s side. She is a member of the Eastern Star, and is affiliated with St. John’s Presbyterian Church. There are two children, unmarried,-- Douglas, with the Matson Navigation Company, and Helen, at home.
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 410-412.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
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