San Francisco County
Biographies
JOHN T. McCORMICK
JOHN T.
McCORMICK, proprietor of the Standard Iron and Wire
Works at 763 Mission street, is a native of Ireland,
where he passed his boyhood. In his youth he went to Manchester, England, and
with Greening & Co., an old established house, he learned the trade of iron
and wire-working. He remained in their employ eight years, and became very
proficient in the business. In 1867 he emigrated to
the United States and at Baltimore, Maryland, he found employment at his trade.
In a few months he decided to go to California. He made the journey via the
Isthmus of Panama, arriving there in February, 1868. He expected to go later on
to Australia, but upon learning that the wire-working industry was in operation
in San Francisco he applied for a position, which he readily secured. At the
end of six months he severed his connection with this house, and formed a
partnership with Messrs. Gruenhagen & Bro.,
establishing the San Francisco Wire Works at 669 Mission street.
After a few months this relationship ceased to exist, and the business was sold
out. Mr. McCormick then returned to the California Wire Works, and remained in
the employ of this firm as foreman for twenty years, when that branch of the
business was abandoned. In October, 1889, he established the Standard Iron and
Wire Works, and engaged in the manufacture of brass, iron and wire railings of
every description, employing on an average seven hands. He made the first wire
netting used upon the fish wheels on the Columbia river,
under the patent of Williams Bros.
Mr.
McCormick was married in San Francisco in 1871, to Miss Mary A. St. John, a
native of New Orleans. They are the parents of five children: John E., Rose M.,
Charles M., Ethel and Marshall. Mr. McCormick is a member of Bernal Lodge, No.
19, A. O. U. W. He resides at 1724 Hyde street, where
he owns three dwelling-houses adjoining each other, and some unimproved
property. He is a man of wide business experience, and has aided very
materially in the development of the wire-making industry in San Francisco.
Transcribed
by Elaine Sturdevant
REUBEN WOOD BROWN
REUBEN
WOOD BROWN, deceased, for many years one of San Francisco’s active business
men, was a native of Schuyler county, New York, and was born near Elmira in 1942.
His boyhood days were spent in his native State, attending school. He came to
California in 1866 and engaged in business, butchering and dealing in live
stock in San Francisco. By his ability and good management he established a
large and lucrative business, which he successfully conducted up to the time of
his death, February 9, 1891. He had married a Miss Brown, of New York State,
who survives him.
Transcribed
by Elaine Sturdevant.
Source: "The Bay of San
Francisco," Vol. 2, Page 565-566, Lewis Publishing
Co, 1892.
© 2006 Elaine Sturdevant.