San Francisco County
ROBERT K. PATTRIDGE
ROBERT K. PATTRIDGE, dealer in redwood lumber, 128 Stewart street, is a native of Watertown, Jefferson county, New York. Born October 18, 1826. His parents, Winslow and Levina (Wood) Pattridge, were natives of Keene, New Hampshire, where they were married. They emigrated to Watertown about 1813, and there Mr. Pattridge erected and operated an old-style woolen mill, and also engaged in general farming. With the growth of the town he became quite prominent as a public-spirited citizen, and in his many transactions accumulated considerable wealth. He and his wife died at Watertown at the ages of seventy-five and seventy-eight years respectively. Of their family of nine children, only three daughters and one son are now living.
Robert K. remained at home until he was twenty years of age, improving the educational facilities of that day and learning the trade of woolen manufacturing. He then changed his occupation and his life. Going to New York, he shipped as ordinary seaman on board the bark Science, of Plymouth, for a whaling cruise in the Pacific ocean. At the port of Rio de Janeiro Mr. Pattridge decided his allegiance. He reshipped before the mast of the English brig Letitia for the Mediterranean loaded with coffee, and after visiting the Ionian islands, Greece, Austria and the islands of Sicily, he returned to New York. Then going to Boston, he shipped on a bark for the St. Mary’s river, Georgia, and took on a cargo of spars for Portsmouth, England, where they discharged, returning to Boston in ballast, arriving in February, 1849. After a brief visit to his home in Watertown, he returned to New Bedford and passed the summer on a mackerel fishing cruise about Provincetown, Cape Cod; in the fall was employed on the ship Beatrice for New Orleans. In January, 1850, he was engaged as second mate of the bark Apthorp to round the Horn for San Francisco, where they arrived September 12, 1850, with a general cargo. After unloading the vessel he was taken sick, and had to lie by to recuperate.
Upon his recovery Mr. Pattridge was engaged by Turner, Fisk & Co., a commission house, to take charge of a store ship then lying in the harbor, which he superintended about eighteen months. During that time he made two trips to San Diego and intermediate points as captain of a top-sail schooner carrying general freight. In September, 1852, he went to the mines at Poor Man’s creek, the headwaters of Feather river, where he mined with fair success until February, 1853. Returning to San Francisco, he became assistant wharfinger of Pacific Street wharf under Captain M. R. Roberts. In 1854 he went on a trading voyage to Behring strait, as second mate and supercargo of the brig Boston, for W. H. White. After returning to San Francisco he went to North Beach to take charge of Meiggs’ wharf. In 1855 he leased the property and started a wood and lumber business, and remained there until 1868, when he moved to the present location, 128 Stewart street. Occupying a fifty-vara lot, running through to Speare street, he established himself in the redwood-lumber business, shipping lumber direct from Eureka, Humboldt bay.
In San Francisco, in 1873, Mr. Pattridge wedded Mrs. Catherine (McKinley) Seaver, a descendant of Scotch ancestry and a native of Boston, Massachusetts. They have to adopted children, Robert Kirkwood, Jr., and Andrey Catherine.
In 1860 Mr. Pattridge built his residence at 34 John street, where he has since resided, except as he spends a part of each season at his fine county home at South San Francisco. He is an advocate of no secret orders, but for many years has been vice-president of the Lumber Dealers’ Exchange, and in politics is a Republican.
Transcribed
by Joyce and David Rugeroni.
Source: “The Bay of
San Francisco,” Vol. 2, Pages 376-377, Lewis Publishing Co, 1892.
© 2006 Joyce & David
Rugeroni.