San Francisco County
Biographies
GULIAN P.
RIXFORD
Gulian P. Rixford, an honored San Francisco pioneer and former expert for the United States Department of Agriculture, met a tragic death at the advanced age of ninety-two years, being fatally injured October 27, 1930, when struck at Los Altos station by a southbound Southern Pacific train. Reviewing his career, one of the local papers said: “Mr. Rixford was a leader in California agricultural affairs. Born in Highgate, Vermont, in 1838, he was graduated from McGill University of Canada in 1864. He came to California three years later, and from 1868 to 1889 he was connected with the San Francisco Bulletin. His interest in the outdoors and plant life led him to edit a horticultural column. At the age of seventy he entered the government service. Mr. Rixford introduced the pistache nut commercially into California. He brought the Smyrna fig to California and was given the gold medal of the Fig Institute for this work. He retired from government service in 1929.” Mr. Rixford enjoyed the distinction of being the oldest member of the Commonwealth Club and was widely known as one of San Francisco’s most respected and venerable citizens. He resided at 1813 Pierce street.
In early manhood Mr. Rixford was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Corey. He is survived by two sons and two daughters: Dr. Emmet Rixford, a leading surgeon of San Francisco; Loring Pickering Rixford, an architect of New York city; Geneve, a celebrated artist of this city, who is mentioned on another page of this work and who is the wife of W. W. Sargeant; and Mrs. Benton C. Byrd.
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 129-130.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S SAN FRANCISCO
BIOGRAPIES