San
Joaquin County
Biographies
STEPHEN E. BRENNAN
For his entire life, with the
exception of five years spent in San Francisco, Stephen E. Brennan has lived in
San Joaquin County and has been identified with the best interests of his
locality, being an able and successful business man and a citizen of eminent
public spirit. Successful in material
affairs, he has not neglected the other aspects of life, and with his wife is
an especial friend of public education, Mrs. Brennan being particularly active
in educational affairs of her district.
He was born on his father’s farm near Atlanta, California, in the Van
Allen district of San Joaquin County, November 25,
1876 the youngest son of Patrick and Bridget (Kelly) Brennan, both natives of
Ireland. Patrick Brennan was born in
1829, and when twenty-three years old came to America and located at New
London, Connecticut. His California
residence dates from 1857, when he located in Stockton, where he remained until
1862, when he bought 320 acres eighteen miles southeast of Stockton, where he
farmed until his death on October 10, 1879.
He was survived by his widow and nine children, five of whom are
living. The mother passed away on May
29, 1912 a woman of capability, and her demise caused much regret among the
residents of her locality. Stephen E.
Brennan was reared on the homestead near Atlanta and received a good education
in the Van Allen district school, and with the exception of five years spent in
San Francisco, from 1905 to 1910, he has continuously resided in San Joaquin
County, where his citizenship has counted much in the way of progress and
advancement. After the death of his
mother, the estate was divided, Mr. Brennan receiving his portion of the home
place, and the following ten years were spent in the development of this ranch
into a model alfalfa and fruit ranch, one of the best in the county.
In 1905 Mr. Brennan was united in
marriage with Miss Goldie M. Bacon, the adopted daughter of Benjamin
Bacon. Mrs. Brennan was left an orphan
when only four years of age and soon after was taken into the Bacon home. Benjamin Bacon was a man of fine character
and carried on an extensive grain and stock business near Collegeville. He was a native of New York and crossed the
plains in 1854 to California, where he engaged in the stock business in San
Joaquin County; he owned large tracts of land and continued active until 1887,
when he retired and moved to French Camp, where he built a fine residence and
resided there until his death, about twenty years ago. Mrs. Brennan was born in Modesto, but was
reared and educated in San Joaquin County, and at the age of eighteen began
teaching school, having graduated from the Stockton Normal School at that
age. After her marriage, she continued
to teach school, and for eleven years was principal of the Van Allen School and
was instrumental in building up that efficient institution. Mrs. Brenan holds a life certificate granted
to her in recognition of her capable work along educational lines. Mr. and Mrs. Brennan are the parents of two
children: Harold and Marjorie. Mrs. Brennan is an active member of the
executive committee of the San Joaquin County Teachers’ Association. About two years ago the Community Welfare
League of Escalon conceived the idea of community moving pictures and Mr. and
Mrs. Brennan were most active in the organization and work, and Mrs. Brennan
was selected as a member of a board of twelve directors.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1308. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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