Faxon Atherton
Encyclopedia
Faxon Dean Atherton was an American businessman and landowner, and was a prominent citizen of San Mateo County, California
. He is the namesake of Atherton, California
.
, Atherton was born of an established New England
family with roots in the colonial period of the United States. He was educated in his native state and went into the shipping and merchant business at the age of 15. He was charged with the operation of vessels plying between Boston - Valparaíso, Chile and Monterey, California
, gaining him wide and varied experience.
In 1834 Atherton traveled to Valparaíso, Chile where he would later establish a ship chandler's store, trading in tallow, hides and merchandise. In Valparaíso in 1843 he married Dominiga de Goñi.
in 1836, when the city was in its infancy. His friend and business associate, Thomas Larkin
urged Atherton to move to California. Larkin wrote, "... [T]here is education available for your children and a dignity of living on landed estates down the San Francisco peninsula (that is) convenient and accessible ... [Y]ou and I were of that country. Our eyes were turned towards it in admiration and in my part in gratitude. My children were from there. They and yours will soon be." During the California gold rush
, Atherton amassed a great fortune with his shipping business and the import and export of goods.
In 1860, Atherton bought 640 acres (2.6 km²) at ten dollars an acre of land on the San Francisco peninsula in what was then known as Fair Oaks, becoming one of the first residents of the area. He built his home, Valparaíso Park, approximately where the Circus Club, a private country club, is now located.
Atherton was a land speculator purchasing tracts in Hayward
, Watsonville
and other places. Atherton purchased Rancho Milpitas
in the area of Fort Hunter Liggett
from Ygnacio Pastor immediately upon its title clearance by the US Land Claims commission
in 1875.
During the conversion of land, records under the Land Commission were changed and Ygnacio's small ranch grew from several thousand acres to 42000 acres (170 km²). Owners of plots dating back to the Hispanic period, including Indians, Mexicans and Spaniards, on land not originally owned by Pastor became squatters overnight. Atherton then sent notice to evict them. Many were settlers on improved lands awaiting pre-emption, including George Dutton and others who had believed they owned property in the town of Jolon
.
, previously known as "Fair Oaks". On the town's incorporation in 1923, it was found that the name was already in use, so Atherton was chosen. As early as 1912, it was already being referred to by that name. Some of his children's names appear on West Atherton street signs: Isabella, Alejandra and Elena.
Faxon Dean Atherton married Dominga de Goñi (from Valparaíso, Chile) in 1843 and had they had seven children:
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
. He is the namesake of Atherton, California
Atherton, California
Atherton is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 6,914 at the 2010 census. In September 2010, Forbes magazine placed Atherton's zip code of 94027 at #2 on its annual list of America's most expensive zip codes, with a median home price of $4,010,200...
.
Early life
A native of MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Atherton was born of an established New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
family with roots in the colonial period of the United States. He was educated in his native state and went into the shipping and merchant business at the age of 15. He was charged with the operation of vessels plying between Boston - Valparaíso, Chile and Monterey, California
Monterey, California
The City of Monterey in Monterey County is located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast in Central California. Monterey lies at an elevation of 26 feet above sea level. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,810. Monterey is of historical importance because it was the capital of...
, gaining him wide and varied experience.
In 1834 Atherton traveled to Valparaíso, Chile where he would later establish a ship chandler's store, trading in tallow, hides and merchandise. In Valparaíso in 1843 he married Dominiga de Goñi.
California
Atherton first visited San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1836, when the city was in its infancy. His friend and business associate, Thomas Larkin
Thomas O. Larkin
Thomas Oliver Larkin was an early American emigrant to Alta California and a signer of the original California Constitution. He was the United States' first and only consul to the California Republic.-Early years:...
urged Atherton to move to California. Larkin wrote, "... [T]here is education available for your children and a dignity of living on landed estates down the San Francisco peninsula (that is) convenient and accessible ... [Y]ou and I were of that country. Our eyes were turned towards it in admiration and in my part in gratitude. My children were from there. They and yours will soon be." During the California gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
, Atherton amassed a great fortune with his shipping business and the import and export of goods.
In 1860, Atherton bought 640 acres (2.6 km²) at ten dollars an acre of land on the San Francisco peninsula in what was then known as Fair Oaks, becoming one of the first residents of the area. He built his home, Valparaíso Park, approximately where the Circus Club, a private country club, is now located.
Atherton was a land speculator purchasing tracts in Hayward
Hayward, California
Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in...
, Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
and other places. Atherton purchased Rancho Milpitas
Rancho Milpitas (Pastor)
Rancho Milpitas was a Mexican land grant in present day Monterey County, California given in 1838 by governor Juan Alvarado to Ygnacio Pastor. The grant encompassed present day Jolon.-History:...
in the area of Fort Hunter Liggett
Fort Hunter Liggett
Fort Hunter Liggett , named after General Hunter Liggett in 1941, is a United States Army fort in southern Monterey County, California, about 250 miles north of Los Angeles and south of San Francisco...
from Ygnacio Pastor immediately upon its title clearance by the US Land Claims commission
Public Land Commission
The Public Land Commission, a former agency of the United States government, was created following the admission of California as a state in 1850 . The Commission's purpose was to determine the validity of prior Spanish and Mexican land grants in California.California Senator William M...
in 1875.
During the conversion of land, records under the Land Commission were changed and Ygnacio's small ranch grew from several thousand acres to 42000 acres (170 km²). Owners of plots dating back to the Hispanic period, including Indians, Mexicans and Spaniards, on land not originally owned by Pastor became squatters overnight. Atherton then sent notice to evict them. Many were settlers on improved lands awaiting pre-emption, including George Dutton and others who had believed they owned property in the town of Jolon
Jolon, California
Jolon is an unincorporated community in Monterey County, California. It is located south of King City, at an elevation of 971 feet . Jolon is located in the Salinas Valley in a rural area located about 6 miles from Mission San Antonio de Padua, and is part of Fort Hunter Liggett.The town was...
.
Legacy
Atherton's greatest legacy was his family name given to the town of AthertonAtherton, California
Atherton is an incorporated town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Its population was 6,914 at the 2010 census. In September 2010, Forbes magazine placed Atherton's zip code of 94027 at #2 on its annual list of America's most expensive zip codes, with a median home price of $4,010,200...
, previously known as "Fair Oaks". On the town's incorporation in 1923, it was found that the name was already in use, so Atherton was chosen. As early as 1912, it was already being referred to by that name. Some of his children's names appear on West Atherton street signs: Isabella, Alejandra and Elena.
Faxon Dean Atherton married Dominga de Goñi (from Valparaíso, Chile) in 1843 and had they had seven children:
- Maria Alejandra Atherton (b.1844), married Jared Lawrence Rathbone.
- Elena Amanda Atherton (b.1845), married Frederick William Macondray, Jr of Boston, Massachusetts, son of one of the first merchants of San Francisco and large land owner.
- Anacleto Francisco Atherton (b. 1849)
- Jorge H. Bowen Atherton (b.1851), eloped with Gertrude Franklin HornGertrude AthertonGertrude Franklin Horn Atherton was an American writer.-Early Childhood:Gertrude Franklin Horn was born on October 30, 1857 in San Francisco to Thomas Ludovich Horn and his wife, the former Gertrude Franklin...
in 1876. - Eulogia Isabel Atherton (b. 1853), married Enrique Edwards, of Valparaíso, Chile. Their great grandson, Dr. Carlos Lopez, became president of Menlo college in 2004.
- Francisco Fascon Atherton(1857), married Jane Selby, daughter of Thomas Henry SelbyThomas Henry SelbyThomas Henry Selby was the 13th Mayor of San Francisco serving from December 6, 1869 to December 3, 1871....
, 13th mayor of San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
, who built the Selby Shot Tower in San Francisco and founded the Selby Smelting Works. - Florence Atherton (b. 1861), married Edward Lilburn Eyre, first mayor of Atherton in 1886. [NOTE: She has sometimes been confused with Florence Atherton Faxon Spalding, a Boston music teacher, who married, also in 1886, George Frederick Spalding of Newton, Massachusetts, father of John Varnum Spalding, an associate justice of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (1944–1971)]
External links
- Atherton History
- CalBios: San Mateo County: Faxon D. ATHERTON
- Consulate General of Chile, San Francisco: The Chile-California Connection
- The San Francisco Genealogy The History of San Mateo County by Phillip Alexander
- Harlan Hague The Jumping Off Place of the World: California and the Transformation of Thomas O. Larkin Originally published in California History, Winter 1991/1992
- Supreme Judicial of Massachusetts Memorial of John Varnum Spalding
- Monterey County Historical Society Overview of Post-Hispanic Monterey County History by MaryEllen Ryan and Gary S. Breschini, Ph.D.
- National Park Service Draft Fort Hunter Ligget Special Resource Study & Environmental Assessment: Chapter 2 Cultural Resources
- Federation of East European Family History Societies San Francisco Call Newspaper Vital Records for 1869-1895 (Surnames from: Atherton, Faxon Dean)
- Noe Hill Landmark 79000527 Atherton House in the National Register of Historic San Francisco
- The Literature Network Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton
- The Almanac New Menlo College president has deep roots in Atherton, May 19, 2004
- Palo Alto Online West Atherton: Large estates and heritage trees, by Susan Golovin and Sue Dremann