 |
We provide hyperlinks to member society websites, join now
Page last updated 13 Mar 2010
Cemetery / Mortuary / Obituary records
Church records
County societies
Court records
Land records
Military records
Naturalization records
Newspaper records
Projects in progress
Vital records
In 1856 the city and county of San Francisco was incorporated within its present borders, the land down the peninsula that was not included in the incorporation became San Mateo County A portion of the bill that established the county required the election of county officers and the naming of a county seat on the second Monday of May of the current year (1856). Three well known but not very ethical politicians, Bernard and Billy Mulligan and Chris Lilly, arranged to gain control of the new county’s government. The resulting vote was proof of corruption. The Laguna area reported 297 votes with a voting population of 25, Colma had a return of 500 with 50-60 eligible voters. In Belmont witnesses were not allowed to monitor the vote. In all 1800 ballots were cast in an area with a total population of only 2500 at a time when only adult males were eligible to vote.
Fortunately not all of those who were elected were corrupt. The post of County Judge was won by Benjamin I Fox of Redwood City. It was his court, sitting in the temporary quarters at Angelo's Hotel in Belmont (the town named county seat in the election) which presided over the suits resulting from the election. As the trials went on, earlier misdeeds caught up with many of the accused. The majority fled the area for parts unknown. Others, however, were caught, tried and at least one, James Casey, was hung.
Stating that an election that took place before the Consolidation Act that necessitated it took effect on July 1, could not be legal, the California State Supreme Court threw out the entire election in October of 1856. The officials who were in place, however, continued to function as San Mateo County's governing body until a true and legal election was held in 1857. When the legislature officially recognized San Mateo County in 1857 they named Redwood City as the capitol.
The rich resources of the area and the mild climate have been instumental in the settlement of San Mateo County. The early Ohlone Indians were hunters and gatherers, living under some of the huge oak trees that still dot the area. Spanish explorers, padres and ranchers used the area for food production. Anglo settlers came in at the time of the gold rush. Although little if any gold was found in the county, they stayed establishing a thriving lumber community and numerous dairy farms.
The wealthy of San Francisco opened summer homes on the Peninsula. In the early days it was a full days trip to get from San Francisco to those homes. But first the railroad and later improved roads and cars opened up the possibilities and the inhabitants of San Francisco moved permanently into San Mateo County. The 1906 earthquake displaced many people in San Francisco. After relocating in San Mateo County, many never moved back into San Francisco. World War I brought industrial growth to the areas around South San Francisco and with it an influx of residents. No longer did residents have to travel to work in San Francisco, they were employed in masses on the peninsula. There are many books available on the history of San Mateo County and it's individual cities.
| Newspaper records |
Explanation of Newspaper Codes |
| Burlingame Daily News |
9/22/2006 |
Burlingame |
AM |
| Pacifica Tribune |
8/20/2003 |
Pacifica |
AM |
| Post |
1960-1963 |
San Mateo |
NA |
| San Mateo County Obituaries |
|
www.smcgs.org |
|
| San Mateo County Times |
9/15/2001 |
San Mateo |
AM/LN |
| San Mateo Daily Journal |
6/18/2007 |
San Mateo |
AM |
| San Mateo Times |
1925-1977 |
San Mateo |
NA |
| San Mateo Times |
1925-1928 |
San Mateo |
ANC |
| Times Gazette Index 1859-1899 |
|
www.smcgs.org |
|
|
|