Alameda County
Biographies
DUNCAN CAMERON
The subject of this sketch is a descendant of a long line of Scottish chivalry, and belongs to that clan which claims Lochiel for its chieftain. He is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Pullen) Cameron, and was born in Canada June 22, 1820. Receiving his early training in his native place and there residing until 1838, in that year he went to Clintonville, Essex County, New York, and after a residence of ten months there, returned home, and subsequently removed to the State of Vermont. Our subject after a short time proceeded to the State of New York, and dwelt until the year 1845 at Ticonderoga, Essex County, at which time he took up his quarters in New York City and commenced boating on the Hudson River. Mr. Cameron next “went to sea” and while in the capacity of a sailor heard of the wonderful gold discoveries in California, upon which he determined to tempt that fickle jade, Fortune, at the mines. To this end he rounded the “Horn,” and cast anchor in the bay of San Francisco, September 24, 1850, having twice suffered shipwreck on the voyage. The motto of this enterprising gentleman has ever been “to be up and doing;” losing no time, therefore, he shipped as a fireman for service on the Sacramento River, but making only two trips, he betook himself to terra firma and embarked in the grocery trade. In January, 1851, he moved to the Pacheco Valley (now Contra Costa County) and embarked in farming operations, but only remaining there a few months, returned to San Francisco and opened a saloon, which abandoning, he worked as fireman on a steamer plying between San Francisco and Sacramento. In that year (1851) Sacramento was visited by a great flood, a disaster to others which Mr. Cameron quickly turned to his own advantage. As long as the waters covered the face of the district our subject plied a boat along its inundated streets and on their subsidence he embarked in a draying business. Disliking the place on account of its unhealthfulness, he sought another location and pitched upon the little village of San Antonio, which now forms a portion of Brooklyn, or East Oakland, which place he reached by way of Martinez, on horseback. Here he started the first livery-stable in the place, with three horses, which he kept in a yard. The livery business prospered, and in 1853 he built a large stable and had eight or ten horses. In about a year, however, he sold out, and in 1854, purchased a piece of property, and building upon it a residence, prepared to make that place his permanent home. About this time he bought the valuable block on which the post-office in Oakland now stands, and in 1854 espoused Miss Anne Lydia Maddox of Castro Valley, a native of the State of Illinois. In 1856 Mr. Cameron started in the stage business in opposition to that run by McLaughlin, then a famous local line. In 1858 he bought a quantity of land for farming purposes, which, however, he partly disposed of in 1861. Previous to the real estate excitement of 1868, he purchased a tract of land north of the town of Brooklyn, or East Oakland, known as the Cameron Tract, for eighteen thousand dollars, which he disposed of within a year for fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Cameron has filled various public positions from constable upwards. He has been twice elected to the Board of Supervisors of Alameda County, and has filled with credit the position of Public Administrator of the county for two terms. He has always taken an active part in politics, and was in succession a Whig and a Republican. His family consists of a daughter and son named, Nellie E., and Ashley D. An excellent portrait of this gentleman will be found in this volume.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 859
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
EDWIN H. CAMPBELL
Is the son of S. G. and Elmira (Cook) Campbell, and was born in Westfield, Massachusetts, April 10, 1850, but when five or six years old was taken by his parents to Dixon, Illinois, where he resided until he attained the age of fifteen years. At that period of his existence he launched out to face the buffetings of the world. He followed different occupations up till 1870, when he came to California, located in Sacramento, and in 1874 removed to Oakland, where he has since been engaged in the wine and liquor business, and is at present the popular proprietor of the Galindo Billiard Parlors on Eighth Street. Married in 1879, Miss Annie Bain, a native of Minnesota, and has no issue.
History of Alameda County, California…, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883
p. 859-860
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler