Plot 35, Lot 34
Barstow obituary and Family Plot
Anson Barstow was born on November 29, 1831, in Haverhill, New Hampshire, and like many young men of his generation, was lured westward by the California Gold Rush. He made the long journey around Cape Horn in 1849, arriving in San Francisco the following year. Barstow spent his early years mining, and by all accounts, his ventures met with success. After a period back in New Hampshire, where he married Sarah S. Barstow, he returned permanently to California in the 1860s and soon took up a federal appointment as Collector of Customs, later serving as general weigher under General J. L. Abbot.
Drawn by Oakland’s promise, Barstow settled there in 1870 and established both his home and business life. By 1873, he had entered the city’s thriving grain and fuel markets, founding several partnerships over the decades. The firm Sarpy & Barstow, based on 11th Street, dealt in flour, hay, and feed. Later, he co-founded Barstow & Babbitt with Salmon M. Babbitt, operating from the corner of 13th and Franklin Streets, selling hay, grain, coal, and wood. Barstow also worked under the banner of Barstow & Garber before ultimately consolidating his operations into a successful coal and wood yard that supplied a rapidly growing Oakland. He conducted this business for nearly thirty years before transferring it in 1902 to Charles A. Harlow, a longtime associate, marking his retirement from commerce.
Barstow’s reputation as a solid businessman helped propel him into politics. He was first elected to the Oakland City Council in 1893, representing the Fifth Ward, and later won an at-large seat. During his second term he served as president of the council. In 1901, he was elected Mayor of Oakland in a close five-way race, presiding over the city during a period of rapid change. As mayor, he was also Commissioner of Public Works and became known for his attention to infrastructure and fiscal caution. He vetoed a proposed fifty-year telephone franchise in 1902, arguing it would unduly burden Oakland’s streets and tie the city to inflexible terms. His civic prominence also placed him at the forefront of major events, such as welcoming President William McKinley during his visit to Oakland in May 1901.
Personally, Barstow was known as a man of steady habits and deep faith, active in the First Presbyterian Church. On February 5, 1906, after a brief illness complicated by apoplexy, Anson Barstow died at his home at the age of seventy-four. His funeral drew many civic leaders, including Mayor Frank K. Mott and other prominent Oaklanders who served as pallbearers.
Sources: Oakland Tribune (March 11, 1899); Oakland Tribune (Nov. 12, 1902); San Francisco Call (Feb. 6, 1906); LocalWiki Oakland – “Anson Barstow”; Wikipedia – “List of Mayors of Oakland, California”, Find a Grave
No comments:
Post a Comment