PETER L. LINEHAN
PIONEER PLUMBER OF SAN JOSE
Bio-Sawyers
SURNAMES: McGANN, VOLKERS, CARMICHAEL, McDONLAD, SCOTT, SMITH, PATTERSON, RAPP
Broad experience, close application, enterprise and natural mechanical
ability have brought Peter L. Linehan to a foremost position in the
business circles of San Jose and Santa Clara County. He is one of the
pioneer plumbers of San Jose and so comprehensive a knowledge has he of
that trade that he wrote the original plumbing ordinance that was
adopted by the board of health and that is now a municipal law. A
native of New York, Mr. Linehan was born in Rensselear County, January
28, 1865, a son of James and Mary (McGann) Linehan, both natives of
County Clare, Ireland. They came to the United States and located in
New York, and from there came to California in 1869.
They took passage on the S. S. Alaska for Panama and from the Isthmus boarded the Golden City for San Francisco, arriving there the last day of December. The Golden City
was lost on its return trip to Panama. Three days after arriving in
this state, Mr. Linehan came to San Jose, and with the exception of
about two years spent on a ranch at Half Moon Bay, they spent their
remaining years here. Mr. Linehan died in his eighty-fourth year and
Mrs. Linehan at the age of seventy-six. They reared a family of nine
children : T. J., who died at the age of forty; Della, now the widow of
A. H. Volkers, and living in San Jose; James H. who was a plumber by
trade, married and died leaving two children; Peter L., of this review;
Mrs. Alice Carmichael, deceased; Mrs. Margaret McDonald died leaving
one son, Emmett, now an attorney in Washington, D. C.; Jennie, the wife
of George Scott, died in december, 1921, in San Francisco; and Katie
and Anna, both died single.
Peter Linehan received a common school education and at the age of
fifteen went to work on the Murphy cattle ranch and continued for two
years. He next served an apprenticeship at the plumbing trade under
James A. Hagan and when he had mastered the details of the business he
continued with that firm after Mr. Hagan turned the business over to
his son, Charles A. Hagan. The last four years that Charles A. was in
business, during his illness, and until his death, Mr. Linehan was
manager of the establishment, serving in all for eighteen years and ten
months under the Hagans. It was just before Charles A. Hagan died that
Mr. Linehan purchased the business and for six years was sole owner.
Then he sold a half-interest to Joseph W. Delaney and they carried on
the business under the firm name of Linehan & Delaney for eighteen
months, when Mr. Linehan sold out to his partner. The following three
years were devoted to perfecting an acetylene gas generator and burner,
known as the Star Generator, on which he secured patents. He then
turned his attention to making gas from crude oil and cold compressed
air for heating furnaces. After this venture he again turned his
attention to his old trade and has continued active up to the present,
doing a general plumbing business, keeping busy mostly with emergency
calls. Mr. Linehan was one of the organizers and the first president of
the San Jose Plumbers' Union and at the time of the Federated Trades
procession held here in September, 1889, he acted as Grand Marshal.
The marriage of Peter L. Linehan in January 31, 1887, united him with
Miss Lydia Esther Smith, daughter of the late Thomas and Esther
(Patterson) Smith, and a native of Boston, Mass. Mr. Smith went to
Virginia City, Nev., at an early day and followed mining until he came
to San Jose, and it was here that he became a well-known figure about
the county buildings, serving as superintendent for twenty years. Mr
Linehan now has in his possession the first clock that was put in the
criminal courtroom, presided over by the late Judge Belden and others,
and which was given to Mr. Smith when the new clocks were installed.
This clock is still keeping excellent time. Mr. and Mrs. Smith both
died in San Jose. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Linehan one
daughter, Lydia Esther, was born. She is now the wife of Otto Rapp, a
rancher living at Morgan Hill. Mrs. Linehan passed away in San Jose on
September 24, 1891.
It must not be presumed that Mr. Linehan has devoted his entire time to
his own affairs; for two terms he served as president of the Y. M. O.
I. of San Jose and has given liberally of his time to assist in the
promotion of various movements for the betterment of society in
general. He possesses a fine tenor voice and for twelve years was first
tenor in St. Patrick's Catholic Church, where for eight uears his
gifted wife was first soprano. While he was leading the singing there
he and Miss Sullivan, later Mrs. O'Connell, arranged the music for the
centennial celebration of Mission San Jose. He was an active member of
the Wilkins Glee Club of this city during the two years of its
existence; also a member of the Acme Literary and Musical Society and
took part in many amateur theatricals. He is a personal friend of Eugene T. Sawyer,
editor of the History of Santa Clara County, and acted with him in
several productions in the early days. In fact where there was musical
or literary enterainment Mr. Linehan could always be counted upon to do
his share in carrying through the interesting programs that were
arranged for the entertainment of the many who delighted in thsat line
of social uplift. He is an interesting talker and is widely and
favorably known throughout the county where he has lived for a period
of more than fifty years.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922, page 549
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