Alameda County Biographies

ANTHONY CHABOT

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 

	This gentleman, among the most enterprising of California�s citizens, whose portrait 
will be found in this work, was born and reared on a farm near St. Hyacinth, Canada, his father 
being a farmer.  At the age of sixteen years he left home to face the world and engaged in 
various kinds of businesses with fair results until 1849, when he came to California and 
embarked in mining for about ten years in Nevada City with good success, being at the same 
time interested in building ditches to supply the mines with water.  In 1854 he built and was 
owner as well, of two saw-mills in Sierra County.  In the year 1856 Mr. Chabot determined to 
abandon the mines for some other kind of life; he therefore proceeded to San Francisco and 
commenced investigating into the possibility of supplying that city with water.  Finding the 
scheme in every way most feasible, he at once entered into arrangements with John Bensley and 
A. W. Van Schmidt, to bring the waters of Lobos Creek into San Francisco.  After much 
litigation about property and water rights, difficulties were eventually surmounted, and in 
1858 the supply of water was commenced, and has since been continued.  At the same time his 
mining and other business affairs progressed in a most satisfactory manner.  In 1866 Mr. Chabot 
began to build the water-works to supply the city of Oakland, the liquid for which was first 
obtained from the Temescal Creek; in 1875, however, the waters of the San Leandro Creek were 
condemned, and from the lake that has been built there comes the main supply, it being 
distributed through one hundred and twenty-five miles of pipe, and when finished will have a 
capacity of fifteen thousand million gallons, while should the necessity arise, it is in 
contemplation to increase the supply from the water-shed in the vicinity of Pleasanton.  Until 
1875 Mr. Chabot was the sole owner of the water supply of Oakland, but in that year he disposed 
of a portion of his stock, still retaining, however, upwards of one-half of the interest.  In 
or about 1869, in company with Mr. McKenzie, Mr. Chabot built water-works for the city of San 
Jose; and about the same time constructed those for the supply of Vallejo, which latter he still 
owns.  Besides these he  was engaged in many and various affairs; indeed, his life from his 
arrival in California has been one of unvarying business activity.  He, at present, has large 
interests in the paper-mill at Stockton, San Joaquin County; the Judson Manufacturing Company in 
Oakland; the Pioneer Pulp Mill Company near Alta, Placer County, where machinery is now being 
erected for the manufacture of box or card board made from wood and used for lining and roofing 
houses, book-covers, etc.; the Puget Sound Iron Company, which is in successful operation about 
six miles from Port Townsend; and he is now preparing a large tract of land in Washington 
Territory for the cultivation of cranberries; while he is still interested in mining, all of 
which have proved satisfactory investments.  Mr. Chabot also took a prominent part in the founding 
of the Old Ladies� Home in Oakland, while his last gift to the city is the observatory now 
building on Lafayette Square, the telescope for which is being manufactured by Alvin Clark & Son, 
of Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, and which will be completed in or about the month of August, 1883.  
Through his life or ceaseless vigor Mr. Chabot has found time to exercise an unstinting charity; 
many are those whom he has helped with the �sinews of war� to aid them upwards.  He, perhaps, has 
done more than any of Oakland�s wealthy citizens, to bring business enterprises to her; his energy 
has ever been devoted on the side of progress, and it is to him in no small degree that she now 
boasts the possession of two of the greatest industries on the Pacific Coast.  His deeds will live 
in the future; on his works should be inscribed the motto Monumentum are perennius � A monument 
more lasting than bronze.

History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 861-862