Alameda County Biographies

Norman Logan

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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


 
        Norman Logan, prominently connected with business interests of San 
Francisco and until lately secretary of the Northern Electric Company, was born 
in London, England, October 20, 1864, a son of William G. and Mary Louisa 
(Canham) Logan, also natives of that city. The father was for many years manager 
of Coutts & Company of London, England, the largest private banking 
establishment in the world, and was financial adviser to the Duchess of Teck, 
the mother of the present queen of England. He was one of the most prominent 
financiers in Great Britain and his ability carried him forward into important 
relations with banking interests and with general business life. He died in 
1896. His wife was a daughter of John and Mary Canham, of London, England, and a 
granddaughter of John Canham, collector of the port of London for many years.
        Norman Logan acquired his education in Aldenham, Hertfordshire, England, 
in one of the Elizabethan schools founded by Richard Platt during the reign of 
Queen Elizabeth. From this institution he was graduated in 1881 and after laying 
aside his books became interested in the real-estate business as an employe of 
the firm of Rogers, Chapman & Thomas, of London, with whom he remained for five 
years, proving himself even at this early period, reliable, resourceful and 
discriminating in business affairs. When he left England Mr. Logan came to 
California, settling in Eldorado county in 1887. He came to this country in 
order to take charge of a mining property owned by his father and in this way 
became interested in mines and mining, gradually concentrating his attention 
upon this line of work. In the latter part of 1887 he took charge of a mine in 
Placer county in the interests of an English syndicate and this he continued to 
operate until 1889, when he returned to England in order to place the Mammoth 
Bar mine on the English market. Returning to America in 1892, he settled again 
in California, purchasing a ranch in Placer county and engaging in farming and 
mining until 1901, moving to various parts of the southwest from California to 
New Mexico during that time. Late in the latter year he joined E. R. Cowles and 
under the firm name of Cowles & Logan they engaged in the commission business, 
Mr. Logan retiring from this connection in 1906. In the same year he entered the 
auditing department of the Ocean Shore Railroad in San Francisco and in May 
joined the Northern Electric Company as assistant secretary, winning promotion 
to the position of secretary in 1907. This connection has called forth his 
initiative and executive ability, much of the credit for the advancement arid 
progress of the concern being due to him. He possesses organizing power, ability 
to coordinate different forces and to carry forward a difficult business project 
to successful completion, and these qualities have all been elements in a 
success which places him in the front ranks of progressive and able business 
men.
        Mr. Logan married Miss Lilian Leigh, a daughter of Frederick and Sarah 
Leigh, of Southampton, England, and they have two children: Shirley Muriel, aged 
nineteen; and Kenneth Norman, seventeen. Mr. Logan is an enthusiastic cricketer 
and is not only a member of the Alameda Cricket Club but is vice president of 
the Alameda Cricket Association. He is a member of the Olympic and the Merchants 
Exchange Clubs of San Francisco and does all in his power to promote general 
business expansion and progress. He has himself reached a creditable place in 
business circles, for he is broad�minded, progressive and enterprising and a 
valuable addition to the ranks of San Francisco's able and successful men.
 
Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 
1914, p. 344