Contra Costa County Biography

JAMES T. NARBETT

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, December, 2006.

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

 
Among the men whose enterprise and ability have been active factors in promoting 
the remarkable growth and prosperity of the city of Richmond is numbered James 
T. Narbett. He is a native of that far-off country, India, he being born aboard 
a ship at Rangoon, British Burma, August 31, 1874. He is the son of William and 
Eleanor Narbett. At the age of two years he was brought to America, his parents 
locating in Washington. His father conducted a summer resort at Fort Canby, 
remaining there for some time. He later removed to San Francisco, and then to 
Oakland, where he followed contracting. In 1879 the parents went to Benicia. In 
1880 they removed to near Crockett, this being the year before the laying out of 
the town. Here in the public schools James T. Narbett received his preliminary 
education, afterward attending the Vander Naillen School of Engineering. In 1896 
Mr. Narbett took up contracting. In 1898 he spent one year in Alaska. Returning 
to Crockett, he entered school again, and graduated in 1900. In 1904 he removed 
to Chico, Butte County, and was awarded the contract for the addition to the 
State Normal School. He erected the Colonial Hotel at Briggs, and the Shotover 
Inn at  Hamilton City, in Glenn County. Mr. Narbett also had many large 
contracts in various parts of the State. On January 1, 1907, he discontinued 
contracting and took up special studies from eminent architects. He shortly 
passed the State examination, becoming a licensed architect. He designed the 
Masonic temple at Oroville and Chico and many other large buildings in Chico, 
Orland, Willows, Dunsmuir, Sacramento, and other parts of California. In 1910 he 
opened offices in Sacramento in connection with his Chico office. In 1911 he 
removed to Richmond, where he established offices in the La Selle Building, 
which was one of the first designed by Mr. Narbett after locating in this city. 
He designed the Elks' temple, which cost seventy thousand dollars, the new city 
hall, the fire houses, and many other handsome buildings in Richmond. In 
politics Mr. Narbett is a Progressive, and previous to 1913 he cast his lot with 
the Republican party. He is prominently identified with various fraternal and 
social organizations, being a member of Masonic blue lodge, Royal Arch chapter, 
Commandery, Aahmes Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Oakland, and the Eastern Star. 
He is a member of the B. P. O. E. of Richmond, I. O. O. F. of Crockett, and the 
Eagles' lodge of Richmond. He was united in marriage to Miss Gussie McDowell, of 
Alturas, California, February 2, 1902. Their one son, Keith Oliver, was born 
November 5, 1905. Mrs Narbett is a progressive member of the Richmond 
Improvement Club, Eastern Star, and at one time held the office of State 
Secretary of the Christian Endeavor Society.
 
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California", Elms Publ. Co., 1917, 
pp. 470- 471.