San Luis Obispo County Biographies

P. B. PREFUMO

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


P. B. PREFUMO, son of Antonio and Anna Prefumo, was born February 20, 1844, in Genoa, 
Italy. He was one of a family of seven sons and five daughters. At the age of thirteen years 
he went before the mast, and for five years was on the high seas, making frequent trips to 
the coast of Italy and the different countries bordering on the Mediterranean Sea. Young 
Prefumo had a strong inclination for sea life, but his parents greatly desired that he should 
spend his boyhood days at home and pursue his studies at school. The trip just alluded to, 
therefore, was taken against their wishes. He came to San Francisco when eighteen years 
of age, as third mate of a sailing vessel. This was in 1862. He determined to leave his ship 
at this port, although he had shipped for a much longer period of years, but he was not 
satisfied with his future prospects oil this vessel. He therefore secreted himself in the city, 
and when the time came for the boat to sail, third mate Prefumo was not to be found. He 
started soon after for Nevada City, Nevada County, California, and was in business there 
for three years, returning then to San Francisco. He clerked for a short time in West Point 
and next went to Monterey, where he remained for three years as a clerk in a general 
merchandise store. In 1868 Mr. Prefumo first settled in San Luis Obispo. At that time he 
established himself in the general merchandise business with W. H. Henderson. This 
arrangement lasted one year. Then after doing business alone for eight years, he formed 
a copartnership with Mr. Vallmer, and up to the present time the business is conducted 
under the firm name of Prefumo & Vallmer. 

Mr. Prefumo was married in 1876 to Miss Ada Selby, daughter of Captain Selby, one of the 
early pioneers of this coast. The subject of this sketch is a member of the Odd Fellows, 
having joined in 1868. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.