California Biographies, Alameda County 
William E. Dargie

History of Alameda County, California
Publisher: Oakland, Calif : M. W. Wood

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

 


William E. Dargie.�The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the son 
of John and Eliza G. Dargie, and was born in San Francisco, March 13, 1854. He received his 
early education in the public schools of that city, graduating from the Union Grammar School 
and subsequently attending the High School for a year. At thirteen years of age he secured the 
position of bill clerk to Armes & Dallam, wholesale dealers in wood and willow ware, with 
whom he remained a twelve month. He now commenced an apprenticeship to the printer's 
trade in the office of the San Francisco Evening Bulletin, where he continued until 1875, during 
the time having gradually risen through the different grades of the composition-room and being
finally transferred to the editorial-rooms as a reporter. At this time Mr. Dargie determined to 
secure a better education for himself, he therefore entered the State University in 1875, being at 
the same time engaged in special reportorial work for the Bulletin, with the emoluments from 
which he paid his expenses. During the vacation which followed the close of the Freshman's year, 
Mr. Dargie purchased a controlling interest in the Oakland Tribune, and assumed the management 
of that journal July 24, 1876. The changes made in the paper, and its progress to its present status 
among the leading dailies of the. State have been noticed elsewhere, suffice it to say that Mr. 
Dargie's management has been eminently successful. On February 27 1883, he was appointed 
Postmaster of Oakland for a term of four years, and his managerial experience has been brought to 
bear upon the routine of the new office which has already worked a decided benefit to the community 
at large. Mr. Dargie retains his interest in the Tribune, being still its manager. He married in San Leandro
December IS, 1881, Miss Erminia, eldest daughter of Miguel Peralta, a native of Alameda County, and 
has one son, William E., Jr.