Faxon Dean Atherton
| Faxon Dean Atherton | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 29, 1815 Dedham, Massachusetts, USA |
| Died | July 18, 1877 (aged 62) San Mateo County, California, USA |
Faxon Dean Atherton (1815–1877) was an American businessman and landowner, and was a prominent citizen of San Mateo County, California. He is the namesake of Atherton, California.
A native of Massachusetts, Atherton was born of an established New England family with roots in the colonial period of the United States. He was educated in his native state and went into the shipping and merchant business at the age of 15. He was charged with the operation of vessels plying between Boston - Valparaíso, Chile and Monterey, California, gaining him wide and varied experience.
In 1834, Atherton traveled to Valparaíso, Chile where he would later establish a ship chandler's store, trading in tallow, hides, and merchandise. Nine years later, in 1843, Atherton wed Dominiga de Goñi in Valparaíso.
Atherton first visited San Francisco, California in 1836, when the city was in its infancy. His friend and business associate, Thomas Larkin urged Atherton to move to California. Larkin wrote, "... [T]here is education available for your children and a dignity of living on landed estates down the San Francisco peninsula (that is) convenient and accessible ... [Y]ou and I were of that country. Our eyes were turned towards it in admiration and in my part in gratitude. My children were from there. They and yours will soon be." During the California gold rush, Atherton amassed a great fortune with his shipping business and the import and export of goods.
In 1860, Atherton bought 640 acres (2.6 km2) at ten dollars an acre of land on the San Francisco peninsula in what was then known as Fair Oaks, becoming one of the first residents of the area. He built his home, Valparaíso Park, approximately where the Circus Club, a private country club, is now located.
Atherton was a land speculator purchasing tracts in Hayward, Watsonville, and other places. Atherton purchased Rancho Milpitas in the area of Fort Hunter Liggett from Ygnacio Pastor immediately upon its title clearance by the US Land Claims commission in 1875.
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