McNEAR

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Monday, June 28, 2010 at 04:19:46 :

Marin Journal
Thursday, June 20, 1918
Page 1

‘Grand Old Man’ Of Petaluma Dies

John A. McNear, Petaluma’s “grand old man,” passed away at the family home in Petaluma Wednesday afternoon at the age of 86 years. He had been ill but a few days, having been confined to his house since Saturday.

Petaluma owes a great deal to John A. McNear. He was one of Sonoma county’s wealthiest men and heaviest taxpayers, and to him is attributed the organization of many of the county’s most important projects.

He was born in Wiscasset, Maine, and came to California in 1856 as a sailor. He arrived again in San Francisco, and three days later he was in Petaluma, where he had made his home continuously ever since. He was the originator of the business which later gave the name of “the grain king” to his brother, George W. McNear. He organized the Sonoma County National Bank, of which his son, George P. McNear, is now the president. He was the first president of the Petaluma and San Francisco railroad, and also organized the Petaluma Power and Water Company.

For scores of years the birthday celebrations of the deceased had been happy occasions for the large family, all the members of which gathered at the homestead.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Hattie McNear; George P. and Dr. John A. McNear of Petaluma, and E. McNear of McNear’s Point, Marin county, his three sons. Two grandsons, Lieutenants George P. and E. Denman McNear, are now in France.

The funeral will be held in Petaluma.