Building History

Henry Russell Ralston (1842-1914) opened an early iron foundry in San Francisco, CA, in about 1870. He was joined in this enterprise by his brother, John. The first building was a two-story, wood-framed building with a gable roof and horizontal shiplap siding.

Building Notes

The Santa Rosa Press-Democratincluded some information on the foundry and Ralston's life in his obituary: “Henry Ralston, pioneer in the steel business in San Francisco and father-in-law of J. Russell Bane of the Occidental hotel, died Sunday morning at his summer home in San Anselmo, after suffering from a complication of diseases for two years. The immediate cause of death was hemorrhage. Ralston was born in Greenoch, Scotland, November 22, 1842. He came to San Francisco, by way of Australia, in 1866, and engaged in the iron business, founding the Ralston Iron Works, of which he remained the head until his practical retirement in 1904. He retained the vice-presidency until his death.” Ralston is survived by his widow, Mrs. Angela Ralston; a son, H.J. Ralston, president of the Ralston Iron Works; two daughters, Mrs. Catherine Bane, wife of J. Russell Bane of Santa Rosa; and Mrs. Angela Regan, wife of Alfred T. Regan, and by two brothers, John Ralston of Oakland and Alexander Ralston of Australia. For the past two years Ralston had been under the care of Dr. H.H. Yerington of San Francisco and Dr. F.J. Hund of Ross. The funeral will be held Wednesday at 10 a.m. from the chapel of the Halstead & Dierks undertaking establishment. Interment will be in Mountain View cemetery, Oakland. Russell Bane was called to the bay city Sunday on account of his relative’s death.” (See “Father-in-Law of R. Bane Called by Death,” Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, Volume XLI, Number 141, 06/16/1914, p. 4.)

PCAD id: 23427