Résumé

Farquharson pursued two careers during his lifetime. One as a highly respected architect and the other as a banker for the California Savings and Loan Society. It is likely that he began his banking career c. 1875, and continued in both occupations until at least 1907. Between 1892 and 1894, at least, he also managed the Visitacion Water Company in San Francisco. (See Langley's San Francisco, California, Directory for 1892,p. 541.)

In addition to his multiple careers, he also ran, unsuccessfully, to be Mayor of San Francisco in 1879. His obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle of 07/21/1914, said of him: "Farquharson enjoyed the unbounded popularity among business men of the city, and was unanimously nominated for the office of Mayor on the ticket of the New Constitution party in 1879. This was the only occasion on which he took an active part in politics.” (See “David Farquharson, architect, banker and former nominee for Mayor, whose funeral will be held tomorrow morning.” San Francisco Chronicle, vol. CV, no. 36, 07/21/1914, p. 11.)

Another San Francisco Chronicle article, this one published during his mayoral campaign of 1879, indicated that Faquharson had enjoyed great success as an architect up to that time: "David Farquharson has been the architect of not less than 500 buildings in this city." (See “Farquharson and Flint,” San Francisco Chronicle, 08/22/1879, p. 2.)

Principal, David Farquharson, Architect, Sacramento, CA, c. 1851.

Partner, Kenitzer and Farquharson, Architects, San Francisco, CA, 1862-1873. Farquharson and Kenitzer designed at least two bank buildings for the Comstock Lode millionaire and financier William Chapman Ralston (1826-1875). In 1862-1865, the pair made their office at 428 California Street in San Francisco. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1862, p. 433 and San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1865, p. 485.)

Principal, David Farquharson, Architect, San Francisco, CA, fl 1875; In 1877, Farquharson maintained his solo architectural practice in Room #79 of the Nevada Block in San Francisco. This building was located at 309 Montgomery Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1877, p. 465 and p. 920.)

In 1875, the San Francisco, California, City Directory indicated that Farquharson was not only an architect but was also the President of the California Savings and Loan Society. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1875, p. 352.) He continued in this position in 1879. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1879, p. 311.) The 1880 US Census recorded his occupation as "architect."(See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 79; Page: 259d; Enumeration District: 213, accessed 08/21/2025.) San Francisco voter rolls of 1882 listed his occupation as "capitalist," suggesting he worked actively in banking at the time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 58; FHL Roll Number: 977208, accessed 08/26/2025.) A San Francisco voter roll of 1886 gave his job as "architect." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1896; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 61; FHL Roll Number: 977212, accessed 08/21/2025.) In 1889, the San Francisco Savings and Loan Society was located at 1 Powell Street. (See Langley's San Francisco, California, Directory, for 1889, p. 498.)

President, Visitacion Water Company, San Francisco, CA, c. 1894.

The 1900 and 1910 US Censuses, however, listed his occupation as "banker" and "bank president." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 104; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0164; FHL microfilm: 1240104, accessed 08/21/2025 and Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 44, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_102; Page: 1b; Enumeration District: 0302; FHL microfilm: 1374115, accessed 08/21/2025.) A 1907 voter registration roll listed him as an "architect." (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1907, accessed 08/21/2025.) It is likely that he continued his architectural career until about 1907, when San Francisco voter records listed him as an architect. (See Ancestry.com Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1907, accessed 08/27/2025.)

A San Francisco voter registration roll indicated that Farquharson had retired by 1910, at age 82, and voter records of 1913 confirmed this. (See Ancestry.com Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1910, accessed 08/27/2025 and Ancestry.com Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1913, accessed 08/27/2025.)

College

Farquharson did not attend a college to study architecture. An 1879 article in the San Francisco Chronicle indicated that "...the profession taught him by his father offered inducements...." (See “Farquharson and Flint,” San Francisco Chronicle, 08/22/1879, p. 2.)

Relocation

Born in Arbroath, (or Aberbrothock), a coastal town in the southeastern Scottish County of Angus likely in 1828. His birthdate was recorded as being in 04/1828 according to the 1900 US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 104; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0164, accessed 08/26/2025.) The San Francisco Chronicle published a short biographical sketch of Farquharson during his mayoral campaign of 1879. It said: “David Farquharson was born in the city of Arbroath, Scotland, and is at present 52 years of age. Remaining up to his twentieth year in his birth-place, he then crossed the ocean to this country, whither his parents had preceded him, settling in Henry county, Iowa." From this we can glean, that his parents came to the US before him and settled in the southeast corner of IA, where he also lived for a short time, perhaps between 1848-1850. (Apparently, the architect and/or his wife Jessie also spent some time in IA in 1858, as their daughter Mary Agnes was born there.)

When news spread of gold's discovery north of San Francisco, Farquahrson joined the stampede and sailed around the Cape Horn to CA, settling in the Sacramento, CA, vicinity in about 1850 or 1851. The Chronicle biography continued, "Arriving in Sacramento in 1850, [he] worked in the placers of Weavertown and Dry Creek, in Calaveras county, occupied his head and hands for three years, when the profession taught him by his father offered inducements, and he began work as an architect in Sacramento. Displaying superior abilities he was selected to build the Dawson House, now the Saint George, at the corner of Fourth and J Streets, the old State Capitol and the Golden Eagle Hotel, which to-day stands as a monument of the young man’s ability and industry. (See “Farquharson and Flint,” San Francisco Chronicle, 08/22/1879, p. 2.)

An 1886 San Francisco voter roll indicated that he had been made a naturalized US citizen on 10/31/1856 in the District Court of Sacramento, CA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1886; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 61; FHL Roll Number: 977212, accessed 08/21/2025.)

In his early days in the Sacramento, David was accompanied by his younger brother Charles D. Farquharson (born c. 06/03/1829 in Montrose, Scotland-d. 11/25/1895 in San Francisco, CA), a builder, with whom he worked until the latter's death in 1895. In 1860, Charles lived with David, his wife, Jessie and two children--Mary and Henry--in Bear River Township, Yuba County, CA, where they raised sheep, according to the US Census for that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Bear River, Yuba, California; Roll: M653_72; Page: 1010; Image: 474; Family History Library Film: 803072, accessed 10/03/2016.)

The architect first appeared in the San Francisco city directory in 1862. In that year he resided at 428 California Street and worked in 10-year partnership with the noted architect Henry Kenitzer (1827-1910). (See Langley's San Francisco, California, Directory for 1862, p. 149.) Farquharson and his family resided at 200 Ellis Street in San Francisco in 1865, at the time of the death of his infant son, Willie. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images, accessed 08/21/2025.)

During his first twenty years in San Francisco, Farquharson became deeply integrated into the city's business and social establishment. In 1868, he joined the board of the Mechanics Institute, a social, commercial and educational organization that was very important for multiple social classes during the 1850s and 1860s. This board would have introduced him to a range of people from various walks of life. The San Francisco Daily Examiner described this board election in 1868: “The election for officers yesterday was most spirited and closely contested. The following officers were elected for the coming year, by a majority of from 75 to 100. For President, A.S. Hallidie, wire-rope manufacturer; for Vice-President, Joseph Wilcox, master builder; for Treasurer, Henry L. Davis, President California Trust Company; for Corresponding Secretary, H.D. Dunn, Commiss’r of Emigration; for Recording Secretary, H.J. Holmes, Bookkeeper with W.T. Garrett; For Directors, D.R. Coleman, ship smith; Wm. C. Pease, carpenter; N.D. Arnott, Vulcan Iron Works; Abner Doble, blacksmith; David Farquharson, architect; Jacob Browning, drayman; John Hancock, printer; In honor of the success of the regular ticket, and of the endorsement of the Eight-Hour Law, the great fog whistle of the Vulcan Iron Works was sounded between half-past one and two this morning.” (See “Mechanics Institute Election,” San Francisco Daily Examiner, 03/03/1868, p. 3.) Interestingly, Farquharson served on the board with banker Henry L. Davis, President of the California Trust Company. Shortly thereafter, Farquharson would also enter the field of banking, as President of the California Savings and Loan Society.

Also in 1868, San Francisco's Board of Supervisors named Farquharson, architect William Craine (d. 1894), Geo. Cofran, Superintendent of Public Streets, and Supervisors Nunan and Ashbury to form a committee to study the condition of public buildings in the city. The San Francisco Daily Examiner wrote on 10/29/1868: “Resolution No. 9131—Resolved, That Messrs. Wm. Crane, David Farquharson, architects and Geo. Cofran, Superintendent of Public Streets, be and are hereby requested to act with a Committee of this Board consisting of Supervisors Nunan and Ashbury, to examine and report the condition of the Public Buildings, and report to this Board at as early a days as possible. In Board of Supervisors, San Francisco, Oct. 21, 1868. Adopted by the following vote: Ayes—Supervisors Harrold, Flaherty, Ashbury, Shattuck, Clayton, Cavallier, Shrader, Stanyan. Absent— Supervisors Cole, Nunan, Carnavan.” (See Official classified notice, San Francisco Daily Examiner, 10/29/1868, p. 4.) Placement on this city committee would have raised his profile further and provided many contacts in city government.

By 1869, Farquharson lived at 1136 Sutter Street in San Francisco, CA, and continued to reside here in 1875. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1869, p. 227 andSan Francisco, California, City Directory, 1875, p. 352.)In 1870, Farquharson resided in US Census's 1st Precinct, 12th Ward of San Francisco, in house valued at $10,000, a considerable sum for the time. His neighbors were similarly affluent. The Fleishhacker Family lived close by in a residence valued at $15,000. A son in this household, Mortimer Fleishhacker, Sr., (1866-1953) then age 3, would become a very prominent banker and venture capitalist in San Francisco. His sons also continued the family legacy of becoming bankers and important Bay Area investors. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: San Francisco Ward 12, San Francisco, California; Roll: M593_85; Page: 775B, accessed 08/21/2025.) A San Francisco voter register of 1876-1877 indicated that David Farquharson resided near the intersection of Sutter and Polk Streets. His brother Charles lived at Hansa House at this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 44; FHL Roll Number: 977099, accessed 08/26/2025.)

Farquahrson also entered politics for a brief time during the tumultuous late 1870s. At this time, the Depression of 1873 had thrown many working-class men out of work, and the resulting frustration helped to foster the brief rise of a populist party, The Workingman's Party of California. Its leader was the Irish-born "nativist" Denis Kearney (1847-1907), a popular orator whose rhetoric echoed working class frustrations of the moment. The party's platform called for it to "...wrest the government from the hands of the rich and place it in those of the people, where it properly belongs," and "...to rid the country of cheap Chinese labor as soon as possible, and by all the means in our power, because it tends still more to degrade labor and aggrandize capital." (See Facing History & Ourselves.org, "Platform of the Workingmen's Party of California (1877)," accessed 09/03/2025.) The railroad barons, such as Leland Stanford, Sr., , who employed Chinese labor to lay track, became highly visible enemies for the Workingmen's Party, although Kearney and Stanford did meet privately to mediate their differences. (See Gordon H. Chang, "The Chinese and the Stanfords: Nineteenth-Century America’s Fraught Relationship with the China Men," Amerasia Journal, vol. 45, no. 1, 2019.) In this environment of simmering racial and class conflicts, the wealthy newspaper editor Charles De Young nominated Farquharson to be the New Constitution Party's mayoral candidate in 1879. The architect was one of at least four candidates, one each for the Democratic, Republican, New Constitution and Workingmen's Parties, and he lost to the Workingmen's Party of California candidate Baptist minister Isaac Smith Kalloch (1832-1887). During the heated election campaign, De Young traded insults and accusations with Kalloch, who defiantly stated that newspaperman's mother operated a brothel. De Young became enraged and shot and wounded Kalloch on 08/23/1879. In reprisal, Kalloch's son, Isaac Milton Kalloch (1852-1930), shot and killed De Young outside the Chronicle's offices on 04/23/1880. Oddly, Isaac Milton Kalloch was acquitted of murder charges and later became a lawyer in Oakland, CA.

The 1880 US Census located Farquharson and his family on Van Ness Avenue. His household included his wife, offspring Mary, Charles and David, as well as two household workers, Isabella Longmore (born c. 1845 in Scotland) and Maggie Callaghan (born c. 1855 in CA). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 79; Page: 259d; Enumeration District: 213, accessed 08/21/2025.) The architect continued to list a home address of 502 Van Ness Avenue on a San Francisco voter roll of 1886. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1886; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 61; FHL Roll Number: 977212, accessed 08/21/2025.)

Farquharson and his wife resided at 801 Van Ness Avenue by at least 1896. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 99; FHL Roll Number: 977621, accessed 08/21/2025.)

The architect and banker had a listed address at the Baldwin Hotel in 1889. It operated on the northeast corner of Market Street and Powell Street. (See Langley's San Francisco, California, Directory for 1889, p. 498.)

According the Langley's San Francisco Directory of 1890, both David Farquharson and his brother Charles shared the same street address, 1011 Pine Street, in 1890, although this may have been a business address for both. (See Langley's San Francisco, California, Directory for 1890, p. 473.)

The 1900 US Census listed household members at 801 Van Ness as being their son, David, a relative named Mary (assigned a birthdate / place of 01/1842 in IA, although this date was 16 years too early, if it was his daughter) and two Irish-born servants, Ellen Tarrel (born c. 01/1846) and Jennie Bell (born 05/1879). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 104; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0164; FHL microfilm: 1240104, accessed 10/03/2016.) The architect continued to reside at 801 Van Ness in 1907, according to San Francisco voter rolls. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1907, accessed 08/21/2025.)

The 1910 US Census found the architect residing alone in the Fairmont Hotel. He worked as a bank president by this time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 44, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_102; Page: 1b; Enumeration District: 0302; FHL microfilm: 1374115, accessed 08/21/2025.)

As an adult, David Farquharson had to endure several premature deaths in his family. He and his wife buried an infant son William Farquharson in 1865. His younger brother Charles died in 1895, and his wife Jessie passed in 1904, and his two children Mary and David died on consecutive days in 01/1907.

Farquharson died in San Francisco, CA, on 07/19/1914. An obituary in the San Francisco Examiner stated: "Farquharson, who was president of the California Savings and Loan Society, came to San Francisco from Scotland in 1850. He was known for many years as one of the city’s most prominent architects….. He leaves a son, Charles D. Farquharson, secretary of the California Savings and Loan Society.” (See “David Farquharson, Pioneer, Is Stricken,” San Francisco Examiner, 07/21/1914, p. 3.)

As the only living child. Charles was the beneficiary of his entire estate and served as its executor. The estate was valued at $105,700 in 1914. The legal document describing the estate of 08/18/1914 outlined the main assets as follows: "...The said real estate consisting of a lot of land on the northwest corner of Van Ness avenue and Eddy street, in the said city and county of San Francisco, of the value of twenty thousand dollars or thereabouts, said real estate being improved and the annual rents, issues, and profits thereof being one thousand dollars or thereabouts, also a lot of land in the Masonic Cemetery of the value of one hundred dollars or thereabouts. The personal property consists of cash in banks amounting to thirty thousand five hundred dollars, two hundred shares of the capital stock of the Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company of the value of seventeen thousand dollars or thereabouts and seven hundred and sixty-two shares of the capital stock of the California Savings and Loan Society of the value of thirty-eight thousand and one hundred dollars or thereabouts. All of said personal property is of the value of eighty-five thousand and six hundred dollars or thereabouts. The estate and effects in respect to which the probate of said will has been applied for, do not exceed in value the sum of one hundred and five thousand seven hundred (105,700) dollars." (See Ancestry.com, State of California, City and County of San Francisco, "In the Matter of the Estate of David Farquharson, Deceased.," No. 17673, Department 9, 08/18/1914, pp. 1-2.)

Parents

Few details about his parents are known. A "Charles Faquharson," born in Scotland in 1789, died in New London, Henry County, IA. His wife was Mary Mathews Farquharson (1786-1848 in IA). The names are consistent with his brother Charles and his daughter Mary, but no concrete link has been found between the architect and Charles and Mary.

As noted above, David had at least one brother, Charles Dease Farquharson (1829-1895).

Spouse

He married a Scotswoman, Jessie D.F. Henderson (born c. 1832 in Scotland-d. 09/01/1904 in San Francisco, CA) on 02/14/1854 in Montrose, Angus, Scotland. (See Ancestry.com, Source Information Ancestry.com. Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014, accessed 08/21/2025.) Montrose was about 13 miles northeast of Arbroath, in the County of Angus, Scotland.

The 1900 US Census indicated that Jessie came to the US in 1860, and she did appear living with David in Bear River Township of Yuba County, CA, in that year's US Census. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 104; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0164, accessed 08/26/2025.) Since they married in 1854, however, it is likely that she came before 1860 to join her husband in the US. In support of this theory, one of her children, Mary, was listed as having been born in IA in 1858. She may have been born as Jessie was en route to CA from Scotland.

As per the 1841 Scotland Census, Jessie was the youngest of five children living with their mother Mary Henderson (born c. 1801 in Scotland) in Montrose, Scotland. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Parish: Montrose; ED: 12; Page: 12; Line: 550; Year: 1841 Source Information: 1841 Scotland Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006, accessed 08/26/2025.)

Children

The 1900 US Census indicated that Jessie Farquharson had had six children, three of whom were alive in that year. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 104; Page: 9; Enumeration District: 0164, accessed 08/26/2025.) Five of the children included: Mary Agnes Farquharson, (born c. 1858 in IA-d. 01/19/1907 in San Francisco, CA), Henry Farquharson (born c. 05/1860 in CA), William Farquharson (born 1864-d. 10/30/1865 in San Francisco, CA), Charles David Faquharson (born 09/30/1866 in San Francisco, CA) and David Farquhar Farquharson (born 09/1872 in San Francisco, CA-d. 01/20/1907 in Livermore, CA).

In 1896, Charles worked as an accountant and David as a clerk, both in San Francisco. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1896; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 99; FHL Roll Number: 977621, accessed 08/21/2025.)

Biographical Notes

Member, Saint Andrews Society, San Francisco, CA, c. 1879.

Member, Free and Accepted Masons (F & AM), California Lodge, San Francisco, CA.

In 1898, San Francisco voter records listed 71-year-old David Farquharson as standing 5-feet, 8-inches tall, with a fair, Caucasian complexion, blue eyes and gray hair. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 113; FHL Roll Number: 977274, accessed 08/26/2025.)

The San Francisco voter roll of 1910 indicaated that Farquharson was a registered Democratic voter. (See Ancestry.com Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Register of Voters, 1910, accessed 08/27/2025.)

In 1912, Farquharson sold land In the Mission District to Sebastian Merkel. (See "Deeds," The Recorder [San Francisco], 07/31/1912, p. 6.)

• Arbroath, Scotland UK (Architect's Birth)
  Arbroath, Scotland UK

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