A H MATHEWS
Palo Alto Businesssman
BIO-SAWYERS
SURNAMES: BORBRIDGE,
A hard-working, successful business man of Palo Alto, who thoroughly
understands his business is A H Mathews, the wide-awake owner and
proprietor of the enterprising firm of Mathews and Company, dealers in
staple and fancy groceries at 323 University Avenue, Palo Alto,
Cal. He was born in Montreal, Canada, March 31, 1865, a son of
Richard and Mary (Borbridge) Mathews, the father being engaged in the
real estate business at Montreal. Both parents are now deceased.
Mr. Mathews attended the public schools and later took a business
course in the senior high school in Montreal. After leaving
school he sought and obtained employment as a salesman in the millinery
store of John MacLean and later had charge of the trimming department,
remaining in that capacity for eight years. In the fall of
1893 he came to California; locating in San Francisco he was employed
by Robert L. Toplitz & Company, wholesale milliners, and was in the
trimming department for three years when his health failed and he was
obliged to take a vacation, and for over two years he traveled about
California in quest of health. He went to Carpinteria, Santa
Barbara County, and entered the employ of Charles Curtis, an old school
friend, as a clerk in his grocery; then he went to Redwood City and was
engaged in the poultry business for two years, and then came to Palo
Alto in 1903. He went to work for Earle and Company and was with
them for sixteen years, thoroughly learning the grocery
business. On October 1, 1919, he established his own business,
first as Mathews & Smith; later his partner, Ray Smith, sold his
interest to Mrs. E. D. Clark and the firm name became Mathews &
Company. In November, 1920, Mrs. Clark sold her interst to Leslie
E. Sampson. Mr. Mathews was married in 1894 at Martinez to Miss
Ethel Agnes Borbridge, a native of Canada, and they have a comfortable
residence at 244 Byron Street.