San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 351
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 10/19/2009
DENNIS BURNS
The enviable distinction of being the oldest building contractor in point of service in Stockton is due Dennis Burns of 921 South California Street, who was born in County Wicklow, Ireland, on May 4, 1854, and came to this country in 1859 when his father brought his family, including the mother and two sons, to America. He was thus reared and educated in Greenwich, Conn., and in that town was apprenticed to the carpenter trade. He served under an experienced contractor, and he himself became an expert carpenter. In 1873, at the age of nineteen, he left home, and for two years he worked at his trade in Erie, Penn. Late in 1874, however, he pushed on West to San Francisco, and in the Bay city found work on the Grand Opera House, and later he was given employment in a planing mill there. After that he did contracting for himself, beginning in a small way; but finding things rather dull in San Francisco during the Centennial Year, he went inland to Stockton and took charge of the building of a house for L. Henderson, near Acampo; and since that time, he has been continuously active hereabouts, operating, always more and more extensively, not only in San Joaquin County, but erecting many building in Amador, Stanislaus, and Contra Costa counties.
In Stockton, Mr. Burns built the United States Hotel, the El Dorado School, the Weber Hall, St. Joseph's Home, (all save the last hospital) and remodeled St. Mary's Church and added to it the spire. He also put up Dr. Asa Clark's residence in the State Hospital grounds, the Jackson school, the first City Pavilion, the Hickinbotham Block on East Market Street, and also the Hickinbotham residence, and many fine homes in the northern part of the city. He constructed the buildings for the Tesla Mines in Contra Costa County. He laid the timber in the Court House erected in 1890, and erected the County Jail on North San Joaquin Street, and was for two years superintendent of building of the San Joaquin County Jail, and built the San Joaquin County Pavilion. His work has always been first class, and it is not surprising that such has been his prosperity here that he now owns valuable real estate in Stockton, including four houses on the South side, which he himself built. He put up one of the finest residences erected on the South side, having bought the lot from the late Captain Weber.
Mr. Burns was married at San Francisco in 1880 to Miss Mary Elizabeth Kelly, a native of Maine, and they have had ten children, seven of whom are still living. Catherine has become Mrs. Kerblow, and the mother of four children. Ana is Mrs. Murl and the mother of two children. Maude is Mrs. Richmond, and she has one child. Georgie is Mrs. Springer, and she has one child, a son Sydney. The sons are: Edward, Robert, who was in the World War serving as a member of the Ninety-first Division, and he saw active service on the battlefields of France; Harry married Miss Clara Anderson, of San Francisco.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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