Benjamin Maloon was an early resident of Oakland, married to Mary, father of Benjamin F., Henry, Seth, Charles, George and Ida.
BENJAMIN MALOON PASSES AWAY1
Oakland Loses One of Its Most Prominent Pioneers.
Was a Well known Contractor and Builder in the Early Fifties.
Benjamin Maloon, a pioneer resident of Oakland, passed away yesterday at the home of his son in Crow canyon, Contra Costa county. The cause of death was neuralgia of the heart, brought on by overtaxing himself while walking. He died at 2:15 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The deceased came to California in '49, landing in San Francisco in November of that year. Mr. Maloon's family joined him in Oakland in 1854, where a year previous he had established his residence. The family has resided here ever since.
Mr. Maloon was a lumber merchant and contractor in early days, both in this city and San Francisco. He built the first schooner ever constructed in San Francisco. It was named the Susan and Kate Denin, after two actresses, who were very popular at that time.
The schooner was stolen by pirates in the South Seas shortly after it was launched. He built a number of other vessels, among which is a scow-schooner, Catherine Miller, seen quite often in Oakland and San Francisco harbors.
The First Baptist Church, the present Odd Fellows' building, the Wilcox block at Ninth and Broadway, which was the first three-story business block in Oakland, and hundreds of residences were built by Mr. Maloon during the forty odd years he was engaged in the building business in this city.
In 1855 and 56 Mr. Maloon was a member of the famous Vigilantes Committee in San Francisco, and in '53 and '54 he was an active member of the Law and Order party of this city, which was engaged in quelling the riots over property titles at that time.
Mr. Maloon was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, August 7, 1822, making him over 75 years of age at the time of his death. He leaves six children, living here, Benjamin F., Henry, S. B., Charles and George Maloon. He has a daughter, Ida, also residing in Oakland
Through his charitable inclinations in helping unfortunate friends, Mr. Maloon lost much of his once large estate,
The deceased was one of the charter members of the University lodge of Odd Fellows, and was also a Mason, but of late years dropped active membership in both organizations.
The funeral arrangements have been made. Henry Evers brought the body of the late pioneer in from Crow Canyon this morning.
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HALF A CENTURY IN OAKLAND.
Death of Benjamin Maloon, the Pioneer, Father of Three Generations.
BENJAMIN MALOON, THE PIONEER SHIPBUILDER.
OAKLAND, January 20. - Benjamin Maloon, who lived in Oakland for nearly fifty years and leaves descendants to the third generation, died last night at Charles Maloon's ranch in Crow canyon, near Haywards. He was seventy-five years old. The funeral will be held to-morrow afternoon at 9 o'clock from the family residence, 1509 Linden street.
The deceased pioneer came to California in 1849 and soon afterward, with his wife and three sons, settled in Oakland. His children attended school in the little frame building that Horace Carpentier gave the village in exchange for its water front. This was the grant that the Supreme Court declared void.
Mr. Maloon was a shipbuilder in the argonant days. In 1856 he launched from ways in San Francisco the first schooner ever built there. It was the Susan and Kate Depin, named after sisters who were popular actresses of that day. He built the schooner Catherine Miller, that still plies on the bay. Later he became a building contractor and confined himself for twenty-five years to Oakland while he was in active business. He erected the Wilcox Block at Broadway and Ninth street, the first large brick block in Oakland. The First Baptist Church and hundreds of dwellings were built by him.
Mr. Maloon was at the head of the Law and Order party which in 1853 and 1854 kept the peace here during the "squatter riots" that prevailed over seizure of property. When he settled here there was one street, now Broadway, and a wharf. The entire flat, now thickly settled, was covered with a forest of oak trees: hence the name of the city. The deceased was a native of New Hampshire. He left a widow and five sons - Benjamin F., S. B.. Henry, Charles and George Maloon. He had fifteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren
