Joseph Borroughs - Oakland

1938 ²

Joseph Newton Borroughs (February 21, 1881 – June 11, 1954) was the founder of the Oakland California Towel Company, and an inventor, holding patents on several laundry supply related devices as well as others including an educational toy and an aid for swimming instruction.

Borroughs was born February 21, 1881, in Orland, California, to Rev. Joseph Newton Borroughs and Elizabeth McKinley (Borroughs) along with 7 sisters. The family moved a number of times, but by 1910, the reverend and Elizabeth had joined Joseph in Oakland, where he had founded the Oakland California Towel Company in 1903.

Joseph married Grace Davis (Borroughs) on January 23, 1915. They separated in 1925, and Grace went on a European tour with a dance troupe. They later divorced. Joseph married Leona Beatrice Frasch (Borroughs) in April 1926, and they had two children, Joseph Newton Borroughs III and Beatrice Leona Borroughs (Hoover).

Borroughs was an active Rotarian, and was the district governor of the Rotary in 1938-1939. ^1,2