San Mateo County CA Archives Biographies.....Holston, G. W.  November 24, 1874 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com and Regina Gualco rmgualco@yahoo.com August 15, 2006, 12:29 am

Author: S. J. Clarke (1928)


G. W. HOLSTON

   No citizen of South San Francisco is more deserving of specific mention in
the history of this locality than G. W. Holston, for during the years of his
identification with business and public affairs here he has worked indefatigably
and consistently for the upbuilding of the city and his earnest, persistent
efforts are largely responsible for the present standing of the city in the way
of public improvements, as well as in the financial and business world. Mr.
Holston was born in Monticello, Iowa, on the 24th of November, 1874, and at the
age of nine years accompanied his parents on their removal to California, of
which state he has been a resident continuously since. He secured his education
in the grammar and high schools of Modesto and then went to work for the
Southern Pacific Railroad as a messenger. By faithful and efficient service he
won successive promotions to the positions of assistant agent, agent, and
telegraph operator, serving at various points in California and Arizona, and in
1904 was made agent for the Southern Pacific at South San Francisco, in which
position he served in a most capable manner during the years of this city's
early development. In 1923 Mr. Holston became one of the organizers of the
Citizens Bank of South San Francisco, was chosen president and served in that
executive position until December, 1926, when the institution was purchased by
the Bank of Italy, since which time he has been chairman of the advisory board
and manager of the South San Francisco Branch of the Bank of Italy.

   Mr. Holston was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Smiley, who was born in
Virginia City, Nevada. He has long been actively interested in municipal affairs
and served for twelve years as a member of the board of city trustees, during
eight years of which period he was mayor. During his administration he
inaugurated various movements for public improvement, securing the paving of
streets and alleys and the construction of sewers, and so strong an impetus did
he give this line of public improvement that today South San Francisco has the
largest mileage of paved streets of any city of its size in the state of
California. He is recognized as the father of the Carnegie library, for it was
mainly through his personal efforts that this institution was secured for the
community. In these and many other ways Mr. Holston has shown a practical
interest in the public welfare and his judgment in matters affecting the
progress and advancement of the city is greatly valued by his fellowmen. The
success which has come to him in material affairs has been worthily won, for his
career has been marked by strict adherence to the highest ethics of business and
at all times he has commanded the confidence of all with whom he has had
dealings, so that he has honorably attained the enviable place which he holds in
public opinion.

Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY
OF
SAN MATEO
COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO, ILL. 
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1928

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