Sonoma County Biography
Frank H Denman
No more liberal, enterprising or public-spirited citizen has promoted the prestige of Petaluma and Sonoma county than Frank H. Denman, who is a native of the locality, born in Two Rock the son of that well-known pioneer settler, Hon. Ezekiel Denman, of whom a sketch will be found elsewhere. Frank H. Denman was educated in the public schools of Petaluma, a training which was followed by a course in the Oakland Military Academy, from which he graduated after which he entered and graduated from the University of California in 1877 with a degree of Ph. B.
With the close of his school and university training Mr. Denman returned to the homestead ranch in Two Rock valley and assisted his father in his varied interests until his appointment in 1881 as county surveyor to fill a vacancy. So satisfactory were his services that in 1884 he was elected to fill the same office for another term, and as before proved himself eminently qualified for the responsible duties which the office involved. His identification with financial affairs began in 1886, at which time he was elected cashier of the Bank of Sonoma County, and has filled this position continuously ever since. In January 1911 the bank was converted from a state to a national bank, after forty-five years of usefulness under state supervision. The Sonoma County National Bank, as it is now known, increased its capital stock by $100,000, which was distributed to the stockholders of the Petaluma Savings Bank in lieu of their stock, and now all of the stock in the Petaluma Savings Bank is held in trust for the stockholders of the Sonoma County National Bank. In 1908, with George P. McNear and others, Mr. Denman took over the control of the Petaluma Savings Bank and was elected its president, a position which he has since held with great efficiency. His financial ability and efforts are not confined to his home town, but extend to Santa Rosa, the Savings Bank of Santa Rosa profiting by his experience and knowledge as director.
Varied and responsible as are Mr. Denman's financial obligations, they do not limit his capacity, for he is no less interested in horticultural affairs throughout the county and state. While his home ranch near Petaluma is devoted entirely to dairying, he is extensively interested in fruit-raising in the Sebastopol district and also in the Placentia Fruit Company, the latter having one hundred and ten acres at Placentia, Orange county, set to oranges. This is one of the finest orange orchards in the Fullerton district, than which it would be difficult to speak more favorably, as this is known to be the finest late valencia orange growing section in the state.
In his marriage, which occurred in Santa Rosa, Mr. Denman was united with Miss Charlotte Edwards, who was born in New Jersey but has passed the greater part of her life in California, and is a graduate of the San Francisco high school. Fraternally Mr. Denman is identified with the Elks and is a Mason of the Royal Arch degree.
History of Sonoma County, California
History by Tom Gregory : Historic Record Company, 1891
Los Angeles, Ca. 1911
Transcribed by Roberta Hester Leatherwood
July 2008
Pages 506-509
Sonoma County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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