EMORY GRIGSBY SINGLETARY
SURNAMES: McGeoghegan,
Among the most promising young business men of San Jose, who was making
a success of the career his ambition had marked out for him, was the
late Emory Grigsby Singletary. a cultured, scholarly young man; a
native son, born in San Jose on September 3, 1882, he was the son of
the late Emory C. Singletary and his wife, Florence Grisby Singletary,
also represented in this work. One of twin brothers, our subject was
reared in San Jose, attending the public schools, Belmont academy and
Stanford University, taking a course in mining engineering, after which for some years he
was employed by Palmer, McBride & Quayle as construction engineer.
While at Stanford University he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity.
In San Jose, May 24, 1909, Mr. Singletary was united in marriage with
Miss Margaret E. McGeoghegan. Mr. Singletary continued with Palmer,
McBride & Quayle until the death of his father in 1911, when with
his brother he returned to San Jose to take charge of the large estate,
rapidly becoming prominent in financial circles and with a promising
career before him. On December 1, 1918, he was stricken with the
influenza and in spite of his rugged constitution and great strength he
could not withstand the severe attack of this disease, but was taken
away December 10. Mrs. Singletary was also a victim of the in-
fluenza and for a time her life was despaired of, but to care for the
two bright boys that blessed their union, Emory Curtis and John
Grigsby. He was a Knight Templar and a Shriner and was buried with
Masonic honors.
Mr. Singletary was an acknowledged leader among the younger generation
of business men of Santa Clara County, as well as in civic and social
life, and his death was a severe blow to the to the community which
held him in high regard, and an irreplaceable loss to his immediate
family. The memory of his life, which was one of integrity and honesty
of purpose, winning for him the respect of all who came in contact with
him, is a great comfort and consolation to Mrs. Singletary, who was very
proud of his ability and rise in the business world.
Since her husband's death, Mrs. Singletary has continued to reside at
her comfortable home at 50 Fremont Street, which Mr. Singletary built a
short time before his death, her life interest being centered in her
young sons, who were so early deprived of a rare amiability, she is
greatly interested, as was her husband, in the general progress and
welfare of the community. A native daughter, she was born in San
Francisco, coming to San Jose when she was a child; here she received
her education in Notre Dame College and the San Jose public schools,
soon after which occurred her marriage, which proved a very happy one.
Her father, John T. McGeoghegan, a pioneer resident of San Francisco,
was very prominent in financial circles, both in that city and San
Jose. For a number of years he served on the school board in San
Francisco, as well as holding other offices of trust and honor, and was
a man whose integrity was unquestioned and who could always be depended
upon to do his full duty with capableness and ability. His marriage
occurred in San Francisco in 1873, and united him with Miss Margaret
Smith, whose family were also prominent pioneers of California. She was
a very beautiful and accomplished woman and decidedly popular in the
social life of San Jose.
Maggie E. Smith (Mrs.
J.T. McGeoghegan) - San Francisco.--graduate of the State Normal School-May 1869
Present address, San José.
Taught before marriage.
Both Mr. and Mrs. McGeoghegan have passed away, leaving a family of seven children.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California,
published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. 438
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY