His parents were both born in Ireland. His parents were Thomas Breen (who died in 1901) and Anne Victory Breen. His sister was Elizabeth and his older brother was Rev. Thomas L. Breen, O.P. He lived with his parents and sister at 16 Laguna Street (between Market and Waller) in San Francisco, his entire life. He was a Roman Catholic and attended Sacred Heart Church and Boy's Sunday School at St. Ignatius on Van Ness Avenue .
As an adult, he was a handsome, trim man who stood 5'11", weighed about 145 lbs., had a tan complexion, green eyes and black hair. He worked as a surveyor and census enumerator. He was initiated into the South End Rowing Club August 25, 1896. He was the club's representative to the Pacific Athletic Association for a while, but seems to have stopped attending meetings. He also was a member of several ad hoc committees for club events. He generally rowed on the junior barge crews, but on several occasions rowed in the mighty seniors. In 1897 a "new senior crew" was formed by Dr. C.C. Dennis, a champion singles rower, and Breen was in that crew. Breen also rowed in singles competitions and rowed in the "junior outrigged skiff races."
He had many friends and was a charming and educated gentleman, as he was on the reception committee for several special events. He was a democrat and was outspoken about politics.
He became an amateur welterweight boxer. On September 22, 1900, it was announced that a new boxing club and gym would be constructed on part of the property of John Matthew Breen. He would serve as one of the directors for the club and train there. The location was on the southeast corner of Laguna and Waller, but it was never constructed. Today, the property is the location of the 50 Laguna apartment building (built 1928). It remains the only permanent building ever constructed on that corner. In November 1900, Breem was fighting as a champion welterweight boxer in public matches. He would soon join the Olympic Club, where he worked out and became a member.
He was working as an "Inspector" for Mahoney Brothers Contractors, when on June 19, 1904, as he was on his way home, he was very seriously injured while riding a cable car at Market and 6th Streets. He was reading a newspaper when 2 cable cars came together in a crash. He had multiple fractures and lacerations below his left knee and his hands were badly bruised. He was sent to the hospital to recover. He was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying: "I was sitting (in the Castro Street cable car) reading a programme and hearing someone cry out, looked up and saw the other (cable) car right on top of me. The next thing I knew it crashed into us and caught my leg, jamming it, and hurting me terribly." One of the cable car operators was arrested for failure to follow established procedures. In December 1904 he sued United Railroads for $25,000. due to injuries, he sustained in the accident. He won the case.
After the 1906 earthquake, John, his mother, and sister allowed several refugee tents to be constructed on his large, fenced-in side yard, which can be seen in photographs taken at the time. Across the street, on the property of the Protestant Orphan's Home, there was a huge refugee camp for several thousand homeless people. This refugee camp was among the few which only allowed families. Single men and women were not allowed to camp there.
In 1907, his older brother, Rev. Thomas L. Breen, O.P. died at age 42 in Benicia, where he lived and was buried there.
In 1909 Breen successfully passed an examination to become a city clerk. In 1910, he volunteered to be an enumerator for the 1910 census. In 1911 he successfully passed an examination to become a tax office clerk.
He died in 1913 at age 41. The cause is unclear. His funeral was held on February 17, 1913. The 4 pallbearers were his long-time friends from his sports days... Tim Fitzpatrick, Judge E.P. Shortall, William Meade, and Ed Scully. 2 months later, his mother and sister advertised for a "middle-aged housekeeper" to help with chores.
P.S.: He was also known as "Matthew J. Breen", "J. Matthew Breen", "Matt J. Breen", and "Matt Breen."
As an adult, he was a handsome, trim man who stood 5'11", weighed about 145 lbs., had a tan complexion, green eyes and black hair. He worked as a surveyor and census enumerator. He was initiated into the South End Rowing Club August 25, 1896. He was the club's representative to the Pacific Athletic Association for a while, but seems to have stopped attending meetings. He also was a member of several ad hoc committees for club events. He generally rowed on the junior barge crews, but on several occasions rowed in the mighty seniors. In 1897 a "new senior crew" was formed by Dr. C.C. Dennis, a champion singles rower, and Breen was in that crew. Breen also rowed in singles competitions and rowed in the "junior outrigged skiff races."
He had many friends and was a charming and educated gentleman, as he was on the reception committee for several special events. He was a democrat and was outspoken about politics.
He became an amateur welterweight boxer. On September 22, 1900, it was announced that a new boxing club and gym would be constructed on part of the property of John Matthew Breen. He would serve as one of the directors for the club and train there. The location was on the southeast corner of Laguna and Waller, but it was never constructed. Today, the property is the location of the 50 Laguna apartment building (built 1928). It remains the only permanent building ever constructed on that corner. In November 1900, Breem was fighting as a champion welterweight boxer in public matches. He would soon join the Olympic Club, where he worked out and became a member.
He was working as an "Inspector" for Mahoney Brothers Contractors, when on June 19, 1904, as he was on his way home, he was very seriously injured while riding a cable car at Market and 6th Streets. He was reading a newspaper when 2 cable cars came together in a crash. He had multiple fractures and lacerations below his left knee and his hands were badly bruised. He was sent to the hospital to recover. He was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying: "I was sitting (in the Castro Street cable car) reading a programme and hearing someone cry out, looked up and saw the other (cable) car right on top of me. The next thing I knew it crashed into us and caught my leg, jamming it, and hurting me terribly." One of the cable car operators was arrested for failure to follow established procedures. In December 1904 he sued United Railroads for $25,000. due to injuries, he sustained in the accident. He won the case.
After the 1906 earthquake, John, his mother, and sister allowed several refugee tents to be constructed on his large, fenced-in side yard, which can be seen in photographs taken at the time. Across the street, on the property of the Protestant Orphan's Home, there was a huge refugee camp for several thousand homeless people. This refugee camp was among the few which only allowed families. Single men and women were not allowed to camp there.
In 1907, his older brother, Rev. Thomas L. Breen, O.P. died at age 42 in Benicia, where he lived and was buried there.
In 1909 Breen successfully passed an examination to become a city clerk. In 1910, he volunteered to be an enumerator for the 1910 census. In 1911 he successfully passed an examination to become a tax office clerk.
He died in 1913 at age 41. The cause is unclear. His funeral was held on February 17, 1913. The 4 pallbearers were his long-time friends from his sports days... Tim Fitzpatrick, Judge E.P. Shortall, William Meade, and Ed Scully. 2 months later, his mother and sister advertised for a "middle-aged housekeeper" to help with chores.
P.S.: He was also known as "Matthew J. Breen", "J. Matthew Breen", "Matt J. Breen", and "Matt Breen."
His parents were both born in Ireland. His parents were Thomas Breen (who died in 1901) and Anne Victory Breen. His sister was Elizabeth and his older brother was Rev. Thomas L. Breen, O.P. He lived with his parents and sister at 16 Laguna Street (between Market and Waller) in San Francisco, his entire life. He was a Roman Catholic and attended Sacred Heart Church and Boy's Sunday School at St. Ignatius on Van Ness Avenue .
As an adult, he was a handsome, trim man who stood 5'11", weighed about 145 lbs., had a tan complexion, green eyes and black hair. He worked as a surveyor and census enumerator. He was initiated into the South End Rowing Club August 25, 1896. He was the club's representative to the Pacific Athletic Association for a while, but seems to have stopped attending meetings. He also was a member of several ad hoc committees for club events. He generally rowed on the junior barge crews, but on several occasions rowed in the mighty seniors. In 1897 a "new senior crew" was formed by Dr. C.C. Dennis, a champion singles rower, and Breen was in that crew. Breen also rowed in singles competitions and rowed in the "junior outrigged skiff races."
He had many friends and was a charming and educated gentleman, as he was on the reception committee for several special events. He was a democrat and was outspoken about politics.
He became an amateur welterweight boxer. On September 22, 1900, it was announced that a new boxing club and gym would be constructed on part of the property of John Matthew Breen. He would serve as one of the directors for the club and train there. The location was on the southeast corner of Laguna and Waller, but it was never constructed. Today, the property is the location of the 50 Laguna apartment building (built 1928). It remains the only permanent building ever constructed on that corner. In November 1900, Breem was fighting as a champion welterweight boxer in public matches. He would soon join the Olympic Club, where he worked out and became a member.
He was working as an "Inspector" for Mahoney Brothers Contractors, when on June 19, 1904, as he was on his way home, he was very seriously injured while riding a cable car at Market and 6th Streets. He was reading a newspaper when 2 cable cars came together in a crash. He had multiple fractures and lacerations below his left knee and his hands were badly bruised. He was sent to the hospital to recover. He was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying: "I was sitting (in the Castro Street cable car) reading a programme and hearing someone cry out, looked up and saw the other (cable) car right on top of me. The next thing I knew it crashed into us and caught my leg, jamming it, and hurting me terribly." One of the cable car operators was arrested for failure to follow established procedures. In December 1904 he sued United Railroads for $25,000. due to injuries, he sustained in the accident. He won the case.
After the 1906 earthquake, John, his mother, and sister allowed several refugee tents to be constructed on his large, fenced-in side yard, which can be seen in photographs taken at the time. Across the street, on the property of the Protestant Orphan's Home, there was a huge refugee camp for several thousand homeless people. This refugee camp was among the few which only allowed families. Single men and women were not allowed to camp there.
In 1907, his older brother, Rev. Thomas L. Breen, O.P. died at age 42 in Benicia, where he lived and was buried there.
In 1909 Breen successfully passed an examination to become a city clerk. In 1910, he volunteered to be an enumerator for the 1910 census. In 1911 he successfully passed an examination to become a tax office clerk.
He died in 1913 at age 41. The cause is unclear. His funeral was held on February 17, 1913. The 4 pallbearers were his long-time friends from his sports days... Tim Fitzpatrick, Judge E.P. Shortall, William Meade, and Ed Scully. 2 months later, his mother and sister advertised for a "middle-aged housekeeper" to help with chores.
P.S.: He was also known as "Matthew J. Breen", "J. Matthew Breen", "Matt J. Breen", and "Matt Breen."
As an adult, he was a handsome, trim man who stood 5'11", weighed about 145 lbs., had a tan complexion, green eyes and black hair. He worked as a surveyor and census enumerator. He was initiated into the South End Rowing Club August 25, 1896. He was the club's representative to the Pacific Athletic Association for a while, but seems to have stopped attending meetings. He also was a member of several ad hoc committees for club events. He generally rowed on the junior barge crews, but on several occasions rowed in the mighty seniors. In 1897 a "new senior crew" was formed by Dr. C.C. Dennis, a champion singles rower, and Breen was in that crew. Breen also rowed in singles competitions and rowed in the "junior outrigged skiff races."
He had many friends and was a charming and educated gentleman, as he was on the reception committee for several special events. He was a democrat and was outspoken about politics.
He became an amateur welterweight boxer. On September 22, 1900, it was announced that a new boxing club and gym would be constructed on part of the property of John Matthew Breen. He would serve as one of the directors for the club and train there. The location was on the southeast corner of Laguna and Waller, but it was never constructed. Today, the property is the location of the 50 Laguna apartment building (built 1928). It remains the only permanent building ever constructed on that corner. In November 1900, Breem was fighting as a champion welterweight boxer in public matches. He would soon join the Olympic Club, where he worked out and became a member.
He was working as an "Inspector" for Mahoney Brothers Contractors, when on June 19, 1904, as he was on his way home, he was very seriously injured while riding a cable car at Market and 6th Streets. He was reading a newspaper when 2 cable cars came together in a crash. He had multiple fractures and lacerations below his left knee and his hands were badly bruised. He was sent to the hospital to recover. He was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle as saying: "I was sitting (in the Castro Street cable car) reading a programme and hearing someone cry out, looked up and saw the other (cable) car right on top of me. The next thing I knew it crashed into us and caught my leg, jamming it, and hurting me terribly." One of the cable car operators was arrested for failure to follow established procedures. In December 1904 he sued United Railroads for $25,000. due to injuries, he sustained in the accident. He won the case.
After the 1906 earthquake, John, his mother, and sister allowed several refugee tents to be constructed on his large, fenced-in side yard, which can be seen in photographs taken at the time. Across the street, on the property of the Protestant Orphan's Home, there was a huge refugee camp for several thousand homeless people. This refugee camp was among the few which only allowed families. Single men and women were not allowed to camp there.
In 1907, his older brother, Rev. Thomas L. Breen, O.P. died at age 42 in Benicia, where he lived and was buried there.
In 1909 Breen successfully passed an examination to become a city clerk. In 1910, he volunteered to be an enumerator for the 1910 census. In 1911 he successfully passed an examination to become a tax office clerk.
He died in 1913 at age 41. The cause is unclear. His funeral was held on February 17, 1913. The 4 pallbearers were his long-time friends from his sports days... Tim Fitzpatrick, Judge E.P. Shortall, William Meade, and Ed Scully. 2 months later, his mother and sister advertised for a "middle-aged housekeeper" to help with chores.
P.S.: He was also known as "Matthew J. Breen", "J. Matthew Breen", "Matt J. Breen", and "Matt Breen."
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
