The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19
A NOTED SHIP BUILDER.
Sketch Of the Life and Achieve
ments Of William A. BoOle.

There is no name more widely known
or highly respected in shipping circles
than that of William A. Boole, the
shipwright, at PIG Steuart street. Es-
tablished nearly forty years ago, the
business of Mr.. Boole has become very
extensive, so that he enjoys not only
the credit of being the oldest but also
the most successful ship builder and re-
pairer in San Francisco.
The life of Mr.. Boole is full of events
of interest. Born in Shelbourne, Nova
Scotia, about sixty-fve years ago, he
did not enjoy the school advantages
which are so common at this period.
Nevertheless, the lad managed to i'm
bibe practical knowledge in various
ways. He was of studious habits, and
his industriousness was frequently the
subject of fiattering comments While
a mere lad the handling OF tools be-
came a hobby with him, and in re-
sponse to his wish to become a ship
builder his parents, then living in Bos-
ton, apprenticed him to Sam Hall, the
we'll known ship builder, whose name
adds luster to maritime annals He
learned his trade at Halls shipyards
and in 1853 he resolved to seek his for
tune in California. On his arrival here
in the summer of that year he went to
the mines, but his efforts in this di-
rection meeting with Indifferent sue
cess, he came to San Francisco and
worked at ship repairing in the navy
yard.
In 1861 Mr.. Boole realized that ship
building in this port was to become an
industry of Importance, and he deter
mined to establish such a business.
He accordingly opened up ca small
shop and began to. repair ships of
every nature and degree. 1t was not
long before the skill he displayed in his
business became the subject of ia
Vorable comment, and with 1t came an
increase of patronage. A year later Mr..
Boole took a partner, the firm name
thereafter being Middlemas & Boole.
The firm became more popular than
ever, and remained unchanged until
1892, when ill-health forced Mr.. Mid
dlemas to retire. He was succeeded
| by William A. Boole Jr.
The business of the firm was con-
| fined at first exclusively to the repair
| ing of vessels, but later it began to buy
| ships. Some of these craft proved to
be unfortunate speculations. as of the
| total number owned by Mr.. Boole at
| one time, thirteen were lost at sea. He
| still has two-one being the Kenne-
beck, now on her way from Baltimore
| with Cumberland coal, and the bark
| Undaunted, now on her return trip
| from Sydney with coal. The latter ves-
| sci will enter the Alaska trade, going
as far north as ST. Michael, during the
| coming spring. a
| Mr.. Bodies trade extends to all IL
representative steamers and merchant
vessels on the coast, and all the tug
boats plying on the waters of the bay.
The demand for his services is un-
ceasing, the result being that a large
force of skilled mechanics is constant
| Iy employed Mr.. Boole is a man Of
energy and enterprise, who has assist
ed greatly in advancing the claims of
San Francisco to being one of the
| leading seaports in the world. His
son. William, who is an active asso-
ciate in the management of the affairs
of the firm, is we'll known in local So
| ciety circles, and very popular in his