Richard Apgar - Oakland

excerpt of 1888 map

Richard Miner (“R.M.”) Apgar (March 28, 1836 or 1838 – December 21, 1887) was a landowner, Civil War veteran, and namesake of Apgar Street and the Apgar Tract. He also served Solano County sheriff, and turnkey of San Quentin prison.

Apgar was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, to Jacob and Hannah Apgar. He came west in the 1850s and worked for a few years in mining before settling in Solano County. After the outbreak of the Civil War, he raised a company of soldiers and enlisted in 1864. His company was assigned to Arizona, where they served at Fort McDowell. Following the war, he returned to California. Although some sources call him "Captain" Apgar, it appears his rank during the war was lieutenant.

He married Lois Marie Marston (Apgar) (c.1838 – May 17, 1903) on July 4, 1867. They did not have any children. After time in Solano County and San Francisco, the Apgars moved to Oakland about 1882. He made money in the stock market, and invested some of that in real estate in Oakland and Walnut Creek. References to the Apgar Tract appear as far back as 1884 and Apgar Street as far back as 1887.

Apgar studied law and was admitted to the bar, but never practiced. In 1884, he ran for the State Assembly representing the 53rd district (then the 4th and 6th wards). The Dargie-controlled Tribune was pro-Apgar, and the Irish-controlled Times was very strongly against. He lost the election to Frank J. Moffitt.

In 1887, Apgar formed a partnership with A.W. Pattiani and H.T. Smith to sell real estate.

1887 ad

Death, Burial and Legacy

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R.M. Apgar died suddenly in 1887 at Wilson House where the Apgars were living. Apgar had suffered from anemia and had heart problems. They were in the process of moving, and he became upset over some business matter (“Nervous Excitement Causes Spasms of the Heart”.) He went to bed early, and died at 2 AM. ¹ His estate was estimated at $15,000, mostly real estate.

The Apgars are buried in Mountain View Cemetery in Plot 24. Their name appears on the lot border, but there are no markers. One record suggests a marker was provided in 1900 because of his Civil War service, but the marker in the lot is for Dr. John Hinkle and his wife, Elizabeth Hinkle. Apgar was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, the Athenian Club, and was a Mason. ^1,2,3

Although many named streets in the area were changed to numbered streets, Apgar Street, wedged between 38th and 39th, kept its name.