Old San Leandro in Alameda County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Historic Daniel & Meta Best Home
1886
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
1. Historic Daniel & Meta Best Home Marker
This home was built in the late 1870s by Joseph Demont, a San Leandro pioneer who was active in industry and politics. Daniel Best bought the property in 1886. Best established Daniel Best Agricultural Works, which later became Caterpillar Tractor. The active inventor and entrepreneur obtained 41 patents in his lifetime, including a combined steam traction harvester and thresher. He also built the Best Building and a movie theater on East 14th Street.
Daniel and Meta Best raised six children in this home, and their daughter, Viola, and her husband, Frank Webster, bought the home and raised their five children here as well. The home is a two-story Italianate Victorian with 15 rooms and a cellar. The property also included a large, old fashioned garden, a Victorian carriage house, and a workshop. The wrought-iron fence surrounding the garden was installed in 1894.
Erected by City of San Leandro.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Government & Politics • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.
Location. 37° 43.431′ N, 122° 9.509′ W. Marker is in San Leandro, California, in Alameda County. It is in Old San Leandro. It is at the intersection of West Estudillo Avenue and Clarke Street, on the right when traveling east on West Estudillo Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1315 Clarke Street, San Leandro CA 94577, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in California’s San Francisco Bay Area and on the Coast Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
More about this marker. Marker is mounted on a pole on the Southwest corner of West Estudillo Avenue and Clarke Street
Regarding Historic Daniel & Meta Best Home. The Daniel Best home was built in the late 1870's by Joseph Demont. (It is noted that the assessor's office gave a probable 1900 construction date.) The second owner of the building, in 1886, was Daniel Best, an early developer of steam tractors and plows. His tractor firm eventually evolved into the Caterpillar Tractor Co. The home is a two-story Italianate Victorian with 15 rooms and a cellar. Occupying three City lots, the property also includes a large, old-fashioned garden, a Victorian carriage house, and a workshop. The wrought-iron fence was handmade in 1894. Daniel Best lived in the home until his death in 1922. At one time the Best House was a Bed and Breakfast Inn.
Also see . . .
1. Daniel Best. Wikipedia biography (Submitted on January 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
2. Historic Daniel & Meta Best Home Marker
Note the wrought-iron fence as noted in marker text.
2. Daniel Best. Find-A-Grave entry:
Daniel Best is laid to rest at Evergreen Cemetery in Oakland. (Submitted on January 14, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
3. Top of the Marker
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
4. Photo Displayed on Marker
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
5. Front of Home
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
6. The Best Home
Photographed by Syd Whittle, January 10, 2010
7. The Best Home
Photographed by Larry Gertner, June 14, 2021
8. Caterpillar History
Company website entry:
It all started with two visionaries, Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best. This is the history of Caterpillar Inc.
(Submitted on January 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
Click for more information.
It all started with two visionaries, Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best. This is the history of Caterpillar Inc.
(Submitted on January 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.)
Click for more information.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 4,039 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on January 11, 2010, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. 8. submitted on June 14, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.
