On the morning of April 18 , 1906 a major earthquake struck just off the coast of Daly City near Mussel Rock . After quake and subsequent fire destroyed many San Franciscans homes , they left to temporary housing on the ranches of the area to the south , including the large one owned by John Daly . Daly had come to the Bay Area in 1853 where he had worked on a dairy farm , and after several years married his bosses ' daughter and acquired at the Top of the Hill area . Over the years Daly 's business grew , as did his political clout . When a flood of refugees from the quake came , Daly and other local farmers donated milk and other food items . Daly later subdivided his property , from which several housing tracts emerged
major earthquake
1906 San Francisco earthquake
Daly City, California