Alameda
County
Biographies
HON. DANIEL INMAN
The family represented by Daniel Inman of
Livermore valley is of English extraction and became identified with the south
during the colonial period of our country’s history. Several of the name bore a part in the Revolutionary war. Shadrack Inman, a native of the south, established his home
upon a plantation in East Tennessee, in Cocke county, and there his son, Daniel, and grandson, Jonathan,
were born and reared. The latter, whose birth occurred in 1800, remove to
Illinois in a wagon in 1836, and settled seven miles below Quincy, on the
Mississippi river. In time he acquired landed (sic) possessions aggregating two
hundred acres, on which he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Though
not active in politics, he always gave his allegiance to Democratic principles.
At the age of seventy-eight years his useful life came to a close. Through his
mother, Peggy Wallace, a native of Scotland, and a centenarian at the time of
her death, he was connected with Sir William Wallace, of Scotch fame.
The marriage of Jonathan Inman
united him with Jane Ramsey, a native of Cocke
county, Tenn., and a daughter of Andrew Ramsey, whose grandfather was Lord
Ramsey of Scotland. From his birthplace in Scotland Andrew Ramsey came to
America, settled in Virginia, and later went from that colony to serve his
adopted country in the war of the Revolution. Other members of the family were
equally patriotic, and his brother, F. A. Ramsey, rose to the rank of a colonel
in the American army. Mrs. Jane Inman died in Illinois at fifty-five years of
age; of her children only one daughter and the subject of this article are now
living. The latter was born in Cocke county, Tenn., September 24, 1827, and at nine years of age
accompanied his parents to Illinois, then a new and undeveloped region. In the
arduous task of clearing the farm, erecting cabins for the shelter of the
family and the stock, and placing the land under cultivation he bore his part
both as boy and youth. When news came of the discovery of gold in California,
he, being then twenty-one years of age and free to start out for himself,
determined to seek his fortune in the west. In April of 1849 he started on the
overland journey, leaving St. Joseph, Mo., May 7, with his brother, Andrew, and
two other young men. With four yoke of oxen to draw their wagon they proceeded slowly across the plains, and on the 17th
of September landed at Steep Hollow, on Bear river, where they traded their
cattle for mules. The oxen lacked $10 of bringing enough to pay for the mules.
Accordingly Mr. Inman worked in the mines for two days at $5 a day and thus
secured the needed sum. Leaving there he fitted up a pack team and went to the
Yuba river, where he engaged in prospecting and purchased
a claim by washing out thirty-five hundred buckets. For a time luck favored him
and his savings grew with gratifying rapidity. However, some ill fortune was
reserved for him. Going to Sacramento to spend the winter, he built a canvas
house and kept a hotel, but high water ruined the property and caused several
to contract typhoid fever, from which two died. Mr. Inman recovered after a
serious illness and as soon as able to travel he returned to the mines, this
time selecting a place near Hangtown for his
headquarters. After a few days there he went to Georgetown, thence with his
brother to Nevada, but in a few days returned to California and spent the
summer at Downieville, where he met with some good
returns. In the fall with his brother he took up a few claims near that town,
but nothing rewarded their prospecting, so they abandoned the claims, and went
to French Corral, Nevada county. After working for
another party about six weeks in Surface mining, they proceeded to Grass Valley
and secured a claim on Gold Hill. Three months were spent in that location and
the balance of the season on Middle Fork. In the fall they went back to Grass
Valley and took up claims, spending the winter there.
In the fall of 1851 Mr. Inman took
up some excellent surface claims twelve miles below Auburn, where he remained
two years, hiring men and accumulating considerable money. In 1852 he went to
Danville, Contra Costa county, and settled with his
brother on a farm, afterward engaging in raising cattle and sheep. In 1854 he
returned to the mines and in Eldorado county purchased a hydraulic mine, which
proved a profitable investment. Returning to the ranch in 1858 he resumed
stock-raising and farming. Four hundred acres that he owned form the present
site of Danville, which was named in his honor. In 1863 he and his brother
divided their property and discontinued their partnership. In addition to
managing his farm and raising stock, he operated a carriage shop which he had
taken in settlement of a debt. Having learned the trade when
a boy, he was able to carry on the shop with little help. In 1865 he
sold his land and shop and moved to Alameda county,
where he bought three hundred and twenty-five acres at $37.50 per acre. The
land had been utilized only for the raising of wheat, but he found it to be
even better adapted to other grains, and a portion was converted into pasture
for his stock. Since then he has made his home on this property, which is
situated near Livermore in the valley of the same name. In addition he owns three
hundred and ten acres in this valley, which he purchased in 1869, and of which
ninety acres are under vines, the balance being used for farming and grazing
purposes.
While Mr. Inman has been more than
ordinarily prosperous, yet he has met with reverses and more than once has been
obliged to meet discouragements. For several years he was president and manager
of the State Grangers’ Association and their store in San Francisco, but not
being able to devote his time to the store he employed an assistant to manage
the business. Livermore being in need of a hardware and implement store, in
1882 he formed a corporation and put in $5,000 as capital, with which a store
was started. Unfortunately, the bookkeeper robbed the firm and the other
stockholders transferred their properties so that they could not be held for
the shortage, and Mr. Inman was obliged to meet the large indebtedness. More
than once, at other times, his generous disposition has led him to help others
who have abused his kindness, yet he has never lost his faith in human nature,
but remains the same large-hearted, optimistic and genial friend as in earlier
life.
November 16, 1863, Mr. Inman married
Miss Josephine Jones, who was born in Childes (sic) Valley, Napa county, Cal., in January, 1847. Her parents, John M. and
Mary A. (Smith) Jones, both natives of Tennessee, were reared in that state and
Missouri, and in 1846 came overland to California, settling in Napa county. A year later they removed to San Jose. Some years
ago Mr. Jones passed away; his widow, who is now seventy-nine years of age,
makes her home at Alamo, this state. In the family of Mr. Inman there are seven
children, namely: Jessie C., wife of H. P. Winniger,
a merchant of Livermore, Alameda county; John L., who aids his father in the
management of the homestead; Mary L., wife of Charles M. Beck of Livermore;
Daniel V., who died at seventeen years of age; Josephine Linden, who resides in
San Francisco; and Edgar Percy, who remains on the home ranch.
The Democratic party
receives the stanch support of Mr. Inman, who through all his life has been
interested in local political affairs. In 1867 and 1868 he served as a member
of the board of supervisors. In the fall of 1868 he was elected to the state
legislature, in spite of the fact that at the time the district was strongly
Republican. However, his excellent record as supervisor won him many votes from
his friends among the Republicans of the district and received a fair majority.
The strictest integrity characterized his legislative service. When the
railroad interests found him incorruptible they opposed his re-election so
actively that he was defeated in the convention. In 1878-INMAN79 he was a
member of the constitutional convention. Educational work has received his
encouragement and aid, and as secretary of the Livermore high school he has
accomplished much in promoting the standard of school work in the town. Aside
from his membership in Blue Lodge No. 218, F. & A. M., at Livermore, he has
no fraternal associations. Few men in Alameda county
are better known than he. With a host of friends, enjoying the comforts of a
beautiful home and an ideal climate, he possesses in the afternoon of his
existence those objects which in youth he scarcely dared hope to attain.
Transcribed by: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 937-938. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.
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