Butte County
Biographies
JAMES HEGAN
JAMES HEGAN.--Among the men who for
many years were identified with the development of the agricultural interests
of Butte County,
none were more active or became better known than James Hegan.
He was born in County Monaghan, Ireland,
June 4, 1845, a son of Robert and Letitia (Sinnis) Hegan, who were lifelong
residents of the Emerald Isle. He received a common-school education and lived
in the land of his birth until 1871, when he came to America
to seek his fortune. California was
his
objective point, and he arrived
here some time during that year and settled for a time in the San
Joaquin Valley, first near Stockton
and later near Merced. He was not
impressed with that part of the state and in 1873, he came to Chico,
where he found things more to his liking and he found employment in a
lumber-yard for the first year. He made and retained friends, and was appointed
a member of the police force of Chico,
which position he held four years, after which he
resumed work in the lumber-yard. So well had he served the people as a police
officer that he was elected constable and served for two years. In 1879 he was
made deputy sheriff by appointment and served until 1881, when he was once more
elected constable for another term, performing the duties of the office with
satisfaction to all concerned.
In
1883, Mr. Hegan relinquished political life, and with
a partner began farming on an eleven-hundred-acre ranch they had leased on the Sacramento
River. The next year he leased another ranch near Dayton
and operated that for three years and met with such good returns that he
decided to become a landowner and in 1887 he bought a ranch two and one-half
miles south of Chico. Here he was
successfully engaged in ranching until he passed away. He added to his original
purchase and became owner of an entire section upon which he raised grain and
stock. Besides his home place he leased other land which he farmed, as well as
five hundred sixty acres that he owned in partnership with others, and a tract of
one hundred twenty acres lying on the east side of Butte Creek. For many years
he was an important factor in the agricultural life of his adopted county.
Mr.
Hegan married Eliza Faulkner on May 13, 1880. She was
born in the same county in Ireland
as her husband, the daughter of well-to-do farmers of that county. She is a
sister of the late Charles Faulkner of Chico.
Mr. Hegan had been in California
ten years when he went back to his old home for a visit, and while there he was
married. They left at once for California and took up
their abode on his ranch in Butte County,
and here together they farmed and prospered until his death, July 2, 1913. They
had one child, who died in infancy. After having lived in California
ten years Mr. and Mrs. Hegan took a trip back to the
land of their birth, but returned to California
more satisfied with their selection of a home.
Mr.
Hegan and his estimable wife were liberal
contributors to all projects for the betterment of their county. He was a
stanch Democrat and wielded a strong influence for the good of his party. He
was a member of Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M., and of Chico Lodge, No.
113, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Hegan is a member of the
Episcopal Church, and is a strong advocate and supporter of the policies of the
United States government and is active in the Red Cross movement. She has a
wide circle of friends and acquaintances in Butte
County.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 552-553, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2007 Sande Beach.
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