Butte County
Biographies
JOHN SHANNON
JOHN
SHANNON.--Numbered among the California pioneers of the year 1859, John Shannon
has seen the transformation of the state, from a sparsely settled section of
country to one of flourishing cities and towns that are surrounded by rich agricultural
districts. He was born in Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio, January 6, 1833, a
son of Thomas Shannon, who was born in the Keystone State. His grandfather,
Isaac Shannon, came from Ireland, with his wife, and settled in Pennsylvania.
From there they migrated to Ohio, where their son Thomas was born. He was
reared in Jefferson County and when a young man he went to Coshocton County,
where he was married to Maria Thompson. She was born in the Buckeye State, a
daughter of Moses Thompson, a native of Ireland. On both sides of the family
they are descended from Scotch-Irish Covenanter Presbyterians. After the
marriage of Thomas Shannon, he and his wife moved to Holmes County, Ohio, where
he improved a farm and reared his family. He lived on one place for sixty-five
years. Both he and his wife died on their farm, at advanced ages. They had
twelve children, all of whom grew up, but now there are only two alive. Four
brothers were in the Civil War: Samuel T. and Thomas W. were both wounded at
Vicksburg and died from the effects of their wounds; they served in the
Sixteenth Ohio Regiment. Calvin and Thompson were also in Ohio regiments.
At the age of twenty, after he had
completed his schooling and had worked on the home farm with his father, John
Shannon began to learn the trade of blacksmith at Unionville. In 1857, he
migrated to Clarinda, Page County, Iowa, and there bought some land which he
farmed, and he also ran a blacksmith shop in Clarinda. In 1859, with three
others, each having a yoke of cattle, which they hitched to one large wagon,
Mr. Shannon started across the plains to California. They had started for
Pike's Peak but at Fort Kearney they met so many men who were returning from
that gold field, who claimed that there were no riches to be had, that they
decided to come on to the Pacific Coast. Two of their party wanted to go back
to Iowa, and at last they divided up their property, and Mr. Shannon, with one
of his original party, and two others that he took in with him, made the trip
and arrived in Butte County, in 1859. He leased a blacksmith shop at Rock Creek
post office and did a flourishing business, working eight men and three forges.
There was much teaming going on and his shop was situated at the foot of a
mountain where the big freighting teams passed. He made the big wagons used in
the freighting business and had one of the largest shops in the state at that
time. This business proving very successful, he sold out after five years, and
returned east via Panama.
On arriving in Ohio, he visited all
his friends, and there, in April, 1864, he was united in marriage with the
woman of his choice, Miss Margaret J. McLaughlin, a native of Holmes County.
The happy pair set out for California over the same route he had traversed on
his way East, and, arriving in California, went at once to Keefer station,
where Mr. Shannon bought back his old shop, and for three more years he
continued the business. He then sold out and took up farming. He entered land
on Rock Creek, one mile east of the Shasta road, and also bought railroad land,
having nine hundred sixty acres in all. On this ranch he improved a good home
and carried on farm pursuits for forty years, when he retired from arduous
labors. He sold his ranch and now lives with his daughter, Mrs. J. A. Bennett.
Mr. and Mrs. Shannon reared four
children: Minnie M., Mrs. Tyler of Chico; Margaret C., Mrs. Bennett; Cora, who
married Mr. Bennett, and died about fifteen years ago; and Harry J., who lives
at Santa Cruz. Mr. Shannon joined Chico Lodge, No. 113, I. O. O. F., in 1863,
and is now the oldest member of that lodge. He belonged to the Canton until it
disbanded. He is also a member of the Encampment. In the evening of his days,
Mr. Shannon looks back on a life well spent and with no regrets for work undone.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 430-433, Historic Record Co, Los
Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2006 Sande Beach.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies