Calaveras
County
Biographies
JOHN MANUEL
John Manuel, who for a number of
years was one of the most prominent businessmen of Murphy, was born in England
in 1836, and died at his home in California November 19, 1898. The intervening period of sixty-two years
covered a life record that was at all times honorable and upright and worthy
the high regard of those who knew Mr. Manuel.
He was sixteen years of age when he left the land of his birth and
immigrated to the new world. He spent
the three succeeding years in New York and thence came to California, arriving
in this state in 1855. He was a young
man of nineteen years, full of energy, courage, ambition and
determination. He engaged in mining at
Douglas Flat and Central Hill, and was the owner of a large hydraulic mine at
the former place, operating it most successfully and taking out a large amount
of the precious metal. In 1877 he
abandoned mining and turned his attention to lumbering, purchasing a saw-mill
eight miles above Murphy. His business
grew in volume and importance and he increased the capacity of the mill until
now twenty thousand feet of lumber constitutes the daily output. In 1878 he established a lumber yard at
Murphy where he had a large local demand, supplying the miners throughout this
locality and for a considerable distance through the surrounding country. He conducted a profitable and constantly
growing business, winning that prosperity which is ever the reward of carefully
directed effort.
Mr. Manuel was married in 1856 to
Miss Mary Williams, a native of Wisconsin, who came to California when fifteen
years of age. They had twelve children,
eight of whom are living, namely:
Frances, now the wife of William H. Matteson; M. Henry; Ella, at home;
John; Roy; Emma; Mizpah; and Joseph. The mother of this family passed away in
1894. She was a member of the
Congregational Church, a consistent Christian woman, and faithful wife and
loving mother, and was highly respected throughout the community in which she
resided. For his second wife Mr. Manuel
chose Miss Mary Malspina, who yet survives him. Mr. Manuel was a prominent member of the
Masonic fraternity and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. On questions of national importance he was a
Democrat, but was a liberal-minded man, who in local matters was not bound by
partisan ties, considering only the qualification of the candidate and his
fitness for public office. He was
regarded as one of the most reliable and successful businessmen of his county,
and as a result of his well-directed efforts he was enabled to leave to his
family a valuable property. They now
have a fine residence in Stockton and also a good home in Murphy. The children have incorporated the business
under the title of the Manuel Estate and the eldest son, Henry, is president
and manager of the company.
Henry Manuel was born in Murphy on
the 15th of November, 1871.
He acquired his literary education in the public schools and was
graduated at Heald’s Business College, in San Francisco, with the class of
1890. On the 13th of
December, 1895 he wedded Miss Laura Jones, a native daughter of Calaveras
County. He belongs to the Masonic order,
having been raised to the sublime degree of a master Mason in Ophir Lodge, No.
33, F. & A. M., of Murphy, in 1892, when he was just twenty-one years of
age. He is now one of the prominent
representatives of the craft in Calaveras County and is serving as treasurer of
his lodge. He has followed in the
political footsteps of his father, voting for the men and measures of the
Democracy on questions of state and national importance, but at local elections
casting his vote regardless of party ties.
The Manuel family is widely and favorable known throughout this portion
of California and the eldest son occupies a very creditable position in
business circles, fully sustaining the untarnished name of the father.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 780-781. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2011
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Calaveras County Biographies