El
Dorado County
Biographies
THOMAS DORMODY
Among
the real pioneers of El Dorado County is numbered the Dormody family, of which
Thomas A. J. Dormody is a worthy representative. This family is also one of the best known in
this section of the valley, having been prominently identified with ranching
and mercantile affairs from early days.
Thomas Dormody was born on the old Green Springs ranch, now the Dormody
ranch, on the 16th of October, 1857, a son of William and Sarah
(Norton) Dormody. The father came to
California, by way of the isthmus of Panama, in 1849
and for a while engaged in mining at Kelsey, El Dorado county. He then engaged in the dry goods business at
Coloma, the place where gold was first found in this state. He prospered in his business and invested his
profits in the present Dormody ranch, on which he conducted a hotel, or road
house, a stopping place for the stages which came through this section. He carried the business on successfully until
his death in 1876, becoming one of the best known men in the valley. His wife, who was a native of Ireland, came
to California in her girlhood and was married to Mr. Dormody here. They became the parents of eight children, of
whom six are living. The mother long
survived her husband, her death occurring September 4, 1902. The Dormody ranch is located in Green Valley,
on the old freighting road to the Comstock mines.
Thomas
Dormody received his education in the Green Valley
and Live Oak schools, and after the death of his father took an active part in
managing the home ranch. After the death
of his mother he came into possession of the property, of which he had been the
active manager for several years, and had also run the general store, post
office and mail route. He has disposed
of the mercantile interests and until recently devoted his entire time and attention
to the cattle and dairy business. The
ranch contains over eight hundred acres of good land, is well improved in every
essential respect, and is one of the valuable farm properties in this section
of the valley. Mr. Dormody now rents the
property and is taking things easy.
Mr.
Dormody was united in marriage to Mary (Flint) Bell, a native of Illinois, and
to them have been born five children, Dorothy, Grace, Thomas, Patricia, and
Bernard, who died at the age of two and a half years. By a previous marriage Mrs. Dormody is the
mother of the following children: Minnie
L., the wife of G. O. Keyburz; Anna M., the wife of
B. F. MacKeever; J. H.; Josephine L.; and Frances M.,
the wife of J. H. Randolph. Mr. Dormody
is a Democrat in his political view and served one term as justice of the peace. He is fond of hunting and fishing, is a
genial companion and all who know him hold him in high esteem.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 99-100. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden
Nugget Library's El Dorado County Biographies