Nevada
County
Biographies
JAMES H. HENNESSEY
James H. Hennessey is the proprietor
of the Empire Livery & Feed Stable and is one of the popular residents of
Nevada City, for his genial manner renders him a favorite with all
classes. He is a native of the Emerald
Isle, where his birth occurred on the 23rd of May, 1834. He is descended from a family of wealth and
education, its male representatives being prominent merchants of Dublin and
owners of a line of vessels sailing between New York and the Irish
capital. His parents were William and
Mary (Mar) Hennessey, the former a native of the city of Dublin and the latter
of Queens County, Ireland. In their
family were six children, our subject being the youngest and only son. His father died before his birth and the
mother’s death occurred two years later, so that James H. Hennessey was early
left an orphan. Several of the children
were brought to America in 1843 by a maternal uncle, and our subject spent his
boyhood days in New York City.
During the greater part of his life
he has been connected with the livery business, and is therefore an excellent
judge of horses. He gives personal
supervision to his stables, knows the condition of every animal to be found
therein and looks after the welfare of each.
He came to California in 1868, and for a brief period resided at Grass
Valley, but soon afterward made a permanent location in Nevada City. His barns are located on Broad Street,
opposite the National Hotel, and there fashionable turnouts may be secured at
reasonable rates. He is very
accommodating and courteous and is always pleasant in manner, and has secured
from the public a liberal patronage, which he well merits.
Mr. Hennessey gives his political
support to the Democracy, and is unswerving in his advocacy of its
principles. He is also an earnest
supporter of Catholicism, and takes an active interest in every measure that is
calculated to promote the best interests of his city and county. He is light-hearted, generous to a fault and
gives freely and willingly to all in need of assistance. Perhaps he is sometimes imposed upon by
reason of this quality in his nature, but he never errs on the other side by
withholding his aid when it is needed.
His many excellent characteristics have gained him a large circle of
friends, and few men in the community are more widely known than James H.
Hennessey.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Page 404. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies