Placer
County
Biographies
EDWARD C. KAVANAUGH
Edward Charles Kavanaugh, the
popular proprietor of the Forest House, at Forest Hill, is a native son of
California. He was born at Michigan
Bluff, Placer County, July 29, 1872. His father, Edward Kavanaugh, was born in
Ireland and came to the United States when he was fifteen years of age, in
company with an older brother.
After a rough and perilous journey
the brothers landed in New York and from there went to Philadelphia where they
remained until 1852, at which time Edward Kavanaugh crossed the plains to
California. The journey overland was
made especially dangerous by repeated attacks by Indians. One member of the company was killed and much
of the stock belonging to the little band of travelers was stolen. Finally reaching Hangtown Mr. Kavanaugh
engaged in placer mining and remained there for several years, meeting with the
usual fortune of prospectors and miners of those days. Leaving Hangtown, he went to Iowa Hill, and
later to Grizzly Flat and Michigan Bluff, where he made several claims on the north
fork of the American River. Here he met
with gratifying success, taking out a well paying quantity of gold, but like
many others he lost considerable money in other mining enterprises. In 1870 he married Mrs. Ann Williams, widow
of John Williams, also a native of Ireland.
She had two sons, Thomas and John, the former an electrician in
Sacramento and the latter associated with Mr. Kavanaugh in the hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Kavanaugh had six children, of
whom five are living: Edward, the
subject of this sketch; Annie, wife of Henry L. Banks; Arthur, a miner; Kate
and Maggie, who are in school. The
father departed this life in 1895, aged sixty-five years. His wife survives him and is now sixty-three
years of age. Both were members of the
Catholic Church and in that faith reared their children. Edward C. Kavanaugh, the eldest son, was
educated in the public schools of his native county and became clerk in the Rea
House at Forest Hill. Later he accepted
a position in a wholesale liquor house in Sacramento. In 1896 he and Richard Thomas rented the
Forest Hill House and for two years the partnership was continued. Mr. Kavanaugh purchased his partner’s
interest and has since conducted the business with gratifying success. He now owns the Forest Hill House and leases
the Rea House, the entire hotel business of the town being in his hands. His livery stable is the only one in the town
and he also owns a stage line.
Mr. Kavanaugh was married in 1897 to
Miss Annie McHole, a native of his own town, daughter
of Patrick McHole, a prominent California pioneer,
who was a member of the state legislature and held other important offices of
honor and trust and for many years was the proprietor of the Orleans Hotel in
Auburn, Placer County. Mr. and Mrs.
Kavanaugh have a bright little son, Emmet, who is the pride and joy of his
parents. Mrs. Kavanaugh was reared in
her father’s hotel and her experience and business ability have been of
inestimable value to her husband. The
hotel patrons are made to feel at home and are most agreeably cared for by Mr.
and Mrs. Kavanaugh, who make a charming host and hostess. They have many friends throughout the whole
county.
Mr. Kavanaugh is a charter member of
the Knights of Pythias lodge in Forest Hill and was one of its first
officers. He is also a Native Son of the
Golden West. Mr. and Mrs. Kavanaugh are
members of the Catholic Church. As a boy
of seventeen Mr. Kavanaugh began business life for himself. He has by honorable methods and business
sagacity gained a place for himself at the front and
enjoys well deserved success.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 792-793. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.