Sacramento County
Biographies
DANIEL D. AMAYA
The list of honored pioneers of California
contains the name of the Amaya family, whose
identification with the west has covered a long period of development.
When the Indians still roamed unmolested through the wide expanses of forests
and over the broad unsettled prairies, they proved a constant source of menace
to the settlers and at times their depredations brought fatal
consequences. One such occurrence happened when Joe Reyes Amaya, Sr., finding that his stock had been stolen by the
savages, hastened alone in pursuit of the cattle thieves. At the Big
Basin he overtook them and endeavored to regain his stolen property, but
single-handed he was unable to cope with the Indians and was killed by
them. In his family was a son who bore his own name and who for years
followed the trade of a butcher, but eventually, when out hunting with his son,
Daniel D., he was wounded by the accidental discharge of the gun. Blood
poisoning followed and in three weeks he died. From early life he had
been fond of hunting game and was an expert marksman, usually returning from
his hunting expeditions with abundant evidences of his skill. Throughout
much of his life he made his home at Santa Cruz, this state, where his wife was
born and reared. They became the parents of eight children, but only two
of these are now living, Daniel D. and Arthur, the former born June 26, 1870,
at Santa Cruz, and identified throughout life with the interests of California.
It was not the privilege of Mr. Amaya to receive a thorough education, as he began to be
self-supporting at an early age and for some time helped his father in the meat
market, also working in a restaurant for a time. His first trip to
Sacramento was made in 1890, but he did not then become a permanent
resident. Other places claimed his attention, and he gratified a desire
to see more of the state, traveling through different localities and
meantime earning a livelihood at his trade. In 1897 he returned to
Sacramento and this city has since been his home. For two years he acted
as manager of the Kleinsorge store and then formed a
partnership with William Atkinson in the meat business, opening a market on
Second and M streets. Eventually he erected a modern business block, in
which he opened a market August 14, 1909, and since then he has continued at
the same location, meanwhile leasing the grocery department. As a
business man he possesses exceptional capabilities. Through energy and
sagacious judgment he is making steady progress and now ranks among the
prosperous citizens of Sacramento.
The marriage of Mr. Amaya
took place January 29, 1899, and united him with Miss Adelaide M. Porter, who
was born at Live Oaks, Sutter county, this state, and
is a woman of education and culture, and a devoted member of the Christian
Science church. The only child of their union is a son, Arthur Elwood,
born January 4, 1900, and now a student in the city schools. Mrs. Amaya is a daughter of J. C. and Melissa (Stevenson)
Porter, natives respectively of Kirtland, Lake county, Ohio, and
Missouri. At an early age Mr. Porter migrated as far west as Missouri and
during his sojourn in that state he married Miss Stevenson. Later he
established a home in California, where he engaged in raising stock and grain.
Of later years he owned and operated a hotel. His death occurred in May
of 1907, and since then Mrs. Porter has made her home with Mrs. Amaya, who was one of four children
forming the parental family, three now living. Fraternally Mr. Amaya has been identified with the Elks and Eagles for some
years and he also belongs to several organizations for business development,
notably the Butchers' Association. In politics he is an active,
zealous Republican, but never a candidate for office. Besides the ownership
of his residence and business property in Sacramento he owns one-half interest
in a valuable fruit farm of ten acres located near Fair Oaks.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento County,
California, Pages 760-761. Historic
Record Company,
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.