MRS. SARAH E. DONOVAN

Sacramento County

Biographies

MRS. SARAH E. DONOVAN.-- Born at Franklin, in Sacramento County, Mrs. Sarah E. Donovan is the daughter of Patrick and Bridget McEnerney; she attended the Arno district school and made her home with her parents until she married. On November 29, 1899, she became the wife of Edmund H. Kenefick, who was born near Liberty, in San Joaquin County, the son of Jeremiah and Rose (Darcy) Kenefick, the former a native of County Limerick, and the latter a native of Kilkenny, Ireland. They came out to California in early days, and underwent all the hardships of the pioneer. Jeremiah Kenefick was both a sheep- and a stock-raiser, and farmed first in San Joaquin County, where he acquired by purchase a large tract of land; and he later secured additional acreage in Sacramento County. The farm upon which Mrs. Donovan lives today was his first purchase—then a section; and in time he added other ranches in Sacramento County, to the extent of about two sections. Jeremiah passed away at his home-place in San Joaquin aged about seventy-six, and his good wife attained to about the same age. They had an interesting and promising family of five children.

Edmund Kenefick attended the Telegraph district school, and then helped on the ranch until he was married, when he and his wife removed to the new residence built on the Sacramento County ranch, where the family have since resided; and of the section Jeremiah purchased, Mrs. Donovan still has 320 acres. Edmund himself acquired 320 acres adjoining their place, but one-half of this has since been sold. What was realized by the sale of the 160 acres was put into the purchase of 180 acres known as the old Prouty ranch. All improvements, such as barns and other farm buildings, were put onto the home ranch. Mr. Kenefick always followed general farming; and his death, on March 13, 1913, was a real loss to California agriculture. He left four children: Eugene E. is at home; Adele is teaching at Escalon, San Joaquin County; George is a high school student at Lodi; and Rose in the high school at St. Joseph’s Academy, at Sacramento.

After Mr. Kenefick’s demise, his widow continued to reside at the home place, and to conduct the ranch herself. She was married a second time on November 19, 1921, at Sacramento, to Michael Donovan. He was born in Ireland and came across the Atlantic to Boston, when only nine years old, and since that time he has made his way in the world. He has traveled widely through various sections of the United States, and has also spent nine years in Alaska, during the gold rush. Later, he settled in Seattle, where he followed contracting as a builder; and on coming to California, he was a contractor at San Francisco for three years, just previous to his marriage with Mrs. Kenefick. He himself had been previously married to Miss Katherine Crane, a native of Nebraska, who passed away in January, 1918.

Transcribed by Donna L. Becker.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 489. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.