Sacramento County
Biographies
MICHAEL FAY
MICHAEL FAY. A retired citizen of Sacramento, Michael Fay is enjoying the evening of his days in rest and seclusion among the developed resources of the state which he helped to make. He is a native of Ireland, his birth having occurred upon a farm there in 1830, a son of Michael and Margaret (Denney) Fay. His father was a stone mason by trade, following this until his death in 1847. After the death of his father, Michael Fay and a brother went to England, and thence to America, the mother and remainder of the family following some years later. Both brothers enlisted in the Mexican war and were ready to go to the front when word was received from headquarters countermanding the order, and they were finally honorably discharged, as their services were not then needed. They were for a time employed in various callings until 1852, when they boarded a vessel bound for Sacramento, Cal. They arrived in this city in May of that year, and shortly afterward engaged in mining in the bank and bar diggings on the Consumne river, where they were very successful. After continuing in this occupation for several years they became interested in a grain and stock ranch. Leaving the mines they turned their attention entirely to the raising of horses and the growing of grain and hay, their ranch consisting of five hundred and twenty acres. Later they added the raising of cattle to their other interests. In 1873 Michael Fay removed from his ranch to Sacramento and kept the Eldred house on K street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, where he built up a large business. In 1878 he rented his hotel and later on disposed of it. For two years he served as deputy sheriff under Lee Stanley, and afterward under T. O’Neil, then sheriff of Sacramento county. During his term of service he had the care of many prisoners, taking and returning them from prison, many of whom were desperate characters. Finally resigning this position he has since lived a retired life.
In 1863 Mr. Fay married Minerva J. Perry, a resident of Sacramento county, and a native of Illinois. Born of this union are two daughters, namely: Margaret L., and Julia, wife of F. L. Valberg, of Oakland, Cal. Politically Mr. Fay is a Democrat and has always taken a lively interest in the success of his party and the election of his friends, although personally he has never cared for official recognition. In disposition he is clever and sociable, and has a large circle of friends among the old residents. He began life with little means and by industry and judicious investments is now the possessor of considerable city property.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: “History of
the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California”
by J. M. Guinn. Pages 1530-1531. Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.
© 2007 Louise E. Shoemaker.