Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN OLIVER KANE
J. O. KANE, a rancher of Dry
Creek Township,
was born January 1, 1820, in Londonderry County,
Ireland, son of John and
Mary (McMaster) Kane. His parents came to the United States in 1830, by
way of the St. Lawrence River, landing at Lewiston, Maine; they lived in
Niagara County, New York, until 1844, and then moved to Kane County, Illinois,
fifteen miles west of St. Charles, where they resided on a farm until their
death, the father in 1854, at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother in
1856, at the age of fifty-six years. They had five daughters and three
sons; the latter were Patrick, Peter and J. O. The two last mentioned came
to California together; and Peter, in returning home in
1851, died in St. Louis, Missouri,
with Asiatic cholera. Mr. Kane, the subject of this sketch, was brought up
on a farm. In 1850, when about thirty years of age, he came across the
plains and mountains to California, reaching Hangtown,
August 10, and followed mining there until 1854, with
good success. Then he came down to Deer
Valley and purchased a squatter’s
title near Sheldon, and remained there until 1858. Then, selling out, he
purchased his present property in Dry Creek
Township, seven miles north of Galt and one mile
east of Hicksville. All the improvements on this
place he himself has made; and he has also met with some heavy losses. His
house with contents, including $500 in paper money, was destroyed by fire July
8, 1888; but he rebuilt and now has a comfortable home. His land, 200
acres in extent, is in a fine state of cultivation, devoted to hay, grain and
live-stock. He has also some fruit of all kinds, and three acres of raisin
grapes, in a flourishing condition. Mr. Kane is a hard-working, honest
man, in physically active, and enterprising. He is a member of Galt Lodge,
No. 239, I. O. O. F., and of the order of K. of P. of the same place. From
1863 to 1886 he was a justice of the peace. In 1850 he participated in the
Indian troubles of that year.
Transcribed 9-12-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated
History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 635-636.
Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.