Sacramento County
Biographies
HENRY
J. KILGARIFF
Born in New Orleans
August 22, 1855, Henry J. Kilgariff was only three years old when he began to be a
citizen of the capital city of California.
His father, Martin Kilgariff, was a native of County
Galway, Ireland,
a sturdy yeoman of the old Irish school, and along the levees of the lower Mississippi
he found profitable employment as a contracting stevedore. The business
of loading and unloading the commerce of the great Crescent
City was a paying one, but life in
that hot, fevered locality was not healthful,
and Martin and Honora Kilgariff
removed their household to California.
In Sacramento the father engaged in
the same employment until his death in 1862.
At seventeen Henry J. Kilgariff
closed his school term and began the struggle for self-support. Any job
that paid was accepted by the young laborer. A little flyer into politics
made him a page in the legislature for three sessions. He then entered
the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in the humble capacity of messen-ger. Sticking to his job through the years he
is now assistant freight agent in the employ of that great corporation.
Mr. Kilgariff was married in Sacramento
in November, 1895, to Miss Regina Hassett, and they
have three children. namely, Helen, aged fifteen; Margaret, eleven
years; Martin, age nine; all attending school. Mr. Kilgariff’s fraternal relations speak clearly of his social
standing and popularity. In the lodges of the Elks, Knights of Col-umbus and Young Men’s Institute he is well and favorably
known. He is also a member of St. Francis Xavier Church and a Democrat in
his political belief.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 503-504. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sally Kaleta.