Sacramento County
Biographies
CHARLES LEA
CHARLES LEA was born February 26, 1833, at Sworby Bridge, near Halifax, England, son of John and Harriet (Dyson) Lea. He left home at the age of twenty years and was employed by the Milne Bros., in the manufacture of wines and liquors. He was given charge of the vaults, packing, keeping up stores, etc. He remained with them until 1853, when he went to Manchester, England, and engaged in the same business. He stayed there a year, having charge of the entire business. In 1855 he sailed from Liverpool to America on the steamer John Rutledge. He remained in New York till the steamer Star of the West was ready to sail, then took passage for California, coming via Greytown and Nicaragua, and landing in San Francisco July 28, 1855. The voyage was prolonged on account of the cholera being prevalent on board, they stopping to bury their dead until they became so numerous that they at last shoved them overboard with a piece of iron grating or anything that would keep them from floating. In San Francisco he went to work for his brother Thomas, who was engaged in the manufacture of malt, he being the first man to start a malt house in San Francisco. Charles remained there only a few months, then came to Sacramento and at once located 160 acres of land in this county. He now owns 220 acres of choice farming land, under a fine state of cultivation. He himself has made all the improvements. He does a general farming business, raises hay, grain and stock, and has fifteen acres of vineyard in a most promising condition. Like most other Californians, he tried mining, at Greenwood and Georgetown, but was not successful. He was married, November 6, 1860, to Miss Johanna Percell, a native of Ireland, who came to California in 1858, in company with her brother and sister. After a few years of happy married life she was called away, leaving her husband with six children, four of whom are now living: Harriet, wife of Fred Smith; Emma, wife of Charles Buell; Dora and Charley. Mr. Lea was again married, September, 1876, to Miss Anna Digman, a native of Ireland, who came to America in 1864, at the age of twenty one.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Pages 666-667. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.