Sacramento County

Biographies

WILLIAM McLAUGHLIN

Though twenty years have passed since the death of the late William McLaughlin, he is still remembered as a man of sterling qualities and marked ability, who had achieved distinctive success in his business affairs, while throughout the city he had a host of warm and loyal friends. He was born in County Donegal, Ireland, on the 14^th of February, 1842, and was there reared to the age of eighteen years, when his father having died, he started out to make his own way in the world. Impressed with the fact that in the new world across the Atlantic lay his opportunity, he emigrated on a sailing vessel from Londonderry in 1860 and landed at the port of New York. He proceeded directly to Philadelphia, where he lived among relatives for a few years, and for a period was employed as a private watchman in a mercantile establishment. In the meantime two of his sisters had become residents of Sacramento and were so favorably impressed with the climate, the people and general conditions that they urged him to join them here. He left New York on the steamship “Colorado,” August 16, 1865, crossed the Isthmus of Panama and on the Pacific coast took another boat for California, arriving in this state on the 9^th of September. Soon afterward he came to Sacramento and a short time later engaged in the draying and trucking business. In this he prospered and followed that business to the time of his death, which occurred May 14, 1910. The business gradually developed, a large equipment was secured and on the advent of the automobile, the horse-drawn vehicles were discarded for motorized trucks, keeping always in the van of progress. This was for many years the leading transfer and trucking company in this city. Mr. McLaughlin bore an unsullied reputation for honesty and accommodation in his business affairs, which he conducted under the name of the McLaughlin Draying Company.

Mr. McLaughlin was married in 1864, in Philadelphia. His first wife died, leaving one son, and in 1876, in Sacramento, he married Miss Mary Ferrell, a native of Philadelphia and a daughter of Thomas Ferrell, who came to Sacramento in an early day. To this last union were born four children.

In his political views Mr. McLaughlin was a stanch democrat and in 1880 the democratic county convention made him its nominee for county supervisor, but he was defeated. Three years later he was nominated for that office, to which he was elected by a good majority. In 1886 he was made the regular democratic nominee for city trustee, but owing to dissensions in the ranks of his party he was defeated, his successful competitor leading him by only two hundred and fifty votes in the entire city. In 1889 he was more successful, being elected second trustee and superintendent of streets by a large majority. He served with distinctive ability in that important position for three years, retiring from the office with the thanks of the people who appreciated his efforts to further much needed improvements. During the ‘90s he served two or three terms as county supervisor. He stood for the enforcement of the ordinances regarding the improvement and beautifying of the city and showed himself one of Sacramento’s most loyal and progressive citizens. Mr. McLaughlin took a deep interest in military affairs, having served with the rank of major on the official staff of Governor Stoneman in 1884-5. He possessed a great strength of character, was actuated by high purposes and honest motives, and stood in the front rank of those whose residence here was an honor to the community.

Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.

Source: Wooldridge, J.W. Major History of the Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2 pgs. 339-340. The Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.

Sacramento County Biographies