Sacramento County
Biographies
CAPTAIN
ANTONE MENDIS
CAPTAIN A. MENDIS was born on the Western Islands, Portuguese possessions, January 13, 1838, son of Jose and Maria (Loper) Mendis. His father was a carpenter, and when thirteen years of age young Mendis went to sea, and during his career as a sailor he traveled all over the known world, - China, Brazil, India, Africa, England, Austria, etc. In 1853 he came to the Pacific coast, and in 1855 he bought a sloop from a clipper ship which had come around Cape Horn, named Leonaide. In 1854, previously, he did some mining at Negro Hill, Rattlesnake Creek, etc., at different periods along until 1861; and was so engaged in Mariposa and Shasta counties, and at Fraser River and other places. Returning to California, he was employed in the Bay trade with the schooner Rising Sun, between San Francisco and all points inside the Bay, and to Sacramento, Stockton, etc. Next he bought the vessel Matilda Heron, which he ran until May, 1864, being engaged in the lumber trade from Bodega Bay and other inside and outside ports. He then settled down in Sacramento, and October 18, 1864, was married, and has remained a citizen of this city ever since. He has been intimately identified with the river transportation during all this period, owning an interest in several well-known vessels,--among them the barge Caroline, the Two Brothers and the May Elizabeth. In the winter of 1869 he built the Mary Ellen. In 1868 he became a member of the Steam Navigation Company, but afterward sold his interest in it. He bought the Neponset No. 1, and afterward built the Neponset No. 2, in 1883-’84. He now has the barge Alameda No. 2, with which he is engaged in the wood trade. In this business, indeed, he has been employed ever since the summer of 1864, with the exception of seven years, 1871 to 1878, when he was ranching in Sutter County. Mrs. Mendis’ maiden name was Elizabeth Preston; she was born in County Mayo, Ireland. The children’s names are Jose, Minnie, Antoine, Helena and Katie.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 599. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.