Sacramento County
Biographies
JAMES H. SULLIVAN
JAMES H. SULLIVAN was born in Montreal, Canada, in 1830, but of an
American family. When but a little shaver his father removed to New
Jersey, and in New York city, adjoining, Mr. Sullivan
learned the cooper trade. Upon hearing the electrifying news of the gold
discoveries in California he took passage for the voyage round Cape Horn, on
the ship “Balance,” of which John L. Durkee, a
well-known resident in San Francisco was mate. The passengers numbered
thirty persons, one of them being W. K. Hopping, sheriff of Shasta County, and
a leading man of the northern part of the State. The voyage was made
without serious mishap, and the Golden Gate was reached September 4,
1849. Mr. Sullivan started at boat-repairing, at the prevailing high rate
of wages, and a month later went at his trade of coopering. He was suceeding well, owning a considerable piece of land on
Montgomery street, between Sacramento and California streets, with houses upon
it that were bringing in very comfortable rentals. The big fire of May,
1850, burned him out, however, and, discouraged by the disaster, he sold the
land for $1,200, which to-day is very valuable. He then went to the
mines, and at Coloma succeeded well, so well, in fact, that after three months’
time, thinking he had made enough to satisfy himself for the remainder of his
days, he decided to return East to enjoy life.
The route chosen was by way of Panama. On the voyage, however, the vessel
was disabled upon the coast of Mexico, and taken in this condition to
Acapulco. Here Mr. Sullivan fell in with other adventurous spirits, and
with them went to Nicaragua, then a very favorite route for passengers.
Having plenty of means at their command they secured a monopoly of the
transportation of passengers, and also dealt extensively in horses and
cattle. During the year they spent at this they made money very fast, and
seemed in a fair way of “heeling” themselves for life. One of the party was a rogue, however. By knavery he managed to
get hold of all the money belonging to the company, and got away with it.
This left them almost bankrupt, and when just after this time the Pacific Mail
Company, which was running to Panama, managed to by off Vanderbilt, who was
running to Nicaragua, this capped the climax. With $500, which was all
Mr. Sullivan saved from the wreck, he turned his face again California-ward,
came at once to Sacramento, and has been since that time prominently identified
with the city’s best interests. This was in 1851. He opened a cooper
shop at once, and continued in this business until 1856, when he was elected
city treasurer. Two years later he was appointed Deputy State
Comptroller, holding this office until he resigned, to resume coopering.
In 1866 he became deputy sheriff; in 1868 was chosen under-sheriff, and from
1870 to 1872 was manager of the sheriff’s office. After that he made
contracts for public improvements, performing much of the work done in raising
the grade of the streets between that time and 1882. In that year he
opened his well-known and leading real estate and insurance office, first at
the northwest corner of Fourth and J street, and afterward at 1007 Fourth
street, where he has since conducted a large business. Mr. Sullivan was
married in Sacramento August 9, 1859, to Miss Emma Anderson. They have
five children, four girls and one boy. Their names are as follows:
Julia C., Sophie E., Alice F., Lizzie J. and Robert W. His handsome
residence on the southwest corner of Fifteenth and H streets, in the heart of
the best residence quarter of the city, is one of the finest and most
comfortable to be found anywhere.
Transcribed
by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An
Illustrated History of
© 2006 Karen Pratt.