HUGH C. TRAINOR

Sacramento County

Biographies

HUGH C. TRAINOR

HUGH C. TRAINOR, who was formerly prominent in the live-stock trade of Sacramento, where he made his home for nearly a half century, was a native of New York City, born June 1,1830, and there reared to young manhood. His first employment was as a “fly boy” in the Herald office, in the days of the old-fashioned presses. At the age of fifteen years he was employed by an uncle, Robert McKinnin, in the old Catharine market of that city. Deciding to immigrate to the remote west, he took passage on the steamer Ohio, commanded by Captain Whitney and by way of the Isthmus of Panama came to San Francisco, Cal., where he arrived on the 8^th of April, 1852. For a time he was employed by William Montgomery in that city, when he came to Sacramento, and became associated with William Goodrich, an old friend, who conducted the Queen City market, at the corner of Seventh and J streets In November of 1852 the market was burned, but they at once purchased a ready-made house and in ten or twelve days were again doing business on the old location.

Later Mr. Trainor was associated with Andrew Weston and Christopher Green in the ownership of a market on K street, between First and Second. He then spent a small portion of the year 1853 in the northern part of the state buying and selling live stock, after which he returned to Sacramento and began business for Rolla & Werner, for whom Mr. Green was then bookkeeper. A few years later the two purchased the business interests of Rolla & Werner. In connection with the market they began the raising of sheep in 1860, acquiring property in Yolo county, where they kept about five thousand head of sheep. In the meantime they also purchased a ranch in Placer county, where they raised a like number of sheep, and also had a bout two thousand acres of grain, Mr. Trainor being the native outside business man, while Mr. Green attended to the interests of the market. They were also actively engaged in the live-stock business in Arizona, where they had five thousand head of sheep and two thousand head of cattle. In 1882 Mr. Trainor retired from active business life.

In 1858 Mr. Trainor married Rose Toland, a daughter of George Toland, of Sacramento and they became the parents of the following children: Daniel, Isaac J., Charles E., Frank C., Alfred T. and Walter E. In 1867 Mr. Trainor built a house on H street and lived there many years. He passed away at his home, No. 1222 Tenth street, April 6, 1895, his wife dying May 6^th that same year. Fraternally he was a prominent member of Eldorado Lodge No. 8, I. O. O. F. In the early days he became a member of the firemen’s association, and was also chief organized of the Washington Guards a Yolo County organization, under Captain Mathews, which in 1862 was attached to the Sacramento battalion, and served during the war. Politically Mr. Trainor was always a stanch advocate of the principles of the Democratic party, but never desired official recognition although he served as a member of the county central committee and chairman of the same. He inherited the personal characteristics which have distinguished his career from Irish ancestors on his father’s side, the latter being a native of County Donegal, whence he immigrated to America. He married Mary McKinnin, a native of New York City, and the descendant of a Quaker family established in America in 1799.

Transcribed by Louise E. Shoemaker, November 04, 2007.

Source: “History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California” by J. M. Guinn. Page 1143. Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.