Santa
Clara County
Biographies
CHARLES MCGETTIGAN
Charles McGettigan was born in 1825 in Clonleigh, near the ancient and historic town of Lifford, adjoining Strabane, one of the principal towns in County Tyrone, Ireland, which is situated at the very northwestern extremity of that county, where the rivers Finn and Mourne unite to form the River Foyle on its way, emptying into the ocean just below Londonderry. That city is the most important shipping point in that section of Ireland, and it was there that Mr. McGettigan bade his last farewell to the land of his forefathers, taking passage on the sailing vessel Queen of Hull, bound for Philadelphia, and after a very rough voyage of ten weeks reaching his destination in a dismantled ship which was towed into port.
Arriving in Philadelphia, Charles McGettigan was interested in the grocery business for a time, but later entered into business with his brother, who had established an extensive bakery in Philadelphia. That city remained his home from the time of his arrival in 1841 to 1854, when he came to California in the hope of retrieving losses which had befallen him. The trip to Aspinwall was made by steamer, thence by rail and pack horses to Panama, where they embarked on the steamer Golden Gate for San Francisco, arriving March 18, 1854. In describing what has since become the metropolis of the Pacific coast Mr. McGettigan says: “What is now Mission street was called the old plank road, which had an outlet for old Mission Dolores, San Jose and New Almaden mines, and was daily trodden by the old stage coaches to and from the old city hall. Said street was inhabited up to about Sixth street. West, north and south from that point was a dreary waste, all dotted in the form of sugar-loaf sand hills; so much so that the continuation up to the old mission ran through many sand banks, which formed a wall of sand on both sides so deep (at least in many knolls) as to cover the tops of the old stage coaches. But American foresight and energy at once went to work in dumping the sand hills into the city front water lots, where now stand grand warehouses. In many places were seen imbedded in the sand old hulks which had done service and weathered the blasts around the Horn. At the above date the city's outlook was anything but encouraging, especially to the tender-fisted professionals who swarmed around to regain a fortune. If so lucky as to get a job from McGlynn, who was then contracting boss of the sand hill, they struck it rich as it seasoned their hands and furnished a stake to get to the mines. Many of these same men not only became rich, but lights in law, politics and even in religion.”
In company with a number of others similarly situated---in a strange country and without work ---Charles McGettigan started out in search of employment, but met with no special success in his efforts until he had separated himself from his companions and started out on his own responsibility. With a stock of tea he started from San Francisco with San Jose as his destination, hoping to dispose of his wares en route. Houses were few and far between and as a consequence the trip was made with scarcely a break, and in three days he reached San Jose. Here he had no trouble in disposing of his goods, the firm of Pfister & Waterman, who ran a small grocery, purchasing his entire stock. Pleased with the climate and scenery in this part of the state, Mr. McGettigan concluded to remain here for a time, and among other places of interest which he visited was the New Almaden quicksilver mines, about twelve miles southeast from San Jose. There in a niche at the mouth of the mine was a statue of the Savior surrounded by religious emblems, and at this altar the Indians and Mexicans offered up their prayers before going into the mines, which have demanded many lives as a seeming sacrifice for the riches they gave up.
Returning to San Francisco, Mr. McGettigan found a dispatch awaiting him offering him the management of a restaurant and bakery on Mokelumne Hill, which was quite a lively mining camp, besides being the county seat of Calaveras county. For four years, or until 1858, memorable as the year which marked the rush to the Fraser river, he conducted the enterprise with profit, but, as did thousands of others, he left a well-paying business behind and started for the gold fields. Only an eye witness to the clamoring hordes that made their way to the golden strand can appreciate the misery and suffering endured. Many lives were lost, incoming waves washing the bodies ashore.
At Fort Yale Mr. McGettigan started a bakery and coffee house which he left in charge of others while he went on a prospecting tour which lasted six months. Upon his return to Fort Yale he sold his plant and stock, and in the spring of 1860 as interested in a grocery at the corner of Union and Stockton streets, San Francisco. The business arrangement proved of short duration, however, for in the fall of the same year he again went to the mines, not so much for the wealth which he hoped to find in digging for gold as in the hope of making a success of the restaurant which he expected to establish. After various unfortunate experiences he finally located in Lewiston in December, 1862. This town was admirably situated at the fork of the Snake and Columbia rivers and was a distributing point for the neighboring mines. Selecting a site for a store, Mr. McGettigan built an oven and established a bakery which in an incredibly short time became the most noted provision depot in the country round-about. Small loaves of bread sold for fifty cents and pies brought seventy-five cents. The firm of McGettigan & Kattenhorn took rank among the successful merchants of Lewiston in the pioneer days. Leaving his partner in charge of affairs, Mr. McGettigan returned to Philadelphia after ten years of ups and downs in the west. Prior to leaving the east his first wife had died, leaving three children, Patrick, Annie and Willie, who were reared by Mr. McGettigan's sister. After renewing old friendships and visiting familiar scenes, Mr. McGettigan left New York with his children February 23, 1864, arriving in San Francisco March 18. Mr. McGettigan's second marriage occurred in San Francisco March 26, 1864. On the day following, with his wife and children, he started for Portland, Ore., which for the next two years was his home amid the scenes of numerous successful business ventures. There also occurred the birth of his son, Charley, who graduated in dental surgery at Ann Arbor (Mich.) University, and is now deceased. Returning to San Francisco with his family, Mr. McGettigan remained there a short time, but finally, October 24, 1867, purchased two acres about a mile from San Jose, where he established what in time became favorably known as the McGettigan Star bakery. In San Jose two more sons were added to the family, James, born January 2, 1868, and Robert, May 22, 1869. The latter is a physician in the employ of the United States government in the Hawaiian Islands.
Charles McGettigan may with justice be considered one of the most honorable citizens of San Jose, and unconsciously represents that best of all true manhood---an old-time gentleman.
Transcribed
7-9-15 Marilyn
R. Pankey.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 683-684. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2015 Marilyn R. Pankey.