Santa
Clara County
Biographies
DANIEL MCGINLEY
The Civil war brought to Mr.
McGinley the most perilous and thrilling experiences of his life, and as one of
our foreign-born American citizens he furnished another example of the loyal
devotion of that class to the Union, in defense of which they constantly risked
their lives. After the struggle
ended he came to California, but it was not until 1868 that he settled
permanently in the state, and in 1869 he established himself in San Jose, where
he has since engaged in contract painting, having his shop on San Fernando
street and his residence at No. 431 South Eleventh street.
A native of Belfast, Ireland, Mr.
McGinley was a small child when his father, John, settled with the family in
Boston and there he attended the public schools. He had a brother, Michael, who
served throughout the Civil war as a member of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts
Infantry, and afterward, for more than thirty-six years, held a position as
instructor in the Reformatory at Deer Island, where he continued until his
death in 1903. After learning the painter’s trade in Boston, Daniel McGinley
went south to follow the same. He was working in Mobile, Ala., when the south
seceded. Being intensely loyal to the north, it became imperative for him to
leave the south. On payment of $45 he secured passage on the Morning Star, a
ship bound for Liverpool. Off the coast of Ireland, near Ballycottin
the vessel was wrecked and only five out of the twenty-two on board were saved.
In an unconscious condition Mr. McGinley was thrown with the wreckage and
washed ashore. When he became conscious he found himself lying in a cove,
beneath a high bluff. People on shore had witnessed the disaster and the
survivors were lifted up by means of ropes. As soon as he had recovered from
the shock he went to Liverpool, where the American consul (sic) secured him
transportation back to the United States, and April 12, 1861, he landed in New
York.
Four days after landing Mr. McGinley
enlisted in the United States navy (sic) and was assigned to the brig Perry,
which, June 3, same year, captured the privateer Savannah, and was then ordered
to the repair docks. While at Alexandria the marines were ordered ashore with
the field battery and occupied Upton’s Heights. In February, 1861, they were
ordered to New Orleans, and there assigned to the Richmond, where they
witnessed the capture of New Orleans in April, 1861. Next they were transferred
to the ship Shepherd Knapp, which was wrecked on Cape Hayti.
On being rescued, Mr. McGinley was sent to New York City on board a schooner
filled with ordnance stores. It happened that the riots broke out on the day he
reached New York, but he proceeded without difficulty to the navy yard with the
supplies. Immediately afterward he was sent, in charge of four guns, to protect
the sub-treasury, where he was in charge for eight weeks. As chief gunner’s mate,
he was then assigned to the man-of-war Fort Jackson, on which he took part in
the capture of Fort Fisher. In 1864 he suffered the misfortune of having his
leg crushed and was sent to a hospital in New York City, but his recovery was
so long delayed that he had no further opportunity for action in the war, and
in February of 1865 was honorable discharged on account of disability.
On the close of his war service, Mr.
McGinley came via Panama to San Francisco, thence to Los Angeles, and later for
six months was employed as a government teamster in Arizona and New Mexico.
From there he went into Old Mexico, but at the time of the French war returned
to the States and for six months was employed at the painter’s trade at Fort
Bliss, Texas, thence in January of 1866 removing to Galveston, same state.
While in the latter city he married Ellen Louise Brady, a member of an old
southern family and a daughter of John Brady, an extensive stockman in Texas
and a strong supporter of the Union during the Civil war. Her uncle, Captain
McDonald, was an officer in the Mexican war and was strongly northern in his
sympathies for which reason his life was endangered. He was forced to leave
Texas and miraculously reached New Orleans just after it had been captured by
Federal troops.
During 1868 Mr. McGinley came to
California the second time. His first location was in San Francisco, but in
1869 he removed to San Jose, where he still makes his home. Here, as elsewhere
he has been stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party. For two terms he
represented the Third ward in the city council, and later was appointed a
member of the board of library trustees, being president of the same for four
years. In September, 1902, he was bereaved by the death of his wife. A woman of
excellent education, a graduate of the Ursuline convent in Galveston, Texas,
she was of the greatest help to him during all the years of their married life.
Various local organizations numbered her among their members, and she was
especially active in the work of the Woman’s Relief Corps and the Ladies of the
Grand Army of the Republic. Of her marriage six children were born, namely: John,
who died at twenty years of age; Water; Kittie, who formerly engaged in
teaching school, but since her mother’s death has been the housekeeper, and is
also secretary of the John A. Dix Woman’s Relief Corps; Harry, who is in the
employ of the St. Louis Steel Range Company; Nellie, first assistant librarian
in the San Jose Public Library; and Charles. The five children now living
remain in San Jose and are still members of the family circle. In his fraternal
relations Mr. McGinley is a member of the National Union,
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and John A. Dix Post No. 42, G. A. R., of
which he is past commander, and in addition has served as aide to the national
commander.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: History of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast
Counties, California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1382-1383. The
Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2016 Cecelia M. Setty.