Santa Clara County
Biographies
JOHN SHEEHY
JOHN SHEEHY. While a great deal of adventure by land and
sea has been crowded into the life of John Sheehy, it has by no means
overshadowed those practical and business like phases of existence which have
resulted in an ample fortune and timely retirement for this honored citizen of
Santa Clara. Mr. Sheehy has proved the kind of Irishman who is welcomed as
an acquisition wherever he chooses to settle, and those possessing equal wit
and energy are now at the head of many of the foremost enterprises in the
United States. Much in his case is due to early environment, for unlike the
majority of the native sons of County Cork he was born and spent his childhood
in comparative affluence, his father owning his own farm to
the extent of having a ninety-nine year lease. He was named after his
father, and was the second son of the six sons and four daughters born to his
mother, Margaret (Doonan) Sheehy, also a native of
Ireland, his birth occurring August 28, 1828.
Because the national burden of taxation rested less
heavily upon his family than upon many of his neighbors, the younger John had
special educational advantages, and because he was studious and industrious he
improved them to the best of his ability. He attended a private school for
several years, and having determined to follow the fortunes of a seaman, he
studied navigation, trigonometry, and whatever else would help him to
intelligently enter upon his self-supporting career. At the age of seventeen he
sailed on the ship China, from Bristol to Quebec, under command of Captain Altridge, and afterward cruised to New Orleans. His next
trip was to Alexandria, Egypt, and from there his ship returned to Liverpool
and London. In the latter city he became mate of the Albatross, bound for
Central America, but on this voyage a disagreement arose with the captain, who
was a drunkard, and Mr. Sheehy left the boat at Balize,
Honduras. Eventually the consignees of this ship gave him charge of the Ellan King, from Aberdeen, Scotland, to New York City,
and after discharging his cargo he again went to Central America, and from
there returned to New Orleans in the spring of 1849. Afterward he took charge
of several cargoes on the way from New Orleans to Central America, and in the
latter part of 1849 went as mate of the John H. Jarvis with a load of
merchandise to Havana, and Boston, Mass. While in New Orleans in 1852 he cast
his first presidential vote for Pierce.
Mr. Sheehy came to California by way of Panama in
1852, walking across the Isthmus, and packing his blankets and few possessions.
Reaching San Francisco December 7, 1852, he failed to find anything
to do, and so went to the Mariposa mines on Maxwell Creek, where he found living
extremely high and out of all proportion to his income. After getting a start
he was able to make two dollars and a half a day, but after paying fifty
dollars for forty-eight pounds of flour, and a dollar and a half a pound for
bacon, he found that his living cost him about three dollars a day, fifty cents
more than he was making. Disgusted with the country, he decided to leave, and
had already boarded the oriental ship Deadweight, bound for China, when friends persuaded him to try his luck further in the great
coast country. He therefore boarded a boat bound for Santa Cruz county for a load of redwood, and he was so impressed with
the county that he returned to it after discharging his cargo in San Francisco.
His first occupation consisted of binding wheat in a harvest field at sixty
dollars a month, but this work proving monotonous and less profitable than he
desired, he was ready to embrace any opportunity which held out greater
promise. A steamer having been cast ashore on the Santa Cruz beach, he and two
other men, named Gorman and Drussel, purchased the
boat, and after three months of hard work succeeded in placing her in good
shape for sea duty. The launching in September proved most disastrous, for in
getting her out of the holding a hole was knocked in her side through which the
water poured to such an extent that boat and crew were nearly drowned.
Fortunately the disheartened mariners met with kind treatment from the citizens
of Santa Cruz, who befriended them in every way possible, and fitted them out
with necessary clothing and provisions. There was nothing to do but to divide
the spoils, and the crippled craft was torn to pieces, Mr. Sheehy taking
the copper, the sails falling to one of the other men, and the balance to the
third owner. The sale of the copper brought in enough to place Mr. Sheehy
beyond immediate want, and though the adventure proved a disappointment, he was
not without resources to start in some other line of occupation.
Turning his attention to mining, Mr. Sheehy went to
Placer county and worked in the mine known as Yankee
Jim, and a pleasant surprise awaited him. Here he found his brother, who had
been in California for a long time but up to this time he had never been able
to locate him. In one year Mr. Sheehy took out two thousand dollars above
living expenses, and with this small fortune returned to San Francisco where he
invested in real-estate. For four years fortune smiled on him, for those were
the days of the boom, and all who had the means were sure of fair returns for
the same. In 1859 he bought three hundred acres of land near Watsonville, Santa
Cruz county, but not liking it sold out and bought the
same amount of land across the river, which farm he still owns. This proved a
veritable mine of fertility, and was variously utilized according to market
demands and the preference of the owner. That an enormous amount of work and
money has been expended in its improvement is apparent to all who have visited
it, and it is known that it is worth over five hundred dollars an acre at the present
time. One hundred and thirty acres are under orchard, and the balance is
devoted to dairying and alfalfa. Here Mr. Sheehy spent many happy and
profitable years, but some time ago retired from active life and has since made
his home in Santa Clara, his able and enterprising sons succeeding to the
management of the farm.
For many years Mr. Sheehy was prominent in
Democratic political undertakings, and as long ago as 1875 was elected
supervisor of the county, but one vote standing between himself and the
election of his opponent. As supervisor he served three terms, running on the
Independent ticket the second time, and being appointed by Governor Stone for
the third term. Since the going to pieces of his highly prized craft off the
coast of Santa Cruz county Mr. Sheehy has developed a great deal of
enthusiasm for this western state, and has unbounded faith in its future. This
spirit of pride has extended in various directions, and has been most
noticeable in his investments, which have all been gilt-edged, and for the most
part consist of business and residence property in San Francisco. He married
Ellen Bowen, a native of County Cork, Ireland, the ceremony taking place
in San Francisco. A strange coincidence is the fact that his family resembled that
of his father, having six sons and four daughters. The children have received
many advantages as they grew to manhood and womanhood, for their father is the
friend of education, and all-around development. Mary Ellen, the oldest of
the children, is the wife of Timothy Horgan of
Watsonville, Cal.; John is a resident of San Francisco; Henry and Jerry live in
Watsonville; Madge is the widow of Mr. Riordan and resides in Santa Clara;
Philip is a prominent attorney of Watsonville; Anna and Kittie
live at home; and Edwin is a business man of Watsonville. Mr. Sheehy is a
member of the Catholic Church, as are all of his family.
He is respected by a large circle of friends and associates for his many fine
traits of character, and for the grim perseverance which has enabled him to
forge his way to the front in face of obstacles and discouragements.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard 03 July 2016.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages
1238-1240. The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Marie Hassard.