JOSEPH CUNEO

JOSEPH CUNEO, one of the early settlers of California, has from a poor boy worked his way up in the world to a position of affluence, and is now ranked among the wealthy citizens of San Francisco.

Born in Italy, September 12, 1834, he spent the first fourteen years of his life on a farm in his native land. He then sailed for New York, landing in the great city a stranger and without money. He was employed for two months in making figures in wax, at $3.50 per month and board; worked five months in making picture frames, $7.50 per month; went to Richmond, Virginia, and clerked in a candy-store for nine months, $15 per month; and next went to Baltimore, where he started a little market, continuing there two years and a half.

At this time, learning of the gold fields in California, he took passage for the Golden State, via the Isthmus of Panama, and landed in San Francisco with $75 in his pocket. He brought a friend with him, whose passage he had paid, and they at once went to the mines at Jackson creek, Amador county, thence to Clinton, where he bought a claim for $34. He and his friend dug gold there for six months, each making $203. The following five months they prospected. On the Mokelumne river they purchased a claim for $280, worked it three months and left with a debt of $562. They then worked by the month until they had $70 ahead. At this time Mr. Cuneo was indeed unfortunate. On his way to the store to buy some clothes, he lost his money. He spent three days in trying to find it, but failed. When he returned to the mines the company charged him $9 for three days lost time. It is needless to say that he got angry and left them. Soon after this he purchased a pile of rock from a friend, on tick, and at the end of three months had cleared $473. He then went to Sutter and took a contract to dig a ditch fourteen miles long; also built a reservoir. He purchased an interest in them and in the mine, and the whole venture proved a success. He next purchased the Ione valley ditch and the Boston river ditch and an interest in the Georgia claim, and in these ventures also made money. In 1862 he bought a store in Volcano, and while he went to the mines left a man in charge of it, who pocketed several thousand dollars and ran off. Mr. Cuneo then started a store and saloon, and in these was financially successful. He invested largely in mines, and owned about a dozen houses in Volcano. He lost $7,000 in a single claim, and also several thousand dollars he had invested in a quartz-mill. His mining experience was not unlike that of many others, sometimes making and sometimes losing. He still owns the Volcano and Belding mines.

In 1877 Mr. Cuneo came to San Francisco and opened a store on Taylor street, and conducted it for ten years, at the same time carrying on the real-estate business, which he had begun in 1870, also continuing his mining interests. All his undertakings in San Francisco have proved successful. He now owns in the vicinity of one hundred pieces of property in the city, besides a number of ranches.

In 1863 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Cuneo, a lady of his own name, not however, a relative. She was born in Italy and reared in San Francisco. Of their fourteen children, eleven are living and all reside in San Francisco.

Mr. Cuneo’s success in life has in no way changed him from the plain, honest, industrious citizen he has ever been. He is in the enjoyment of physical health and strength, and his reputation in San Francisco is that of an honorable and benevolent citizen.

 

Transcribed by Elaine Sturdevant