San Joaquin County
Biographies
MICHAEL JOHN GARVIN
MICHAEL JOHN GARVIN, a cigar
and tobacco dealer of Stockton, was born in Mayo, Ireland, May 15, 1834, a son
of James and Mary (Kane) Garvin. The father, born in the same country in 1777,
became a farmer and linen manufacturer, and emigrated to this country in 1871.
He made his home with his son James in Pennsylvania until 1878, when he came to
this city, and resided with the subject of this sketch until his death, May 1,
1884, at the remarkable age of 107 years, being equally distinguished for
integrity of life and length of days. The mother, born in 1800, is still living
in this city. Of the eight children of this venerable pair, two died in
infancy, and six sons are living, the eldest, Patrick, being seventy years of
age.
M. J. Garvin was educated in the local
schools of his district to the age of fourteen, when he went to Liverpool,
England, on a visit to an aunt then residing in that city. Finding a situation,
he was indentured or bound in a wholesale drug store. Remaining there until
1851, he concluded to come to America, being encouraged by the comparative
facility of the undertaking, from the great port of Liverpool. Arriving in New
York in September, 1851, he worked there to the close of 1852. He then set out
for California, by the George Law, to Aspinwall, across the Isthmus afoot
through Bolivar Pass, a toilsome journey of two days, then by the John L.
Stephens to San Francisco, where he arrived February 17, 1853. He first found
work as a dairyman, and in 1854 bought out his employer, J. C. Beideman, with
his title to a part of the “Western or Beideman’s Addition” to San Francisco,
of about four acres. A year or two later he also bought 140 acres in Santa
Clara County, the present location of Menlo Park. His first purchase for a
dairy comprised about sixteen cows, some milk wagons and horses: afterward he
had forty-three cows, $200 each in those days, and the necessary outfit for his
enlarged business before 1858. The Fraser river gold fever seized him that
year, and he went forward to the new El Dorado only to find that his hopes of
picking up gold were vain. There was some little found at the forks of Thompson
river, but the great body of prospectors found nothing. He stayed only a few
weeks, but had lost three months, besides sacrificing his business. He soon
moved to Sacramento, where he started the St. George Laundry early in 1839,
which he sold in 1860. He then bought the Orleans Restaurant on Second street,
opposite the Orleans Hotel, and was drowned out in the great flood of 1861-’62.
His family was rescued with difficulty by boats from the roof of their house,
which was surrounded by water, losing everything but their lives and such
clothing as they had on their persons. Invited by his friend Dr. Tilden,
superintendent of the State Insane Asylum in this city, he came to Stockton and
filled a position in that institution for over four years. He has become the
owner of some lots at Oak and Stanislaus streets, within convenient distance
from his work, and erected a house. In 1865 he again went to San Francisco and
engaged in the butchering business for about a year. Returning in 1866, his
next enterprise was his aid in starting the Stockton Gazette, a daily
paper, his department being the distribution and arrangement of routes of
delivery. The paper had good backing, being the accredited organ of the
Democratic party, and Mr. Garvin had secured a large city patronage at 37˝ cents a week, before the issue of the first
number. The Gazette lived but a couple of years, and on its demise Mr.
Garvin started a small book and stationary store. He has also had charge of the
distribution of several newspapers of San Francisco, and did a fairly
profitable business. In 1874 Mr. Nunan, now of the Stockton Mail, became
a partner with him, under the style of Garvin & Nunan, which continued
until 1879. They had meanwhile invested $3000 in a branch store in Merced,
which with some other untoward circumstances, including the Shylock rigidity of
certain creditors, drove the firm into insolvency. Mr. Garvin realized all he
could on his newspaper route, and in every possible way increased the assets,
which, however, were needlessly sacrificed by the intractableness of creditors.
Through the disinterested service of the Hon. James A. Loutitt, of this city,
Mr. Garvin secured a full settlement with all his creditors in 1879. He then
embarked in his present business, starting it in what was literally a hole in
the wall; but by long hours at work and courteous attention to customers, he
has built up a lucrative trade. His present desirable quarters are at the
northwest corner of Main and Sutter streets.
Mr. Garvin was married in San Francisco in
1856, to Miss Mary Farley, born in 1839 in Cavan, Ireland, where her parents
died, and whence she emigrated with other members of her family to America at
about the age of thirteen. She has resided in California since 1855. Mr. and
Mrs. M. J. Garvin have eight living children, four others having died in
infancy. The living are: Mary, now a Sister of Charity of St. Agnes Academy, in
this city; Thomas Emmet, born April 17, 1862, educated in this city, is now
engaged with his father in business; Peter Edward, born November 17, 1864, an
iron-moulder by trade, works in that line; John Phillips, born March 26, 1867,
is an upholsterer; Michael Joseph, born April 23, 1870, is a plumber; Annie
Theresa, born June 22, 1872, is a member of the graduating class of 1890 in St.
Agnes Academy; Henry Raymond, born July 19, 1879.
Mr. Garvin and his three older sons are members
of the Father Mathew Total Abstinence Society of Stockton.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 523-524. Lewis Pub.
Co. Chicago, Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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