San Joaquin County
Biographies
STILLMAN LOOKE MAGEE
S. L. MAGEE, a farmer of
Elliott Township, was born in Columbia, Washington County, Maine, July 25,
1826, a son of John and Linda (Looke) Magee, both natives of Maine, who never
left their native State. The father was a lieutenant in the war of 1812, and was
taken a prisoner to England. By trade he was a lumberman and ship-builder.
S. L. Magee, the subject of this notice,
left Maine in 1849, taking the bark Belle Gray, around the Horn for California,
where he arrived May 7, 1850. Shortly after his arrival he assisted in building
the steamer San Joaquin, and became part owner of that vessel, which was built
for the river trade between Stockton and San Francisco. He disposed of his
interest in that vessel and purchased an interest in the steamer Sagamore, with
Captain Folsom. When the news was received of the admission of California as a
State into the Union, the people of San Francisco celebrated the event very
enthusiastically, and the day was brilliantly closed by the accidental
explosion of the boilers of the Sagamore as she lay at her wharf in the San
Francisco harbor. Mr. Magee received the news with resignation and fortitude.
Soon afterward he went to Mokelumne Hill and engaged in placer mining, which
occupation he followed for two years, and fortune filled his cradle with a
goodly amount of the precious metal. He then engaged in the mercantile business
at Mokelumne Hill until 1858, when he was solicited by his Democratic
fellow-citizens to run on the Democratic ticket for the office of County
Treasurer. He was elected and thrice re-elected on the same ticket; but, being
desirous of with-drawing from the political arena, he declined the last
nomination.
He has an interesting family, consisting
of a son and two daughters, in whose education he has taken an active interest.
He was married in May, 1859, on her parents’ ranch, the Athearn ranch, to Miss
Rebecca Athearn, who was born in Rising Sun, Indiana, in 1839, and came with
her parents to California in 1859. As before stated, they have three children,
namely: Sophia A., wife of Mr. Gaskel, a farmer of Elliott Township, was born
January 6, 1863; Louisa, wife of Mr. Misener, of Lockeford, born July 29, 1865;
and Henry S., born November 22, 1868, now attending a business college at San
Francisco.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 586. 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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