San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MICHAEL J. O’CONNELL
Numbered
among the successful almond growers of the county, M. J. O'Connell has a
beautiful and valuable ten-acre orchard three miles northwest of Ripon, which
has yielded large profits for a number of years. He is a native son, born at
Stockton, November 3, 1876, the only surviving member of his immediate family;
he is the son of John and Bridget (O'Neil) O'Connell, both natives of Ireland.
John O'Connell left Ireland and came to the United States during the Civil War
and was employed as a carpenter on the Union boats in the Boston harbor. While
living there his brother William came from Ireland and joined him and in 1867 the
two brothers came West and located in Stockton and the
O'Connell home was maintained in Stockton until 1917. John O'Connell was killed
in a street car accident in Stockton, July 3, 1896, and was survived by his
widow and two children. In 1901 the mother passed away, and on July 3, 1902, the
only sister of our subject died. M. J. O'Connell received a good education in
the Stockton schools and when his school days were over he entered the harness
shop of C. Rodder, where he learned the trade of
harness-maker and conducted the shop for twenty years; then for five years,
until 1917, he was employed by the city of Stockton; then he purchased his
present home consisting of ten acres, which he has improved to an almond
orchard.
The marriage of Mr. O'Connell united
him with Miss Bertha Meyers, a native of Ohio, who came to California with her
parents at the age of thirteen.
Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell are the
parents of two children: Floyd is a rancher, and Gertrude is a student in the
Calla district school. Mr. O'Connell is a member of the Independent Order of
Foresters and the Almond Growers Association. He is not only an advocate of
irrigation but of material progress in general, and as a man of self-attainment
wields important influence in his community.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1489. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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