Sonoma-Colusa County CA Archives Biographies.....Mulligan, William 1838 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 3, 2006, 11:03 pm Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880) Mulligan, William. We are unable to give as full and complete a biography of this gentleman as we had desired, as he is a prominent citizen of Mendocino township, and a son-in-law of Cyrus Alexander, of Alexander valley. We have gleaned, however, a few facts and incidents, which we give below, regretting that we are unable to give a longer and more detailed sketch of his life. William Mulligan was born in Glasgow, Missouri, July 23, 1838, and removed, in 1840, with his parents, to his mother's native city, St. Louis, where she died December 15, 1852. His father is a native of New York City, and is now residing in Healdsburg, a healthy, active old gentleman. William was raised and educated in St. Louis until he was seventeen years old; he was then sent to Germany and France, to complete his education. After having remained four years in Europe, visiting different countries, and acquiring the French and German languages, and seeing and enjoying life as only a German art student can, he sailed once more for home, on an American merchantman, the "Elwood Walter." The war of rebellion having broken out, they were treated to a lively chase by the privateer "Jeff. Davis," but escaped in the fogs on the banks of Newfoundland. Arriving safely in St. Louis, he remained nearly a year, when his father and family concluded to move to California, going by steamer from New York, quite a round-about way, as there was no overland railroad in those days. The family reached California in 1862, and after a few months' residence in San Francisco removed to Healdsburg, where they have since resided. William was in the employ of Capt. L. A. Norton, whilst he was in the lumber business, and he considers the captain one of his oldest and staunchest California friends. William Mulligan was married, July 30, 1868, to Margaret, eldest daughter of the old pioneer, Cyrus Alexander, whose life is fully written in another part of this book. Since his marriage he has lived almost entirely on his ranch in Alexander valley, and takes great interest in farming operations. He and L. J. Hall are the largest grain-raisers in this section of the county, and these two gentlemen are also connected in farming on a large scale on the Sacramento in Colusa county. Mr. Mulligan is also one of the directors of the Bank of Healdsburg; his home is still in Alexander valley, which is one of the prettiest valleys in the State, where he has settled down to remain, surrounded by a healthy, happy family, his wife having blessed him with six children, viz: Willie Alexander, Margaret Cecilia, Leo Vincent, Genevieve, Rufina Inez, and George Julian. Additional Comments: Mendocino Township Extracted from: HISTORY —OF- SONOMA COUNTY, -INCLUDING ITS— Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams; —TOGETHER WITH— A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County; Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain Growing Interests, and Pisciculture; ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN; —AND OF ITS— Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc. ILLUSTRATED. SAN FRANCISCO: ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1880. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sonoma/bios/mulligan350gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.1 Kb