Yolo-Solano-San Joaquin County CA Archives Biographies.....Cannedy, William J. 1828 - 
************************************************
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@gmail.com December 8, 2005, 12:30 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

WILLIAM J. CANNEDY

   The energetic enterprises incident to the existence of a California pioneer
have left to Mr. Cannedy little leisure for reverting to memories of the past
and the days of his youth seem far distant indeed. Boston, Mass., is his native
city, and his birth occurred February 6, 1828, while his schooling was also
obtained there. From a lad he followed the sea, entering many ports in foreign
lands. Afterwards he located in New Orleans, La., from which point he ran on the
Mississippi river, and he was also an expert diver. Subsequently he owned and
sailed a small craft, with which he carried on a transportation trade up and
down the Mississippi river.

   William J. Cannedy was married in New Orleans, La., December 25, 1853, to
Ellen Cloughesey, a native of Ireland and a member of an ancient and honored
family of that country. The young couple came to California via Panama and at
the latter point were obliged to wait fifteen days for a steamer. The principal
excitement of the intervening period was the celebration of a Mexican bull
fight. The voyage ended in safety at San Francisco during July of 1855 and the
young gold-seeker afterward passed through all the disappointments and trials
incident to pioneering in the west. A brief sojourn at Vallejo, Solano county,
was followed by a successful experience at Sailors' Diggings, Oregon, whence at
the expiration of four months he returned to Sacramento. For about six months he
lived on the Calaveras river between Mokelmnne Hill and Stockton and later found
employment at Sacramento. The only railroad of the pioneer period extended from
Sacramento to Folsom and produce was necessarily shipped by water, Sacramento
and Stockton being the principal shipping points for the central part of the
state. Notwithstanding; the commercial advantages thus enjoyed by these two
points, the future capital of the state was an insignificant hamlet, nor did
Stockton possess many houses or stores.

   Upon establishing a permanent citizenship in Yolo county in 1858 Mr. Cannedy
took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres and later under the school
act he pre-empted four hundred and eighty acres, afterward buying enough to give
him a total of fourteen hundred and forty acres in one body. He now owns a ranch
of six hundred and twenty acres on Putah creek ten miles west of Winters, where
he is engaged in stock-raising and farming. In addition he owns property in
Winters, including an attractive and convenient modern bungalow, surrounded by
beautiful shade trees and also a sufficient number of fruit trees to furnish
assorted fruits for the family. A specialty is made of grain and large crops of
wheat and barley have been harvested from the land. His attention has been given
closely to the management of the land and he has had little leisure for
participation in public affairs, but is always depended upon to vote the
Republican ticket in national elections and supports all movements for the
upbuilding of the county. Having no children of their own, Mr. and Mrs. Cannedy
adopted one boy and two girls, namely: William A., Mary and Charlotte D. Mary is
now the wife of Clarence Scott and the mother of four children, William,
Adelene, Emmett and Margaret. Charlotte D. married the late Dr. Allen P. Popes
of Winters and has three children, Ellis, Mark and Allen.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth
and Development From the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/cannedy114bs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/

File size: 4.3 Kb