Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Existence and Location of Originals note
Preferred Citation note
Conditions Governing Use note
Conditions Governing Access note
Scope and Contents note
Biography
Related Archival Materials note
Title: Dunphy, William Memoriam
Identifier/Call Number: C058785
Contributing Institution:
Society of California Pioneers
Language of Material:
English
Physical Description:
1.0 folder
1 bound, typed memoriam.
Date: 1829 to 1892
Abstract: This is a Memoriam produced by the Society of California Pioneers on the death of Life Member, William Dunphy who arrived
in San Francisco on Dec 27, 1849 aboard the French barque "A beille). Born in Ireland in 1829, he worked the New Foundland
fisheries as a boy and then came to New York. He fought with the Texas Rangers in the Mexican American War and on the discovery
of gold came to California. He was successful in mining, but became a cattle rancher with extensive holdings in the San Joaquin
Valley, Monterey County and Nevada.
creator:
Dunphy, William, 1829-1892
Immediate Source of Acquisition note
Donor and date of acquisition are unknown.
Existence and Location of Originals note
The Society of California Pioneers
Preferred Citation note
Dunphy, William Memoriam, The Society of California Pioneers
Conditions Governing Use note
There are no restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Access note
Collection open for Research
Scope and Contents note
This is a Memoriam produced by the Society of California Pioneers on the death of Life Member, William Dunphy who arrived
in San Francisco on Dec 27, 1849 aboard the French barque "A beille). Born in Ireland in 1829, he worked the New Foundland
fisheries as a boy and then came to New York. He fought with the Texas Rangers in the Mexican American War and on the discovery
of gold came to California. He was successful in mining, but became a cattle rancher with extensive holdings in the San Joaquin
Valley, Monterey County and Nevada.
Biography
William Dunphy was born in small village in Kilkenny County, Ireland on December 24, 1829. At age 12, he ran away to sea working
at one point for Newfoundland fisheries and later shipped on a vessel bound on a sealing voyage. He ended his seafaring days
and went to New york, then down to Texas, still only 18 years of age. When the Mexican War broke out, he became a contractor
to supply the troops with beef. He then joined the Texas Rangers and ended his service at Brownsville, Texas and became involved
with raising cattle there. After the discovery of gold in California, he headed there to search for gold. He reached San Francisco
on December 21, 1849 and his party went at once to Tuolumne county and in thirty days had a paid all the expenses of their
trip, and had a profit as well. He married in Tuolumne County in 1852, a Carmen Uvilla, daughter of a Chilean miner, she was
born in Chile - and they had seven children. He tired of mining after 30 days, and became a cattle dealer and raiser. By 1881,
his firm, which he ran with Thomas Hildred, was one of the largest in ranching operations in the West. Dunphy owned ranes
in Elko, Eureka and Lander Counties, Nevada, co vering about 2000,000 acres and at times there were as many as 30,000 head
of cattle and herds of horses on his patures. he also owned another rance of 12,000 acres in Monterey County. He helped establish
the Dunphy & Hildred slaughter house of San Francisco, and acquired large parcels of San francisco real estate. His children
were James C., Carrie, Mary, Julia nad Jennie. Julia married Samuel Pearson and Mary married Noah Flood. He became a life
member of the Society of California Pioneers in 1849 and found his 30 ounces of gold dust a year later. He was also a member
of the Pacific Yacht club, the Olympic Club, and the Pacific Union Club. He passed away on September 17, 1892 at his home
in San Francisco, 2122 Washington Street.
Related Archival Materials note
The Society of California Pioneers Archives Record, vol. 1, pg. 331; Obituary Record, vol. 2, pg. 136-142, Mortuary Record,
1892-1906, p. 11 ( which includes a newspaper obituary.)
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Hildred, Thomas
Agriculture--California--Sacramento Valley
California, Northern - History - 19th century.
California, Northern-History-19th century.
Gold mines and mining -- California -- History.