Michael Sullivan
Came to California with the Murphy Party
Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: WELSH, WELCH, SHEHAN, BARBER
One of the stanch, sturdy, honorable old settlers of California and
this valley is the gentleman whose name heads this article. Born in
Limerick, Ireland, in 1831, his father emigrated to Canada ten years
later. They removed shortly afterward to Missouri, tilling a farm which
the elder Mr. Sullivan had taken up, to which occupation young Michael
was trained. When he was thirteen years of age (1844) he set out with
the family of Martin Murphy, Sr., for
California, continuing with his
family until he reached the age of twenty-three, and settling with them
in the Santa Clara Valley. In 1854 he purchased one hundred and
ninety-seven acres of land on the north side of the Alum Rock road,
about a mile and a half east of San Jose, and took up his residence. On
November 13, 1855, he was married to Miss Margaret Welsh, daughter of
Robert and Johanna (Welch) Welsh, who were natives of Kilkenny County,
Ireland, where she was born. It will thus be seen that Mr. Sullivan was
in this county while it was still under Mexican domination and though
at the time but a youth of sixteen years he gallantly took up arms and
helped to wrest this fair land from Mexican supremacy and place it
under the stars and stripes. He was a member of the San Jose contingent
that joined the little force commanded by Capt. Ward Marston, numbering
in all about one hundred men. They met, and after a series of some
pretty severe engagements with the Mexican forces under Colonel
Sanchez, the latter surrendered unconditionally. It will thus be seen
that he has led an active and adventurous life, meeting the hardships
and discouragements incident to a pioneer's life, and reaping the
reward of his arduous labors. At present Mr. Sullivan owns about one
hundred and fifteen acres of his original tract, and upon it is raising
hay and grain with considerable profit.
When first taken up this land was wild and uncultivated, and its state
of high cultivation shows the care and attention bestowed upon it by
Mr. Sullivan. He is a man of great force of character and natural
ability; for, although in his early life deprived of nearly all the
advantages of schooling, by his unaided efforts he has acquired a
goodly share of the education one gets from an active life, and has
achieved a success in life due to sound common sense, native wit, and
good judgment. He is a Democrat in politics and a consistent member of
the Catholic Church, being sincere in all his principles.
He is the father of the following-named children: Nellie, married to
John Shehan, and now residing on a portion of the old homestead; Robert
P., who married Miss Susie Barber, and lives in San Jose; Mary Kate,
married James Shehan, and is living on the homestead; Edward J., at
home with his parents, as are also Richard, John, and Vincent.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From
The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated.
- Edited by H.S.
Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888. page 242
Transcribed by Carol Lackey
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY -The Valley of Heart's Delight