California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 JOHN BRIEN. � A native of New Brunswick, and descended from good old Irish stock, John Brien has been a resident of Mendocino county since 1863, his father having preceded him to California by almost twenty years and being one of the true pioneers of Mendocino county, where he lived for many years. Mr. Brien has been engaged in some phase of the lumbering business for practically his entire residence in California, and has been in the employ of several of the leading companies in the region. He is one of the oldest citizens in this section, and is highly honored and respected for his splendid qualities of heart and mind, as well as for his enterprise and industry. Recently he has retired from active participation in business life, and is living quietly at his home on Little Lake street, in Mendocino. Mr. Brien was born in Marimachia, New Brunswick, April 10, 1844. His father, James Brien, a native of Dublin, Ireland, came to New Brunswick when a young man, and there he married Elizabeth Keaton, also a native of Ireland, born in Queens county-. They resided for many years with their family at Old Town, Me., where Mr. Brien, Sr.. was a river driver. In 1854 lie came to California, making the long journey by way of Cape Horn, on the sailing vessel Edward Stanley, eight months being required for the trip, lie came first to Albion, Mendocino county, where he was employed as a woodsman for many years. Later he sent for his family, and together with his wife passed his last days in Mendocino, passing away at the age of seventy-six, while death found Mrs. Brien at the age of seventy years. Of a large family of children, John Brien was the third eldest. He was reared at Old Town, Me., where he attended the public school. When he was sixteen years of age he went to work on the river as a log driver, working at this until he came to California to join his father in 1863. He left New York in April, sailing on the Ocean Queen to Panama, and crossing the Isthmus, made the trip up the coast to San Francisco on the Golden Age, where he took one of the smaller coast vessels to Mendocino. Here the young man worked in the woods, first near Albion for three years, and then with the Mendocino Lumber Company. In 1867 he was given a position in the Mendocino Lumber Company's mill as tally man, which position he held for five years. Later he became a sawyer, having charge of the large circular saws, and later was transferred to the outside work, being given a position in the logging camp. He was a log hauler with this company for thirty-three years, until he resigned his position to retire from active participation in the business world, October 13, 1913. Since that time he has been living quietly at his home, enjoying the well earned rest that many years of fruitful toil have earned him. The marriage of Mr. Brien took place in Mendocino July 22, 1874, uniting him with Miss Mary Cooney, born in St. Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island, and who came to California in 1877. She is the daughter of James and Mary (Leahey) Cooney, natives of Ireland. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brien were born six children, all of whom are living save two, Mary E, and Clarence. Of the others John Andrew is in the internal revenue service at San Francisco; Ellen T., now Mrs. Albert Henningsen, residing in Eureka, was a teacher in Mendocino county schools before her marriage ; James Albert is teaching in the grammar school of Mendocino; and Beatrice J. is a graduate of Mendo- cino high school, class of 1914. The children were all graduates of the Men- docino high school, and Albert and Mrs. Ellen Henningsen also graduated from the San Jose State Normal. Aside from the many friendships which Mr. Brien has formed during his many years of service in the lumber industry, he has a wide circle of friends in Mendocino. He is a Republican in his political views and a staunch party man, although he was never an aspirant for public office.