San Diego County Biographies
 
ANDREW CASSIDY

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
One of the pioneer residents of San Diego is Andrew Cassidy, a native of 
county Cavan, Ireland.  When seventeen years of age he emigrated to the United 
States, landing at Boston. Having had the advantage of an excellent education in 
his native land, he was well prepared to accept of a position which was offered 
him in the Engineer Corps at West Point, under the immediate direction of George 
B. McClellan. He remained at this point for three years, and from there went to 
Washington, where he was employed in the Coast Survey office, under Professor 
Bache. He remained in that position about a year, when he was ordered out to the
Pacific coast with a party of five others, under Captain W. B. Trowbridge, of 
the Engineer Corps, U. S. A. The party came by way of the Isthmus, and landed at 
San Francisco in July, 1853. They were there engaged for about two months in 
putting up a self-registering gauge at Fort Point. Leaving one man in charge, 
the others started for San Diego. They chartered a schooner and made a series of 
observations on the way down the coast. They entered the harbor of San Diego, 
and landed at Point La Plaza, where they put up another gauge, and Cassidy was 
left in charge. He was stationed here in charge of meteorological and tide 
observations for seventeen years. During this period he made Old San Diego his 
headquarters the greater part of the time. In 1864 he saw an excellent 
opportunity to engage in stock-raising, and availed himself of it; he employed a 
man to take charge of the details, and only exercised a general supervision 
until he resigned his position in the coast survey. His ranch, which was then 
known as Soledad, situated twelve miles from Old Town, contained 1,000 acres of 
exceedingly rich land. He had on this place at times 1,000 head of cattle. The 
present town of Sorrento is upon this ranch.
        Mr. Cassidy continued in the stock business from 1864 to the beginning 
of the year 1887. He then sold out all his stock interests and subdivided his 
ranch, realizing a handsome sum from the proceeds of his land sales. Besides his 
interests at Sorrento he owns considerable city and suburban property. He served 
one term as City Trustee in 1865, and again in 1871 was elected County 
Supervisor for two terms (four years).
        In 1853 Mr. Cassidy began a collection in natural history, composed of 
birds, fishes, reptiles, moths, and all live animals of the smaller species. The 
collection of fish was particularly valuable, coming as it did from the Pacific 
ocean, the Colorado river and the Gulf of California. This collection was 
forwarded to the Smithsonian Institute, at Washington, District of Columbia, 
where his friend, Professor Henry, then held a position.
        Mr. Cassidy has been twice married, but is now a widower. He has one 
daughter, born to his second wife. Besides conducting his large farm interests 
Mr. Cassidy has been a true friend of San Diego, contributing his share toward 
the city's material advancement. Personally he is very courteous, and his 
address marks him as one who has mingled much with men of the world. He is 
extremely popular among his acquaintances, and everywhere regarded as at once a 
progressive and substantial citizen.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  323-324