Napa County Biographies

M. FLANAGAN

Transcribed by: Betty Wilson

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


            M. FLANAGAN.�Riverdale, Stanley�s ranch, comprises 1,600 acres, all 
tillable land,�sixty acres in orchard, mostly Bartlett and Beurre Clairgeau 
pears and French prunes, 110 acres in grapevines, all resistant stocks, grafted 
with a variety Clarette grapes, about half of which is now in bearing.  There is 
also a dairy of 266 cows and a tract of about 400 acres devoted to 
grain-raising; and there is a winery, with a capacity of about 120,000 gallons 
of storage, where about 15,000 gallons have been made during the past two years, 
leaving on hand about 30,000 gallons.  For his wine Judge Stanley has always had 
as high a price as forty cents a gallon, while other growers have received from 
ten to fifteen cents.  He expects to extend his vineyard considerably.  The 
present stand is:  Zinfandel, 10,000; Mataro, 14,000; Black Burgundy, 10,500; 
Cabernet Franc, 6,000; Cabernet Sauvignon, 6,000; Bedan, 4,500; Tannot, 5,000.  
The remainder are made up of Tinto Val de Pe�as, 8,000; Lenoir, Verdot, Pied de 
Perdrix, Clarette Blanche, Mondeuse, etc.  The wines from each of these grapes 
is kept separate in the cellar.  On the premises there are also ten acres of 
Bartlett pears, ten acres of Beurre Clairgeaus, twenty-five acres of French 
prunes, ten of Japan plums and ten acres of other varieties of fruit.  Along the 
roads and through the ranch are avenues and groves of Eucalyptus, which are not 
only ornamental but useful.  They serve as a guard against high winds, and even 
against frost, thus making a perceptible difference in the climate.  For two 
years, when almost all the vines in the valley were destroyed by frost, none 
were injured on this place.  The wine cellar has two rooms below and one above 
ground.
            Mr. Flanagan has lived in California and on this place for the past 
nineteen years.  On his arrival in this State he came at once to Napa County and 
engaged in farming, renting this place from Governor Stanley, the former owner 
who purchased it from the original grantee.  After Governor Stanley�s death Mr. 
Flanagan has been superintendent of the place, managing it for the past fourteen 
years.  He has planted, or superintended the planting of, all vines and trees on 
the premises, and since the vines have been bearing he has had charge of the 
winery, making wine of so fine quality as to be worth three times as much as any 
other manufactured in the State.
            Mr. Flanagan was born in County Lowth, Ireland, in 1839.  From the 
age of seventeen to twenty-one he served an apprenticeship in mercantile 
business.  He next followed mining eight years in Australia, and five years in 
New Zealand.  In 1870 he came to California, and settled where he now lives.
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891