Alameda County Biographies

JEREMIAH JOSEPH HANIFIN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 

	For many years Jeremiah Joseph Hanifin has been connected with business interests of 
Alameda county, having come to the coast over sixty years ago. He now owns a liquor store at 
No. 471 Fourteenth street, Oakland, and enjoys a profitable trade. He was born in County Kerry, 
Ireland, May 15, 1834, and is a son of James and Alice Hanifin. In 1838 the parents emigrated 
to the United States and settled in Boston, Massachusetts, where the father for several years 
was engaged in the mineral water business. His son Jeremiah attended the parochial schools in 
Boston until thirteen years of age, when his parents removed to New York, where he continued in 
the parochial schools until fifteen years of age.
	Laying aside his textbooks, he learned the boat builder's trade, continuing along that 
line for about two years, and then came to California by way of Cape Horn, being a cabin boy on 
the Michael Angelo, which arrived in San Francisco, August 5, 1852. His first position at the 
Golden Gate was as clerk in a hotel owned by C. L. Longley, with whom he remained for ten months. 
At the end of that time, however, he returned to New York city by way of the Isthmus of Panama, 
walking across the isthmus from Panama to Gargona in order to save the twenty dollars which was 
charged for the mule ride from one coast to the other. He arrived several hours before those who 
rode, thereby establishing a fair claim as a champion pedestrian. After arriving in New York 
city, his father being dead, he assisted his mother in her business affairs, which largely 
consisted of looking after her investments, collecting rents, and other interests, etc. In 1858 
Mr. Hanifin returned to San Francisco by way of Panama, establishing in that city the Great 
Western Hotel, which he conducted until 1865, when he sold out and turned his attention to the 
shipping and brokerage business, so continuing for three years. Upon disposing of these 
interests he moved to Oakland, where he established the Cosmopolitan Hotel at Seventh street 
and Broadway, but after four years disposed of the hotel in order to give his whole attention to 
his retail liquor stores, which were located at Seventh street and Broadway, Seventh street and 
Washington street and 471 Fourteenth street and Broadway. In 1905 he sold the Washington and 
Broadway stores and now gives his undivided attention to his establishment on Fourteenth street. 
He is a man of honorable business principles and well liked by his many friends. He is courteous, 
affable and kindly to those who are in less fortunate circumstances and is ever ready to support 
enterprises as long as their value can be proven to him, being always among the foremost to do 
something which may prove of advantage to his city.
	In New York city, on May 16, 1856, Mr. Hanifin married Eliza J. Farley, and to them were 
born the following children: Mrs. V. S. McClatchy, of Sacramento; Lyda, a Sister in the Convent 
of the Holy Family, who has taken the name of Sister Mary Agatha; J. J., Jr., under-sheriff of 
Alameda county; Herbert L., who is a member of the office force of the Pacific Gas Company of 
San Francisco; Mrs. Alice Casey, widow of Dr. P. F. Casey, of Oakland; Irene, deceased; Edward 
Everett, who holds a position in the recorder's office in San Francisco; Ada, a graduate of high 
school, and Frank C., in school.
	Politically Mr. Hanifin is a republican and has ever been interested in the progress of 
his party. He has participated in many ways in public affairs in Alameda county and from 1873 to 
1876 served as fire commissioner of Oakland. From 1881 to 1890 he was supervisor and chairman of 
the board of supervisors, being elected from the fourth district, and in that connection did much 
valuable work, promoting many public measures which were of vast benefit to the general public. 
Although he is eighty years of age he is hale and hearty, walking eight or ten miles a day, and 
has the strength as well as the appearance of a much younger man. In all the relations of life Mr. 
Hanifin has proven himself a useful, conscientious citizen of sound ideas and sound principles and 
one who considers an untarnished name of greater value than the mere acquirement of wealth.

Past & Present of Alameda County, California � Vol II, S. J. Clarke Publ. Co., 1914, p. 288