Sacramento County Biographies

JAMES HARKINS

Transcribed by Debbie Walke Gramlick.

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


 
James Harkins was born May 12, 1827, in North Ireland, son of Cornelius and 
Catherine (Shields) Harkins; the father died in Ireland in 1836, and the mother 
came to America in 1840, bringing with her her son James. They landed in New 
Orleans May 2, 1840. From there they proceeded to St. Louis where the mother was 
married again, to Walter Cummings. James served four years at the blacksmith 
trade with Mr. Driscoll, and afterward worked at his trade until 1852. April 17 
of that year he started for California, crossing the plains with cattle and 
mules via North Platte and Fort Laramie. After a trip of four months they 
arrived at Hangtown, August 27, 1852, and went to work at once in the 
blacksmithing shop of Joseph Hinds. From there he came to Sacramento city in 
1854; started in blacksmithing for himself. In 1877 he came to his ranch, which 
he had located in 1858, situated about eight miles from Sacramento. He does a 
good farming business, has been very successful as a farmer and stock-raiser. 
His new and elegant residence was erected in 1884; all the surroundings denote 
neatness and order. He was married February 2, 1851, to Cecilia Quinn, a native 
of Ireland. They have had seven children, viz.: Cornelius J., born March 29, 
1852; Mary A., October 15, 1856, and died in December 1860; John F., born August 
28, 1858, drowned during the flood at Sacramento; Hugh W., born July 4, 1860, 
died December 16, 1861; Eliza, born July 18, 1865, died in April 1871; Catherine 
T., November 14, 1861, and Matilda V., July 28, 1870. 
  
Source: Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, 
California. Page 471. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.