Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

P. A. KERRIGAN

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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


 
            Among the prominent pioneer ranchers and stockmen of the Live Oak 
section of Sutter County is P. A. Kerrigan, the owner of two ranches, one of 
fifty acres in the home place located four miles south of Live Oak and the other 
of 150 acres seven miles southwest of Yuba City.  He was born at Sucker Flat, 
Yuba County, May 20, 1866, the fourth of eight children born to Peter and Mary 
(Henry) Kerrigan, both natives of Ireland.  Peter Kerrigan came to the West in 
the fifties, and went direct to the mines at Sucker Flat.  Mrs. Kerrigan came to 
the United States accompanied by her sister Bridget, and in 1858 they came via 
Panama to California.  In 1869 Peter Kerrigan located with his family seven 
miles southwest of Yuba City, where he became a successful farmer; he passed 
away suddenly in 1874.  His wife continued to handle the ranch business, with 
the assistance of our subject, until her death in 1899.  They reared a family of 
eight children.  Patrick H. died unmarried in Sutter County, December 9, 1922, 
when sixty-three years old.  Mamie fell into an open well and was drowned on May 
20, 1866, the day of our subject�s birth; she was then three years old. 
Catherine became the wife of Pat McDonnough, and lived in San Francisco, where 
Mr. McDonnough was employed by the Sperry Flour Company for forty-seven years.  
She died in San Francisco in 1918, when fifty-three years of age.  She reared 
three children, but had none of her own.  Her husband came to his death 
accidentally, being hit by an automobile on the streets of San Francisco, 
December 11, 1923.  Peter A. is the subject of this review.  Mary is a sister of 
Notre Dame, at San Francisco.  Thomas J. died unmarried, at the age of 
twenty-eight.  Annie B. is the wife of Albert Nagle, who is in the hardware 
business in San Francisco.  Ambrose died in infancy; and he and his father were 
buried on the same day.
            P. A. Kerrigan received a district school education in the Grant 
school, and as a boy became actively interested in sheep-raising on his mother�s 
ranch; and this interest he has ever since maintained.  In 1895 he purchased his 
present home place; and in 1909 he completed his modern, comfortable residence, 
a well as other substantial farm buildings.  Mr. Kerrigan is a successful 
breeder of pure-bred registered Hampshire sheep; and since 1917 he has bought 
some of the best imported stock ever brought to California.  In 1923, he 
attended the Davis Farm sale, where he purchased two bucks, one being a winner 
at the 1922 Chicago International Show.  His flock of sheep numbers 800 head, 
and he is now able to supply sheep-raisers throughout California with sheep for 
breeding purposes; recently he shipped a car-load to Fresno.
            The first marriage of Mr. Kerrigan united him with Mrs. Mary O�Neil, 
whose maiden name was Mary Schmidt.  She passed away, survived by one daughter, 
Mary, now the wife of William Guiney, of San Francisco.  Subsequently, Mr. 
Kerrigan was married to Miss Ida Griffith, daughter of John and Elizabeth 
(Barnett) Griffith, natives of Ohio and Illinois, respectively.  John Griffith 
passed away in July, 1912, survived by his widow and seven children.  Mrs. 
Griffith died on December 13, 1923, on the old Griffith place, where she resided 
with her daughter, Dora E. Griffith.  Three children have been born to Mr. and 
Mrs. Kerrigan.  Hanlon P. is a graduate of the Marysville High School, class of 
1919, and also attended the University of California at Berkeley for two and a 
half years.  He is now in the employ of the Standard Oil Company at Marysville.  
Thomas is associated with his father in the sheep business.  He married Miss 
Vera Lehner, of Yuba City.  Alice is a student at Notre Dame, in Marysville.
            For twelve years Mr. Kerrigan leased his 300-acre ranch for 
grain-raising; but four years ago he began to raise rice on this ranch, and he 
has had a marked degree of success along this line.  He is public-spirited, and 
serves as a trustee of the Encinal school district; and for the past eight years 
he has been a director of Reclamation District No. 777.  He has also served on 
the grand and petit juries.  Fraternally, Mr. Kerrigan is affiliated with the 
Knights of Columbus of Marysville, and Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O. Elks.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p.  583-584