San Luis Obispo County Biographies

JOHN McDonnell

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


JOHN McDonnell was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1846, and at the age of sixteen 
years came to America, coming direct to San Francisco. He was first employed in the 
commission business in the city, but very soon afterward went to the Santa Clara Valley 
and engaged in farming. For thirteen years he was engaged in that occupation, a part of 
the time on his own account and a part of the time for P. W. Murphy. In 1879 Mr. 
McDonnell was employed on the famous Santa Margarita ranch, in San Luis Obispo 
County, the property of Mr. Murphy, and from that time has been the foreman. Under 
his charge this vast property, twelve miles square, is being successfully and judiciously 
managed. As far as the eye can reach this beautiful piece of land extends, and every 
visitor to San Luis Obispo who has a day at his disposal, would miss much by not making 
the journey of only eleven miles to this ranch. Mr. McDonnell is unmarried. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.