Amador County Biographies

JAMES MEEHAN 

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


Is a native of county Monohan, Ireland, where be wan born November 1, 1833. Coming to America at 
the age of thirteen and engaging in business, his education was somewhat limited, but by study and 
application during leisure hours he succeeded in fully remedying the want, and is remarkably well in 
formed on all general topics. He came to New Orleans on the sailing vessel George Washington, 
arriving in July, 1847, in company with a brother, where he remained until 1849. On the breaking out 
of the gold excitement he embarked on the old sailing vessel Ontario, which carried him safely to 
California, though the vessel was nine months on the way, reaching San Francisco in 1850. After taking a 
look at the chaos of people of all nations and colors, he left for the mines, making his first efforts at mining 
in Chinese Camp, in Tuolumne county. The following two or three years he alternated from Downieville to 
the American river, and thence to Tuolumne again, finally reaching Volcano, where his wandering 
propensities were cured by meeting Miss Mary A. Rawle, who, in 1856, became his wife, since which 
time he has had a residence in Amador county. 

During the year 1852 he made a flying visit to New Orleans, but he had seen too many of the advantages 
of California to remain in the older States, and soon returned to the State to make it a permanent home. 
At Volcano he engaged in mining, with varied success, until 1867, when he was elected to the position 
of County Treasurer, which place he held for four years, having been re-elected at the end of his first 
term. He then engaged in quartz mining for four years, when he was again elected to the position of 
Treasurer, which he holds to the present time. He has executed the duties of the office with marked 
ability. He was the author of the proposition to devote a portion of the county funds to the extinguishment 
of the county debt, which, under the operation of the law, has gradually been liquidated, and bids fair to 
soon take its place among the events of the past. He has operated quite extensively in quartz mining, 
having been a stockholder in the Kennedy, Monterichard, and other valuable mines; also owns a large 
tract of gravel-mining ground near Kennedy flat, and also a quartz vein called the Volunteer mine, east of 
the Kennedy. 

He has had nine children, six of whom, four boys and two girls, are living. 

History of Amador, California With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches 
of its Prominent Men and PioneersOakland, California, Thompson and West, 
1881.

Submitted by Betty Wilson

	JAMES MEEHAN, a proprietor of the Bank Saloon, Jackson, Amador 
County, California, a native of County Monaghan, Ireland, was born November 1, 
1833.  He received his education in the common schools of the county where he 
was born.  In 1847 he came to New Orleans, where he secured a situation in the 
United States Bakery, where he remained for two years.  In June, 1849, he took 
passage on a sail ship for San Francisco, around Cape Horn, where he landed in 
February, 1850.  He remained in San Francisco only eight days, then went to 
Tuolumne County and engaged in mining till 1852.  Having been successful in 
mining he concluded to return to New Orleans on a visit, via Panama.  He 
remained in New Orleans six months, then returned to Tuolumne County, 
California, and again engaged in mining till 1854.  He then came to Volcano, 
Amador County, where he mined till 1868, with good success.  In 1867 he was 
elected County Treasurer for Amador County, and in 1869 re-elected for a second 
term.  In 1871 and �72 he commenced buying stock in the Kennedy gold mine, and 
in a short time became the owner of about one-fourth of the shares in that mine. 
 In the fall of 1875 he was again elected County Treasurer, and on account of a 
change in the State law, his term was extended to three years.  He was 
re-elected in the fall of 1878, and also in the fall of 1880, having held the 
office of County Treasurer for eleven years.  During his years of office and to 
the present time he has been engaged in mining.  He owns the Volunteer mine, 
adjoining the Kennedy mine, also a one-third interest in the Martin White mine, 
both located on the mother lode of Amador County.  He also owns the Crown Point 
(or Bonanza), and a one-tenth interest in the Pocahontas mines at Dry Town, also 
a five-twelfth interest in the Marachi gold mine in Calaveras County.  These 
mines are all well prospected, and are considered first-class properties.  Mr. 
Meehan was married August 15, 1857, to Miss Mary A. Rawle, a native of 
Pennsylvania.  They have had nine children:  George M., Nellie, James Emmett, 
Raymond and Loretta are living.  Allie, Rose, John C., and Gracie are dead.
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing 
Co., 1891