Alameda County Biographies

EMERY MUNYAN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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


 
            The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was 
born in Thompson, Windham County, Connecticut, on Christmas-day, 1823, where he 
was educated and resided on his father�s farm until he grew to man�s estate.  At 
this time he proceeded to Burrillville, Providence County, Rhode Island, where 
he acquired the spindle-maker�s trade, and at the end of three years transferred 
the scene of his labors to Milbury, Worcester County, Massachusetts, and there 
resided until making up his mind to tempt fortune on the Pacific Slopes.  
Sailing from New York May 20, 1852, in the steamer Prometheus, he journeyed via 
the Nacaragua [sic] route, and at San Juan continued the voyage in the steamer 
Pacific � among the passengers being his neighbor Edward Ross � finally arriving 
in San Francisco June 26, 1852.  He at once crossed the bay to what has since 
become Alameda County, first locating at Mowry�s Landing, and there embarked in 
the cultivation of vegetables.  Here he resided until New Year�s day, 1853, when 
he settled on his present farm, comprising twenty-seven acres, situated about 
one mile and a half from Newark, where he is engaged in general farming and 
fruit-growing.  As a conchologist Mr. Munyan has a high reputation, his cabinet 
of shells indigenous to this coast being one of the most perfect in the State.  
He also possesses a remarkably fine collection of minerals and fossils.  The 
gathering of these specimens he commenced in the year 1869, and in 1871, having 
built a handsome cabinet for their reception, he generously placed the whole in 
the Lincoln District School, of which he has been a trustee from its 
organization up to date.  He is also a charter member of the Pioneer Association 
of Washington, Murray and Eden Townships.  Possessed of a singularly retentive 
memory, Mr. Munyan is full of reminiscences of his pioneer life in this county.  
He has ever taken an active part in whatever might tend to her benefit, and his 
love of literature and brilliancy of conversation make him a most charming 
associate.
 
History of Alameda County, California�, Oakland, M.W. Wood Publ., 1883, p. 950-951