Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

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WILLIAM O'CONNOR. 
 
        Among the noticeable fine orange groves of Pomona is that owned by Mr. 
O'Connor, who has sixteen acres on White avenue, north of Holt avenue. Eight 
acres of this land are producing oranges of the Tahiti seedling variety. These 
trees were planted by Mr. O'Connor in 1877, and are in full bearing, yielding 
large crops of some of the finest seedling oranges to be found in San Jose 
Valley.  The rest of his land�such as is not occupied by his buildings�is 
devoted to deciduous fruits, comprising French prunes, peaches, apricots, pears, 
etc. Mr. O'Connor has upon his land a substantial cottage residence of modern 
architectural design, occupied by his family, and also three other cottages 
which are erected for purchasers of suburban homes. The subject of this sketch 
was born in Sligo County,
Ireland, March 26, 1842. His parents, Michael and Mary (McTigh) O'Connor, were 
both natives of that county. His father was a gardener and nurseryman, and in 
1847 moved his family to Manchester, England. Mr. Connor was deprived of almost 
all educational facilities, and at the age of seven years was sent into a 
factory, where he worked as a cotton spinner for one-half of each day, and later 
was employed all his time at that occupation. When about seventeen years of age 
his parents emigrated to the United States and settled in Luzerne County, 
Pennsylvania, where he was engaged as a coal miner until 1861 or 1862. He then 
went to Omaha; Nebraska, and was engaged by the Union Pacific Railroad Company 
in the construction of their railroad across the continent. In 1864, before the 
completion of that road, he entered the employ of the Central Pacific Railroad 
Company, and was employed in construction work in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, 
and at other points. In 1875, while still in the railroad employ, he came to Los 
Angeles County, first working in construction at Anaheim, and in July of the 
same year he came to Spadra, where he was placed in charge over a section under 
construction. He was a section master upon the road until 1883, when he quit 
railroading and devoted himself to a thorough cultivation of his fruit farm 
which he had established in 1877. He has also been engaged in street railroad 
construction in Pomona, as a contractor, and was one of the builders of the 
motor line to North Pomona. Mr. O'Connor's success in life has been due to his 
energetic and industrious habits, coupled with his well poised intellect and 
native wit, rather than to any educational advantages he received in his youth; 
and his straightforward course of life has gained him the respect and esteem of 
his associates. Politically, he is a straight Republican. A strong supporter of 
churches and schools, he has contributed liberally to both, and was one of the 
first to aid in building and establishing the Catholic Church in Pomona. In 
August, 1873, Mr. O'Connor married Miss Catherine Riley, the daughter of Patrick 
and Bridget (Riley) Riley. residents of Caven County, Ireland. Mrs. O'Connor was 
born in that county March 28, 1847. Mr. and Mrs. O'Connor have had six children: 
William J., Edward H., Catherine H., Ada Madeline, Grace M., and Francis L. The 
fourth child, John P., died May 21, 1882, aged fourteen months and eleven days.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 578
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler