Central California Biographies

A memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of Central California : illustrated : containing 
a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the 
present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of 
some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of 
to-day (1893)

Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Publishing Company
Author: Barrows, Henry D; Ingersoll, Luther A

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

 


MICHAEL RIORDAN can claim the honor of being a pioneer of California, having come 
to the State in 1854, landing at San Francisco. He had come to that city direct from St. 
Louis, Missouri, via Nicaragua. He is a native of Limerick, Ireland, born on September 
18, 1834. Upon his arrival in California he spent about six months in the mines of Yuba 
county and then bought and ran a dray in San Francisco for about four years. His next 
venture was raising sheep in the Salinas valley. This business he pursued for ten years, 
from 1858 to 1868. He then engaged in farming at Natividad, and in 1890 he engaged in 
merchandising at Salinas, in which line of business he still continues. 

Our subject was married, in San Francisco, in 1859, to Miss Margaret Coughlan, of Irish 
parentage and they have four living children, namely: Thomas J., born in San Francisco, 
is the present efficient Clerk of Monterey county; Philip H., deceased; Joseph M., 
William F. and James E., all native sons of California, and all except the oldest born in 
Monterey county. Mr. Riordan is esteemed for his integrity and upright citizenship.