Amador County Biographies

D. B. SPAGNOLI

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 Italy, having been born in the town of Rooegro, Province of Novara, November 30, 
1840. He obtained his early education in the city of Pallanza. In 1852, he went to the French college 
at Vevey, remaining there until 1854, when, in company with his parents and one brother, he came 
to California. The names of the family were Deodato Spagnoli and Maria Antoinette, father and 
mother, and the two sons, Silvester and D. Benjamin. They reached San Francisco August 1, 1854, 
coming to Clinton, in Amador county, the following September. The elder Spagnoli mined near 
Clinton for several months and then bought a store and stock of goods, consisting of general 
merchandise. D. B., the subject of this sketch, at the breaking out of the Frazer river excitement, 
went north with the crowd, and had about as exciting experience of the dangers of navigating the 
Frazer river and of traveling among the Indians, as any man that ever returned alive. An interesting 
book might have been written on the subject, if book-making had been in his line of business. After 
his return in 1858, he followed stock- raising until the death of his father in 1863, when he took 
charge of his father's estate, consisting of store, mining interests and ditches, managing these until 
1865, When he was appointed Deputy County Recorder, occupying the 'position two years. In 1867 
he was appointed Deputy County Clerk. In 1869 the offices of Clerk and Recorder were merged in 
one, and he received the nomination for the double office at the hands of the Democrats, and in 
September was elected, serving two years. At the expiration of his term of office he formed a law 
partnership with R. M. Briggs, having studied law and been admitted to the bar while County Clerk. 
Mr. Spagnoli has had a liberal education, speaking some four or five languages with fluency. He 
belonged to a wealthy and refined family in Italy, and started in life with many advantages, which 
he has not failed to improve. He has had great influence among his countrymen, who would take his 
advice and trust their business to his care. He was married January 12, 1870, at Stockton, to Miss 
Rosa Isabella Bryant. In 1872 he returned to Italy on account of business, visiting London, Paris, 
Rome, Lyons, Milan, Turin and other cities of the Old World. After his return from Europe he became 
interested in the drug store at Jackson, finally becoming sole proprietor. 

His mother died in Amador county in 1873. He lost his wife in 1874, who left two sons (now living), 
two and three years of age, named respectively, Sylvester Nelson D., and Urbono Giovani D. 

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