Santa Clara County Biographies


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



MICHAEL R. SULLIVAN 
 
was born in St. Edwards County, Canada East, in 1837. His  parents, Patrick G. 
and Bridget (Madigan) Sullivan (whose history appears in this volume), were 
natives of Ireland, who emigrated to Canada, and afterward, in 1851, came 
overland to California, and located in Santa Clara County in 1852. His father 
was extensively engaged in farming, stock‑raising, and dairy pursuits, to which 
occupations Mr. Sullivan was reared, receiving such schooling as the public 
schools afforded. He worked upon his father's farm until 1873. In October of 
this year he married Miss Bridget Commons, a sister of William Commons, a 
resident of San Jose. In the same year he established himself in the grocery 
business in San Jose, in partnership with J. Carmichael, under the firm name of 
Carmichael & Sullivan, and afterward under the name of Able, Carmichael & 
Sullivan. This business was successfully conducted until 1876. He then 
established a grocery store in East San Jose, and continued in that business 
until 1879. In this latter year he went into the employ of the Southern Pacific 
Railroad Company as a foreman upon construction
work,�a portion of the time being employed in Arizona. He was engaged with this 
company until 1881. He then entered the employ of the Santa Clara Valley Mill 
and Lumber Company, where he was engaged until August, 1886. In this year he 
established a grocery store at the corner of Santa Clara and San Pedro Streets, 
San Jose, in partnership with his brother-in-law, William Commons, under the 
firm name of Commons & Co., and has since been engaged in that business. Mr. 
Sullivan is the owner of the residence on the corner of Santa Clara and 
McLaughlin Avenues, East San Jose. He has for many years been identified with 
the business interests of Santa Clara County, and has always been a 
public-spirited and progressive citizen, greatly interested in all enterprises 
that tended to promote the growth and welfare of the community in which he 
resides. Politically he is a liberal Democrat, and, though never aspiring to 
office, has always taken a deep interest in the best elements of his party. 
Himself and family are consistent members of the Catholic Church.
        Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan are the parents of six children, namely: Charles 
J., William R., Frank T., Ernest, Mary, and Silvia G.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 582-583