California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


MRS. AMELIA (SIMPSON) CAVANAGH. Among the many women who are 
prominent in the horticultural life of California Mrs. Amelia (Simpson) Cavanagh is deserving 
of mention, for the ranch upon which she has been located for the past five years in Merced 
county evidences her ability along these lines. She is a native of Toronto, Canada, and a daugh- 
ter of William Simpson. He was born in the northern part of Ireland, where his people had 
settled upon their emigration from Scotland, where they had flourished for generations. He 
came to Canada when a young man and became a farmer, remaining so engaged until his death 
at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife was in maidenhood Sarah McCoy, also a native of Ire- 
land. 

Amelia Simpson was married in Canada to James O. Patterson, who was also a native of 
that country, and in 1S67 they crossed the line into the United States, and coming west, located 
in Salem, Ore. He shipped the first carload of lumber from that city. Their home remained in 
that locality until 1873, when they removed to Idaho and engaged in ranching and stock-raising 
for two years. The climate being less agreeable than that of their Oregon home they then re- 
turned to Salem, where Mr. Patterson secured employment with the Pioneer Oil Company at 
a good salary. He was the first to introduce the culture of flax in Washington and Idaho. He 
was a successful farmer and met with financial returns adequate to the efforts he put forth in 
his years of active life. He died in 1884. They were the parents of two children, namely : Jo- 
seph A. and Robert J. These young men are now both numbered among the prominent ranch- 
ers of Merced county, farming about one hundred and fifty acres of land. They make their 
home with their mother. In 1885 Mrs. Patterson was again married, the ceremony being per- 
formed in Placer county, Cal., and uniting her with James H. Cavanagh. He was a real estate 
and grain broker of San Francisco and died in that city December 24, 1891. The year follow- 
ing Mrs. Cavanagh came to Merced county, both on account of her health and to look after prop- 
erty which belonged to her. This consisted of fifteen hundred and forty-six acres located on 
Bear creek, which she has since sold. She made her home near Athalone for five years. She- 
then removed to her present location, five miles northeast of Merced, an. eighty-acre place, thirty 
five acres being devoted to figs, while the balance is given over to assorted fruits and pasture. 
Mrs. Cavanagh, with the aid of her sons, has made a success of her work, proving herself a 
woman of rare business judgment and tact, as well as a cultured and entertaining lady. She is 
a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Merced.