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


ROBERT H. GALLAGHER. Among the leading business men of Sanger, Fresno county, 
who have demonstrated their ability to make a success of life financially as well as otherwise, a 
striking example is found in Robert H. Gallagher, a liveryman of Sanger. Since his location in 
Fresno' county in 1889 he has been identified with several of the enterprising and progressive  
concerns doing business in this section, among them the Sanger Lumber Company, being in their  
employ for three years prior to engaging in the livery business. In Gold Hill, Nev., he was born, 
December 31, 1867, and is a son of the late Thomas Gallagher, of San Francisco. 

The latter, a native of Ireland, spent his early life on the sea, and upon one of his voyages he 
sailed around Cape Horn, going as far north as San Francisco. In 1851, during the gold excite- 
ment, like others he went to seek his fortune in the mines, and for about eight years followed 
mining pursuits in and about Grass Valley, Virginia City and later in Nevada City. Although 
quite successful in his mining operations, in the early '60s he discontinued work in the mines and 
took up the somewhat hazardous but profitable business of freighting. Continuing in this busi- 
ness until 1882, he acquired considerable capital, which he invested in land in Solano county the 
following year and upon this he followed farming until 1899. Retiring from business he took up 
his residence in San Francisco, where he died in October, 1904, at the advanced age of eighty- 
seven years. 

The boyhood days of R. H. Gallagher were spent in Nevada. He was fifteen years old when 
his father purchased land in Solano county, whither the family removed, and there he followed 
ranching pursuits until 1889, when he located in Fresno county. It was several years later that 
Mr. Gallagher went into the livery business and he has followed that line of work ever since. By 
his marriage he was united with Minnie M. Hanke, a daughter of the late H. H. Hanke, who 
in the early days of the history of Fresno county settled here and became prominent as a ranch- 
er. Three children bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Gallagher: Mabel, Grace and Arthur. A 
faithful adherent to the Republican party, Mr. Gallagher can hardly be called an active poli- 
tician, being too deeply engrossed in business pursuits. Fraternally he affiliates with the Knights 
of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. 

The Sanger, Millwood and Converse Stage Line, in which Mr. Gallagher owns a half interest, 
in connection with the Southern Pacific Railway Company, makes regular trips to and 
from Millwood, King's River Canyon and to the General Grant National Park. From Sanger to 
Millwood the distance is forty-five miles over an interesting route. The first six to eight miles 
traverses the level San Joaquin valley, with its orchards, vineyards and grain fields, and then 
begins the ascent to the mountains, the traveler passing many interesting points, among them 
the famous Sontag point, Squaw village and McKenzie's mill. After the summit is reached a 
beautiful forest ride completes the journey to Millwood. From this point by way of Meadow 
Lake a trip can be taken to the Grant National Park and the Big Tree Groves, which contain one 
hundred and twenty-five mammoth trees, including the General Grant, one hundred and six 
feet in circumference at the base, the Garfield, Cleveland, Lincoln, Washington, Dead Monarch, 
the Happy Family and many other noted specimens. Here also may be seen the Big Tree stump 
from which the Centennial exhibit was taken. 

On the return trip from Millwood the beautiful Sequoia lake, four miles distant, may be visited 
and in the Converse basin is to be seen one of the largest sawmills in the west, which handles 
timber unrivaled in size anywhere in the world. A logging railroad extends back seven miles into 
the forest, which transports the logs to the mills, and from this point the lumber is shipped to 
Sanger in a V-shaped flume, fifty miles long.