California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
Sacramento County
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THOMAS
W. O'NEIL The
associations of a lifetime bound Mr. O'Neil closely to Sacramento
county. While the interests of business took him temporarily to other
parts of California he always considered himself a citizen of his native
county and never lost his intense loyalty and affectionate devotion to
this section of the state. In return he received the admiring respect of
an unusually large circle of acquaintances. It is given to few to
possess the friendship of all, yet it may be said of Mr. O'Neil,
notwithstanding his activity in politics and his frankness in expressing
his opinion concerning public questions, that even his political
opposers bore him no ill will, but on the contrary reposed the highest
confidence in his honor, integrity and patriotic loyalty. Born
at Folsom, Sacramento county, August 4, 1855, Mr. O'Neil began to learn
the trade of frescoing at an early age and for seven years he followed
the occupation in San Francisco and San Jose, always, however, retaining
his home in Sacramento county. During 1876 he began to work at his trade
in Sacramento, where he made a specialty of frescoing, decorating
interiors and treating wall finish. By the exercise of good business
judgment and artistic skill he established a reputation in his chosen
line and was reckoned one of the most successful frescoers in this part
of the state. During 1887 he married the daughter of the late John
Rooney of Brighton (now called Perkins), Sacramento county, and at the
time of his demise he left to mourn him his devoted wife, also two
daughters and five sons, the eldest of whom was not yet seventeen. From
boyhood Mr. O'Neil took an active part in polities. For many years he
was a local Democratic leader and a member of the county and state
central committees. As sheriff in 1893-94 he established a reputation
for fearlessness. During his term every industry in the city and county
was paralyzed by the A. E. IT. strike and the city was under martial
law. Another important affair connected with his official service was
the suppression of gambling in the county. When the chief of police and
local officers stated they could not suppress gambling in the city, he
stepped in. declared that gambling must stop and saw to it that not
another deal was made while he acted as sheriff. Although a staunch
Democrat he was chosen by President McKinley to act as census marshal
for Northern California. When the Union Building and Loan Association
went into the hands of a receiver he was chosen by Judge Hughes for that
position. Under his oversight chaos was reduced to order, justice was
secured for all concerned and the litigation was about completed in
every detail at the time of his death. After he retired from the
sheriff's office he engaged in the hop business, but a decline occurred
in the price about that time and hops were scarcely worth the gathering,
so that his accumulations in a lifetime of energy and labor were swept
away in a legitimate enterprise. As
organizer Mr. O'Neil was connected with Sacramento Parlor No. 3, N. S.
Gr. W., and he was also prominent in the United Commercial Travelers'
Association. As a member of the firm of M. Cronan & Co., of
Sacramento, he traveled throughout Northern California and during one of
his trips he was seized with a heart attack at Colfax, Placer county,
March 12, 1905. In a few hours he passed away. The remains were brought
back to the bereaved family and interment was made in the Sacramento
cemetery. Universal regret was expressed that a man of such sterling
qualities should be taken while yet in the prime of manhood. Many
tributes were paid to his memory by those who had known and honored him
for years. From one of these testimonials we quote as follows : "Only
those whose privilege it was to enjoy a personal acquaintance with the
late T. W. O'Neil appreciate the noble qualities of the man. It is
doubtful whether the unexpected death of any other man in the city of
Sacramento would have elicited more sincere expression of sorrow. Tom
O'Neil was a true man in every one of life's manifold relationships. He
loved his family and was devoted to his friends, while toward those who
differed with him in the affairs that called his attention, political or
personal, his generous heart could cherish no antagonism. All his life
was free and open. He never knowingly oppressed a human being. In his
great heart there was no place for resentment, yet he was indomitable in
defense of his opinions and like a man faced vicissitudes with
courageous resolution. It happened to him that the course of his career
led him sometimes into politics, but Tom O'Neil never lost his
self-esteem, his natural love of truth, his friendly devotion in all the
manipulation of that strange game where men rarely scruple if failure is
the alternative. Tom 'Neil's sincerity never forsook him. Under every
circumstance his compass was set by the stars and he pursued the rioid
reckoning, lead where it might. The death of such a man and so true a
friend comes as a personal loss to the humble writer of these lines, as
it does to every man who knew him well enough to appreciate him at his
worth. He was too noble to be base, too conscientious to deceive, too
loyal to dissimulate. Upon his brow God set the seal of truth, in his
heart no taint of dishonor could abide. And the world will revolve and
the days go on and on, and you will be forgotten, Tom, but not by those
who languish now in tears for love of you, nor yet by this penman, nor
by the large number of others who, from knowing you, called you
friend." Mrs.
O'Neil, who survives her husband, now fills the office of county
superintendent of schools, having been elected to the office in 1906 and
re-elected in 1910. She is the daughter of the late John Rooney and a
sister of James and Peter Rooney. Her father was born in County Louth,
Ireland, and came to the United States in 1847, when twenty-one years of
age, landing in New York, whence he proceeded to Boston. Next he went
south to Kings county, Ala. November 20, 1849, he started for California
via Panama and landed in San Francisco on the 27th of January, then
coming to Sacramento February 2 following. For nine months he worked in
the mines of Georgetown, Eldorado county. His mining ventures were so
remarkably successful that by 1852 he had netted $25,000, but years
later financial reverses came to him and swept much of his splendid
property into ruin. In 1852 lie began farming, and purchasing six
hundred and ten acres of raw land near what is now Perkins, Sacramento
county, he followed agriculture and stock raising on that place. About
1881 he began hop raising and developed what was said to be the largest
hop-field in the entire world. In 1853 he married Mary Clark, a native
of the same county in Ireland. For years they presided over a home where
hospitality was unbounded. No weary traveler ever sought food or shelter
there in vain. No guest ever visited the spacious country home but was
refreshed in spirit and made the better for the sunshine of Mrs.
Rooney’s presence. When financial troubles came Mr. Rooney saw his wide possessions leave him to satisfy the demands of the mortgage-holders. But John Rooney and his wife were made of sterner stuff than those who surrender to the caprices of fortune. He was ever the same rugged, stalwart character, strong in his friendships, unshaken in his principles, while Mrs. Rooney remained his ever-devoted helpmate. Early in life John Rooney was a Douglas Democrat. In 1864 he supported Abraham Lincoln. After 1868 he was identified with the Democratic party. In local conventions he was a leader. "But the years crept on John Rooney and mellowed his life into a peacefulness that sought no more clashing with the world. The ambition which fired him on in the days of his splendid youth and manhood was gone, and John Rooney gave his life as bravely as he had lived it." When within a few months of seventy-seven years of age he died at the home of his son, James, where he had been temporarily sojourning. To the memory of descendants he left the priceless heritage of an honorable life, devoted to the welfare of loved ones and to the service of the commonwealth which he proudly called his home. |
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |