San Diego County Obituaries Patrick O'Neil Submitted by Michael Harris This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, MUST obtain the written consent of the contributor, OR the legal representative of the submitter. All persons donating to this site retain the rights to their own work. San Diego Union; March 22, 1900 O'ONEIL - At Old Town, March 21, 1900, Patrick O'Neill, a native of Ireland, aged 77 years. Friends are invited to attend the services at the Catholic Church at Old Town, tomorrow (Thursday) at 3 p.m. San Diego Union; March 22, 1900 DEATH OF A PIONEER WHO LIVED HERE FOR 48 YEARS. PATRICK O'NIEL PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY MORNING AT OLD TOWN. Twice a soldier in the Service of His Adopted Country He was Prominent in the Politics of This Section. Patrick O'Neil, one of the oldest and for many years one of the most prominent of the residents of San Diego, died yesterday morning at his home in Old San Diego after an illness which had remained with him for eight years. In 1892 he was stricken with paralysis and was not able thereafter to help himself out of bed. He had been sinking gradually for some time, and was not expected to survive long. Patrick O'Neil was born in Tyrone, Ireland in August 1822, and at the age of 21 years, he came to this country, landing in New York. He did not, however, declare his intention to become a citizen until 1846 or 1847, when he was residing at Philadelphia. He was twice a soldier in the army of the United States, having enlisted first on Oct. 21, 1848, at Philadelphia, when he was forwarded to Fort Hamilton to all up the ranks of the Second regular United States infantry, then in command of Gen. Riley. He was selected for Company B of that regiment commanded by Lieut. Steele. On the 13th of Nov. 1848, Companies B and K of the regiment were put aboard the clipper transport ship Sea Queen, which sailed on the 4th for San Francisco under command of Maj. Miller, arriving in San Francisco bay on the 2d or 3d of April, 1849. Maj. Miller's command was ordered to Stockton whence the two companies escorted an Indian commission through the San Joaquin valley to make treaties with the Indians residing on the Fresno, Chowchilla and San Joaquin rivers. He was with the party which established Fort Miller (named after the major) and later known as Millerton, the first county seat of Fresno county. It was a block house and picket fort and the buildings which were erected a littler are still there. On the return of the soldiers to San Francisco, they were ordered north on campaign against the Indians. They crossed into Oregon and established Fort Lane on the Rogne river. Private O'Neil was promoted at Fort Miller to be commissary and quartermaster sergeant and he held that rank until he was discharged at the end of his five years' service. Immediately on his discharge he came to this county and settled at Old Town, where he owned considerable property. For a great many years he was one of the leading spirits in the political moves in the county. He was a second time a soldier in the army of the United States when on Nov. 24, 1864, he enlisted in Company G of the Second infantry regiment California volunteers. That was in the civil war and Company G was ordered to Fort Grant on the San Pedro river in Arizona whence they went against the Indians and rebels on the Aravipet river. They had a fight on the south side of the river on their way to Fort Goodwin. It rained heavily that night but the next day they returned to Fort Grant. They were ordered out once more and surprised the rebels at the crossing of the San Pedro river twelve miles south of Fort Grant but they found no Indians. At the close of the war the company was ordered to the Presidio to be discharged after which Mr. O'Neil returned to San Diego and he has lived here ever since. He owned some property at Old Town and at one time was considered pretty well-off. He leaves a widow and five children. The funeral arrangements have been made. It will be held this afternoon at 4 o'clock from the Catholic church in Old Town and Rev. Father Ubach will have charge of the service. Interment will be had at the Catholic cemetery on the heights above Old Town.