San Diego County
Biographies
CAPTAIN S. S. DUNNELLS
was born at Edgecomb, Maine, April, 15, 1824, and in 1826 moved with his parents to Belfast on the Penobscot bay. His father was a seafaring man, as was his grandfather; the same influence worked upon the son, and in 1833, at the age of seventeen years, he went on board a merchant vessel, which traded on the Atlantic along the coast of North and South America and the West Indies. In 1841, accompanied by seven sailors, he went up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Peoria, Illinois, and then by wagon across the plains to Chicago, and the following eight years sailed upon Lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie, as master of a vessel. In 1849 he returned to Belfast, Maine, and in January, 1850, he sailed for San Francisco, California, making but one stop, at Valparaiso, and completing the trip in 160 days, arriving in July, 1850.
He then went prospecting in placer mines on the Mokelumne river and later in Onion valley and at the headwaters of the Feather river. He soon, however, bought a mule team and carried supplies from Marysville to the mines. He then bought and built two lighters, purchased flour at Sacramento, and shipped it up the Feather river to Marysville, the motor power being wind and poles. He made several very profitable trips, but sold out and went to mining on Butte river, then to Piety Hills and Bald mountains in Shasta County, where he conducted general merchandise stores, selling goods to the miners. In 1857 he again visited the scenes of his childhood at Belfast, Maine, returning by way of the Isthmus.
Mr. Dunnells was married in 1857 to Miss Elizabeth H. Moore, a native of Maine. In 1858 he returned to California, where he resumed his business at Piety Hills. Being joined by his wife in 1859, they remained about four years, and then sold out and went to Cottonwood, Shasta County, where they bought a store and remained until 1886. They again sold out and visited Red Bluffs, Sacramento, San Jose and San Francisco. As he journeyed, seeking a settlement, the stories of his youth came before him, and the sea yarns of his old uncle, a seafaring man, who had often visited this coast, and on his return to his New England home would sit in the chimney corner and tell of the beautiful bay and glorious climate of San Diego, and from this his attention was turned to that place; and, being so satisfied that San Diego would be to him a haven of rest, he went to A. E. Horton, who then had an office at San Francisco, and purchased a house and lot at the corner of Fifth and State streets, San Diego city, that he might come to this land of warmth and sunshine, feeling that a house was opened for him and to shelter his family. He then started the first hotel, known as the " Old San Diego Hotel." After running the hotel one year he leased it and in 1870 started in steamboat operations, carrying freight and passengers north as far as Santa Barbara and about 300 miles south. In 1873 he sold out and started in the fishing business, drying and shipping to San Francisco, and also in piloting vessels out and in the bay; but at that time shipping was extremely light. He continued until 1873, when he sold out and has since devoted himself exclusively to piloting.
Captain Dunnells has two children, one daughter and a son, both living in San Diego, the son being also a pilot and connected with his father in duties upon the sea.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 188-189
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
F. J. McINTOSH
was born at Adams Centre, Jefferson County, New York, February 20, 1829. The father was a native of Massachusetts. but of Scotch descent, and his mother was a native of Rhode Island. They have seven children, F. J. being the sixth in order of birth. His parents moved to Wilna, Jefferson County, in 1832, where his mother died. In 1845 he returned to Adams Centre, and was apprenticed for two years to learn the trade of shoemaker, and remained until 1848, working at his trade. He then spent one year traveling through Canada. working from time to time when in need of funds, and in 1850 he returned to Burr's Mills, Jefferson County, New York, working at his trade.
He was married July 18, 1850, to Miss Louisa Wheeler, a native of New York State. He then started a hotel, which he continued for fourteen months, and though with no experience he met with great success and cleared about $1,500. In 1853 he sold his hotel interests and engaged as foreman in a manufacturing shoe store, remaining until 1856, when he went to Syracuse, New York, and started a harness business under the firm name of McIntosh & Dow. In 1857, owing to depressions in business, he sold out and went to Rodman, Jefferson County, working at his trade. In 1858 he opened a grocery and boot and shoe store, and in 1860 took in a partner by the name of Strong, the firm name being McIntosh & Strong, and in 1862 sold out to Strong. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, Tenth New York Heavy Artillery, Colonel Piper in command. They were ordered to Fort Richmond, Staten Island, where they remained nine months drilling in light artillery and infantry. Then they were ordered to Washington, District of Columbia, and were stationed at Fort Carroll, and after a few months were ordered to Fort Lyons, Virginia; but after a short time were sent to the front and entered their first field engagement in infantry at Cold Harbor, under command of General Burnside. They then went out by way of the Whitehouse Landing, in General Grant's movement toward Petersburg. They moved by water, and were the first company to land at City Point, arriving about dark. On the following morning they were drawn up in line of battle, and, making a charge, took about thirty prisoners and nine pieces of field artillery. They then went forward to Petersburg Heights, and captured main battery No. 5. Here was the undermining of Fort Cotton, a rebel fort, the blowing up of which caused a terrible loss of life. The regiment was then ordered to the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, to reinforce General Sheridan. The morning before the battle of Cedar Creek, the rebels surprised the Union troops while in their tents, and a general retreat followed. Sheridan, at the time returning from Winchester to the front, met his retreating troops, rallied his men, drove back the rebels, and gained a victory which ended the war in the Shenandoah valley. They were then ordered back to the James river, near Richmond, and were present at the blowing up of the rebel gunboats on the James river. The 2d day of April, 1865, 400 men, selected from the Sixth and Tenth New York regiments, and led by Major Campbell, of the Tenth New York, charged on the rebel works, driving them hack to their main line, but, finding themselves nearly surrounded, retreated with the loss of eighty men killed. They then made a general charge along the line, drove the enemy about two miles toward Richmond, and came up with General Sheridan, who had just taken Petersburg. The regiment was then ordered to Petersburg, where they remained in charge of the conquered city until July, 1865, when they were discharged from the United States service and were sent back to Madison Barracks, Sackett's Harbor, and were then discharged from the State service. The subject of this sketch was not wounded during the war.
Mr. McIntosh then returned to Rodman, Jefferson County, and bought an interest in his old store, continuing under the firm name of McIntosh & Egan. He then bought Egan out, and continued alone about one year, when he sold out, but remained as manager. In 1867 he went to Long Island, Canada, buying and shipping hides to the American side. He continued about one year, and then went to New York. July 5, 1868, he sailed for Aspinwall on the first trip of the Dakota, but owing to an accident they had a long and tedious passage. They crossed the Isthmus of Panama by rail, and at that place took the steamer Nevada for San Francisco, arriving September 2, 1868. He spent the winter mainly at San José, working at his trade, and on March 2, 1869, started for San Diego. He immediately started a shoe shop at Old Town, making a specialty of fancy top boots for the Mexican trade, doing a prosperous business for eighteen months, with a large force of employes whom he brought from San Francisco. He was the pioneer shoemaker of San Diego city. He then opened a shoe shop near H and Fifth streets, which business he continued in about four years, when he gave up manufacturing. Increasing his stock, he kept a first-class shoe store on Fifth street. In 1876 he sold out his store, and has since devoted himself to building and trading in real estate.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 189-190
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler