Solano County
Biographies
DEMMING, CAPTAIN JOHN
(deceased,) was born in Preston, Connecticut, January 9, 1792, where he resided till 1808, when he went to sea, and at the age of twenty-one years old, was commander of a vessel following the sea for many years; his last sea voyage on the ship, “Iowa,” which brought General Riley to the State of California, and landing at Monterey, the place for which they were chartered, early in 1849. From there they proceeded to Benicia, where he afterward was engaged as a pilot, between Benicia, Vallejo, and San Francisco, for many years. He married Clarissa Hillard, in Preston, Connecticut, September, 11, 1817. She was born in Preston, January 29, 1792, and died in New York City December 18, 1846. By this union they had six children. Ann Louisa, born July 10, 1821, who married , in New York City, Charles Edward Shea, died, in New York City, July 27, 1857, leaving four children and her husband died, in New York City, November 21, 1859. Their third son, Edward, was born March 18, 1826, and was married in Peakskill, N. Y., on March 18, 1850, to Esther McCord. He died in New York City, March 1, 1852, leaving an only son, who is now residing in Brooklyn, N. Y. Clarissa J., born June 19, 1829, in New York City, died June 23, 1830. Charles; born in New York City, October 29, 1832, died November 30, 1833. Charles Benjamin, born in New York City, March 29, 1837 now residing with his brother, John F., was married to Mrs. Annie G. Corwin, on August 12, 1868. John F. Demming, proprietor of Glen Cove Ranch, the second of the family , was born in New York City, July 9, 1823, where he resided till February, 1849, when he sailed for San Francisco, arriving there in the later part of of June, 1849. He immediately proceeded to the mines, on the north fork of the American river, and prosecuted mining for a few months when he returned to Sacramento in December, 1849, and began the general merchandise business on K street, when the flood of 1850 swept away all of his possessions. He then proceeded across the river. In April, 1852, he returned to New York, and on December 16, 1852, was married to Mehetabel C. Geron, she being born in Blooming Grove, Orange county, N. Y., December 12, 1823. Mr. D. returned to California in 1853, and immediately proceeded to Benicia, where he remained as book-keeper until the spring of 1855, and again returned east, where he remained one year. In June, 1856, he again returned to California, this time being accompanied by his wife, and settling on their present estate, where he now owns 460 acres of land, all under good improvements. Their family consists of two children; Clara, born November 19, 1858, and Henry B., November 14, 1861.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 438
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben.
DILLON, PATRICK W.
farmer and stone cutter, Section 28, Benicia Township, Post-office Benicia, was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, February 3, 1820, where he resided till May, 1840, when he sailed for America arriving in New York City in June of that year. He at once proceeded to Troy, N. Y., and resided three months; thence to Lockport, N. Y., and remained one year. He then proceed to Youngstown, on fourth Niagara, where he worked at his trade during the summer of 1842, and from there he went to Toronto, Canada, where he spent the winter of 1842, and ’43. In March, 1844, he went to New York City, and worked till 1846, when in the fall of that year he went to St. John, New Brunswick, where he was employed till May, 1847. He again returned to New York and carried on his trade till January 1849, when he sailed for California arriving in San Francisco July 8, 1849, and remaining in the city for a few weeks helping unload vessels at eight dollars a day. He then proceeded to the southern mines, on Wood’s creek and worked two months at mining with good success. He then went to Mogason’s Creek, and from there to Mariposa, Mariposa county, but meeting with poor success he returned to Mogason's Creek with a colony of Texans, who settled there for a short time, and continued mining in different places till May, 1851, during which time he endured many hardships. The stories told by Mr. D., during his life spent in the mines, are very interesting, but for want of space we will have to omit them. In May, 1851, he came to Benicia, bringing with him eighteen hundred dollars, which he invested in the wharf built at Vallejo while the Capitol of the State was situated at that place.
In 1851, he opened a stone quarry on his fruit farm, and in connection with the other, started the Pioneer Stone Business in San Francisco, and among the contracts taken by him, is the St. Mary’s Cathedral, at San Francisco, and many other buildings. In 1856, he purchased his present farm, now consisting of four hundred acres of land, an seventy-six acres of tule. He married, at St. Mary’s Cathedral, San Francisco, Bertha G. Jordan, January 6, 1856, she having been born in Hanover, Germany, January 29, 1830.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 438-439
Transcribed by Carolyn Feroben.