Solano County
Biographies
MICHAEL S. DERWIN
was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1812, and resided there till 1834, when he emigrated to America, first settling in Philadelphia. In 1837 he went to the Florida war, being connected with the quartermasters’ department, and leaving there, came to New York in March, 1841, proceeding thereafter to Philadelphia. In that city he embarked in a grocery business, which he continued till 1848, when he moved to New Orleans, where he lived till 1852, in which year he left for California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco on February 28th of that year. In March he paid a flying visit to Vallejo, and thence proceeded to Stockton, from which place he went to the mines in Tuolumne County, where he engaged in mining for one year. At the end of that period he returned to San Francisco and began draying, which business he prosecuted for eight months. In the latter part of the year 1853 he returned to Philadelphia and then to New York, in which city he started the wholesale and retail liquor trade. In July, 1854, he once more turned towards the Golden State, arriving in San Francisco in August, and took up his abode there until January, 1855, when he moved to Vallejo and located in that city, and was employed for fifteen months in the Navy Yard at Mare Island. In 1856 he started for the mines in Oregon, sojourning there for one year and a half, at the expiration of which he came back to Vallejo, where he has since resided. In 1870 Mr. Derwin visited his friends in Philadelphia, and having returned to Vallejo, embarked in the grocery business. Mr. D. is a member of the firm of Derwin & McCudden, is married, and has a family.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 345-346
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JAMES DOYLE
born in Montreal, Canada, December 25, 1828, and resided there till 1846, when he went to New York City, and on April 1, 1852, sailed from there on the ship “North America,” for California, arriving in San Francisco September 1 of that year. Remained in that city till 1855, and then proceeded to Vallejo, where he has since remained a permanent resident. Mr. Doyle started the Pioneer Marble Works in Vallejo in 1862, which he still owns, and was elected Constable for the Township of Vallejo on September 5, 1877, and commenced his official duties in the month of March following. He married in New York, December 25, 1849, Anna Fleury, by whom he has Sarah A., Thomas, Mary E., Addie, Jonas, Robert E., Annie, Elizabeth, Charles and Gertrude.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 346
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler