San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1123-1124
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 12/7/2009
JOHN A. FEELEY
A native son of California, born in Stockton fourty-four years ago, is John A. Feeley, whose entire life has been spent within the confines of San Joaquin County, where he has engaged in farming, building contracting, and carpentry. His birth occurred at the Beaver Street home of his parents, James Williams and Bridget (Norton) Feeley, April 1, 1879. Both parents were born in Roscommon, Ireland. James W. Feeley was eighteen months old when his parents came to America. They settled in Ohio, where he grew to young manhood. At eighteen years of age he joined a group of thirty young men, to seek his fortune in California; his brother John F. Feeley had already made a stake in the mines at Nevada City. The party of thirty young men came West via the Nicaragua route, by steamer to San Francisco, and after a long, perilous journey, arrived in Nevada City. Nine years were spent in the mines. From there he went to the Almaden Mine, in Santa Clara County, where he worked as a carpenter. At San Jose, Cal., on June 28, 1874, he was married to Miss Bridget Norton, who came to California in 1852, and was reared in San Francisco; the year following they removed to Stockton, where James W. Feeley became a building contractor with J.A. McDougall. He was thus occupied until 1882, when he bought a ranch of 350 acres near Burwood, on the Stanislaus River. This he operated for fourteen years, and then sold out and removed to a ranch near Farmington, which he farmed until 1906, when he removed to Stockton and built a home at 1705 North California Street. Four children were born to this pioneer couple: Joseph and Mary, both deceased; James Patrick, who resides in Oakland; and John A., of this sketch. James W. Feeley was a member of the California National Guard, and of the Board of Exempt Firemen, having served as assistant foreman of Eureka No. 2. In politics he was a Democrat. Mrs. Feeley passed away on February 17, 1919, aged eighty years. Mr. Feeley lived until March 7, 1922, when he passed away at the family home in Stockton.
From 1891 to 1894, John A. Feeley attended St. Mary's College in Oakland. He then became a partner with his father in building operations and thoroughly learned the carpenter's trade. For five years he worked at contracting in Stockton with his father, and then for three years was in partnership with his brother, James P. Feeley. Mr. Feeley is a member of Carpenter's Union Local No. 266, and for eight years has served as secretary of this branch; in 1920 he attended the national convention held at Indianapolis, taking his father for a visit to old friends and acquaintances in Ohio.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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