Solano County Biography
J.G. Hanks
J.G. Hanks - a detective of Vallejo, was born in Summit county, Ohio, on August 6,1829, where he resided until 1849, when he sailed from New York on May 13th for Calfornia on board the ship " Far West" Off the coast of Barbados they were wrecked, and, being picked up by a whaling vessel, were taken to Panama. On the voyage up the Pacific coast our subject once more suffered shipwreck in the loss of the " Chimera," at Monterey. He per force landed and found his way thence to San Francisco on foot Mr. Hanks arrived in Solano county on March 11,1850, coming first to Vallejo, and after, going to Benicia, and there opening a blacksmith's shop. Leaving this business, however, he next proceeded to the mines in El Dorado county, but in 1855 once more returned to Vallejo only for two months, when he again went to the mines and there stayed until 1860. We next find Hanks mining in Nevada. Here he became a member of the police force of Virginia City. After five years service he established an express line at Crystal Peak, Cisco, which he maintained till 1869, when, in connection with his father, he commenced an hotel business at Truckee, being also Deputy Sheriff of the county, under C. Gentry. Has been instrumental in several of the noted captures of both this and the State of Nevada, and to-day enjoys the confidence of the officials and his friends. In 1871 he established a brickyard in Vallejo, many of the buildings of the city being manufactured from material off his premises.
History of Solano County, California
Page 353
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February 2008
Solano County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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