Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-11-14
DEPICTING THE RANKS.
Recent Deaths of Early Settlers-Tv
More Added Yesterday.

| LIE IhAHAo.
Recent Deaths of Early Settlers-Tuo
| More Added Yesterday.
Death has been swinging his scythe with
merciless energy of late through the ranks
of the early pioneers. Among those who
have recently fallen before the destroyer
may be named, DIR. a. B. Nixon, Joseph
Bauquier, William B. Hunt and James H
Sullivan, the latter two having died yester-
day. All of these men had been prominent
in local business and professional circles up
to the time of their deaths. except w. B.
Hunt. who some years ago removed to San
| Francisco.
james H. Sullivan, who died in this city
yesterday, was born in Montreal, Canada,
in 1880. In 1888 his parents removed to
| Monmouth county, n. j., and in 1885 10
| New York, where in due time young Sulli-
van learned and worked at the cooper trade
until 1S49 when he came to California via
Cape Horo, arriving September 18th. He
carried on coopering on Montgomery street,
San Francisco, until 1850, being twice
burned out in that short time.
In September of that year he started back
to New York on the bark Golinda, and was
wrecked this side Of Acapulco. He assisted
| Captain Lane and Captain Mace, who were
| also passengers, in saving the vessel, after
| it had been given up as lost by the captain
and crew, and made the harbor without
loss of life. After few months stay in
Nicaragua, where be was engaged il
| the transfer OF passengers and treas
| ure by that route, Mr.. Sullivan
gave up his intention of going to
the States, and returned TO California
| and started again in the business of cooper
ing at Sacramento. which he carried on
until 1857, when he abandoned it to fill the
office of City Treasurer. In 1858 he went
to Victoria, B. c., but returned in short
time and resumed his former business,
which he conducted until appointed Dep
uty State Controller. In 1859 he returned
again to the cooperage business, and in
1852 lost nearly everything in the flood of
that year. Then, in company with John
Rooney, he built by contract the levee to
Sutterville. and afterwards changed the
channel OF the American river, near its
mouth, SO as to render it less dangerous to
the city.
In 1864 he was Superintendent of the
Pond mine at Aurora. New. In 1864, in
company with John Rooney, he contracted
with the State and completed canal thirty
feet wide and twenty eight miles long
across part OF Solano and Yolo counties.
In 1SS6-7-S he served as Deputy Sheriff IN
der James Lansing. In 1859 he was in
the same Office under Sheriff White. and in
1901 he had charge of the Sheriff's office
under j. s. Woods. Since then he has
been engaged in street contracting and
farming on the American river, seven miles
east of this city, and at the time of his
death was also engaged in the insurance
business.
Mr.. Sullivan married on August 8, 1859,
Emma Anderson. There were born to
them seven children, of which one son and
four daughters are now living.
Deceased was one of the earliest men,
bers of Confidence Engine Company No. l,
of the old volunteer fire department. He
took q prominent part in politics in early
days, but of late years led quiet and I'M
eventful life. Deceased was member of
the Exempt Firemen's Association, Capitol
Lodge, l. o. o. F., and of the Pioneer
Society. The bells of the fire department
were tolled yesterday in his honor.
WILLIAM B. HUNT
Was the first Chief Engineer of the Sacra-
mento Paid Fire Department. He was
about 60 years of age, and was born in
Charlestown, Mass. He arrived in this State
in 1919, by way of Cape Horn. In the early
tifties he was in the employ of Hubbard &
Co, of the Eureka Flour Mills. Fer sew
eral years afIerward he was the Sacramento
agent of Leondias Haskell, dealer in hides.
He always took an active part in politics,
and in the Legislatures OF 1S634-5-6 he
represented this county in the Assembly.
Subsequently he conducted the Hotel de
France. This hotel was a favorite resort
for politicians and sporting men. About
1874 he removed to San Francisco with his
family, where his wife died about ten years
ago. He recently held q position in the
Mint, and in 1885 he was an Assemblym8n
from one of the San Francisco districts. At
the time of his death he was employed in
the San Francisco Registrars office. He
left daughter, Lizzie, and two sons, Eugene
and W. B. Hunt, Jr. Eugene is Deputy
Fish Commissioner, and his brother is an
Assistant Secretary of the San Francisco
Pioneer Association, of which his father
was member.
Deceased also belonged to the Veteran
Fireman's Association of San Fran
cisco. He was man of more
than ordinary intelligence, and is said
to have been graduate of the Boston
Latin School. He took a prominent and
active part in the volunteer fire depart.
ment of this city, and was thorough fire.
man. On March /, 1851, he assisted in the
pany, No. l, the first fire engine company
of this city and one of the first in the State
In the great fire OF 1852, when Sacramento
was burned down, MIR. Hunt, while at his
| duty as fireman, came near losing his
life. While in a burning building, with
hose in hand, he was partially suffocated,
but was rescued in time to save his life.
He was Foreman of Confidence Engine
Company for about nine years. While
Foreman his company, running With "Old
GaP' (then the Oldest engine in the State),
won several prizes.
On the disarmament of the Volunteer Fire
Department, in the early seventies, and the
organization of the Sacramento Paid Fire
Department, the deceased was elected
Chief Engineer, which position he held for
one term. He bought The old engines be-
| longing to Confidence and Young America
Companies and sold them to the Honolulu
authorities.
In his honor the fre-bells were tolled
yesterday. His funeral will take place at
| San Francisco tomorrow under the au-
| spices of the San Francisco Pioneer Asso-
citation.