Person:Richard Feeny (2)

Naturalized 1884 in Yreka, California. At that time he was age 62, native of Ireland and living in Trinity Center. His obituary appeared in the DAily Free Press, Redding, California, Thursday Evening, February 9, 1899 - A pioneer who arrived on Weaver Creek, Trinity County, in 1850. Richard Henry Feeny, who died at French Gulch Tuesday, Feb. 7th, was born in West Meath, Ireland, November 12, 1822. He was the son of Richard and Mary (Hadlet) Feeny, both natives of Ireland. Ind April, 1840, Mr. Feeny emigrated to America, landing in New York and working there for a period of nine years. In the early part of 1849 the wonderful stories of California were broguht tothe East, and young Feeny, having got the gold fever, sailed on the 14th day of February, 1849 for the great El Dorado of the West, reaching on the 17th of September of the same year what is now known as the city of San Francisco. From there he went to Sacramento, thence to Weaver Creek. In 1850 he went to Coloma, where in seven and a half days he took out $1000 with a rocker. He remained thee until 1858, when he removed to the South Fork of Scott River, where he successfully mined for seven years. Afterward at Callahans he conducted a hotel and became owner of a tollroad. He made a competency on the Middle Yuba. After these years of mining he finally located in 1885 in French Gulch and established the hotel that bears his name. In 1875 Mr. Feeny married Miss Sarah J. Doole, also a native of Ireland. Their issue have been Mary Elizabeth, Thomas Henry and Arleta. Mr. Feeny was one of nature's noblemen. Generous to a fault, no one left his door unprovided or was refused admission, he was esteemed for his honesty and integrity in his dealing with his fellow man. He died at the ripe old age of 76 years, beloved by all who knew him and lamented by those he has left behind. May his ashes rest in peace.

From: Memorial & Biographical History of Northern Califronai, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891

Richard Henry Feeny proprietor of the Feeny Hotel, French Gulch, is a Califoria Forty-niner. He has passed many years of pioneer life on this couast, and has seen the wonderful transformation which ahs taken place in the State since the first grand rush was made for the new El Dorado. A brief sketch of his life is as follows: Mr. Feeny was born in West Meath, Ireland in 1822, the son of Richard and Mary (Hadlet) Feeny, both natives of Ireland. He is the only survivor of a family of thirteen children, five of whom grew to maturity. He received his education in the Emearld Isle, and was there employed in the drug business for two years. That work, however, was not congenial to his taste, and he emigrated to New York in April, 1840. At that place he worked in a brickyard for nine years, until the gold excitement broke out in California. He salied from New Yourk in the Sarah and Eliza, February 14, 1849 and arrived in California September 17. When he landed in San Francisco that city was a town of cloth, --as he says, "a town of rag houses." Mr. Feeny went to Scramento and from there to Weaver Creek, where he worked and made eight dollars per day. In the spring of 1850 he went to Coloma, remaining at that place about a month. In seven and a half days work he took out $1,040 with a rocker. Then he went to Sacramento and paid $140 for a horse, on which he traveled to the Middle Yuba. There he worked three years and saved $5000. He made much more money than that, but, like other miners, he spent it freely. Next he went to the South mines and afterward returned to his claim. On the 5th of September he and his brother went to the election at Orleans Flat. While there some of their friends got into a row. His brother, while trying to extricate his friend, was stabbed and died. Mr. Feeny made every effort to find and bring to justice his brother's murdered, but he escaped. After that our subject went to Siskiyou County, and purchsed an interest in a toll-road, and kep it for sixteen years. During that time he bought the whole road. In 1885 he came to French Gulch and built the Feeny Hotel and his own residence, at a cost of $12,000. In 1875 Mr. Feeny married Miss Sarah J. Dalley, a native of Ireland. To them three children have been born, two in Trinity County and one in Shasta. Their names are Mary Elizabeth, Thomas Henry and Arlieta. Mr. Feeny is a stanch democrat, but often votes for the best man regardless of party. As a citizen he is hightly respected by all. He has experienced much of the ups and downs of a miner's life, and at this writing (1890) is interested in quartz mining.