Michael Fagan

     Michael Fagan is a pioneer of California and of Ventura County. He was born in Pennsylvania, August 26, 1840, the son of John and Annie (Dinnell) Fagan. The father was born in Dublin, Ireland, and emigrated to Canada when a boy. Michael Fagan is one of a family of nine children, five of whom are now living. After living in Illinois nine years he came across the plains with ox teams to California, arriving August 13, 1852, and he was reared and received his education in Calaveras Country, California. Hie mother died in 1851, and his father in November 1852. He spent the years 1852-'53-'54 in mining, and when he was eighteen years of age he had about $11,000. Then for a time he was engaged in stock-raising. In 1862 he went to Arora, where he was interested in quartz-mining. About that time he met with reverses and lost nearly all that he had made. In 1863 he engaged in farming in San Joaquin County, in partnership with his brother. They sowed 1,000 acres in wheat, and, the season being dry, the crop was a failure. In March, 1864, Mr. Fagan sailed for Mexico, where he engaged in cotton-raising, and the last six months of his stay there he was in a store. He sold out, prospected a year in Arizona, with but little success, returned to California and settled in Stanislaus County, where he purchased 640 acres of land at Dry Creek. Two years later he again sold out, went to San Joaquin, engaged in the meat business with his brother, and after remaining there a year, disposed of his interest in the meat market, in 1869, and came to Ventura.  Here, for four years, he was engaged in sheep=raising, having as high as 3,500 head of sheep at one time, and a part of the time being in partnership with Mr. Snodgrass. He traded the last of his sheep for property in Ventura, and during the boom sold it and bought 100 acres of land in the vicinity of Saticoy. He planted the first orchard there, improved his property, and, in 1884, sold it for $75 per acre. He then bought his present ranch, 740 acres, and erected his pleasant home in a most picturesque spot. The property is principally a stock-farm, is fenced in two fields, and an abundance of water is supplied for stock from a sulphur spring on the place, the water being brought in pipes. Mr. Fagan has some fine Durham cattle. His property being located so near Santa Paula, he pastures a great many horses for other people. In addition to other improvements made, Mr. Fagan has planted a large variety of fruit trees, principally for home use.

     He was married, April 9, 1879, to Miss Hattie Tillotson, a native of New York. They have five children, all born in Ventura County, namely: Frank D., Cora May, Ettie Bell, Walter Miller, and Marion Morris. The children are all at home with their parents and attend school in Santa Paula.  Mr. Fagan is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and votes the Democratic ticket.

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