Andrew Cassidy
Encyclopedia
Andrew Cassidy was an early settler of San Diego, California
, Ireland
and came to America in 1834 when 17.
For three years he and was in the Engineering Corps at West Point, under General George B. McClellan. He then went to Washington, D. C. to work for the Coast Survey Office, under Professor Alexander Bache. About a year later, he was sent to the Pacific Coast as part of a party under Lieutenant William Trowbridge, U. S. Engineers. They reached San Francisco in July, 1853, and a month later came to San Diego, where they built a self-recording tidal gauge station at La Playa in September and left Cassidy in charge. He remained in charge of the tidal gauge and weather observations for seventeen years. He also collected specimens for the Smithsonian Institution
.
This gauge recorded a tsunami
from Japan
in December 1854 and a local earthquake
on July 1854. This gate is believed to be the earliest recorded earthquake.
In 1863 Cassidy married his first wife Rosa Serrano, daughter of José Antonio Serrano and Rafaela Nieves Aquilar. Rosa was only 15 at the time, and she died a few years later, on February 11, 1870. She is buried at El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town San Diego. Around the time of his marriage, he acquired Rancho Pauma in San Luis Rey from his father-in-law.
Cassidy's second wife was Mary Providencia Smith, daughter of Albert B. Smith and Guadalupe Machado Wilder de Smith. She was born 1858 and died of cholera September 16, 1878. They had one daughter, Mary Winifred.
In 1864, Mr. Cassidy bought Rancho Soledad, containing 1000 acres (4 km²), in present Sorrento Valley, San Diego. He raised live stock there until 1887 when he sold the property. This and other property made him prosperous.
Cassidy has held several public offices and was a member of the Democratic Party. He was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs in 1860.
Kurtz was president of the San Diego Board of Trustees during 1865–1867, when San Diego did not have a Mayoral form of government.
During 1871–1875, he was member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. He was also a member of the Board of Public Works.
Cassidy died from "senile debility" in 1907.
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
Biography
Cassidy was born in County CavanCounty Cavan
County Cavan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Cavan. Cavan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and came to America in 1834 when 17.
For three years he and was in the Engineering Corps at West Point, under General George B. McClellan. He then went to Washington, D. C. to work for the Coast Survey Office, under Professor Alexander Bache. About a year later, he was sent to the Pacific Coast as part of a party under Lieutenant William Trowbridge, U. S. Engineers. They reached San Francisco in July, 1853, and a month later came to San Diego, where they built a self-recording tidal gauge station at La Playa in September and left Cassidy in charge. He remained in charge of the tidal gauge and weather observations for seventeen years. He also collected specimens for the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
.
This gauge recorded a tsunami
Tsunami
A tsunami is a series of water waves caused by the displacement of a large volume of a body of water, typically an ocean or a large lake...
from Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in December 1854 and a local earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
on July 1854. This gate is believed to be the earliest recorded earthquake.
In 1863 Cassidy married his first wife Rosa Serrano, daughter of José Antonio Serrano and Rafaela Nieves Aquilar. Rosa was only 15 at the time, and she died a few years later, on February 11, 1870. She is buried at El Campo Santo Cemetery in Old Town San Diego. Around the time of his marriage, he acquired Rancho Pauma in San Luis Rey from his father-in-law.
Cassidy's second wife was Mary Providencia Smith, daughter of Albert B. Smith and Guadalupe Machado Wilder de Smith. She was born 1858 and died of cholera September 16, 1878. They had one daughter, Mary Winifred.
In 1864, Mr. Cassidy bought Rancho Soledad, containing 1000 acres (4 km²), in present Sorrento Valley, San Diego. He raised live stock there until 1887 when he sold the property. This and other property made him prosperous.
Cassidy has held several public offices and was a member of the Democratic Party. He was appointed Deputy Collector of Customs in 1860.
Kurtz was president of the San Diego Board of Trustees during 1865–1867, when San Diego did not have a Mayoral form of government.
During 1871–1875, he was member of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors. He was also a member of the Board of Public Works.
Cassidy died from "senile debility" in 1907.