Born: November 3, 1842 in Adelaide, South Australia.
Married: October 13, 1868 in San Francisco, California, USA to Christina Dern by Justice Oscar T. Shuck.
Died: March 4, 1920 in San Francisco, California, USA.
John Slinkey was born in South Australia as Johann Emil Schlinke. His parents were part of a community of Germans who had left Europe in the late 1830s in search of more religious freedom. His father, Johann Daniel Schlinke, was a confectioner until reaching a certain level of prosperity as a miller. His mother, Bertha (Teusler) Schlinke, died at just 30 years old when John was ten. His father remarried two years later and John seems to have been relatively close to the half-siblings that resulted from this marriage.
Here are the bits and pieces of information that tell us about John Slinkey's interesting life.
1857 - 1860
Johann Emil Schlinke attended St. Peter's College in South Australia, according to the archivist there. Emil seems to have left during the course of the year in 1860. (Letter from Robert Fisher, 2 December 2008.)
1862
My great-great grandfather may have been a pretty good cricket player in South Australia. I have found reference to a "J.E. Schlinke" near Adelaide who played for the West Norwood club. (Fifty Years' History of the Town of Kensington and Norwood, 1903, page 229, 230)
1866
March 7, 1866: A young John Emil Schlinke has his first recorded problems with the law, and decides to skip town, heck, skip the whole country:
"A Missing Defaulter—We understand that John Emil Schlinke, a young man of about twenty-three years of age, who has been for some time in the employment of Messrs. Francis Clark and Sons, and who is also well known to the cricketers of the colony, has absconded, leaving a considerable amount of debts behind him. Upon investigation of his accounts, it was found that he had embezzled three or four amounts which had passed into his hands during the preceding week, and Messrs. Clark and Sons immediately placed themselves in communication with Mr. Otto Berliner, formerly of the Victorian detective force, and now manager of the Private Enquiry Office in Melbourne. He succeeded in tracing the fugitive, and a warrant was yesterday issued for his apprehension; but before the needful authority could be forwarded he had sailed for San Francisco in the barque Anna, under the assumed name of Saunders." (Adelaide Observer, 17 March 1866, reprinted in the The Brisbane Courier, Saturday, March 31, 1866, page 6, column 7.)
1867
May 8, 1867: An early morning fire destroys a number of buildings on San Francisco's Second Street between Market and Mission streets, including "a book and periodical store, kept by a German, who has recently arrived in this country. [...] The bookstore...was owned by a man named Schlinke, and was insured for $750 in the Home Mutual, which will about cover the loss." (Daily Evening Bulletin, May 8, 1867, page 3, column 3.)
September 7, 1867: Schlinke, J. E. listed in the San Francisco Daily Morning Call as owing $9.70 in delinquent taxes in San Francisco.
September 1867: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1867-1868 as "Schlinke, John E., news depot, 35 Second St. (and J.B. Cone & Co.) dwl. 52 Minna" Likely the listing was created before the May fire?
1868
Running from the law, becoming a father, and getting married... all in one action-packed year? Read more!
1869
December 1869: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1869-1870 as "Slinkey, John E. (Regan & Corbett), dwl 783 Market. Wife there as well: "Slinkey, C. Mrs, furnished rooms, 783 Market"
1870
I've searched the U.S. census up and down and all over in Ward 10 where 783 Market Street should be listed. Can't find my Slinkey family anywhere... On vacation in Australia? Elsewhere?
1871
April 1871: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1871 as "Slinkey, John E., real estate agent, dwl 783 Market; Slinkey JE, Mrs., furnished rooms, 783 Market"
August 11, 1871: J.E. Slinkey naturalized in San Francisco as a U.S. citizen in California's 15th district court. The original record seems not to exist, but this information has survived in indexes. Listed as living at 783 Market street.
1872
March 1872: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1872 as "Slinkey, J.E., furnished rooms, 783 Market St."
October 1, 1872: Great Register of San Francisco lists "Voting No.: 32648. Registered No.: 45253. Schlinke, John Emil. Age: 29. Nativity: Australia. Occupation: Lod'g House. Local Residence: 783 Market. Ward: 10. Naturalized: 8/11/71, Cal. 15th District. Date of Registration: 8/21/71."
1873
Either early in this year or late in 1872 Slinkey moves his business to Sacramento street and the "Overland House".
March 1873: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1873-1874 as "Slinkey, John E., proprietor Overland House, 531 and 533 Sacramento."
1874
April 1874: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1874 as "Slinkey, J.E., proprietor Overland House, 531 and 533 Sacramento, and branch of Overland House, 519 Sacramento."
July 23, 1874: "San Francisco, July 23. J.E. Slinkey was arrested to-night for grand larceny, and Edward Earell for assault on E. Reinhardt. Slinkey was released on bail." (Nevada State Journal, Washoe County, Nevada. July 24, 1874, page 2 (?), col. 4.)
1875
Listed in Bishop's San Francisco directory (no month for publication date) as "Slinkey, J.E., proprietor, Overland House, 531 Sacramento, and Bon Ton Saloon, California Theatre Building, Bush nr. Kearney; residence Overland House."
1876
July 21, 1876: A large auction of all of J.E. Slinkey's holdings and properties to pay off creditors is advertised. (Daily Alta California, page 3, column 4.)
1877
March 1877: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1877-1878 as "Slinkey, J.E., liquor saloon, 514 Bush, and manager, Overland House, 533 Sacramento."
1878
February 1878: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory for 1878-1879 as "Slinkey, J.E. & Co. (Carl Lutz), proprietors Overland House, 533 Sacramento."
August 13, 1878: John Slinkey's father, Johann Daniel Schlinke, dies in Tanunda, South Australia.
August 17, 1878: Benicia Chronicle, Vol. 1, No. 36, pg. 3, col.1: "Overland House - This centrally located establishment is situated on Sacramento street, near Montgomery, and is one of the most comfortable houses in the city. J.E. Slinkey, the proprietor, will be found to be one of the most congenial and accommodating landlords in the Bay City. Give him a call."
August 29, 1878: John Slinkey receives in his father's will (written August 1875) "...the sum of One Pound Sterling as a payment in full for all his just claims and demands to my real and personal estate he having already received an ample share during my life time..."
1879
Listed in San Francisco directory as "Slinkey, J.E., proprietor Overland House 531-533 Sacramento."
April 5, 1879: Slinkey's purchase of Cremorne Gardens in Martinez is mentioned in the San Francisco News Letter and California Advertiser, page 7. See the businesses page for complete text.
April 13, 1879: According to the San Francisco News Letter and California Advertiser, page 6 the Cremorne Gardens opens for business. See the businesses page for complete text.
1880
January 28, 1880: "Born to the wife of JE Slinkey (late of the Overland House), a daughter." (San Francisco Call, January 30, 1880. Since we never hear of this daughter again and she doesn't appear with the family in the census taken a few months later, we assume she dies in infancy.)
April 1880: Listed in Langley's San Francisco Directory as "Slinkey, John E., proprietor Overland House, 531 & 533 Sacramento, and Cremorne Gardens, Martinez. r. 533 Sacramento"
June 2, 1880: Enumerated in the 1880 U.S. Census in Martinez, Contra Costa County, California: "Slinkey, John, White, Male, 37 years old, Head, Married, Occupation: Has Picnic Grounds, Born in South Australia. Father born in Germany. Mother born in Germany." Listed with wife Christina, daughter "Lilian", brother Daniel, and boarders E.A. Evans (a music teacher), V. Pichler (another music teacher), Chas. Horner, (a "Show Traveler"), and a 36 year old Irish servant named only "Michael".
1882
May 1, 1882: Opening day of the "El Monte Hotel". The Slinkeys took over the old Clifton Hotel in Sausalito. According to the San Francisco News Letter and California Advertiser of April 29, 1882, page 19: "With his accustomed energy and sagacity, Mr. Slinkey has refurnished and renovated the entire establishment, sparing neither trouble nor expense in making it a first-class Summer resort." See the hotel page for details specific to the operations, advertising, events and renovations while the Slinkeys owned it.
1883
April 1883: Listed in Langley's San Francisco directory as "Slinkey, John Emil, 'El Monte' Saloon, SE cor Kearny & Pine and proprietor 'El Monte' Hotel, Saucelito, r. Saucelito." Brother-in-law John Dern is listed as the bartender at the saloon.
1885
August 5, 1885: Acts as Master of Ceremonies at a party on the ship "Honolulu". Wife and daughter Lillie also attend; music and dancing lasted 'til midnight. (Sausalito News August 6, 1885.)
August 9, 1885: A "Bulls-head breakfast" is hosted on the El Monte Hotel grounds by Slinkey under the auspices of the Society of True Friends. "[It] was in every particular one of the most jovial and successful social occasions ever held in Sausalito. A large canvas-covered 'salle a manager' had been put up adjoining the hotel, with canvas furnished by Captain Mallandaine of the ship Imberhorn, and in this three long rows of tables were set. At about 12 o'clock the steaming hot bulls head had been dug up and taken in charge by three carvers of the occasion, George Davis, A. Barbier and A. Meyer, and the waiter lost no time in serving the 130 members of the Society and invited friends who had taken their seats. A good bull-headed menu was before them Spanish-American bulls head and dressing, with bean side dishes of Sausalito lamb, chicken and hard-boiled eggs, French Claret two apiece and Japanese napkins. The order 'send back your plate empty for more' was cheerfully obeyed and it took several hours of good cheer and speech-making before the participants felt the spirit move them to leave their seats." (Sausalito News, August 13, 1885, page 3, col. 3.)
August 29, 1885: J.E., Christina, Dan, and Lillie Slinkey host a "Domino Party" (masked ball) at the El Monte Hotel: "The initial domino party of Sausalito was held at the 'El Monte' Saturday evening. The dining room was cleared for the dance hall by a committee of arrangements, and the guests were given full possession of it and the parlor for their ball room, and by 9 o'clock the merry dance commenced. A large number of maskers participated and as many more were present as spectators and all equally enjoyed the evening's merriment. A splendid supper was served by Col. Slinkey at 11 o'clock at which time the masks had been removed, and after the pleasures of the festal board on with the dance again." (Sausalito News, September 6, 1885, page 3, col. 2.)