James Clair Flood

James Clair Flood (October 25, 1826 – February 21, 1889[1]) was an American businessman who made a fortune from the Comstock Lode in Nevada.

His mining operations are recounted to this day as an outstanding example of what may be done with a rich body of ore and a genius for stock manipulation.

Flood piled up millions as one of the famed "Bonanza Kings" and is considered to have been one of the 100 wealthiest Americans, leaving an enormous fortune.

After some success in the mines, he returned east to marry Mary Emma Leary from County Wexford, Ireland.

The Floods had three children: Mary Emma (1853-1866), Cora Jane "Jennie" (1855-1928), who never married, and James Leary (1857-1926).

[4] In 1857 James C. Flood opened a saloon with partner William S. O'Brien on Washington Street in San Francisco.

Varied interests sought to obtain stock control of the rich properties and there came the inevitable crash in which many were ruined financially.

After producing $133,471,000, the Consolidated Virginia and California mines could not be operated profitably, but in the language of the street, the owners had "caught them coming and going."

The James C. Flood Mansion at 1000 California Street in San Francisco, California. Built in 1886 as a townhouse for James C. Flood, it is the only Nob Hill mansion to structurally survive the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire (its stone walls survived but the interior was gutted). It is owned by the Pacific-Union Club .