One of the commanding figures of the business life of
Martinez is Judson Edmund Colton. He has made steady progress toward
prominence, and is today largely connected with the manufacturing interests
of the Bay counties of California. He has important financial interests, and
has been and is today in a large measure instrumental in making Martinez
what it is - one of the most flourishing cities on the Pacific Coast. Mr.
Colton is a native son, being born in Sacramento County, April 7, 1863, a
son of Louis Colton, a native of New York State. His mother was a native of
Erie County, Pennsylvania. The parents removed to Illinois, where they
resided for a period of five years. In 1852 Mr. Colton's parents came
overland to California, taking six months to make the trip, and settled in
Sacramento County. The father was a millwright by trade, and erected many of
the quartz-mills in the mountain counties. He operated mills himself, and
later took up ranching, which he followed for twenty years. There were six
children in the parents' family. The subject of this sketch acquired his
education in the public schools of Sacramento. At the age of twenty-three
Mr. Colton came to Contra Costa County and located in the Alhambra Valley,
where he engaged in the growing of grapes and the manufacture of wine. He
has been identified with Martinez for the past twenty years. In 1908 he
erected his present establishment. In his winery he produces one hundred and
fifty thousand gallons of the finest dry wines that can be produced in any
country, and his goods find a ready sale. He owns and operates a fine
fifty-acre vineyard, one-half being devoted to table and the balance to
wine grapes. The Colton winery is the largest independent winery operating
in Contra Costa County. Politically, Mr. Colton is affiliated with the
Republican party, and has always taken a keen interest in matters pertaining
to the beautifying of the county seat. He is desirous of seeing a city park
along the water-front, and is especially interested in a children's
playground and municipal bath-house. It is but natural that he was elected a
member of the town trustees on April 10, 1916, for a two-year term, and on
April 12, 1916, at the regular board meeting, he was chosen mayor. Mr.
Colton was united in marriage to Miss Sadie L. Jones, a native of New York
State, October 16, 1888. To this union there are two children - Hattie, wife
of Fabian Joost, of San Francisco, born September 29, 1889, and Judson
Edmund, Jr., born June 13, 1908. Mr. Colton is a stockholder in the Bank of
Martinez, in the Contra Costa Gas Company, and in the Martinez & Benicia
Ferry Company. In the advancement of his individual success he has
contributed also to the commercial advancement of Martinez, where he makes
his home, and where he is held in high regard by his business associates by
reason of his enterprise, integrity, and sterling personal worth.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California",
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, pp. 522-523.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, September, 2006.
John Duane needs no
introduction to the people of Contra Costa County, for during his years of
residence in Martinez he has become widely and favorably known as a man of
excellent business ability. He was born in Canada on May 23, 1859. His
parents removed to Batavia, New York, when he was but three years of age.
His parents, Patrick and Margaret, were the parents of six boys, John Duane,
the subject of this sketch, came to Contra Costa County in October, 1886. He
received a limited education as he started out in life at the age of twelve
years, and went to work at the nursery business at Batavia, New York, for
Bogue Brothers. He remained here for four years. He then worked two years
for M. Dailey of Batavia, who was in the furniture and undertaking business.
He then returned to the home place and remained several years, and at the
age of twenty-seven he came to Martinez, where he has since resided. He,
with his brother, engaged in the nursery business. They planted many of the
first elms in Martinez. In politics Mr. Duane is registered as a Republican.
He served as town trustee for four years. He was married to Rose Mary
Rogers, a native of California, January 11, 1893. To this union are seven
children - Agnes Mary, born August 27, 1896, a graduate of the Martinez
High School; Rometa Margaret, born February 28, 1897; John Lawrence, born
March 16, 1898; Rose Helena, born February 2, 1900; Clarence Haven, born
November 7, 1903; James Aloysius, born February 10, 1905; Frances Rogers,
born April 2, 1909. Mr. Duane is a member of the W. O. W. The father of Mrs.
Duane came to the coast during the gold excitement in 1849 from Philadelphia
via the Isthmus route. Mr. Duane owns nineteen acres just outside the city
of Martinez, and has it planted to trees and vineyard.
Source: "The History of Contra Costa County, California",
Elms Publ. Co., 1917, p. 523.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, September, 2006.