Kings County
Biographies
JEFF JOHNSON
a rancher east of Lemoore, was born in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1837. His father died when he was but four years of age, after which he lived with his mother until the age of twelve years, when he struck out in life to gain his own support. He worked for wages upon farms in Indiana until 1859, when he came to California. Joining a company of twelve men and six wagons they crossed the plains and landed at Placerville, after an uneventful trip of about six months. He then began mining on the middle fork of the American river, but after an unsuccessful year he went to Oregon and engaged in lumbering. In 1868, he returned to the East, making the trip by water and the Isthmus; he began farming in Illinois and in different localities in Iowa and Missouri; in 1883 he returned to California and settled in Fresno. The last time Mr. Johnson crossed the plains he was accompanied only by his family. The journey was made in a wagon with a single span of horses, and consumed five months and one day. He purchased forty acres near town, and also rented about 400 acres outside, and followed grain farming until 1888, when he sold out and purchased his present ranch of forty acres near Lemoore. He has a small orchard and thirty acres in vines, and now devotes his time to his vineyard interests.
He was married in Bureau County, Illinois, in 1873, to Miss Emeline Hartley, a native of Illinois, and of this union have been born four children: May, Essie, Warren and Viola. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Farmers’ Alliance, and through the influences of the order expects greater protection to farming interests.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p. 770
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
GEORGE W. COTTON
a California pioneer of 1850, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1839, the youngest in a family of eight children. In 1843 his father started with his family to Illinois, but died on the journey. The family continued and settled at Pittsfield, Pike County, Illinois, where our subject received a limited education, and also worked on a brick yard. In 1849, accompanied by two brothers, he started for California with an ox team, in a company of thirty wagons. The trip was saddened by the death of one of the brothers, who was buried in the Black Hills. The company then continued on their journey, and arrived at Placerville in September, 1850. Though but seventeen years of age, our subject began mining at Rattlesnake Bar, on the American river, and followed that occupation through the chief districts of California and Nevada for a period of twelve years. He and his partner, “Jim” Brown, discovered the Indian diggings, which became celebrated for their rich prospects. In the early days of the diggings our subject and his partner were confined twelve hours in a hollow tree fighting the Indians, who were very hostile at that time. In 1862 Mr. Cotton gave up mining and went to Stockton, and engaged in draying for eighteen months. Then, going to Woodland, he followed ranching for a number of years, working 400 acres of land. Subsequently he moved to the O’Farrell Redwoods in Sonoma County, where he was engaged in a saw-mill, ranching, teaming and in the dairy business in different localities. In 1874 he came to Tulare County and settled at Jonesa, six miles northeast of Hanford. Purchasing 160 acres of land form the railroad company, he began farming, and was also appointed postmaster of Jonesa, which position he had for three years, or until the office was abolished by the organization of the town of Hanford. He continued farming until the fall of 1887, when he sold out and bought forty acres three miles west of Hanford. He then built his cottage home, and began improving his ranch by setting out twenty acres in vines and trees and sowing the remainder to alfalfa.
Mr. Cotton was married in Woodland, in 1866, to Miss Sarah Fowler, a native of Indiana. In April, 1889, she was called to the next world, and in August, 1890, he was again married, to Miss Ella Heath, a native of Maine. Mr. Cotton is a member of the A.O.U.W., the Good Templars and the Farmers’ Alliance.
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 p.
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler