Marin County
Biographies
JOHN T. JAMES
JOHN T. JAMES, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Niagara county, New York, March 14, 1834. Here he received his education. He also lived there till he started for California, in 1853, stopping a short time at Peoria, Illinois. He cross the plained in company with Thomas Carruthers and L.W. Walker. He stopped about two or three months on the Sacramento river, when he came to Tomales township and settled on the ranch now owned by A. Woodworth. He was joined by Thomas Carruthers in 1854, and they were well known by all old settlers by their firm name “Tom and Jack.” Mr. James now lives directly south of Tomales, on the bluffs overlooking the town. Married Frances Saph, March 29, 1865. She was born in England April 4, 1837. Alice, Jessie, Harriett, Mary, Carrie, Ida and Edith are their children.
“History of Marin County, California”, Alley, Brown & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, 1880
Transcribed by Betty Wilson, September, 2004.
THOMAS M. JOHNSTON
THOMAS M. JOHNSTON. Was born in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, on September 8, 1833. When quite young his parents moved to Carroll county, Ohio, and in 1847 removed to Van Buren county, Iowa. Here Mr. Johnston was educated. In 1854 he crossed the plains with ox-teams to this State and first settled in Marysville, but only remained about five months; thence to Siskiyou county; then to Shasta and Trinity, and back to Siskiyou. He also moved to British Columbia, and then to Oregon, and returned to Placer county in this State. He sometime afterwards moved to Sonoma county, and from that place to Marin county in 1871, and to his present residence about one year previous to this writing. Married Mary E. Frisbie on May 30, 1876. She was born in Otsego county, New York, on May 16, 1842. She has two children by a former marriage, to wit: Sarah Ella and Mercie Emma. Mr. Johnston has one child, Hattie Catherine.
“History of Marin County, California”, Alley, Brown & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, 1880
Transcribed by Betty Wilson, September, 2004.