San Joaquin County
Biographies
FRANCIS MARION BARNETT.
Popular among the most interesting pioneers now enjoying a retired life in California is Francis M. Barnett, of 914 West Poplar Street, Stockton, who was born near Camden, Benton County, Tenn. on May 31, 1840, the son of Bird B. and Martha (Walker) Barnett, the former a native of Tennessee, while the latter was a native of South Carolina. They were of the good old-fashioned type of Americans, being good citizens; good neighbors and good friends; having rested from their earthly labor they have left behind the man enviable record. They were the parents of eight children, six boys and two girls, of whom only two are living, Francis M., the subject of this sketch and F. Joseph, of Fresno. In July, 1849, Bird B. Barnett started across the great plains with an ox team, bringing with him his family, setting out from the Missouri River; he was frequently forced to stop for some time along the route, and so the trip was long and tedious, and they were obliged to winter in Salt Lake City. The next spring they started for California and on Independence Day of 1850 Mr. Barnett led his family into California, coming over the Carson Valley route to Placerville, then called Hangtown. Mr. Barnett opened a hotel nine miles from Coloma, and also used his oxen to haul supplies to the mines.
In the fall of 1851, Mr. Barnett removed to San Joaquin County, where he bought a place on the Calaveras River, and raised hay, which was taken to the mines to feed the stock, during 1851-52-53. During this time he built a residence and barns on the Copperopolis Road, three miles east of Stockton, now the old Marsh place, and lived there until 1855. From the Calaveras ranch they were routed out by Captain Weber, who had the Spanish grant, although Mr. Barnett had paid the former owner; he then moved to Mariposa County. From the latter year, however, he engaged in the stock business and raised cattle and sheep, continuing in that field after he had located in Mariposa County, where he also had a first-class dairy. He drove cattle up and down the valley, and over the mountains to Nevada, and became a large landowner and prominent cattleman of early days, holding title at one time to some 3000 acres of land in Fresno County.
Francis M. Barnett attended the Stockton public schools, and was associated with his father many years in the Valley. When twenty years of age, he became a cowboy and rode the range, making trips over the mountains, driving cattle to Nevada, sometimes crossing the desert eighty miles on a stretch, without water for the stock. He had many interesting experiences, including trouble with the Indians and outlaws.
In 1874, he started in business on his own account, buying a stock ranch of 4000 acres near Oakdale, in Stanislaus County, in the vicinity of Cooperstown. There he engaged in sheep-raising, and later took up the cattle industry. He still owns the ranch, which, however, he rents out for service to others, and to which he fondly reverts in memory, in the days of his comfortable retirement. He likes to look back, also, to the time when he attended the first public school, in Stockton in 1851-52, and he has many other interesting recollections of pioneer days. In 1866 his father built a residence on Union and Channel streets and there the parents made their home for the remainder of their lives..
Mr. Barnett was married at Knights Ferry, May 10, 1881, to Miss Ada F. Parker, a native of Knights Ferry, the daughter of Dominicus Parker, a native of Maine who crossed the uncharted plains as early as the year '49, and thus became one of the Argonauts. He teamed to the mines, and later located in Knights Ferry, where he followed his trade of blacksmith. He died in 1882, survived by his devoted wife, who was Frances Babb before she was married and was also from Maine. They had five children, and two are now living; Ada, Mrs. F. M. Barnett and Mrs. Mary E. Allard, of Stockton. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barnett, and three sons are now living. Hal A. is the junior member of the well-known real estate firm, Hodgkins & Barnett, of Stockton; Sidney B. is secretary of the Stockton Hardware & Implement Company, and Donald C. is purchasing agent of the Harris Manufacturing Company of Stockton. For many years Mr. and Mrs. Barnett have spent their summers at Pacific Grove, where they own a comfortable home. Mr. Barnett has been a member of the Odd Fellows for many Years.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 618
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
JOHN CHATTEN THOMPSON.
Very early in the colonization of America the Thompson family became established among the pioneers of the New World, the first of the name making settlement upon Virginia soil, where he gained notable prosperity. John Thompson, a native of the Old Dominion, grew to manhood on a stock farm, and at an early age acquired a thorough knowledge of the raising of stock. He was given a good education in private schools, and while living in the old home neighborhood he married Mary Adams Williams, a native of Virginia, where for some years they continued to make their home. They were the parents of four children, all of whom were born in Tazewell County, Va. John C., the subject of this review, was the second son. Another son, Hon. Rees B., formerly a member of the legislature of California, died on July 3, 1908. A daughter, Mrs. Eliza Thompson Yerby, died in Los Angeles, and another daughter, Mrs. Sarah L. Thompson Wheeler, made her home at Milton, Calaveras County, Cal., but died in Oakland. Eventually they followed the tide that drifted over the mountains into Kentucky and Missouri, and for six years lived in northwestern Missouri. The discovery of gold called attention to the unknown riches of the Pacific Coast, and John Thompson determined to try his fortune in that country. Having made the necessary preparations and disposed of his possessions in Missouri, during 1852, he and his family crossed the plains and after a fatiguing and eventful journey, during which his wife died in the Big Meadows of the Humboldt Basin, now Nevada, he arrived at his destination.
Seeking a suitable location, John Thompson came to San Joaquin County and selected land near New Hope, where he acquired the title to 500 acres; and here he engaged in raising small grain, and also cattle and horses. After two years he returned to Missouri and married Mrs. Jane Hardesty. He crossed the plains a second time to his California home, bringing again a large drove of cattle. Being a man of tireless energy and wise foresight, he prospered in his undertakings and became one of the leading citizens of his county, where he rendered efficient service as a supervisor and in other ways identified himself with public affairs. Reared a Democrat, and always stanch in his allegiance to that party, he nevertheless favored the Union cause at the time of the Civil War and in 1861, upon being elected to the state legislature, entered the office with the understanding that his support would be given to the Union. During his service he never faltered in his allegiance to the Union, and as a member of various important committees he proved helpful to the welfare of the state and nation. He later was a Douglas Democrat, a believer in states rights, and when the Southern states seceded his sympathies were with them. In no matter, public or private, was his integrity ever questioned. His force of character left its impress upon the early history of the county, where he continued to reside many years. The latter part of his life he spent with his daughter, Mrs. H. C. Yerby, where he died in October, 1886, at the age of eighty-four.
John C. was born in Tazewell County, Va., in January, 1835, and in childhood gained a practical knowledge of the frontier through residence in Missouri, during the pioneer days of that state. It was his good fortune to be the son of an advocate of liberal education, a man who devoted himself to giving his children the best advantages possible to the period. Hence, it was his privilege to receive instruction from a private tutor and later he was a student in Grand River College, Grundy County, Mo. He left school to come to California in 1852, and thereafter devoted his time to work on the home ranch, where he soon gained a thorough knowledge of all kinds of stock. After attaining his majority he began to buy and sell horses and cattle, and prepared cattle for the home markets. In 1861, he formed a partnership with James P. Folger, under the firm name of Thompson & Folger, which partnership was successfully continued until the death of Mr. Folger in 1885, after which the business was incorporated under the name of Thompson & Folger Company. From time to time the company made investments in land, until eventually it acquired holdings of about 3,000 acres, where stock of fine breeds were to be found, and good improvements in the way of buildings were made, with the various accessories which tend to the success of the rancher or lighten his labors. In addition to his stock interests he developed vineyards.
The marriage of Mr. Thompson took place at Ione, in 1863, and united him with Miss Caroline Rutledge, whose parents, John and Nancy (Fulton) Rutledge, migrated from Virginia to California at an early day and settled in San Joaquin County. They were the parents of four children; Edward R., deceased, at one time city attorney of Stockton, and a well-known member of the San Joaquin County bar; Mrs. Richard C. Minor, of Stockton; John H., president of the Stockton Iron Works, and manager of the Thompson & Folger Co., and the John C. Thompson Estate; and Mrs. Edward F. Haas, of San Francisco. Fraternally, Mr. Thompson was a Master Mason, identified with the Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, and was also a member of the Stockton Elks, No. 218. He was one of the founders and a trustee of the Woodbridge College. A number of industries received the benefit of his cooperation and counsel in addition to the ranches with which his name was closely associated; he acted as a member of the state board of managers of the state hospital, held the office of director in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Stockton, and was vice-president and one of the founders of the Bank of Lodi, (now the Lodi National Bank); these various positions indicating his high standing as a man of ability and as a progressive citizen. He passed away on February 20, 1911.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 621
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.