Solano County
Biographies
DAVID DEWEY DUTTON
was born in Berkshire county, Mass., in the year 1816, April 4th, where his father was a farmer. In his boyhood he left home and went to Illinois and engaged in farming until the year 1839, when he crossed the plains to Oregon in company with D. G. Johnson, Charles Klein, Peter Lassen, J. Wright, William Wiggins, and others, and there remained one winter, when they sailed for California in the vessel “Lausenne,” and were three weeks in reaching Baker’s Bay, a distance of only ninety miles. On the 3d of July the ship left the mouth of the Columbia River, and after being out thirteen days arrived at Bodega, a harbor then in possession of the Russians. Here a dilemma arose of quite a threatening character. The Mexican Commandant, General Vallejo, sent a squad of soldiers to prevent their landing; however, at this crisis the Russian Governor arrived and ordered them to leave, which they did. The subject of this sketch did not land, but started with the vessel to the Sandwich Islands, where he remained for one year, being employed in the American Consul’s store. From there he next sailed to the Society Islands, staying at Otaheite for about six months, when he left for Valparaiso, in South America. Here he resided for six months and thence to Callao, then went to Pata, a port much frequented by whalers, and, after six months, took passage for Guayaquil in Columbia, South America. Six months after he returned to Valparaiso and there set sail for California, having entered into arrangements to construct a mill in that country for a Mr. Smith. He landed at Bodega, the very port from which he had previously sailed, and starting thence he paid his way by work, after building the mill at port Bodega, until he gained Sutter’s Fort – now Sacramento – where he was employed at his trade of a carpenter. From the Fort he removed to Butte county and commenced farming operations, which he continued for several years in that district, and in 1846 located in Solano county and engaged in stock raising and farming, the lands of which he eventually sold out, but still owns property in the southern part of the State. Mr. Dutton married February 19, 1856, Miss Martha J. Pearson, who was born in 1829, and has children born: Ellat Lovina, born September 1, 1857; Charles Dewey, born September 11, 1860; Wallace Newton, born October 8, 1863; David Willoughby, born August 20, 1866; Cora Belle, born September 7, 1869; Esther Maud, born September 27, 1872; Nina Martha, born April 5, 1876.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 458-459
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ANTONIO MARIA ESQUIVEL
born September 10, 1826, in New Mexico and came to California August 10, 1854, working for wages until 1866, when he commenced the yearly purchase of land as mentioned below: In 1866, 320 acres; 1867, 90 acres; 1868, 680 acres; 1869, 120 acres; 1870, 280 acres; 1872, 1,000 acres; making a total of 2,490 acres, all adapted to grain growing, situated nine miles west of Dixon and five and one-half north of Vacaville. Mr. Esquivel resides on his property.
History of Solano County…. – San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley & Co., East Oakland, pub 1879
pp 459
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler