JOHN FRANCIS CHANNON

 

Among the real builders of the community, mention must be made of the retired capitalist, John Francis Channon, who was born in Lockport, Niagara County, N.Y., September 3, 1851, a son of Francis and Charlotte (Harrison) Channon, natives of Exeter, England, and South Wales, respectively.  Mrs. Channon passed away in 1862, and Mr. Channon, with his family, moved to Perry, Shiawassee County, Mich.  Here he cleared 160 acres of forest land in the oak openings and built a home for his children.  In 1874, Francis Channon was married a second time, to Miss Elizabeth Rothney, a native of Montreal, Canada; and the same year, the three children were married.

John F. Channon was united in marriage on November 16, 1874, to Miss Alice L. Locke, who was born in November, 1857, at Hillsdale, Mich., the daughter of George and Harriet (Stewart) Locke.  Mr. Locke, a native of New York, passed away, and Mrs. Locke is now residing with her daughter at Live Oak, at the age of eighty-six years.  Mrs. Channon’s sister, Carrie Locke, married the late Benjamin Hedger, after whom the Hedger district school was named.  Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Channon adopted a daughter, named Addie Merton Channon, now the wife of George Pierce, of San Francisco; and she has two children, Virginia H. and Milan W.

While Mr. Channon was clearing lumber in Michigan in 1879, he told his fellow-workmen that he was going to California in the spring; but they all laughed at him, thinking he was not in earnest.  He had come to this decision on account of the very severe winters they were obliged to go through there.  Accordingly, after he had disposed of everything at an auction sale, on April 25, 1879, he set out for the Golden State.  He had sold his eighty-acre farm to his father.  They arrived in Woodland, Cal., May 8, 1879, and Mr. Channon immediately set out to work in the harvest fields on Cache Creek, Yolo County.  Late in 1879, he and his brother, T. B. Channon, went to Live Oak, Sutter County, and rented the Berg tract, assuming the responsibility of clearing and farming about 5000 acres of land, which they were engaged at for years.  The two brothers continued to work together and purchased a threshing and barley-crusher outfit, spreading their operations from Red Bluff to Stockton, through the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys, and handling large contracts, at which they were busy for over seventeen years.

In the meantime, J. F. Channon built a home at Live Oak and also engaged in various activities.  He employed about 500 Chinamen to clear the wood from the Berg tract, a task which took about fourteen years.  The wood was shipped to Sacramento and Marysville.  Mr. Channon is also interested in the hay business, having warehouses in several valley towns.  He supplied one construction company alone $48,000 worth of hay in two seasons, which necessitated many trips into Oregon and Nevada, where much of the hay was shipped.  He has dealt in this business for approximately thirty-five years, and has seen prices rise and fall on this product.  His investments in real estate have also proven very successful.  He attributes a part of his success to the fact that he never overreaches; in other words, he makes a careful study of the whole proposition before going into it.  Mr. Channon also conducted a meat-market, and sunk the deep well which has since been the source of water supply of the city of Live Oak.  In 1901, he purchased the McGrew home in Live Oak, and has since made this his home.  In 1912, he opened up a tract, and built and sold twenty-eight houses, on the J. F. Channon addition at Live Oak.  He has been a very lenient seller, and has given his customers the best of terms.

In 1884, when he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, the loan for the church was called for, but the funds were not forthcoming; so J. F. Channon paid the mortgage, and by a careful canvass among the other members, everything was subscribed and paid off in full.  According to Mr. Channon’s recollections, in 1879 the town of Live Oak had but three saloons, a large Chinatown, two merchandise stores, two large two-story stables, two churches, and a membership of about 103 in the Good Templar Lodge, of which the late Henry Graves was the leader.

A sturdy Republican, J. F. Channon gives his hearty support to the candidates whom he deems best fitted for office.  During the World War, he helped in the Liberty Loan and other drives, and on the various committees.  Mrs. Channon has always been an active member of the Live Oak Women’s Club, and has ably assisted Mr. Channon in many instances.  Through hard work, strict integrity and honest purpose, Mr. Channon has succeeded in earning a comfortable and substantial livelihood.  He has contributed liberally to many private and public charities, and has done his utmost to make his community a thriving one.

 

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p 634

 

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MRS. BELL JONES and MRS. MARIA JONES

 

Among the pioneer women of Butte [Sutter] County are Mrs. Bell Jones and her sister, Mrs. Maria Jones, who have been continuous residents here since 1870, and who are now residing at Meridian.  Born in Ontario, Canada, July 12, 1843, Mrs. Bell Jones is a daughter of George and Lydia (Franklin) Clark, both natives of Canada, where George Clark was a farmer.  He and his wife were the parents of nine children: Ethan, deceased; Bell, of this review; McDaniel, John, and William, all deceased; Maria, of this review; Erastus, deceased; Jane, residing in Michigan; and Martha, deceased.  George Clark lived to be eighty-six years old, while his wife passed away at the age of sixty-five years.  Mrs. Bell Jones and her sister Maria came to California in 1870, and settled at Meridian.