Yolo County
Biographies
J. W. GAFFORD
proprietor of the Gafford Hotel, at Davisville, California, was born June 30, 1834, in Pike County, Missouri, a son of William C. and Nancy G. (Clempson) Gafford, father a native of Virginia and mother of North Carolina. The father was a mechanic and moved from his native place in Virginia to Pike County, Missouri, where he lived about three years, then moved to Randolph County, Missouri, where he lived until 1864, when he came to California, across the plains, with his family, excepting two of the children who had come previously. On arriving in this State he located first at Michigan Bar, and afterward at Santa Cruz, and then returned to El Dorado County, where he died in 1872, at the age of eighty-two years. Mr. J. W. Gafford came to this State in 1850, when he was fifteen years old, and at once began work in the mines in different localities, with moderate success, until 1866. He was then engaged at various employments until 1874, when he went to Davisville and built a large and commodious hotel on Main street. Mr. Gafford is a genial landlord, knowing well how to conduct his well-furnished house in a faithful manner. He is a member of Yolo Lodge, No. 169, I.O.O.F., and also of the K. of P.
He was married in 1871, to Miss Hannah J. Benjamin, a native of Canada, and of their four children three are living.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
T. F. DOPKING
a farmer near Woodland, is a son of D. and Hannah (Daniels) Dopking. His father, a native of New York State, came to California in 1863, with two brothers, Joseph and Ira, and his mother is a native of Canada. He was born six miles east of Buffalo, and was but one year old when his parents moved with him to Canada. At the age of thirteen years he went to Van Buren County, Michigan, and in 1850 came across the plains and mountains to California, with one of his neighbors. He started without a cent of money, and worked his way through. Going to the mines, he was satisfied with fair success, remaining there until 1863. In 1860 he purchased a ranch of 240 acres about two miles east of Woodland, and settled upon it in 1863, when he quit mining. He has been improving a portion of this ranch, of which he now owns sixty-five acres, in good condition.
February 20, 1871, in Capay Valley, on Cache Creek, Mr. Dopking married Miss Mary E. Evert, a native of Iowa, who died in February, 1875. For his present wife he married Mrs. Ann Barnhart, in Woodland, December 5, 1875. She is a daughter of Jonathan and ------ (Buttolph) Pierce. Her father is a native of New York State and her mother of Massachusetts. They have living with them a grandchild, named George Hopkins.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
J. S. CLEVENGER
a retired farmer of Woodland, was born April 12, 1830, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Star) Clevenger. The father, a blacksmith by trade, but a farmer mostly by occupation, moved in 1832 to Morrow County, Ohio, and in 1854 to Page County, Iowa, where he lived seven years, and next to a point near Erie, Neosha County, Kansas, where he remained until his death. The subject of this notice was brought up on a farm in Ohio, and when eighteen years of age he started out in the world for himself, learning the carpenter and joiner’s trade, in Morrow County, Ohio, and followed the same until he came to California, in 1863. He crossed the plains with a horse team, arriving in August. He took up a claim in Yolo County, on Willow Slough, which he improved and converted into one of the best farms in the county. After residing there twenty years he sold it and moved to Woodland, where he now resides, on Elm street, where he has built a good residence. He purchased another farm, which he afterward sold. He has done considerable work at his trade, at intervals. He is an energetic and busy man, and has done his share in the development of the interests of Yolo County, and even his children exhibit the same faculty.
He was married March 11, 1856 to Miss Victoria J. Martin, in Clarinda, Page County, Iowa, a native of North Carolina, born December 27, 1837, and they have five children, two of whom are living, F. N. and O. E. The former is at present a school-teacher in Yolo County and studying law. He was born in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California, October 11, 1864. O. E. was born in Yolo County, February 17, 1870; he is at present in the wood and feed business.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler