Butte County
Biographies
JOHN FAWCETT
JOHN FAWCETT.—Now
a prosperous orchardist of Butte County, John Fawcett, is an example of what
can be done by hard work and energy rightly expended, together with a
reasonable economy. Starting in life entirely on his own resources, he has with
his own hands carved out a competency and he and his good wife now live in
comfort, in the enjoyment of a well earned rest from further striving. Born
near Kingston, Ontario, Canada, John Fawcett is a son of William and Mary (Orr)
Fawcett. The father was a native of New York; the mother, of Belfast, Ireland.
They were married in Ontario and were farmer folk there, and the parents of
eight children, seven of whom are living. John, the eldest in the family, was
reared on the farm in Ontario and educated in the public schools there. When he
was fourteen, the family moved to Owens Sound, Ontario, on a farm and the
father died there that same year. Left altogether on his own resources, John
Fawcett from that time on had to make his own way in life. He traveled, working
in different places, and when twenty, went to Manitoba; here he worked at
surveying with the service corps on the Dominion Land Survey for seven summers.
He later took up a homestead at Rapid City, improved the land and then sold it.
He married, in Winnipeg, Miss Ruth Bundy, born in London, England, a daughter
of Robert and Caroline Bundy. She came with her parents to Toronto, Canada, and
finally to Winnipeg, where the parents’ death occurred.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett
came to California, in 1891, and first located near Fresno, where they
purchased a ranch of twenty acres, cultivating orchard and vineyards. This
property they later sold and moved into Fresno, afterwards buying another
ranch, of ten acres, improved this property and
disposed of it, and then removed to Spokane, Wash., and there followed farming
and vegetable raising for four years. California was
their choice for a home, however, and they came back to the Golden State, and
after investigating different localities, decided that Butte County had the
best land and surroundings to offer, and they then took up their residence in
Chico, in the beautiful valley of the Sacramento. They first purchased ten
acres of the Bidwell Tract Number Seven, paying a purchase price of seventy
dollars per acre. This property Mr. Fawcett improved, set out in orchards,
and later purchased five acres adjoining, in Bidwell Tract Number Six; he set
this acreage out to orchards also, and now has the property in full-bearing
prune, almond and peach orchards, in thriving condition, with
exceptionally large trees, one of his almond trees being four feet in
circumference, a record, even for this fertile valley. He has a dry yard in
conjunction with his orchards, and derives a good income from his holdings,
enabling them to enjoy life in their beautiful surroundings, with a touring car
to add to their comfort and pleasure. Three children have been born to
Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett, as follows: Ethel, Mrs. Samuelson, of
Taft; Laura, Mrs. H. H. Connor, of Sacramento; and Walter,
residing in Taft. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett are members of the Christian
Church and have made many loyal friends in the community. In politics,
Mr. Fawcett is a Republican.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
02 November 2009.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1288-1289, Historic Record Co, Los
Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies