Butte County
Biographies
JOHN HARRIGER
When thousands were drawn to California in the years 1856, among the hardy and venturesome Argonauts who braved the dangers of the deep and boarded the vessels that were plying the waters to Panama on the Atlantic, and those running between Panama and San Francisco on the Pacific, was John Harriger, who first saw the light of day in Clarion County, Pa., in 1831. He was a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Smathers) Harriger, who were both born in the Keystone State. John Harriger lived at home, attended the public school, and worked on the home farm until he was about twenty-five years old. He then made up his mind to come to California, as he had heard glowing reports of the favorable conditions in the state, from some of those who had been here and returned to their Eastern homes. In 1856, therefore, he bade good-bye to his relatives, and going to New York, embarked in the steamer George Law; and after he had crossed the Isthmus he again took passage on the Golden Age, and in due time was landed in San Francisco. In crossing the Isthmus the train on which he was a passenger was wrecked, and fifty-six passengers were killed and three hundred wounded; but fortunately Mr. Harriger escaped injury by crawling out the broken side of the car. After his arrival in the Western metropolis, he soon proceeded to Marysville, glad to get away from San Francisco; for on the day of his arrival, Corey and Casey were hung, and he saw the hanging. On reaching Marysville, Mr. Harriger hired out to work on a ranch; and later he went to Oroville and engaged in mining for a while. In the fall of 1863, he bought a claim of two hundred acres, and also preempted one hundred sixty acres. This land he farmed, raising grain and stock. He bought the Andrew Savage place of one hundred sixty acres, and in all had four hundred sixty-seven acres. He became a prominent man in his locality; and when he died on the old home place, five miles east of Gridley, on July 25, 1915, he was mourned by a large concourse of friends.
In 1863 Mr. Harriger was married to Alice Chester, in Butte County. She died in 1878, leaving six children: John Franklin, of Central House; Mrs. Sara E. Launtz, also living at Central House; George W., of Orland; Elizabeth J., now deceased; Mrs. Lillian M. Jones; and Mrs. Mary C. Mattoon, also of Central House. Mr. Harriger was friend of education. He helped to organize the schools in his section of the county, and served as a trustee of Central House school district for many years.
John Franklin Harriger, the oldest child of the family, was born on the home ranch on July 1, 1864, and attended the public schools and the Sacramento Business College, where he was graduated. He farmed with his father until 1893, and then moved to Gridley, where he engaged in raising fine horses and mules, continuing thus for twelve years, and doing much towards bringing the breed of horses to a higher grade and standard throughout his part of the county. One of his stallions was Black Oak, an English shire. In 1905, Mr. Harriger returned to the home ranch, where he has since made his home. He has embarked in the dairy business, which a herd of high-grade registered Durham cattle, and has a pure-bred Shorthorn bull at the head of his herd. Besides one hundred fifty acres of the home place, he leases additional land, farming to grain, and also specializing in fine blooded Poland-China hogs. By giving his undivided attention to the various branches of agriculture, he has made a success of his farming operations.
John Franklin Harriger was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Levina Tescher, born in Gridley, a daughter of the pioneer Matthew Tescher. Two children have blessed this union, John Leonard, who is at home; and Mrs. Alice Simmonds, of Honcut.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1026-1029, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Joyce Rugeroni.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies