Butte County
Biographies
JOHN POPE
JOHN POPE.—A resident of the Sacramento Valley since 1871, John
Pope, now a highly respected citizen of Butte County, has made his influence
felt in agricultural circles, and has won a name and place for himself in the
county of his adoption. Born at Ragoza, Austria,
September 4, 1844, he was a son of John Pope, a machinist and blacksmith by
trade.
The son John was educated in the schools
of his native city, and when quite young went to sea with his uncle, Matt Pope,
from whom he learned to become a full-fledged seaman. At intervals, while at
home, he learned the trades of the blacksmith and machinist under his father,
and thereby became well-equipped to make his own way in the world. On one of
his sea voyages he went to Egypt, after which, in 1866, he became master of a
dredger which was operated by a French company during the construction work at
a port. He remained with this concern three years, after which he made a visit
to his home, and three months later went to Constantinople and took up work in
a machine shop owned by a French concern. Soon afterwards he sailed for Rotterdam, and thence via Liverpool to New York City; and
from there he came direct to California, arriving on January 16, 1871. He worked
in San Francisco, following his trade, until February, 1871, and then went to
Contra Costa County and followed ranching until September, 1872, when he came
to the Sacramento Valley to look for a location where he might secure some
land. He found a claim that suited him on Stony Creek, and took up a preëmption claim of one hundred sixty acres, in Glenn
County, and began making improvements. Two years later, however, he sold out
and went to Vina, where for two years he was engaged
in raising sheep and doing some farming. In 1881, Mr. Pope settled on his
present place, ten miles north of Chico, where he owns
thirty-three acres on the state highway. Ten acres of the tract has been set to
almonds, from which he expects to realize fine yields.
While living at Vina,
Mr. Pope was united in marriage with Mrs. Alta (Earl) Edwards, a native of
Oregon, but reared in California. She was a widow with three children: Josie,
Mrs. Wright, of Montana; Fred E., farming in Tehama County; and Cora, Mrs.
Crooks, of Vina. Through her union with Mr. Pope she
has had two children: Ora, who married Cecil Wright
and lives at Stockton; and Jessie, a graduate of the Corning High School, and
now a student at Chico State Normal. Mr. and Mrs. Pope are liberal,
enterprising and hospitable, and have made many friends in their section of
Butte County.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
16 July 2009.
Source:
"History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1214-1215, Historic Record Co, Los
Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2009 Marie Hassard.
Golden Nugget Library's
Butte County Biographies