Butte County
Biographies
JOHN H. TRAYNER
JOHN H. TRAYNER.--The descendant of an honored pioneer family of California, of whom he is a worthy representative, John H. Trayner merits more than passing mention in a volume like this devoted to the history of the early settlers. The identification of the Trayner family with the Golden State antedates the Argonaut of forty-nine, as John Trayner’s father made his first trip to California in 1848. The subject of this sketch was born on May 14, 1859, at Chesterville, Chester County, Pa. His parents were James and Martha M. (Malany) Trayner, both natives of Pennsylvania. They were married in that state in 1856; and in 1860, Mr. Trayner brought his wife and two children, Joseph Ross and John H., then infant sons, to Marysville, Cal. He had previously made a number of trips to California, but the year 1860 saw him permanently settled here.
In early days, James Trayner was one of the largest buyers of grain in the Sacramento Valley. A man of enterprise and business ingenuity, he quickly realized the potential possibilities offered by this country to the man with a vision of its future development, and soon became actively engaged in land operations. Later he was interested in raising grain, hogs and sheep on his sixteen hundred twenty acres, six miles west of Gridley. At one time, in partnership with Andrew Farley, he owned ranch property in Butte County. He bought his residence at the corner of E and Sixth Streets, Marysville, in 1868, which is now owned by John H. His business enterprise was not entirely confined to farming and land speculations, for he owned the Marysville Flour Mill, in partnership with W. T. Ellis, and operated it from 1868 until 1875, when the plant was destroyed by flood, causing a large financial loss. In early pioneer days he was the owner of a number of eight-mule teams, which he used in hauling freight to the mines at Virginia City, Nev. He also hauled wood, for which he received as high as twenty-four dollars per cord. James Trayner was well acquainted with all the pioneer settlers, and contributed his share to the making of California’s early and interesting history. After more than a quarter of a century’s residence in California, the father passed away, in 1887.
John H. Trayner was educated in the Marysville schools. After finishing his school days, he accepted a position in the Wells Fargo and Company Express office, and was also employed as a telegraph operator, at Marysville. In 1879, he worked at mining. Before he settled down to the occupation in which he has achieved such signal success, he was for six years with the hardware store of White, Cooley and Cutts, of Marysville.
In 1886, we find him on his father’s ranch, west of Gridley, Butte County. His father died in 1887, and Mr. Trayner then assumed the responsibility of the ranch, where he remained for eleven years. About 1894 he leased the place and returned to Marysville; but in 1910 he resumed operations at the Gridley ranch. By judicious management, he has added to his holdings, from time to time, until today he is the possessor of nineteen hundred twenty acres of land in one body, extending one and one half miles in one direction and two miles in the other.
At one time Mr. Trayner farmed three different ranches in Butte County, his extensive operations winning for him the distinction of being one of the largest grain-growers in his district. In 1917, he had five hundred acres in barley, which yielded fourteen thousand sacks. He also conducts a modern dairy, of forty-eight Holstein cows, breeding up to high-grade stock, some of which are registered. He also raises the Duroc-Jersey hogs.
Mr.
Trayner ranks among the prominent and most successful
ranchers of Northern California. Having been a resident of the state since he
was but a small child, he has witnessed the wonderful development of this
section in both agriculture and horticulture. Mr. Trayner was married, in
Marysville, in 1889, to Miss Grace Cunningham, born in Marysville, of an old
pioneer family; she died in 1901, leaving one child, Gerald B., a student in
Marysville High School.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 1/15/08.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, 618-619, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Vicky
Walker.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies