Placer
County
Biographies
JOHN CHISHOLM
One of the most popular and highly
esteemed residents of Placer County is John Chisholm, whose pleasant residence
in Auburn is a favorite resort of his many friends. Long connected with the public service, he
has labored for the benefit of his fellow men and at all times has been loyal
and faithful to his duty. He is now
filling the office of country treasurer, being elected for a second term.
A native of Scotland, John Chisholm
was born on the 8th of December, 1839, in Haddington, and represents
an old Highland family of the clan of Chisholm, of Chisholm. His father, John Chisholm, Sr., was born in
Lauderdale, Scotland, and married Isabell Pride, a native of East Lothian. He devoted his energies to farming and
stockraising, and was not only prominent in business affairs, but also exerted
a strong influence for good by reason of an upright life. He and his wife held membership in the
Presbyterian Church at North Burwick, in which he
served as an elder for forty-two years.
He attained the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away in
the sixty-eighth year of her age. They
were the parents of thirteen children, five of whom are living. All were reared in the faith of the
Presbyterian Church and into their lives were instilled lessons of industry and
honesty which have borne good fruit in later years.
John Chisholm of this review was
reared amid the refining influences of a Christian home and in his native county
acquired a good common school education.
Hoping to benefit his financial condition by immigrating to the United
States, he took passage on the sailing vessel India, which weighed anchor in
the harbor of Glasgow. Very stormy
weather and heavy seas were experienced, and they had a rough voyage, finding
great difficulty in marking the harbor of New York. Mr. Chisholm settled at Carbondale,
Pennsylvania, and after his arrival in this country was converted under Methodist
preaching and joined the church. He was
at once licensed as an exhorter, as he had special ability in that direction,
being a strong and convincing speaker.
He labored earnestly in behalf of the church during the time he was
working in the coal mines, earning his living by the sweat of his brow. His marked ability as a speaker, however, led
the Methodist Conference to ordain him as a minister, and in 1880 he came to
California, connecting himself with the Methodist conference at Petaluma. He has since filled the pastorate of various
churches with great ability, was stationed for three years at Arcata, and three
years at Elk Grove and was then appointed to Auburn, where he preached for four
years. On the expiration of that period
he spent two years in charge of the Methodist Church at Nevada City, but the
health of himself and his wife both failed and he retired from the pastorate
there, returning to Auburn. Soon
afterward he was appointed the chaplain of the state prison at Folsom and
worked in that field for eight years, during which time he did splendid work
among the unfortunate men whose tendency toward crime had led them to forfeit
their liberty. While he is not now
actively connected with the conference, he often fills the pulpit and is an entertaining,
thoughtful speaker whose oratorical powers lend effectiveness to his
utterances. In all his work he is
prompted by earnest Christian charity, deep human sympathy and humanitarian
principles. These qualities bring him
the respect and love of people of all denominations and thus he exercises a
great power for good. He performs more
funeral and marriage ceremonies in this community than any other one minister,
and he never refuses his services for the burial of the dead, no matter how
arduous have been his labors or how small the chance of reward.
Since coming to the United States
Rev. Mr. Chisholm has seen a staunch advocate of American principles and has
entered actively into campaign work on three different occasions, delivering
many able addresses in support of the principles which he believes contain the
best element of good government. In 1894
the party chose him as its candidate for treasurer of the county, and he was
elected and served so satisfactorily for four years that he was again chosen
for the same office, by the very complimentary majority of six hundred and ten,
which was a great increase over his first majority. Over the record of his official career there
falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
In 1867 the Rev. Mr. Chisholm was
married to Miss Johanna Polson, a native of Scotland and a daughter of Donald
Polson, a prominent Scotch merchant.
They were married in London, England, and had three children ere his immigration to America. Mr. Chisholm came first to this country, and
in 1872 sent for his wife to join him.
She is still his devoted helpmate and has been to him a faithful
companion on life’s journey, sharing with him in the joys and sorrows that
checker the lives of all. He is a member
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which he became identified in
Pennsylvania, and through the intervening years has been one of its active
workers and exemplary representatives, manifesting in his life the tenets of
that charitable order. He also belongs
to the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic fraternity, and has
long been a chaplain in the craft. He
and his wife hold membership in the Order of the Eastern Star, and in many
official positions in these societies he has discharged his duties in a creditable
and able manner, reflecting honor upon the organization.
Mr. and Mrs. Chisholm have a
delightful residence in Auburn, standing in the midst of pleasant grounds, and
they take great delight in cultivating beautiful flowers and in adorning their
place with the arts of the landscape gardener.
They have a host of warm friends, and their social qualities and
sterling worth render them popular and highly esteemed residents of the
community. As has been truly remarked,
after all that may be done for man in the way of giving him early opportunities
for obtaining the requirements which are sought in the schools and in books, he
must essentially formulate, determine and give shape to his own character; and
this is what Mr. Chisholm has done. His
life is exemplary in all respects, and he has ever supported those interests
which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral
worth is deserving of the highest commendation.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 218-220. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.