Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN F.
CROSS
JOHN F. CROSS, farmer, was born in the State of Maine, in Walso County, February 13, 1828; in 1848-’52 he was a carpenter in Massachusetts, and then he embarked on the steamer Old North America for California, and left the Isthmus, on the steamer Winfield Scott, on its first trip. Landing at Sacramento April 1, he engaged to a Mr. Bragg for a month; next he went to Shasta City and built two houses; and then, in company with others, went to rafting timber down the Sacramento River, the first ever sent down this stream. They sold their lumber to the man who built the first saw-mill in Sacramento. Next he was in the employ of the Government at Fort Redding, where he built the first house in the place; Captain Miller was the quartermaster at that time. Returning East, he was married, in March, 1854. The next winter he was again employed by the Government, in Benicia, and in the spring he came to this county, where he has ever since resided. April 1, 1857, he moved into the country six miles from town, where he remained for a year; next was at Mormon Island a year, and finally he settled on the place where he now is. This ranch contains 320 acres; and he also owns 480 acres two and a half miles away, and 310 acres adjoining Orange Vale. Hay and grain are his specialties as an agriculturist. Sarah Jane nee Miss Meservey, Mr. Cross companion in life, was born in Morrill, Maine, March 12, 1835. Joseph Cross, the father of J.F., was born in Exeter, New Hampshire, and died in Morrill, Maine. He brought up twelve children,—all married and having families. Mr. John F. Cross has had six children: Nettie, Alice, Lilian, Francis, deceased, Herbert and Charles.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 696. Lewis Publishing
Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.