Sacramento County
Biographies
JOHN DEE
JOHN DEE.--John Dee was born at Hartford, Conn., May 31, 1852. His father, James Dee, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, migrated to Connecticut, where he married Miss Johanna O'Donnell, who was also born in Ireland. They moved westward, in time locating in Chickasaw County, Iowa, having spent some time in Ohio and Wisconsin. They were successful farmers in Iowa, becoming possessors of a 260-acre farm, where they resided until their death. John Dee was the oldest of the five living children, out of seven children born to his parents.
As a boy, John Dee grew up in Connecticut, Ohio, Wisconsin and Iowa, having accompanied his parents on their migration westward. During these years he attended the local schools in the various places in which they resided, and meantime made himself generally useful on the farm. He well remembers how, when a boy, he drove an ox team to a breaking-plow while turning the virgin soil of the prairie in Iowa.
In 1878, Mr. Dee came to San Jose, Cal., where he was employed until 1881, at which time he came to the Sacramento Valley. He was married at Mills Station, Sacramento County, being united with Miss Isabelle Deterding, who was born there, her father, William Deterding, being one of the pioneer farmers of the county. A brief account of his life will be found in the life-history of Mrs. Matilda Stahl, on another page in this volume. Isabelle Deterding attended school in the Kinney district and grew to womanhood on her father's farm at Mills Station. After marriage the young couple engaged in farming on the old Deterding place; becoming owners of one-half of the old place, where they remained until they sold out to the Natomas Company and moved to Sacramento. Mrs. Dee died in 1900. She was a lovable woman, of pleasing personality, who was greatly missed by her family and friends. She left two children: J. W. and Lawrence J., who with their father now own and operate 301 acres at Freeport, where they are engaged in dairying. They have improved the ranch with suitable farm buildings, and have installed an electric pumping plant. They are raising alfalfa and grain, and are making a success of their dairy herd of high-grade Holstein cows. Enterprising and progressive, they are aiding in the development and upbuilding of their community. The sons are both members of the Knights of Columbus. Politically, both they and Mr. Dee are independent of party trammels.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 853. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.