Sacramento County
Biographies
JOSEPH
GRONDONA
JOSEPH GRONDONA was born in Italy, September 6, 1819, and came direct to California in 1852, by way of New York and the Isthmus, walking across the latter, and landing at San Francisco in February, 1853. He first followed mining at Angel’s Camp in Calaveras County, and then in Bear Valley, Mariposa, remaining there five years. Returning East, he was in Boston six months. Coming again to the coast by steamer, he went to the Bear Valley mines, where he remained two years, but not with much success. In December, 1861, he went to San Francisco and then came to this county and rented a small piece of land two miles south of Sacramento, of Samuel Lardner, for five years; afterward he bought more land of Mr. Lardner, making sixteen acres. He now has fifteen acres in orchard, and five acres in hops. This place was a swamp when he took possession of it, but he has made it a “garden of Eden.” It is now about a half mile from the city limits, and near the levee road. The land is of the finest quality, and one can raise anything upon it any time of the year, as it is irrigated from the river, and able also to stand any amount of wet weather. The house is picturesquely situated in a grove of sycamore and eucalyptus, and fine fruit trees grace the surroundings. From the house the steamers are seen daily on the river. Mr. Grondona is still in good health and active, speaks good English, and is glad to spend the remainder of his life in this golden State. He was married in Italy, September 8, 1844, to Maria Pendola, and they have five sons and one daughter, Kate, in Italy, born September 14, 1845; Nicholas, born in Italy, April 13, 1850; John, in Boston, November 17, 1852; Charles born in California, October 24, 1863; Frank, June 14, 1865, and Domingo, March 30, 1868, all of whom are living.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of
Sacramento County, California. Page 644. Lewis
Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2007 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.