Sacramento County
Biographies
JAMES RUTTER
A study of the lives and activities of
the pioneers of Sacramento county discloses no name more
worthy of honorable mention than that of the late James Rutter,
who was identified with California as a permanent resident from the year 1852 until his
death. An early acquired knowledge of the trade of carpentry proved
helpful to him after he left his native country and crossed the ocean to the United States, for this occupation and kindred pursuits enabled him to
be self-supporting from the first. Notwithstanding the fact that he had
reached an age justifying his complete retirement from all business cares and
the further fact that he had accumulated a competency through his arduous
undertaking in the past, he continued to the last actively interested in all
life's activities, personally overseeing his varied enterprises and showing the
same persevering energy characteristic of him during earlier years.
Descending from a long line of
Anglo-Saxon ancestors, and himself a native of Cornwall, England, James Rutter was born August 15, 1827, and received such advantages as English free schools
afforded. As he came toward manhood and studied conditions at home he saw
no prospects for the future, and the depressing conditions of labor in his
native land led him to seek the better opportunities of the new world, where he
landed in New York City, May 15, 1849. It was not his intention to remain
in the eastern metropolis, and he soon took his way westward to Buffalo. There he boarded a lake vessel bound for Chicago. On his arrival in that then insignificant city he
found conditions unattractive and the demand for workmen small, so he proceeded
to St. Louis, where he found temporary employment. Next he filled
a position in Quincy, Ill., and from there removed to Galena in 1851. The following year he came across the
plains by ox-teams, accompanied by his young wife (this being their bridal
tour), the trip consuming the entire summer, but fortunately bringing no
accidents or disasters. In October, 1851, he was married in Galena, Ill., to Miss Thomasine Penberthy, a native of Cornwall, England. She was reared in England and when eighteen years old, in 1848, came with her
parents to Galena, Ill. Of this union three children were born, only one of
whom is living. She is Agnes E., the wife of L. M. Landsborough
of Florin. They have five children: Thomas R., Leonard
B., Amy L. (Mrs. McCraney), William Lloyd, and
Georgia I.
For a period of six years after his
arrival in California and his taking up of active labors Mr. Rutter
followed the carpenter trade in the city of Sacramento. During 1858 he removed to Florin, a
small village southeast of the capital city, and here he made his home until
his death, meanwhile becoming the owner of one hundred and eighty acres of
valuable land and improved a homestead attractive in appearance and productive
in returns. To him belongs the distinction of having planted the first
vineyard in Sacramento county. He further has the
distinction of having shipped the first raisins out of the county and sent the
first grapes to the eastern markets. Years ago, when methods of
irrigation were crude, he put in the first pump-plant in the entire state and
this same undertaking, which was watched by the citizens with considerable
skepticism, proving so satisfactory that others soon followed his
example. In making new departures in agriculture or horticulture he
indeed proved a pioneer. Fond of experimenting, he made a special study
in early days of the soil, the climate and the crops best suited thereto.
Some of his experiments cost him considerable sums and yet proved
impracticable, but so many of them were successful that in the end he reaped
large returns from his new undertakings. Nor was the work helpful to himself alone, other pioneers, studying his methods,
imitated his plan of cultivation and found in him an authority concerning
horticultural subjects. thus he acquired
prominence unsought. In his desire to promote the welfare of the country
he gave freely of time, means and influence, and in his declining days he
reached the rich reward of years of self-sacrifice and intelligent endeavor.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 556-557.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sally Kaleta.