JOHN D. TATE

      John D. Tate, a retired capitalist of Sacramento, who for many years has been a resident of the city, was born in York County, Pennsylvania, February 28, 1829, his parents being William and Mary (Longnecker) Tate.  The latter was a daughter of Daniel Longnecker, who lived and died near Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.  The father of our subject was a native of the Keystone state, whence he removed to Ohio when his son John was a little lad of six years.  Taking up his abode in Richland county, he there carried on agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-five years of age.  His wife was born near Gettysburg, and died in the Buckeye state, at the age of sixty years.  Four children were born of their union, two of whom are yet living.

      John D. Tate spent his boyhood days upon the home farm, giving considerable time to the duties and labors of field and meadow, but also enjoyed the sports and games in which boys of that period indulged.  He remained with his father until he had attained his majority and then determined to seek a home and fortune on the Pacific coast, for it was about this time that the discovery of gold in California was attracting to the far west many of the reliable and enterprising young men of the east.  In the spring of 1850 he made preparations for the journey, and on the 4th of May left Philadelphia, arriving at his destination on the 15th of June, following.  He went directly to Nevada City, and there remained for a few months, after which he came to Sacramento.  Here he began dealing in wood and also conducted an extensive ranch until the floods of 1861-2, when he sold his property and has since lived retired.

       In his political views Mr. Tate has been a stalwart Republican since the organization of the party, and in early life he voted with the Whigs.  In 1856 he cast his ballot for John C. Fremont, and has since exercised his right of franchise for the men and measures of the party which stood by the Union in the Civil War and which has ever upheld American institutions.  He frequently attends its conventions and his influence in its councils is marked.  Mr. Tate has reared an adopted daughter Emma, who was married and died at the age of twenty-four years, leaving three children--Minnie Zoe, Amey Zella and Master Harrison--all of whom Mr. Tate has legally adopted, giving them his name.

 

 

 

Source: “A Volume Of Memoirs And Genealogy of Representative Citizens Of Northern California” Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. Chicago. 1901. Pages 664-665.

 

Submitted by: Betty Tartas.