SAMUEL E. WRISTON 

Samuel E. Wriston, a resident of this county since 1852, was born in Morgan County, Illinois, March 19, 1834. His father, James, a native of South Carolina, emigrated to Illinois when a young man. In Morgan County he married Miss Catharine P. Sage, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, had three children, and died in 1839 at the age of thirty-four years. Samuel, our subject, is the only one now living. The eldest son, William B., came to this State in 1849, and was accidentally killed in “Russell Pocket,” four miles from Galt, July 7, 1856. The other son, Elihu R., came to California in 1859, and died in Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, June 27, 1877. In after years Mrs. Wriston married John Rafferty, who also is now deceased. The widow is now living in Pella, Jasper County, Iowa, at the age of sixty-nine years. By the last marriage there were six children, of whom four are still living. Mr. Samuel E. Wriston, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm. In April 1852, when seventeen years of age, he came to California overland with mule teams, in company with three families and twenty-seven men, consuming exactly three months on the trip from the Missouri River. When he arrived in Sacramento his brother William was living in the “Pocket.” He intended to go over the mountains to Carson Valley, but chills and fever attacked him and prevented him from going. After recovery he began to work on ranches, meanwhile owning some livestock in company with his brother. After the death of the latter he took charge of all the stock for awhile, and then disposed of it. In November 1857, he returned East on a visit. He arrived in Sacramento again June 1, 1859, and again entered the livestock business, buying and selling and dairying, and followed this business for nine years in partnership with C. W. Harvey, in the meantime owning some land which he had bought before going East. Up to about three years ago his business was mainly stock-raising, but lately he has paid more attention to general agriculture. His farm consists of 422 acres, on the Laguna, five miles east and north of Galt. He has made his residence in this village since it was started in 1869. Mr. Wriston is a member of the Odd Fellows’ order, and of the A.O.U.W. of Galt. Politically he is a Republican, although his first Presidential vote in 1856 was cast for Buchanan. In 1860 he was a Douglas Democrat, and since then he has been a Republican. He was united in marriage June 14, 1870, to Jennie V. Ferguson, a native of Illinois, and reared in the city of Chicago. They have had three children, as follows: Carrie F., born May 13, 1872, and died December 24, 1880; Charles R., born October 3, 1874; and Samuel C., born September 3, 1877, and died February 17, 1878.