San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN CHRISMAN
Born in Pennsylvania September 30,
1831, the late John Chrisman went through the public schools of the day and
then attended a private school, the Phoenixville Classical Institute, taking a mathematical
and civil engineering course. He was the
son of Henry and Elizabeth (Yeager) Chrisman, both natives of Pennsylvania, the
old homestead being located within a few miles of historic Valley Forge, and
Grandfather Chrisman, a soldier in the Continental Army, was with Washington at
Valley Forge.
At the age of twenty-two, John
Chrisman emigrated to Illinois where he resided four
years, when he visited his old home in Pennsylvania and then returned to
Illinois where he was to join an emigrant train for California. In the spring of 1859 they left Mt. Carroll,
Illinois, for California, seven wagons drawn by oxen comprising the train as it
drew out of Mt. Carroll; among the party were the following, all of whom are
now deceased: Cyrus Needham, James Fields,
Judge Briggs of San Jose, William Firmin, and
others. Judge Briggs served as captain
of the party and John Chrisman was chosen first lieutenant. The party originally started for Pike’s Peak,
Colorado, but after leaving Platte River, they encountered a wagon train of
emigrants on their return to the east and from them they learned that gold was
not to be found in sufficient quantities to warrant settling there, so the
party headed toward Carson Sink, and after six months and a half the train drew
into what is now French Camp in September, 1859. Mr. Chrisman and a friend by the name of Rapp
went to Knights Ferry where they worked with their five yoke of oxen. Later they worked for McHenry and Brewster
further down on the Stanislaus, hauling material into the mountains. Then they rented land on the Stanislaus and
for two years raised corn. From the
Stanislaus Mr. Chrisman transferred his activities to San Jose and for seven
years farmed near Alum Rock, this during the Civil War days. He joined the regular state militia and was
first lieutenant of Company E, Fifth Cavalry.
In the fall of 1867 with Cyrus and Charles Needham he moved to this
section, and bought 200 acres just east of town, now known as the P. P. Schmidt
place, on which he erected a small house, hauling the lumber from San
Jose. In those days there was nothing
better than a trail, and no towns between Livermore and Stockton.
Mr. Chrisman was always at staunch
Republican, and a great admirer of President Lincoln, voting for him in 1860
and 1864, and in politics was numbered among the leaders in San Joaquin
County. For years he was member of the
Republican County Central Committee, and a school trustee of the Banta
district, and after the change in the district boundaries, was for many years
trustee of Willow district which later became the Tracy district. He was a pillar in the Presbyterian Church,
was active in establishing the present church in Tracy and for years was a
member of its board of trustees. When
old age necessitated his retirement he presented his resignation, but instead
of accepting it the trustees made him an honorary member for life.
Mr. Chrisman was united in marriage
in Santa Clara with Miss Ruth A. Hobson, and they were the parents of two
children, Ruth A. and Elizabeth L. She
passed away in 1869 and in 1873 he was married to Mrs. Savilla
L. (Needham) Hatfield, a sister of Cyrus Needham, a member of the party
crossing the plains with Mr. Chrisman, and one son, John C., was born to this
union. Mrs. Chrisman was born in Vermont
in 1846 and accompanied her parents to Illinois in 1852. Coming to California in 1869, she rode on the
first train of the Central Pacific to traverse the western division into the
San Joaquin County. On September 30,
1921, Mr. Chrisman was honored by his fellow-citizens upon the occasion of his
ninetieth anniversary, taking him by surprise and remembering him kindly with
presents and other marks of their respect.
His death occurred May 23, 1922.
Mrs. Chrisman continues to live at the old home in Tracy.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
448. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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