San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN E. GAYOU
A worthy pioneer citizen of San
Joaquin County now living retired in Stockton, where is recognized as an
honored and highly respected upbuilder, is John E. Gayou, who was born on June
19, 1860, in the adobe house at the corner of American and Washington streets
which was erected by his father about 1850.
He is one of a family of five children born to John and Mary (Euhart) Gayou; both natives of
France and both now deceased. John E.
and a sister, Mrs. Martin, are the two surviving children of this pioneer
couple. John Gayou, the father, came
around the Horn to California in 1850 and located in Stockton, where he engaged
in driving pack mules, laden with supplies, to the southern mines. Soon after his arrival in Stockton, he
purchased from Captain Weber the lot at the corner of American and Washington
streets, 100 feet square, where the family home was established and where his
son John E. resides.
John E. Gayou obtained his education
in the Center, Lafayette, and Jefferson schools, and at the age of fourteen
started to work on a threshing machine.
He still improved his spare moments in reading and studying, however, so
that he is accounted a well-educated man; and speaks French and Spanish fluently. He learned the trade of lather and plasterer,
and followed the trade of lather in Stockton, San Francisco, and other parts of
the state until 1893, when he was appointed a member of the police force of
Stockton. He relates many thrilling
experiences he has had during his twenty-eight years of service on the police force.
The marriage of Mr. Gayou united him
with Miss Catherine Murphy, a native of Stockton, California, and five children
were born to them, two of whom are now living:
William A. and Emma, the wife of B. F. Spry, born at Oakdale, where his
father was an old settler and a farmer.
B. F. Spry conducted a grocery store at Pittsburg, California, for four
years, but is now a resident of Stockton.
Mrs. Gayou is now deceased. Mr.
Gayou belongs to the Stockton Parlor, No. 7, N. S. G. W. He has erected three houses on the home place
bought by his father more than seventy years ago, which he rents to good
advantage.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1120. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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