San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JAMES R. PERROTT
A native son of the Golden state,
who, by hard and intelligent work has won a place for himself in the
agricultural world, James R. Perrott now lives a retired life from active
duties, but none the less interested in the prosperity and development of his community. Born in Amador County on November 19, 1853,
he is the eldest son of John and Ann (Grieves) Perrott, the former born in
London, England, and the latter in Worcester, Massachusetts, of Scotch and New
England ancestors. His father, John
Perrott, crossed the plains 1849 with an ox-team and engaged in mining at
Winter’s Bar until 1852 when he returned east by water via Havana, Cuba, and
settled in Steubenville, Ohio, where he remained for one year, when, during the
year 1853 he again crossed the plains to California, by ox-team, with his
bride, where he mined for a time on the Mokelumne River; later he purchased a
quarter section of land two miles from Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, adding
more land until he owned 700 acres.
Barley was the chief grain crop in those early days, and it was sent to
the mines by six and eight-horse team over the mountains, some of it being sent
as far as Virginia City, Nevada. While
residing in Steubenville, Ohio, John Perrott joined the Jefferson City Lodge of
Odd Fellows and after settling in Woodbridge the same name was given to the
lodge there, of which he was an honored member.
He was a member of the settler’s league formed in 1855 to combat the
claims of the Spanish settlers to the Spanish grants of land, and the league
proved a successful undertaking; he also served as county supervisor of San
Joaquin County for one term in 1880.
Mrs. and Mrs. Perrott were the parents of eight children, six of whom
are living, as follows: James R., John,
Mrs. Walter Leckebusch, Frank, Fred G., and Mrs.
Walter M. Smith. The father lived on his
ranch at Woodbridge and farmed to the time of his death in 1906.
James R. Perrott, being the oldest
son, began work on the farm when very young, following a plow when he was twelve
years old; gaining what education he could during the short terms of school at
the Woodbridge school. He worked on the
home ranch until he was twenty-five years of age; then farmed a portion of it
on his own account for twelve years, when he took charge of the T. & E.
ranch on Ryer Island, which occupied him for ten
years more; later he farmed the Thornton ranch at Thornton, California, and is
now living retired enjoying the products of years of hard labor and careful
economy.
Mr. Perrott’s
marriage united him with Miss Addie Woods, a native of Lynn county, Iowa, now
deceased. He has been active for
forty-six years in Jefferson Lodge No. 98, I. O. O. F., of Woodbridge.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
538. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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