San Joaquin County
Biographies
CHRISTOPHER C. PROUTY
Christopher Columbus Prouty, who is
occupying a prominent position in political, social, and business circles in
northern California, was born in Knox County, Ohio, September 22, 1839, and is
a son of Anson T. and Elizabeth (Helms) Prouty.
On the paternal side he is of Scotch and French ancestry, while on the
maternal side he is of German lineage.
He represents the fifth generation of the family born in America. His great-grandfather, Cyrus Prouty,
emigrated from France and located in New York, where the grandfather and father
of our subject, the latter Anson T. Prouty, were born and reared. For many years Anson T. Prouty resided in the
Empire state, taking a prominent part in its public affairs while other members
of the family also aided in promoting the substantial upbuilding of the
sections of the state in which they resided.
Two of his uncles participated in the war of the Revolution, and Hugh
Prouty, another uncle, served in the War of 1812. The religious faith of the family has been
that of the Methodist Church. The
business of its representatives has been farming or professional duties.
Anson T. Prouty was united in
marriage to Miss Elizabeth Helms, a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of
an old German family that was early founded in the new world. Her father was Charles Helms. By her marriage Mrs. Prouty became the mother
of seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom four are now
living. In 1852 the parents with their
children started on the long journey across the plains to California. For five years previously they had resided in
Iowa, where the father had located land now occupied by Newton, the county seat
of Jasper County. On the 20th
of April they left their Iowa home, crossing the river near Omaha on the 9th
of May. The country to the westward was
an open waste, traversed by the Indians.
After the party had passed Fort Laramie the cholera broke out among them
and many died. The Prouty family
suffered the terrible affliction of losing the husband and father, who was ill
for only one day when death claimed him.
The mother and children, however, escaped the dread disease, although
there were many graves along their route.
They were also in constant danger from the Indians, but were not
attacked. Joseph Prouty, a son of the
family, now deceased, emigrated to California the year
previously. The widow and her three
sons, after witnessing the burial of the husband and father on the plains,
proceeded on their way to the Pacific slope, arriving at Volcano on the 24th
of August, 1852, after a journey of four months and four days. Mrs. Prouty’s
capital amounted to a few thousand dollars.
In taking up the personal history of
Christopher Columbus Prouty we present to our readers the life record of one
who is widely and favorably known in Amador County. He began his education in the subscription
schools of Iowa and in the summer months assisted in the work of the home farm
until his father removed to California.
For one year after his arrival in the Golden state he worked on a farm
on Dry Creek for his mother, after which he went to Ione and attended the
public schools. During that time he boarded
with his sister, Mrs. Dooley. The
following year he built a cabin and boarded himself, continuing his education
there another term of school. He then
returned to his brother’s farm and was employed at work upon the farm and in
driving a team for two years, after which he again came to Ione and rented a
house, his mother acting as his housekeeper, while he attended school another
term. In the spring of 1859 he and his
mother returned to his brother’s ranch and he purchased a portion of the
property, after which he engaged in tilling the soil and in raising stock, his
mother still keeping house for him. He
was thus employed until 1864, when he purchased property and removed to
Latrobe, El Dorado County, where he carried on the livery and feed business,
but that venture did not prove profitable and he sold out, returning to the
ranch, of which he again assumed control, operating that land until he was
dispossessed by the Arroyo Seco grant.
Subsequently he leased from the Arroyo Seco Company the same ranch and
continued his business there meeting with good success.
On the 27th of April,
1868, Mr. Prouty was united in marriage to Miss Austrillia
Bennett, a native of Missouri, who came to Sacramento County, California, in
1858. She was a daughter of Thomas and
Mary Bennett, both of whom were natives of Missouri and came to the Golden
state in 1854. Their union has been
blessed with fourteen children, twelve of whom are yet living, namely: Anson Valentine and Clarence Simon, both of
whom are married and reside in Fresno; Vincent, deceased; Clara Elizabeth, who
also has passed away; Robert, who is living in Mariposa County; Francis J., who
is married and resides with his father upon the ranch; Herbert V., who is now
attending a medical college in San Francisco; Gladys, the widow of Rowley Druland; Christopher Columbus, who is living in Fresno;
Ralph L., who makes his home in Merced County; William, who is a student in
school; Elnor and Almyr
Leland, who also are attending school; and Douglas, who completes the family.
In 1870 Mr. Prouty removed to
Jackson Valley, where he rented a ranch for two years, carrying on farming and
stock raising. He then purchased the old
homestead of the Grant Company which he still owns, devoting his attention to
farming and stock raising. At different
times he has purchased more land from the Grant Company and from others until
he has accumulated about two thousand acres of fine land well adapted to
farming and stock raising. In 1890 he purchased forty acres near
Stockton and removed his family there.
They reside upon that farm, but Mr. Prouty continues to manage his
property in Amador County. He also owns
valuable real estate in Stockton and in 1885 he became interested in a
corporation in Clements, California, with which he was connected until
1891. In 1899 he aided in the
organization of the Ione Creamery Company, which has proved a successful
venture, bringing a good financial return to the stockholders.
Mr. Prouty is a member of the Odd
Fellows society and has filled many of its chairs, including that of noble
grand, and has been a delegate to the grand lodge. He was reared in the Methodist faith, but has
never become a member of the church. His
wife belongs to the Catholic Church. In
politics he was a stalwart Democrat, but afterward aided in organizing the
Populist Party in the county was its first chairman. In 1890, however, he returned to the
Democratic Party and has since voted with it.
He served his township for ten years as a school trustee, and the cause
of education has always found him a warm friend. He is a very popular man, is recognized as an
excellent financier, reliable and trustworthy in business; and in every
relation in life is found at his post of duty.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 398-400. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget
Library's San Joaquin County Biographies
Golden Nugget
Library's San Joaquin County Genealogy Databases