San
Joaquin County
Biographies
JOHN CHATTEN THOMPSON
Very early in the colonization of
America the Thompson family became established among the pioneers of the New
World, the first of the name making settlement upon Virginia soil, where he
gained notable prosperity. John
Thompson, a native of the Old Dominion, grew to manhood on a stock farm, and at
an early age acquired a thorough knowledge of the raising of stock. He was given a good education in private
schools, and while living in the old home neighborhood he married Mary Adams
Williams, a native of Virginia, where for some years they continued to make
their home. They were the parents of
four children, all of whom were born in Tazewell County, Virginia. John C., the subject of this review, was the
second son. Another son, Hon. Rees B.,
formerly a member of the legislature of California, died on July 3, 1908. A daughter, Mrs. Eliza Thompson Yerby, died in Los Angeles, and another daughter, Mrs.
Sarah L. Thompson Wheeler, made her home at Milton, Calaveras County,
California, but died in Oakland. Eventually
they followed the tide that drifted over the mountains into Kentucky and
Missouri, and for six years lived in northwestern Missouri. The discovery of gold called attention to the
unknown riches of the Pacific coast, and John Thompson determined to try his
fortune in that country. Having made the
necessary preparations and disposed of his possessions in Missouri, during
1852, he and his family crossed the plains and after a fatiguing and eventful
journey, during which his wife died in the Big Meadows of the Humboldt Basin,
now Nevada, he arrived at his destination.
Seeking a suitable location, John
Thompson came to San Joaquin County and selected land near New Hope, where he
acquired the title to 500 acres; and here he engaged in raising small grain,
and also cattle and horses. After two
years he returned to Missouri and married Mrs. Jane Hardesty. He crossed the plains a second time to his
California home, bringing again a large drove of cattle. Being a man of tireless energy and wise
foresight, he prospered in his undertakings and became one of the leading
citizens of his county, where he rendered efficient service as a supervisor and
in other ways identified himself with public
affairs. Reared a Democrat, and always
staunch in his allegiance to that party, he nevertheless favored the Union
cause at the time of the Civil War and in 1861, upon being elected to the state
legislature, entered the office with the understanding that his support would
be given to the Union. During his
service he never faltered in his allegiance to the Union, and as a member of
various important committees he proved helpful to the welfare of the state and
nation. He later was a Douglas Democrat,
a believer in states’ rights, and when the Southern states seceded his sympathies
were with them. In no matter, public or
private, was his integrity ever questioned.
His force of character left its impress upon the early history of the
county, where he continued to reside many years. The latter part of his life he spent with his
daughter, Mrs. H. C. Yerby, where he died in October,
1886, at the age of eighty-four.
John C. was born in Tazewell County,
Virginia, in January, 1835, and in childhood gained a practical knowledge of
the frontier through residence in Missouri, during the pioneer days of that
state. It was his good fortune to be the
son of an advocate of liberal education, a man who devoted himself to giving
his children the best advantages possible to the period. Hence, it was his privilege to receive
instruction from a private tutor and later he was a student in Grand River
College, Grundy County, Missouri. He
left school to come to California in 1852, and thereafter devoted his time to
work on the home ranch, where he soon gained a thorough knowledge of all kinds of
stock. After attaining his majority he
began to buy and sell horses and cattle, and prepared cattle for the home
markets. In 1861, he formed a
partnership with James P. Folger, under the firm name of Thompson & Folger,
which partnership was successfully continued until the death of Mr. Folger in
1885, after which the business was incorporated under the name of Thompson
& Folger Company. From time to time
the company made investments in land, until eventually it acquired holdings of
about 3,000 acres, where stock of fine breeds were to be found, and good
improvements in the way of buildings were made, with the various accessories
which tend to the success of the rancher or lighten his labors. In addition to his stock interests he
developed vineyards.
The marriage of Mr. Thompson took
place at Ione, in 1863, and united him with Miss Caroline Rutledge, whose
parents, John and Nancy (Fulton) Rutledge, migrated from Virginia to California
at an early day and settled in San Joaquin County. They were the parents of four children: Edward R., deceased, at one time city
attorney of Stockton, and a well-known member of the San Joaquin County bar; Mrs.
Richard C. Minor, of Stockton; John H., president of the Stockton Iron Works
and manager of the Thompson & Folger Co., and the John C. Thompson Estate;
and Mrs. Edward F. Haas, of San Francisco.
Fraternally, Mr. Thompson was a Master Mason, identified with the
Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, and was also a member of the Stockton Elks, No.
218. He was one of the founders and a
trustee of the Woodbridge College. A
number of industries received the benefit of his cooperation and counsel in
addition to the ranches with which his name was closely associated; he acted as
a member of the state board of managers of the state hospital, held the office
of director in the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Stockton, and was
vice-president and one of the founders of the Bank of Lodi, (now the Lodi
National Bank); these various positions indicating his high standing as a man
of ability and as a progressive citizen.
He passed away on February 20, 1911.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
621-622. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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