Yolo County
Biographies
JOHN C. SMITH
It is doubtful if any resident of Merritt
Island is more familiar with conditions in this part of Yolo county
than John C. Smith, who owns and occupies a valuable ranch situated six miles
south of Clarksburg. Both by reason of long residence here and a close study of
the discouraging circumstances under which the people so long labored, he has
become familiar with the soil and its surprising fertility when relieved from
the injurious effects of high water. Though familiar with the soil and the
crops to which it is best adapted, he has not made a specialty of agriculture
but has chosen hunting and fishing as an occupation more congenial to him. To
most people this would appear as a diversion and source of occasional
recreation, rather than a money-making project; but Mr. Smith became so familiar
with the fish and game of this region that he secured from those he caught and
sold in the markets a sufficient amount to provide for the need of his family,
and also to meet the assessment of about $90 per acre necessary for the work of
reclaiming the land in the Merritt Island reclamation district.
In Brooklyn, N. Y., Mr. Smith was
born April 6, 1851, and there he grew to manhood, meanwhile learning the trade
of a sail-maker, at which he was employed until nineteen years of age. During
1870 he came to California and settled on Miner’s slough in Solano county where he made his home for two years, meantime
engaging in hunting ducks and in fishing. Locating upon the Sacramento river at the end of that time he followed the pursuit of
fishing for salmon for twenty-five years, in the meantime purchasing his
present homestead of thirty-five and one-fourth acres, situated on Merritt
Island, and worth perhaps $250 per acre. On this place, which is six miles
south of Clarksburg, he and his family have lived since 1881, and here he has
an orchard of three acres, also an apiary of one hundred stands of bees. For a
time he personally superintended the land, but for some years he has rented it
to other parties on shares, but still superintends it and devotes his time to
his apiary.
The marriage of Mr. Smith was
solemnized December 21, 1881, and united him with Miss Sarah Morse, a native of
Sutter Island, this state. Ten children were born of their union, but two of
the number died in early life. Those now living are as follows: Nettie, who
married Henry Lester Pylman, an enterprising rancher
of Merritt Island; Charles H.; Ada, Hazel, Clara,
Alva, John C. and Doris, all of whom remain with their parents. Although Mr.
Smith takes no part in local politics aside from voting the Republican ticket
at elections, he is public-spirited in every respect. Educational affairs
particularly receive his interested support and careful study, and in a service
as school trustee covering several years he proved himself helpful to the best
interests of the school in his district.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: "History of the State of
California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento
Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, Pages
620-623.
The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1906.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.
Golden
Nugget Library's Yolo County Biographies