Yuba County
Biographies
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN WALTON
Prior to the Revolutionary era of
American history the Walton family became established in the new world, the
original representative having emigrated from England to New York. Aaron, who
was a son of the founder of the American branch, was born and reared in York
(sic) state and followed farm pursuits through all of his active life, dying at
ninety years of age. Among his children was a son who bore his name and who was
born near Rochester, N. Y., in 1800. About 1822, with other homeseekers,
he went to what is now Warren county in Pennsylvania
and settled on the Hyda Cooper tract. Accompanying
him were his young wife, his father, mother and the other members of the
family, consisting of five sons and four daughters. The country was new. No
effort had been made to place the soil under cultivation. Yet the sparsely
settled region contained opportunities which he was quick to perceive and eager
to grasp. The development of a large body of raw land filled his years with
many cares, but in the end he acquired a valuable tract and became one of the
large farmers of the county. Possessing remarkable vitality, he continued
active until shortly before his death, which occurred at ninety-four years of
age. In politics he continued to act with and uphold the principles of the
Democratic party until its leaders refused to
recognize the legal election of President Lincoln, an act that caused him to
transfer his allegiance to the Republican party, with which he afterward
remained in sympathy.
In the same county where Aaron Walton,
Jr., was born and reared, occurred the birth of Elizabeth Hannah, whom he
married in early manhood. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Hannah, who was a
native of Ireland and during early years served in the English cavalry with his
father. However, before the outbreak of the Revolution he became a sympathizer
with the Americans and always afterward was enthusiastic in defense of the
cause of liberty. When eighty years of age his father reviewed the American
troops and to the last delighted in military affairs. Nathaniel Hannah died
from the effects of an accident that occurred when he was fifty years of age.
Mrs. Elizabeth Walton lived to be seventy-seven years of age. The eldest of the
family is now more than four score years of age. Benjamin Franklin, who was
sixth among the nine children, was born near Columbus, Warren county, Pa., July 18, 1835. After completing the studies of
the common schools he entered the academy at Randolph, N. Y., at the age of
fourteen years and completed the regular four years’ course. Meanwhile he had,
during vacations from the academy, gained considerable experience as a teacher
in district schools, and after leaving school he continued teaching until he
started west.
After having made the trip to California
via Panama, in December of 1859,Mr. Walton came to
Sutter county and settled on the land he now owns. His first house was a wagon
bed, but soon he exchanged it for a cabin, and for eight years he kept
“bachelor’s hall’ on the farm. On the last day of the year 1867 he was united
in marriage with Miss Sarah Starr, who was born and reared in Ohio, and came in
1864 to California, later following the profession of school teacher until her
marriage. At her death in January, 1889, she left eight children, as follows: Eda, wife of G. H. Taylor, of Chico, Cal.; Leonard A., who
is connected with the California Canners Association, and makes his home near
Yuba City, where he is also engaged in raising fruit; Nydia V., wife of Harry
L. Holcomb, of Oakland; Frank Starr, an up-to-date farmer in Sutter county;
Stanley V., a graduate of the electrical department of the California State
University, class of 1904; William McKinley, a graduate of the dental
department of the State University in 1904; Guy Lawrence and Leslie Willard, at
home. In January, 1895, Mr. Walton was again married, Mrs. Hattie (Sprague)
Jones becoming his wife. She has been a resident of Sutter county
for twenty years, and is a native daughter of Sacramento county.
During the existence of the Whig
party Mr. Walton supported its principles and his first presidential vote was
cast for John C Fremont. Fraternally he is connected with Enterprise Lodge No.
70, f. & A. M., of Yuba City, and Marysville Commandery No. 7, K. T. With
other leading citizens he was prominent in the organization of the Farmers’
Co-operative Union of Sutter county, and is still active as one of its seven
directors. Another organization in whose local and national work he maintained
an active interest was the Grange movement. For several years he acted as
president of the Sutter Canning and Packing Company, in the organization of
which he had been prominent. The land on which he settled years ago and which
continues to be his home lies five miles southwest of Yuba City and is known as
The Grove. The supervision of this fine property engrosses his attention and in
its management he displays as much activity and enthusiasm as usually
characterize men much his junior in point of years.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: “History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, California” by J. M. Guinn, Pages 377-378. Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1906.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.
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Library's Yuba County Biographies