Tulare County Biographies

FRANCIS MARION AINSWORTH

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
In Missouri, in 1845, was born Francis Marion Ainsworth, and in 1857, when he 
was about twelve years old, he participated with his parents and others in a 
memorable overland journey to California. They came with ox-teams and endured 
many hardships and braved many perils. Their first home in this state was in 
Mendocino county. There his father acquired land which he farmed and improved 
three years. Then, after living a little while at Santa Rosa and a short time at 
Sonoma, the family moved to Napa county, where they remained until 1864. 
Stockton was the scene of the family's activities for some years and after that 
Modesto numbered its members in its population. At Modesto the father died in 
1870; the mother had passed away in 1863. It was from Modesto that Francis M. 
Ainsworth came to the Mussel Slough district of old Tulare county, near Hanford, 
where he soon began ranching. He moved to his present location at Milo in 1876. 
He owns here two hundred and forty acres of land which he is operating very 
profitably. It is remarkable to realize that Mr. Ainsworth, who at the age of 
sixty-seven years is enjoying splendid health and is giving personal attention 
to the conduct of his ranch as well as the duties of postmaster at Milo, was at 
one time a consumptive in a most precarious condition, suffering from 
hemorrhages of the lungs. His cure may be attributed to his tremendous will 
power and the exceptional climate and he has every reason to count his blessings 
and be happy that he has sought this country as his place of residence.
In 1872 Mr. Ainsworth married Nettie Braden, a native of Iowa, who bore him ten 
children, all native sons and daughters of California, four of whom have died. 
Royal Jasper Ainsworth married Clara Hinkle and lives in Tulare county. The 
other survivors are named Chester O., Archie W., Frances M., Lisle R. and Alden 
R. The parents of Mrs. Ainsworth moved to Kansas when she was about five years 
old and some two or three years later they came overland to California, settling 
in Santa Clara county, whence they later removed to Stanislaus county, and it 
was here that she first met her future husband. She was the second child of a 
family of four children, one son and three daughters, born to her parents, the 
others being: William Braden, of Ventura county, Agnes Richardson of 
Porterville, and Malissa, who died in Tulare county in 1878, being at that time 
the wife of S. W. Webb and leaving no children. Mr. Ainsworth's uncle, Davy 
Crockett, is a justice of the peace at Ukiah, Mendocino county. Col. Davy 
Crockett, the hero of the Alamo, was Mr. Ainsworth's great-uncle. His life of 
adventure, his devotion to the cause of liberty and his tragic death for the 
freedom of Texas are all matters of history. Mr. Ainsworth is a man of public 
spirit and as a Democrat he has been elected school trustee and in 1907 was 
appointed post�master at Milo, which responsible office he still fills with 
ability and credit.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, Pp 761-762