Tulare County Biographies

James Barton

Transcribed by Beverly Green

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

James Barton, one of the early settlers of Tulare County, and one of its 
capable and efficient supervisors for the past twenty years, was born in New 
Jersey on October 18, 1819. The ancestors of the family came from Great Britain 
and settled in New Jersey. Mr. Barton's father, Eleazer Barton, was a native of 
that State. He married Rachel Reed, a native of the same State. Her ancestors 
were also early settlers in New Jersey. Mr. Barton's grandfather came to America 
a soldier of the British army; but like many others, deserted and joined the 
American forces. He served through the struggle for the independence of the 
colonies. Mr. Barton was the second son of a family of eleven, and was reared 
and educated in his native State. He learned both the carpenter and 
cabinet-making trades. He was married before leaving New Jersey to Miss Susan 
Davenport. In 1846, he removed to Davenport, Illinois, when that State was in 
embryo. They settled on government land in La Salle County, cleared and improved 
it, and then disposed of it. He then removed to Iowa and procured other lands, 
and later purchased timbered lands and built a saw mill, and carried on business 
in Iowa for fourteen years. In 1865 he came to Tulare County, California, and 
located near Slick Rock, where he lived and farmed until 1880. He made fine 
improvements, and sold to his son, who now resides on the property. Mr. Barton 
purchased 200 acres of land thirty miles east of the city of Visalia, where he 
has improved and planted a fine fruit ranch. He has apples, prunes, and a 
variety of fruit, his apples selling at from two to three cents per pound. There 
were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barton eleven children, eight of whom are still spared 
to them, all living in Tulare County. Their names are as follows: Hudson D., 
Orlando D., Milton, Enos D., Jason E., Jane C., the wife of James B. Weaths; 
Cecelia A., the wife of James A. Butts; Rachel Melissa, the wife of Robert 
Harden Mr. Barton cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren, and still stands 
firm in the doctrines of the old Jeffersonian Democracy. In 1869 he was elected 
one of the supervisors of his County, has held the office nearly all the time 
since, and has shown marked ability and great interest in the welfare of the 
County. The fine public buildings which are a credit and ornament to the County 
and second to none in the State are largely the results of his efforts.

It is most gratifying to learn that his fellow citizens esteem him highly, 
appreciate his efforts and give him the credit for he has done. He now resides 
in Visalia in a home of his own, where he is spending the evening of a worthy 
life. He is a good husband and father, an upright citizen, and a faithful and 
trusted public officer. 

SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and 
Kern, California Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892, Page 804