Santa Cruz County Biographies

JOHN A. BAXTER

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

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


        John A. Baxter is a member of the California Pioneers of San Francisco, 
and of the Pioneer Association of Santa Cruz County. He is a hardware merchant 
of Watsonville and is a gentleman of sterling worth and independence of 
character. He was born in Quincy, Massachusetts, July 12, 1827, and during his 
childhood obtained the benefits of a public-school education. He arrived in 
California July 6, 1849, having come around the horn on the ship Edward Everett, 
being one hundred and fifty days en route. The vessel was owned by a joint stock 
company, who sold it after their arrival.
        The subject of this sketch engaged in mining, and later in merchandising 
in the northern part of the State. In 1869 he went to Gilroy, in Santa Clara 
County, California, and, in company with Frank Smith, established a hardware 
store, in which business he continued until 1884, when he came to Watsonville 
and opened a hardware store in the Ford Block, in which business he has since 
continued. He was married, June 12, 1866, to Miss L. J. Wendell, a native of 
Maine, a lady of a singularly sweet and amiable disposition and most excellent 
character. Three children have been born unto them: John, aged twenty-one, an 
industrious young man of good habits, employed in his father's store; Frank, 
aged eleven, and a bright little girl, who died at the age of nine years, in 
1876. Besides being a member of the association above noted, Mr. Baxter also 
belongs to the I. O. O. F.
 
HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.-  E. S. Harrison, 
Pacific Press Publ. Co., San Francisco, 1891