Tulare County Biographies

J. T. CHISM

Transcribed by Beverly Green

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

 
J. T. Chism was born in Monroe County, Kentucky, in 1848. He lived at home until 
twenty years of age, assisting in farm work and attending the common schools.

In 1869 he came to California, making the journey by rail soon after the 
railroad was completed. Arriving at Woodland, he engaged in farming for two 
seasons, after which he turned his attention to the sheep business in Stanislaus 
County. He had only limited means and at first took 1,000 sheep on shares. Then 
he purchased 500, and by the natural increase he soon secured a flock of about 
6,000. In 1881 Mr. Chism settled near Stockton, engaged in farming and sheep 
business, and remained there until 1884. In that year he came to Tulare and 
settled upon his ranch of 185 acres west of town, which he had purchased in 
1883. In addition to cultivating his own ranch and raising horses and cattle, he 
also rents a sheep range for his band of 2,000 sheep, and 700 acres for grain 
farming.

Mr. Chism was married in Stockton, in 1883, to Miss Annie Cahill, a native of 
California. They have three children, - James T., Veda and Pearl. He is a member 
of Olive Branch Lodge, No. 269, F. & A. M. 

SOURCE: Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Fresno, Tulare and 
Kern, California; Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892, Page 679