Solano County Biographies

JOHN T. DARE

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
is a native of Brook Haven, Long Island, New York, and born March 27, 1843.  
Here he was educated in the common schools, and, at the age of thirteen, went to 
sea as a cabin boy, going up through all the different grades to that of first 
mate.  This occupation he followed eight years.  In May, 1861, he arrived in San 
Francisco on the ship �W. L. Richardson,� being second in command of that craft, 
but left her on his arrival and shipped for the South Sea Islands and return.  
In 1862, went to Shoalwater Bay, oystering, returning the same year with a large 
number of oysters, planting them in San Pablo bay; but the high water in the 
Winter of 1862-3 destroyed them.  The following year, read law with C. Greenwich 
Howard, of San Francisco.  About the time of the El Dorado Canyon or Colorado 
river gold excitement, he went to that locality and, after experiencing the 
changeable fortunes incident to a miner, he returned and settled in Los Angeles, 
and was engaged in driving team for other parties.  Next we find him in the 
employ of the Government, under Major Morris, at Drum Barracks, running trains 
across the desert.  During Brigadier General John S. Mason�s expedition through 
Arizona Territory, Mr. Dare accompanied them as master of transportation.  After 
making a complete tour of the Territory, he selected Prescott, in the Territory, 
as a place of residence; here he established the first pony express from 
Prescott to California, via Fort Mojave, riding the pony himself, without 
escort, through bands of hostile Indians, for six months; then run a wagon train 
from Prescott to Colorado river.  In 1867, he was elected to the lower house of 
the Arizona Legislature, and was the framer of several bills which still are a 
part of the laws of that country.  Soon after the expiration of his office, the 
large wagon train he was then running, was captured and destroyed by Indians, 
his train-master losing his life in the battle.  Becoming disgusted with the 
country on account of the hostilities of the savages, he returned to California, 
settling in Vallejo, in 1868.  Here he worked at various occupations, then a 
freight clerk in the office of Cal. P. R. R., and eighteen months thereafter was 
A. D. Starr & Co.�s cashier and book-keeper.  In the Fall of 1877, he was 
elected to the lower house of the State Legislature, doing the State excellent 
service in framing and working through the Bank Commission Bill, also the Fish 
and Game bills, and a strong advocate of the Postal Savings Bank bill.  He has 
made a continuous residence in south Vallejo since his coming in 1868, and is 
now one of its business men.  Married in this place Miss Anetta, eldest daughter 
of George H. Martin, of  Albany, New York, on January 18, 1872, their children 
are Ellen S., Starr D., and Edith.
 
History of Solano County � San Francisco, Cal. - Wood, Alley  & Co., East 
Oakland, pub 1879, pp 344-345