Kings County Biographies


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


 
JOHN H. DAWSON.
 
        In the death of John H. Dawson, which occurred on the 12th day of April, 
1923, Kings county was bereft of one of the most beloved and appreciated men who 
have ever honored it with his citizenship�loved because of the kindly relations 
which always existed between him and all with whom he came in contact, and 
appreciated because of his sterling integrity, marked ability and strength of 
character. Although modest and unassuming and always easily approached, he had a 
sturdy and vigorous personality and in the best sense of the term was a leader 
of men, exerting a large influence in the public and civic affairs of his city 
and county.
John H. Dawson was born in Grant county, Wisconsin, on the 23d day of August, 
1854, received his educational training in the public schools of his locality 
and remained at home until attaining his majority. In 1875 he started west and 
for a time worked at mining in Nevada. In 1876 he came to what is now Kings 
county and for several years was employed on the Tom Thornton ranch. In 1882 he 
started into business on his own account and began grain farming. As he was 
prospered he added to his land-holdings until he was numbered among the large 
grain farmers in this section of the county. The home ranch, north of Hanford, 
comprised three hundred and twenty acres, though much of this land has since 
been sold, only eighty acres now remaining in the possession of the family. 
During the later years of his activities, he gave much attention to fruit and 
dairying. Farsighted and sound in his judgment of things, he recognized the 
great need of water in the operation of land here and in 1886 he organized the 
People's Ditch Company. He had given a good deal of intensive study to 
irrigation problems and was probably better fitted than any one else to head a 
movement of this kind. For a long time he served on the board of directors of 
this association and was its president at the time of his death. He was 
literally the father of irrigation in Kings county and thus the district is 
under an everlasting debt of gratitude to him for his efforts in promoting what 
has since proven of such inestimable benefit to the county. About twenty years 
ago Mr. Dawson organized the Lucerne Creamery in Hanford, the first creamery in 
Kings county to be successfully operated. It was established on a capital of 
eleven thousand dollars and is now greatly improved and enlarged, the most 
successful creamery in the valley. In addition to his other holdings Mr. Dawson 
also owned nineteen hundred acres of fine grazing land, comprising a mountain 
ranch, near Cloverdale, Sonoma county. In 1913 he bought three hundred and 
twenty acres of raw land on the Goshen highway, which he developed into a fine 
fruit ranch.
        Politically Mr. Dawson was an ardent supporter of the republican party 
and from 1912 to 1914 served as a member of the board of trustees of the city of 
Hanford. He also rendered able service to his city as a member of the board of 
education.
        On December 3, 1879, Mr. Dawson was married in Kingsburg, California, to 
Miss Henrietta Ehrhart, who was born and reared in Illinois, but came to 
California in 1878. To this union were born four children, namely : William O., 
Lucile, Cidney and John J. Mr. Dawson was a man of singularly sweet and genuine 
nature, a lover of his home and devoted to his family. Those who knew him best 
mourn him not as the public official and successful business man, worthy as his 
achievements were, but as the good citizen, the loving father, the faithful 
husband and the loyal and true friend.
 
Source:  History of Tulare County and Kings County, California � Kathleen 
Edwards Small & J. Larry Smith, Vol. II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1926.
p. 568
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler