Sacramento Valley Biographies

J. B. De Jarnatt

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, March, 2009

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

	During the persecution that befell the Huguenots in France after the revocation 
of the edict of Nantes two brothers bearing  the name of de Jarnette fled from that country 
and sought an asylum in the new world, settling in Virginia. Later generations remained 
upon plantations in the Old Dominion, where they took a prominent part in public affairs. 
By them the name was changed to its present form. Abijah de Jarnatt, a native of Virginia, 
was the first of the family to cross the mountains into Kentucky, where he settled in Owen 
county. He had a brother, James, who held the rank of colonel in the war of 1812. While 
he was also of a patriotic spirit, his tastes were domestic rather than military and he found 
his greatest happiness in the improvement of his large farm and the rearing of his large 
family. Among his children was a son, William Hoy, a native of Owen county and for years 
a merchant in that section of Kentucky. In stature he was six feet two inches, well 
proportioned and impressive in appearance, and some of his brothers were also more than 
six feet tall. From 1853 to 1863 he engaged in the mercantile business at Savannah, Mo., 
but the outbreak of the war brought him such heavy financial losses that he was forced to 
close his store. Shipping his goods to Denver by wagon-freight, he spent the winter of 
1863-1864 in that city and meanwhile disposed of his stock of merchandise. In 1864 he 
proceeded to Virginia City, Mont., but not liking that region he sold out his cattle and came 
on to California by horse teams, arriving at Colusa in July of 1865. After a year in farming 
he took up mercantile pursuits and continued the same until his death about 1889, at the 
age of seventy-one years. From early manhood he was identified with the Christian Church 
and a contributor to movements for the religious and educational development of each 
locality where he resided. His wife, who was Atha Burress, was born in Kentucky, of an 
early established Virginian family; at the age of seventy-nine years (1905), she is still 
making Colusa her home. Of their three children, the daughter, Mrs. Hattie Rich, died in 
Colusa in 1903. The sons, J. B. and W. K., reside in this city, the former being cashier of 
the Farmers & Merchants Bank, and the latter business manager of the Colusa Sun.
	While the family were making their home at New Liberty, Owen county, Ky., 
John Burress de Jarnatt was born May 26, 1846, and he was seven years of age when 
his parents removed to Savannah, Mo., where he attended a private school and also 
assisted his father in the store. On arriving in Colusa in 1865 he immediately sought 
employment; and the second day after reaching the town he secured a position in the 
office of the county clerk under Jackson Hart, where for five years he was engaged in 
copying and then served as chief clerk until 1878. His long connection with the office 
qualified him to fill it acceptably, and in 1878 he was elected county clerk by the largest 
majority any candidate had received up to that time. On the expiration of his first term he 
was re-elected and served two full terms, also, on account of the new constitution, served 
ten months beyond the expiration of his second term, retiring in January of 1883. As early 
as 1866 he had become interested in the making of a complete record of county abstracts. 
In 1878 he started the Durfee system of recording abstracts, which he perfected at an 
expense of $20,000, and this system he still follows. It is probable that he is the oldest 
recorder of abstracts in the state with one set of books. He still continues in the abstract, 
real estate and insurance business, under the firm title of J. B. de Jarnatt & Son, the 
management of the business being in the hands of his son, W. B.
	February 13, 1902, the Farmers & Merchants' Bank of Colusa County was 
incorporated, and April 15, 1902, the bank opened its doors for business, with a capital of 
$100,000, and the following officers: president, J. Dazell BROWN; vice-president, Friedrich 
MONSEN; cashier, J. B. de JARNATT; and assistant cashier, H. F. OSGOOD. The bank has 
gained the confidence of the people through its conservatism in loans and investments. Already 
it has a large number of depositors and is established upon a sound financial basis, its high 
standing among other banks and with the people being due in large measure to the confidence 
reposed in the judgment of the cashier.
	In addition to his other enterprises Mr. de JARNATT is vice-president of the 
Sacramento Valley Land Company and a director of the Colusa Canal Company, which has 
had charge of the construction of a canal for irrigating twenty thousand acres of fine river land. 
This was merged into the Central Canal and Irrigation Company, Inc., in 1904. Another industry 
that owes much to his enthusiastic support is the raising of fruit. In 1883 he set out an orchard 
for commercial purposes, being the first to inaugurate this movement. The effect of his example
 will be understood from the statement that, within a radius of nine miles, four thousand acres 
have been set out in fruit since he planted his orchard in 1883. At one time he had two hundred 
and ninety acres, but a portion has been sold, leaving him with an orchard of eighty acres, known 
as the Brentwood fruit farm, situated one mile north of Colusa, and planted to prunes, pears and 
apricots. Through his efforts the Colusa Cured Fruit Association was organized, and he has been 
its president from the first. He was among the first to raise several crops of alfalfa yearly by means 
of irrigation, and was also a pioneer in the raising of the first Jersey cattle and the first Poland-
China hogs in Colusa county. 
	Since building in 1900 Mr. de JARNATT has occupied a residence in Colusa. He was 
married in this city in 1868, his wife being Martha A. Greene, who was born in Missouri, and at the 
age of five years accompanied her parents to California, living for a time in Placer county, and 
thence coming to Colusa in the pioneer days of this locality. Her father, W. W. Greene, conducted 
a hotel in Colusa and was identified with other enterprises during pioneer days in this city. There 
are three children in the de Jarnatt family, namely: William Burress, a graduate of the Colusa high 
school and the San Mateo Military School, now engaged in the abstract, real estate and insurance 
business with his father; J. Brent and Hattie B. The family are identified with the Christian Church. 
Mr. de Jarnatt is a member of the American Bankers' Association, and politically supports the 
Democratic party. He was made a Mason in Colusa Lodge No. 240, F. & A. M., of which he is a past 
master, also past high priest of Colusa Chapter No. 60, R. A. M. In 1883 he was raised to the Knights 
Templar degree in Marysville Commandery, but later became a charter member of Colusa 
Commandery No. 24, K. T. in which he is past eminent commander. In 1894 he entered the Grand 
Commandery as inspector, and later was chosen Grand Warden, while at this writing (1905) he ranks 
as Grand Commander of California. 
	Almost every department of activity in Colusa has felt the encourage-ment of the practical 
assistance and sagacious judgment of Mr. de Jarnatt. Whether as banker, orchardist, stock-raiser, 
or county official, his work has possessed permanent value to the community. Locating here in a day 
when the country was undeveloped and its possibilities unknown, the value of his citizenship is evident 
in works accruing to the benefit of the county, and his labors have been an important factor in the raising 
of land values and the increased prosperity of the land owners. In the annals of Colusa county he will 
long be remembered with gratitude as a large contributor to the progress of this portion of the state and 
to the development of its resources.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento Valley, California," 
J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1906, Pages 258 - 260.