Ventura County Biographies

John Donlon

Submitted by Sandy Neder

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

 
    John Donlon is one of the prominent ranchers of Ventura County, California. 
He was born in County Longford, Ireland, in the year 1847, the son of Irish 
parents. He came to California, in the fall of 1870, and since that time has 
been variously employed. He first worked for wages at San Jose and in Alameda 
County for three years. Next he went to San Francisco, where he was employed for 
two years. In 1875 he came to Ventura County, and worked out for a year, after 
which he engaged in sheep-raising, following that business seven years, and 
keeping from 500 to 3,000 sheep. He sold his sheep and purchased 403 acres of 
land, and on this property he has since lived, engaged in farming. His principal 
crop has been barley, of which he has raised 3,400 sacks in a single year, which 
sold for ninety cents per hundred pounds. He also raises horses, cattle and 
hogs.
    Nearly all this time Mr. Donlon lived the life of a single man. June 24, 
1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Forrer, a beautiful young lady, 
native of Utah, and daughter of Fred and Caroline Forrer, natives of Germany. 
Now things are changed at the once dreary bachelor's hall, for here are two 
interesting children: Peter A., born April 28, 1887, and William C., born 
December 2, 1888. The patter of children's feet can be heard and the prattle of 
childish voices greet the tired father as he returns from his daily routine of 
ranch life; and he whispers to himself, "How much I missed by remaining single 
so long!"
    Mr. Donlon is, religiously,  a Catholic, and, politically, a Democrat. He 
has served the public as School Trustee, and is much interested in the 
development of his section of the country. Living, as he does, so near the 
village of New Jerusalem, he enjoys the advantages of stores, school and church.
 
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS 
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 588