San Luis Obispo County Biographies

F. F. FIELD

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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

F. F. FIELD was born in Madison, Connecticut, in 1829, and in 1843 moved with parents to 
New Haven, where subject was educated. At the age of twenty-one years he went to 
Newton and learned the carpenter trade under A. W. Gory. He then followed his trade 
about Connecticut up to 1858, when he emigrated to Glencoe, Minnesota, then a new 
town, just being established. In 1862 he went to Fort Snelling to enlist, but was rejected 
on account of rheumatic troubles; but, thrilled with patriotism, he then returned to 
Connecticut and enlisted at Meriden, in Company A, Fifteenth Connecticut Regiment, 
under Colonel Dexter R. Wright, who later resigned and was succeeded by Colonel 
Charles L. Upham. The regiment was then sent to the department of the Potomac, and 
their first engagement was at Fredericksburg. They were then stationed at Newbern, 
North Carolina, for about one year, doing provost duty. They then started to meet 
Sherman in his march through Georgia, but in an engagement at Kingston, North Carolina, 
the entire regiment were taken prisoners. They were then marched to Richmond, a fifteen-
days march, with little to eat, being allowed only one pint of meal each day, and that 
ground with the cob. They were then placed in Libby prison, but paroled after three days 
and the war being so nearly closed, they did no more active service, but were mustered 
out at Newbern, in 1865, and sent back to New York on an old disabled schooner. Mr. 
Field then returned home. His father had died during his absence, and the family removed 
to Wallingford, Connecticut, and there he remained and worked at his trade until he came 
to California, in 1871. He then settled at Anaheim and farmed one year, then came to San 
Luis Obispo County, and became manager of the Suey Rancho. He built the present ranch 
house and out-buildings, and remained eleven years. In 1878, following the dry year, the 
valley was first farmed, thus affording the settlers an opportunity to work, and also to get 
a supply of seed, for future purposes, as they were nearly starved out. This was the 
commencement of grain-raising in the valley. After the death of Mr. Newhall, subject
came to Santa Maria and purchased town property and built his present residence, and, 
through improving his place, set out experimentally a few orange-trees, which have done 
well. He also worked at his trade as opportunity offered. 

Mr. Field was married at Wallingford, Connecticut, in 1868, to Miss Bessie Crampton. 
They have no children. He is a member of Hesperian Lodge, No. 264, F. & A. M., and is 
Commander of Foote Post, No. 84, G. A. R. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.