Mendocino County Biographies

Frank B. Layton

Transcribed by: Pat Howard

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

 
	Youngest child of Ezra and Mary Ann Ryan Layton, was born in 
Colchester county, Nova Scotia, October 8, 1844, and received a common school 
education in his native county, and at the age of eighteen began an 
apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, which he followed until he came to 
California in 1867, coming via the Isthmus. He immediately went to Santa Cruz, 
where he worked at his trade for one year. He then went to Nevada, where he was 
employed for one year by the Central Pacific Railroad Company. In 1869 he 
settled in Cloverdale, Sonoma county, where he opened a shop of his own, which 
he carried on till 1873. He then settled in Cahto, Mendocino county, where he 
followed the same business till 1875. In that year he settled in Laytonville and 
opened his shop in an old log house, where he worked till 1878, when he built 
his present shop. The town was named after him. He was married, June 4, 1870, to 
Adelia Simpson, widow of J. P. Smith. She was born in Stevenson county, 
Illinois, October 15, 1849. Laura J., born September 20, 1871; Cora E., born 
June 22, 1873, Ezra E., born March 31, 1875; Archie, born July 31, 1877; Maud, 
born May 1, 1880, are the names and births of their children. Mrs. Layton has 
one child by her former marriage, Edgar H., born July 6, 1865.
 
SOURCE: History of Mendocino County, California - San Francisco, Cal. Alley, 
Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1880 Pp.  583, 584