San Joaquin County Biographies


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



 
JOHN GRANT MAINLAND.
 
        A citizen well known as a grower of flowers is John Grant Mainland, who 
has his nursery and greenhouses on Sargent Road just west of the city limits of 
Lodi and his entire two acres are devoted to the growing and propagation of 
flowers, from which he supplies his florist business in Lodi and also supplies 
different florists in Stockton. His birth occurred in Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, 
Scotland, on October 24, 1879, and he is a son of William and Isabelle (Grant) 
Mainland, and the second oldest of five children. The father, William Mainland, 
was in the dry goods business at Kirkwall until 1888, when he removed his family 
to Oakland, Cal., where he is a dry goods merchant; the mother passed away at 
the age of seventy years in Oakland.
        Coming to California in 1882, John G. Mainland received his education in 
the Garfield school at Oakland and at the age of sixteen took up jewelry 
ornamentation work in San Francisco. He became a very efficient workman and 
followed his trade with various firms until he established himself in business 
on Geary Street, San Francisco, where he continued until 1919, when he located 
in Lodi. His marriage occurred in 1908 at Oakland and united him with Miss 
Rachel Esther Dunn, a native of Rich Hill, Mo., a daughter of George and Fannie 
(Willbert) Dunn. Mrs. Mainland comes of Revolutionary stock, her 
great-great-grandfather, Gen. John Matoon, taking part in that war. His portrait 
was painted at the same time that Generals Washington and LaFayette were painted 
by the noted artist Trumbull. George Dunn was a native of Illinois and a 
carpenter by trade, who moved to Missouri, and there the mother passed away. 
After the mother's death, the father moved to Lexington, Ky., and in that state, 
Mrs. Mainland received her education and in 1908 came to Oakland, Cal. When Mr. 
Mainland removed to Lodi he purchased two acres of land on Sargent Road for 
nursery purposes and thereon built two greenhouses, and the entire acreage is 
devoted to nursery stock. Mr. and Mrs. Mainland are the parents of two children, 
John Grant, Jr., and Isabelle. Mr. Mainland believes in voting for the man best 
qualified for the duties of the office regardless of strict party lines, and is 
public spirited in all matters pertaining to community growth and progress.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p    1319      
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.