California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 GRANVILLE A. MIDDLETON.� Though a recent arrival in Lake county, Granville A. Middleton has already been adopted among its most substantial citizens, and his success in his farming operations is adding to the reputation of this section for fertility and adaptability to the various lines of agriculture. Besides raising general crops and stock he makes a specialty of dairying, and he has won considerable renown all over this part of Cali- fornia as a timber cruiser, which work he has followed more or less from early manhood. The farm of one hundred and fifty-nine acres which he owns in the West Upper Lake precinct, situated in the Middle Creek valley one and a half miles northwest of Upper Lake village, has tripled in value during the last eight years, partly because of the growing appreciation of the advantages of the locality and partly because of the wise manner in which he has gone about its improvement. John and Susanna (Shinn) Middleton, J\Ir. Middleton's parents, came to California from Illinois over the plains, starting in 1853, wintering at Salt Lake, and reaching their destination in 1854. They settled near Timbuctoo, eighteen miles east of Marysville. living there for several years, and in the middle '60s removed to a place near Cahto, Mendocino county, where Mr. and Mrs. Middleton rounded out their days. Their home was twenty-four miles north of Willits, and there Mrs. Middleton died when seventy-five years old, the father living to be nearly eighty-one and also dying in Mendocino county. Of the family of eight children born to them, four sons and four daughters, Granville A. was the second child and eldest son. Born December 28, 1849, in Pike county. Ill., Granville A. Middleton was but four years old when the family set out for California, yet he recollects several incidents of the trip, while his father was farming in Sierra county he attended public school there, being seventeen years old at the time the family moved to Cahto, Long valley, Mendocino county, where his early manhood was passed. As he grew up he learned farm duties and the various details of the business of agriculture, and also became a proficient timber cruiser, being engaged as such in Mendocino county for eight years, receiving eight or nine dollars a day for his work. Though farming has always been his principal business he has continued to answer demands for his services as timber cruiser, being often called u])on to go to the timber country on the coast in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, and as far south as San Mateo county. Eight years ago Mr. Middleton moved from Mendocino county to Lake county. The year before settling here he bought his present property in the West Upper Lake precinct one and a half miles north of Upper Lake, having forty-five acres of alfalfa, and the balance in pasture for cattle, hogs, chickens, etc. Among his stock are thirty-five head of dairy cattle, and much of his energy has been applied to the development of his dairying operations, which have proved a desirable and highly profitable adjunct to general farm- ing. Systematic industry, well directed, has done wonders to his land in the eight years he has been cultivating it. Such success as his acts as leaven to the whole locality. Mr. Middleton's optimistic disposition and whole- souled manner have won him the good-will and friendship of his neighbors and fellow citizens wherever he is known. Just south of Long Valley in Mendocino county Mr. Middleton was united in marriage February 6. 1877, with Miss Cornelia Blair, daughter of D. C. and Annie (Wilson) Blair, born in New York and Illinois, respectively. Mr. Blair came to California across the plains in 1852 and in 1856 Mrs. Blair brought the children via Panama. Sir. Blair was a stockman in Mendocino county. Mrs. Middleton was born in Sacramento county and came to Men- docino county in 1867. To Mr. and Mrs. Middleton have been born nine children : Ida is the wife of Henry Hensley, who rents a stock farm on the West Shore road near Clear Lake; they have five children. Etta is the wife of William Runk, who is employed at general work and as stockman, and also has a candy and ice cream business at Upper Lake ; they have one child. Clarice is the wife of Jack Sullivan, who is in business at Lost Hills, in Kern county; Lloyd, who is engaged as a teamster and farmer at Upper Lake, married Abbie Yows, and has two children. Harry, also a farmer and teamster, residing in Middle Creek, married Miss Rose Wheeler and has one child. Mark also resides at Upper Lake. Amy is married to William Yows, a teamster, and lives in Upper Lake. Elden usually makes his home in Upper Lake. Frank resides with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Middleton hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Upper Lake. His political views are in accordance with the prin- ciples of the Democratic party.