San Diego County Biographies
 
J. NEWTON PETTY

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

 
        One of the most popular and perhaps one of the best known men, in this 
part of California, is the genial Mr. J. Newton Petty, who was born in Bradford, 
England, August 5, 1838. He arrived in San Diego in the fall of 1869, and is 
therefore a pioneer. He has led an exciting and adventurous life; was in the 
employ of the Hudson Bay Company, and also was interpreter in Alaska for the 
Lady Franklin expedition in 1860, sent out by the English government, and had 
his toes so badly frozen that he had to have them amputated. During his travels 
he became familiar with all the Indian dialects spoken on the Pacific coast. His 
family are very highly connected, and he is a nephew of Lord Landsdown, the 
Governor-General of Canada. He is a thorough sportsman, and owns his own yacht, 
the schooner Sappho, in which he very often entertains his friends, hunting and 
fishing. He is affable and pleasant in his manners, and witty; is therefore a 
good converser. For the last few years he has gone largely into the liquor 
business, and carries on an extensive wholesale and retail trade in all kinds of 
imported and domestic liquors, wines and cigars.
        He is the secretary of the Liquor Dealers' Protective Association of 
Southern California, and Johnny Petty's name, as pertaining to all sporting 
matters, is taken for authority. His place of business is one of the finest in 
Southern California, and the pride of the city. He claims to have one of the 
finest collections of minerals and coins on the Pacific coast.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  250-251