California Biographies
Lake and Sonoma County 

D. O. SHATTUCK (Shattuck, David Olcott)

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

 
Was born in Tennessee, September 17, 1831.  When but a child he, with his 
parents, moved to Mississippi, where fifteen years were spent.  They then moved 
to Louisiana, where they resided until 1849, when the subject of this sketch, in 
company with his father and two brothers, came to California via Panama, 
arriving at San Francisco April 3, 1850.  The first four months were spent in 
the Custom House in San Francisco, after which he went to the mines and mined 
for four months.  He then went to Sonoma County, and followed farming in Sonoma 
Valley until 1871, when, on account of failing health, he came to Lake County 
and settled on his present place, consisting of four hundred acres, located in 
Bachelor Valley, about five miles from Upper Lake, where he is engaged in 
farming, dairying and wool growing.  Mr. Shattuck married, November 3, 1853, 
Miss P. Sneed, a native of Missouri.  By this union they have six living 
children:  Dickson S., Ella, James W., Charles S., Lizzie and George P.
 
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 � pg. 274-275


Shattuck, David Olcott. Whose portrait appears in this work, is a
native of Colchester, New London county, Connecticut, born March 21,
1800. Here he received a common school education. In 1820 he proceeded
to South Carolina, where he found employment for a short time on the canal
above Columbia. After drifting about for some time, he found his way into
North Carolina and in the Spring of 1821 he taught one term of school in
Mecklenburg county, when he proceeded to Chatham county and there engaged
in school teaching until 1823, and while here he was licensed to preach in the
Methodist Episcopal church. He then returned to the place of his birth and
taught school one term. During this time his name had been proposed to
the Virginia Conference and accepted, and he was appointed to the Hanover
Circuit in Virginia, which position he held three years. He married in
Wake county, North Carolina, on May 7, 1827, Miss Elizabeth Ann Saunders,
at which time he was engaged in teaching school in Johnson county. Late
in the year he moved to Duplin county. North Carolina, and followed his
former occupation until 1829. In December of this year he emigrated to
Haywood county, in the Western District of Tennessee. Here he was
admitted to the Bar and practiced his profession in Brownsville for four
years. In 1833 he took up his residence in Carrolton, Carroll county, Mississippi,
where he practiced law until 1837, when he was elected District
Judge of the Seventh Judicial District. In 1841, while still officiating as
Judge, he was nominated by the Whig party for Governor. The all important
question was at that time "Shall the State pay its bonds?" The
Whig party said yes in decided terms, while the Democracy said no emphatically.
The Democrats were successful, however, and elected their man,
Mr. Shattuck being defeated by only two thousand votes in the State. He
then resumed the practice of law until 1843, when he was' elected Professor
of law in the Centennary College at Brandon, Rankin county, Mississippi.
After holding this position for one and one-half years, the Trustees found it
necessary to remove the president, which they did, and elected Mr. Shattuck
to fill the chair made vacant by the former president. On account of financial
difficulties and a poor title, the college had to be abandoned. Soon after
they purchased at auction the Louisiana State college buildings, which were
afterwards known as the Centennary College of Louisiana. He resigned the
position of president in 1849. Under his management the college was in a
flourishing condition, and was entirely freed from debt, with two hundred
students in attendance. Soon after his resignation, he took passage on a 
schooner to Panama and from there on a sailing vessel to San Francisco,
arriving in April, 1850. He immediately began practicing law in San
Francisco, and in the Fall of 1850 was elected Judge of the Superior Court.
At this time the business of the court was managed by three Judges, and
Mr. Shattuck, believing this a useless expense, as one Judge could do all the
its business, accordingly, in 1852, petitioned the Legislature that the same
should be remodeled and one Judge perform the whole duty, which was
accomplished, and he therefore resigned the Judgeship and practiced law.
In 1854 he was elected Judge of the Superior Court, as remodeled, and
discharged the duties of that office until 1857, when the act establishing said
court was repealed upon Mr. Shattuck's petition. He again resumed his
profession. In 1861 he was defeated on the Democratic ticket for Congress.
In 1862 he came to this county and settled upon his estate in Sonoma
valley (purchasing it in 1850), where he has since resided, with the exception
of three years he spent in Mexico. Returning in 1867, he retired from
business and political life. His wife, who died July 9, 1875, was born in
Wake county. North Carolina, January 6, 1804. As is seen by the foregoing,
Mr. Shattuck has lead a very active life, is an ornament to society
and possesses those traits of character that are elevating and ennobling. He
is now nearly eighty years of age, but remarkably well preserved. Mr.
Shattuck claims the credit of never having sought a nomination for any
office, from any Convention. That while in office he never received a gift
from any person, " to blind his eyes withal," and that he has performed the
duties of every office held by him with conscientious assiduity and fidelity.
He reflects with pleasure upon the four months' campaign he made in 1841
in Mississippi against the repudiation of her debts, and justice and truth
require him to say that while by the popular vote of that State a majority
of two thousand were in favor of repudiation, yet the repudiation in the
main was voted by those who had nothing to pay�all of the wealthy
counties gave a majority for payment. Mr. Shattuck looks also with satisfaction
to the conservative course taken by him in the various mobish excitements
and Vigilance Committees of San Francisco ; in saving Barden from
violent death; in preventing a collision of forces in 1856, and in pouring oil
upon the troubled waters generally to the extent of his powers. He looks
with sadness upon his many errors, but they have taught him to view with
charity the shortcomings of others. Their children are: Frank W., born
February 14, 1828; Dickson P., born November 2, 1829; David O, born
September 17, 1831; John S., born October 1, 1833; Mary E., born August
17, 1835; James W., born October 15, 1837; Jane T., born December 27,
1839; Albert, born November 17, 1841; Elizabeth S., born December 22,
1843; Robert P., born March 4, 1847.

Source: HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, Alley, Bowen & Co. 1880
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper May 2010