California Biographies

Source: History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of 
the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with 
its growth and development from the early days to the present (1919)

History By Paul E. Vandor 
Illustrated, Complete In Two Volumes 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1919
 
Notes: Missing+page1185-1186

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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


JOHN J. STRATTON. � A fine fellow whose many friends are glad to 
see that he is again building up a satisfactory business despite previous re- 
verses, is J. J. Stratton, the viticulturist and chicken fancier who once de- 
veloped by hard work in the East a splendid celery farm and vegetable gar- 
den but had to sell out and come West on account of his wife's health. This 
was in 1902, and ever since he has been building and broadening as all who 
know his capacity would expect him to do. 

He was born at New Baltimore. Stark County. Ohio, on July 27. 1869, the 
son of Elias Stratton, who was a farmer there and served in the 186th Ohio 
Regiment during the Civil War. He married Catherine Boston, a native of 
Ohio; and both are dead. Three children were born of this union, and all 
are living. Of these our subject is the second oldest and the only one in 
California. 

Brought up in Ohio, the lad played and worked on the farm, and at the 
same time attended the public schools. He learned to be a farmer and a 
carpenter: and when he was ready for the responsibilities of life, he married 
Miss Nora Matti, a native of Randolph, Portage Count}', Ohio. Mr. Stratton 
followed farming, running his father's farm for a time and later specializing 
in celery on land of his own. He put in five thousand feet of tile under his 
five acres, and raised big crops of celery. 

In 1902, Mr. and Mrs. Stratton made a visit to California, then returned 
to Ohio. In 1906, on account of failing health of Mrs. Stratton, they sold out 
and started for California, stopping for two months at Colorado Springs. 
Disappointment with the results led him to California ; and in the fall of 
1906 he settled in Fresno County, near Fowler, where Mrs. Stratton died on 
November 15. He was in the employ of William Ruffert for eighteen months; 
and meantime, in 1908, he bought this place and began the necessary im- 
provements. 

He embarked in the poultry business in 1909, purchasing White Leg- 
horns and installing incubators and brooders, and raising chickens and gather- 
ing eggs. He set out a fine eucalyptus grove by the house and with a variety 
of vines, made a nice vineyard. He has twenty acres on White's Bridge Road 
and Hughes Avenue, and his poultry yard now has about 1.000 hens. He 
belongs to and vigorously supports the California Associated Raisin Company. 

One child survived Mrs. Stratton � Piccola by name, until March IS, 1919, 
when she died. In national politics a Republican, Mr. Stratton takes keen 
pleasure in assisting to promote all worthy local movements, regardless of 
party lines.