Kings County Biographies


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



JAMES SUTHERLAND
 
is a native of England, born near New Castle in 1838.  His father, John 
Sutherland, was engaged in coal mining near New Castle.  He emigrated with his 
family to the United States about 1838, and settled near St. Louis, Missouri, 
and connected himself with the coal mining interests of that vicinity, remaining 
until 1850; he then crossed the plains for California by wagon and ox team.  The 
trip was a long and dangerous one, as the Indians were very hostile; but after 
six months of travel, Mr. Sutherland and family arrived safely at Big Canon, 
south of Hangtown, when he at once commenced mining operations.  After three 
years of successful work, he went to the Sacramento valley, took up 1,000 acres 
of land and engaged in the stock business, and also kept a public house.  As to 
the price of provisions in those early days, flour cost $1 per pound, and hogs 
brought $1 per pound on foot, meals were served from one to two dollars each.
            In 1855 Mr. Sutherland returned to the States and picked up sixty 
fine horses and about 350 head of American cattle.  These he drove across the 
plains, and with slight loss landed them at his ranch.  In the fall of 1855 he 
gathered his stock and drove south through the San Joaquin valley and settled on 
the lower King�s river, in what was then called the swamp land � very few 
settlers at that time in the locality � and the valley filled with wild horses, 
cattle, antelope and elk.  Grazing was then free through the valley, but Mr. 
Sutherland wisely took up land then and later, until he secured 14,000 acres, he 
then dealt extensively in cattle and horses, with about 20,000 of the former and 
5,000 of the latter.  During the settlement of the country in the early �70�s, 
and the digging of the irrigating ditches, it was Mr. Sutherland�s cattle which 
supplied the half-starved settlers in a country too barren to sustain life, 
until water was secured for irrigation.  After the passage of the �No Fence� 
law, Mr. Sutherland went into the sheep business very extensively, increasing 
his band to 30,000 head.  His interests were all in stock, which were gradually 
reduced, and at his death in 1881 his interests were small in comparison.  He 
had been twice married, and left ten children, among whom his large land 
interests were divided.  
            James Sutherland lived at home through his father�s life.  He was 
married in Sacramento in 1890 to Miss Augusta Young, a native of Missouri.  
After the division of the estate our subject lived upon his allotment until 
1886, when he sold out and moved to Grangeville, purchasing four and one-half 
acres for a home, and subsequently 100 acres one mile south of Armona, sixty 
acres of which are in alfalfa and forty acres in vines.  He also farms outside, 
and sows annually about 300 acres.
            Mr. and Mrs. Sutherland have six children � Thomas, Amelia, Dora, 
John, Fred and Eva.  Mr. Sutherland has been a hard working man through life, 
attending strictly to his ranch interests, and now congratulates himself that 
what he owns, he owns without incumbrance [sic].
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p. 759
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler