California Biographies

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 the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


J. J. CAIRNS. It is always interesting to chronicle the history of the pioneer. The man who has 
braved the hardships of frontier life and who has become accustomed to the vacillating fortunes 
of the farmer on the California plains, is the one who has helped to build up Tulare county in 
more avenues than one. And particularly is this true in the interest he takes in irrigating by means 
of wells. When J. J. Cairns first began the sheep business he found it necessary to seek other 
sources of water supply than that of the river and creeks. He at once put down wells in Madera 
county, where he then lived, and as that was considered very dry land he was surprised to find 
water in sufficient quantity for his stock at a depth of fifteen or sixteen feet; this he also found 
true of other localities in the San Joaquin valley. In Tulare county he obtained water by sinking 
wells to a depth of fifty-five to one hundred and fifty feet. For, a time the cost of the wells was 
out of proportion to the benefits received, and he therefore experimented until the desired result 
was obtained at a cost of $90 for a well that would irrigate an entire section of land. By leaving 
out the casing the expense was materially lessened and its absence allowed the water to flow 
freely instead of shutting it off. He thus proved the efficacy of his scheme and was the first man 
of the valley to accomplish what is destined to make this one of the greatest farming and horticultural 
regions in the world. 

J. J. Cairns was born in Forfarshire, Scotland, August 10, 1844, the youngest of four chil- 
dren born to Andrew Cairns. His father was a forester and came of a sturdy old Scotch family. 
Mr. Cairns received a very good education, obtained in the private schools of his native shire. 
In 1866 he located in New Zealand and engaged in the sheep business for five years, when he 
came to California. He located in that part of Fresno county which is now Madera county, 
where he followed the sheep business until 1877, when on account of the drouth he took his flock 
to the Sacramento valley, ranging them in Colusa, Butte and Tehama counties. He sold out 
inside of a year, and taking into consideration the expense of moving and the death of so many, 
his receipts enabled him only to come out even on the venture. Once more at the beginning of 
the business, he located in 1881 in Tulare county five miles from his present home. Two years, 
later he also became interested in the raising of grain, and shortly afterward disposed of his 
sheep and gave his entire attention to extensive farming. In 1894 he farmed twenty thousand 
acres of land, all in grain, of which six thousand was his own property. A failure of crops 
that year compelled him to dispose of his land to pay off indebtedness to the amount of $175,- 
000. He was left with one hundred acres, his present property. In 1893 he set sixty-five acres 
of this land to navel oranges, which have proved a success and is considered as one of the finest 
bearing orchards in the Lindsay district. He is still engaged in grain raising, farming about 
three thousand acres which he operates with five eight-mule teams. He also owns six hun- 
dred acres within three miles of Lindsay. On his home ranch he has fine buildings and im- 
provements, the entire property being under irrigation from a large well operated by a nine- 
horse power electric motor. Mr. Cairns is one of the organizers and the president of the Lindsay 
Orange Growers' Association, which company has put up one of the largest packing houses in 
the county. He was also an organizer and is a director in the Lindsay Improvement Company, 
having acted as its first president. This company built the Fraternal Hall, a large, two-story brick 
building, and a credit to the place. He is a stockholder in the Lindsay Rochdale Associa- 
tion and a director and vice-president in the People's Telephone Company, of Tulare. One of 
the most popular and prominent men of the section, he holds a high place in the esteem and 
confidence of all who have come in contact with him, either in a business or social way. 

In 1877 Mr. Cairns was united in marriage in Fresno county with Eliza Galbraith, who is a 
native daughter of California. She is very active in the social life of Lindsay. Recently she has 
formed a club (of which she acts as president), whose aim is to plant trees in the avenues and 
in general promote the beautifying of this already famous orange section. Air. and Mrs. Cairns 
are the parents of the following children : Walter, a stockman of Lindsay; Edith, attending the 
Santa Cruz Business College ; Ethel ; Laura and Norman. For many years Mr. Cairns has served 
as school trustee, and has always been greatly interested in educational work and the enhancing 
of the opportunities of the youth of our country, both intellectually and morally. Politically he is 
an uncompromising Republican.