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


THOMAS DRAKE EASTIN. Conspicuous among the many enterprising and progressive agriculturists 
who bring to their calling good business methods and excellent judgment is Thomas Drake Eastin, 
a thriving and prosperous farmer, living about six and one-half miles west of Newman, in Stanislaus 
county, A son of the late Brutus Eastin, he was born July 27, 1870, in Pike county. Mo. 

A native of Kentucky, Brutus Eastin was born in Madison county. In early boyhood he removed with 
his parents, James and Theodocia (South) Eastin, natives of Virginia, of Scotch-English descent, to 
Missouri. When the wonderful stories of the rich discovery of gold in California reached his ears, 
Brutus Eastin crossed the plains with an ox team train, and for nine years cast his luck with the miners, 
in his labors meeting with average success. Returning to Missouri in 1858, he married, and lived there 
for twenty years, when, in 1878, he came with his family to Stanislaus county. He located first at 
Crow's Landing, and then on the farm now occupied by his son, Thomas Drake Eastin, at Orestimba, 
which he purchased in the spring of 1887, and where he resided until his death, in 1899, aged seventy-three 
years. He married Emeline South, who was born in Missouri, and died in Stockton, Cal. 

She bore him four sons and four daughters, Thomas Drake, the special subject of this sketch, 
being the second child. Two of the sons are now deceased. 

Coming with his parents to Stanislaus county, in 1878, Thomas Drake Eastin was educated in 
the public schools at Crow's Landing. In 1887 he came with the family to the farm on which 
he now lives, at Orestimba, and since the death of his father has had its management, renting 
the place from the remaining heirs. The ranch comprises three hundred and sixty-eight acres 
of land, one-sixth of which is his by inheritance. As a general farmer he is meeting with success, 
and in addition to raising the staple crops of this section of the state, Mr. Eastin pays some 
attention to stock raising, and also has a chicken ranch, from which he receives a good income. 

In San Luis Obispo, Cal., Mr. Eastin married Miss Louisa Vernon, a native of Monterey 
county, and they have two children, namely : Thomas Drake, Jr., and Inez Dorothy. Politi- 
cally Mr. Eastin is an earnest supporter of the principles of the Democratic party, and reli- 
giously he is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.