California Biographies

Source:
History of Napa and Lake Counties
San Francisco, Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers. 1881

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011

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


JESSE GRIGSBY.  Whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Roane County, 
Tennessee, February 23, 1819, and is the son of George and Rebecca James Grigsby. When he was 
quite young his parents moved to Monroe County, that State, where he received his education and 
resided till 1837. He then went to Missouri and located in Pulaski County, where he engaged in farming 
and stock raising until 1840. He then moved to Greene County, and began the same business, which 
he followed until the spring of 1850. February 19th of that year he started across the plains for 
California, coming via Green River route and South Pass, entering the State by the Truckee route, and 
arrived in Napa County September 18th of the above year, and settled with his brother, Captain John 
Grigsby, who was then residing in the valley. Here he began farming and stock raising, which he 
followed till 1872, when he sold to D. Emerson. He then moved to Berryessa Valley and engaged in the 
same business, and remained there for one year. He then gave up his farm to his son, P. D. Grigsby, 
and has since retired from business. He has held the office of Supervisor for two terms, and has 
always been one of Napa County's most staunch and stable farmers and citizens. He was married June 
27, 1837, to Margaret Alexander, who was born in Gifford County, North Carolina, in March, 1819, and 
they are still hale and hearty, after spending over forty-four years of married life. They have seven 
living children; Pulaski D., William T., John W., Rebecca, Willis P., James, Jesse F., all but one of whom 
are now living in Napa County.