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


JOHN ROY HEPBURN. A native of Illinois, Mr. Hepburn was born at Saybrook, McLean county, 
September 27, 1874. His father, John, was born in Scotland, and on coming to this country 
settled in Saybrook. By occupation he was a stationary engineer. At the outbreak of the Civil 
war he enlisted in an Illinois regiment and served until the close of hostilities. On his return 
to Saybrook, he again took up his occupation of engineer which he continued to follow until 
October, 1874, when he was killed by an explosion, caused by some one tampering with the 
engine during a short absence. 

Mr. Hepburn married Elizabeth Smith Murphy, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Joseph 
Murphy, who migrated from Pennsylvania to Illinois, where he followed farming. Mrs. Hepburn 
now resides in Los Angeles. She is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church and is engaged 
in missionary work. 

John Roy Hepburn is the youngest of two children, his older brother now living in Alameda. In 
1882 the Hepburn family removed to Highmore, Hyde county, S. D., where the mother had 
homesteaded a fine farm. Here our subject was reared, attending the public schools, and later 
taking a course in the Mitchell Business College. 

In 1890 he came to California, first locating in San Jose. There he entered the employ 
of Hugh Holthouse, a farmer and liveryman, with whom he remained eight years. At the 
expiration of this time, in 1898, he removed to Lindsay, where he began budding oranges for 
K. H. Platte. Continuing with Mr. Platte and Mr. Baggs until 1901 he secured a position with 
the Moore Orange orchard, where he remained until March, 1904. He then accepted his pres- 
ent position, that of superintendent of the Giant Oak Fruit Company, near Exeter. Here he 
has charge of four hundred and forty acres, three hundred and forty acres of which are de- 
voted to fruit. It is said to be the finest fruit orchard in the county, and under his supervision 
satisfactory results are being obtained. 

While in San Jose, Mr. Hepburn was united in marriage with Miss Lillie Foster, a native 
of Vacaville. Three children are the result of this union: Budd, Merle and Ruth. Being of 
a saving disposition he has become the owner of eight acres of land where the town site of 
Lindsay is located. In Mr. Hepburn Tulare county has a man who will surely make his way 
and become one of the influential citizens.