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 AUGUST LEEBON. Three miles east of Visalia, Tulare county, is located the fine 
fruit ranch which belongs to John August Leebon, one of the progressive and successful ranch- 
men of this section. A native of Sweden, he was born May 16, 1861, and was reared to young 
manhood in the country, receiving his education in the common school in the vicinity of his 
home. In 1 88 1 he immigrated to America and located in Minneapolis, Minn. Desiring to ac- 
quire more education than he possessed he attended school for one year, after which he en- 
gaged as a laborer on a farm, and also worked in the stables of a street car company. Coming 
to California in 1886 he located in San Jose and found employment in an orchard for a year and 
a half, after which he worked in a sawmill in Tacoma, Wash. As the result of an accident he 
was in a hospital for some time, and in 1889 returned to San Jose and engaged in teaming. 
He continued profitably in this employment for about eight years, when, in 1897, he came to 
Tulare county and in the vicinity of Visalia rented one hundred and eighteen acres of land 
from the First National Bank of San Jose. In 1901 he was able financially to purchase this 
property, the greater part of which was then planted to fruit, sixty acres given over to the 
cultivation of peaches, twenty to prunes, six to nectarines, while the balance is devoted to pas- 
ture and grain. He is modern and up to date in his methods and has made a success of his work. 

In San Jose, Cal., Mr. Leebon was married to Annie Anderson, also a native of Sweden, 
who died in her home in Visalia, leaving two sons, Oscar William and Carl Edward. Mr. 
Leebon 'as one of the founders of the Swedish Mission Church of San Jose, of which he is a 
charter member. Politically he is a Republican, and though never desirous of public office he 
has accepted that of school director, and is now serving as clerk of the board. He is an enter- 
prising and public-spirited citizen and commands the esteem of all with whom he comes in contact