California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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


JOHN PICO.  In that fine community of which Goleta is the natural center, and of the weighty citizens, 
prosperous business men, and an individual whose name is never mentioned except in terms of 
respect and honor, is Mr. John Pico, whose relationship with this part of California extends beyond his 
own years, since his family had been identified with the country from the time it was part of old 
Mexico.

Mr. John Pico has spent his life largely in and around Goleta, and was born there August 11, 1871. His 
father is Miguel Pico, who is now living practically retired at the age of seventy-eight. He was born in 
Santa Barbara County, and his early youth was spent there before the California gold excitement and 
before the American conquest. Santa Barbara was a very primitive village within his early recollections, 
and he has been a witness to the remarkable changes that have come over industrial, social and civic 
life. The principal industry in his youth was the grazing of cattle, and he himself was a vacquero. He 
represents the same family which produced Governor Pico, whose name is one of the most honored 
in the early annals of the State of California. John Pico's maternal ancestors were also prominent, 
being the Romero family of Montecito. His mother, Guadaloupe (Romero) Pico, was born at 
Montecito, and died in 1873. 

An education in the common schools gave John Pico the literary foundation for a career which has 
been one of hard work and continued advancement. Some of his early experiences were upon a farm, 
but in 1892 he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of blacksmith. Not long afterward he set up a 
blacksmith shop and added to it facilities for iron working, and this has been his chief business at 
Goleta ever since. It is the leading industry of its kind in Goleta, and he has all the modern equipment 
for performing such iron work as is required in this community, and the business of horseshoeing for 
the ranchers in the country around is also a service for which his shop is noted. Mr. Pico has been 
industrious and a good manager, and enjoys all the material comforts of life. His home at Goleta is 
conceded to be one of the finest on Kellogg Avenue.  
 
In his home town on December 14, 1902, he married Avery (Shearll) Kellogg. Mrs. Pico was born in 
Texas, a daughter of Thomas Shearll, of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Pico have four children, all of them 
the children of her first marriage: Eugene Kellogg, who is a graduate of the State University at 
Berkeley, and is now employed near Sacramento; May Kellogg, a teacher at Santa Maria; Irma Kellogg, 
at home; and Frank Kellogg, who is learning the trades of blacksmith and iron worker under his step-
father.  
 
The esteem accorded Mr. Pico in his community has been manifested in various ways. Under the old 
election laws of the state he represented the republican party at various county conventions. For the 
past two years he has served as constable for his district, and his term in that office runs on 
indefinitely. The only order to which he ever belonged was the Native Sons of the Golden West, but 
he gave up his membership some years ago.