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


JOHN H. SEAWELL.  Was born in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, February 8, 1815. At the age of eight 
years he, with parents, moved to Sumner County, Tennessee, where he received his education and 
resided until 1839, at which time he went to La Fayette County, Missouri, and engaged in clerking. In 
May, 1850, he crossed the plains to California, and arrived in Napa County, October 7th of the above 
year. Here he engaged in farming and merchandising, which he continued for eight years. In 1851 he 
was elected to the office of County Clerk, which position he held two years. In 1858 he discontinued 
his mercantile business, and turned his undivided attention to farming until 1864, when he went to 
Washoe and engaged in mining for eight months. He then returned to Napa, and after a few months 
went to Mexico, where he engaged in cotton growing until 1867, when he returned and settled in 
Berryessa Valley, where he followed farming until 1871, when he once more engaged in 
merchandising. This he followed for five years, since which time he has not been engaged in any 
particular business. Mr. Seawell married December 7, 1843, Miss Mary Louderdale. Their children are, 
Jonah L., Prudence, Martha, Charles and Antoinette.