California Biographies, Santa Cruz County JOHN H. SINKINSON. Transcribed by Peggy Hooper Source: History of Santa Cruz County, California Pacific Press Publishing Company San Francisco, Cal. 1892 By E. S. Harrison This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm JOHN H. SINKINSON. The gratifying degree of success that has attended the persevering efforts of Mr. Sinkinson shows what may be accom- plished by patient industry, honorable dealings and unwearied application to such duties as the day may bring. When he came to the United States he had no moneyed capital, but he possessed a sturdy constitution, willing hands and true moral principles, and with these as a foundation he has laid the superstructure of personal success. While wealth has not come to him, he has attained a fair competence and in the afternoon of life's busy day he is surrounded by all the comforts that enhance the pleasures of existence. During the long period of his residence in Santa Cruz he has risen to a position of influence among the business men and also has been most helpful in religious work, his labors in that line having been associated with the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is an earnest, sincere and liberal member. The early years in the life of John H. Sinkinson were passed uneventfully in the north of England, where he was born April 7, 1847, and where he received a common-school education. When a mere boy the necessity of self-support led him to take up the trade of wood-turning and he served an apprenticeship under a master who impressed upon him the importance of careful, painstaking application to the trade. In this way he received thorough preparation for life's responsibilities and when he immigrated to the United States in 1870 he was fitted for efficient labor in his special line. Settling in New Jersey, he secured employment in the factory of the 0. N. T. Cotton Co., and continued in the same place for three years, his work being the turning of spools. Next he went to Ithaca, N. Y., and worked at his trade of a wood- turner. At the expiration of two years he returned to the employ of the 0. N. T. Cotton Co., but remained a short time only, having decided to migrate to the west. On the 4th of July, 1876, he arrived in Santa Cruz and since then he has made California his home. Business men of Santa Cruz of the present generation have a vivid recollection of their boyhood days thirty years ago and of the delight they found in playing with Sinkinson's tops as well as the other toys manufactured by the same friend of the children. Having no capital, Mr. Sinkinson was forced to begin in a very small way and he rented a corner of the Grover planing mill. This was transformed into a shop, where he engaged in the manufacture of toys, tops, feather dusters, etc. The utmost economy was necessary. Patient toil ultimately brought its merited reward. Eventually he had accumulated some capital and was able to embark in the planing-mill business. At this writing he owns the largest plant of the kind in Santa Cruz and engages in the manufacture of boxes, doors, sash, shingles, etc., and also saws lumber direct from the logs. The steady improvement in his financial condition shows what may be accomplished by perseverance, close attention to business and honest, straightforward dealings. The marriage of Mr. Sinkinson united him with Miss Sarah Lynam, a native of England. They are the parents of the following-named children: John W., who was born in Newark, N. J. ; Thirza A., now Mrs. Webb, who was born in San Francisco; Edward J., born in Sequel, Santa Cruz county; Eva, now Mrs. L. Rittenhouse, born in San Francisco ; Fred- erick A. and Ernest J., natives of Santa Cruz. The family are prominent in social circles of Santa Cruz and maintain a warm interest in the work of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which, as previously stated, Mr. Sinkinson has been a leading worker for a long period of years.