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 YORK.  This worthy old pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Granger 
County, Tennessee, June 15,1820, and is the son of Enoch and Nancy Hill York. When he was thirteen 
years of age his parents moved to Warren County, Middle Tennessee, where he resided till 1841. He 
then emigrated west and settled in Dade County, Missouri, where he began farming, which he 
followed till 1845. April 15th of the above mentioned year he started in Captain John Grigsby's 
Company, together with David Hudson, William Hudson, William Elliot, and over one hundred more 
men, across the plains to California, arriving at Johnsons Ranch October 15th of that year. Continuing 
his journey to this county, he arrived at Calistoga, then known as the Hot Springs, with above 
mentioned three gentlemen, November 1,1845. He resided at Calistoga till the Bear Flag War, in June, 
1846, when, for protection, he moved his family to Sonoma. Lieutenant Revere, commanding a 
Government vessel at San Francisco, and who took command of the forces in Sonoma, entrusted the 
subject of our sketch and Sam Kelsey with the important duty of carrying the American flag from 
Sonoma to Sacramento, and delivering the same to Captain Sutter at his fort, which duty these two 
brave young men promptly and faithfully carried out. In the fall of 1846 he returned to Calistoga, and 
settled on the farm now owned by Peter Teale. On the discovery of gold in 1848, Mr. York with his 
family went to the mines, and began operations below Coloma, where he continued two weeks. He 
then proceeded to Hangtown (Placerville), where he mined until September, meeting with good 
success. He then returned to this county, and settled on the ranch which he had purchased from Dr. E 
T. Bale previous to going to the mines. In 1849 he again returned to the mines, being absent six weeks. 
He now owns sixty acres of land, mostly in vines, Mr. York married September 5, 1842, Lucinda 
Hudson, who was born in La Fayette County, Missouri, June 20, 1823, and by this union they have nine 
living children: William E., born June 5, 1843; David, born September 3, 1845; Henry, born December 6, 
1847; John A., born April 18, 1850; Nancy L, born August 12, 1852; Pettis S., born December 24, 1855; 
Charles, born March 3, 1858; Caswell, born November 14, 1860; Frank, born January 21, 1863, and 
Nellie, born February 13, 1867.