Solano County Archives - California Genealogy

Biography of James Carroll Owen of Suisun

James Carroll Owen arrived in California in 1849 as a pioneer, overcoming significant hardships typical of early settlers. Born in Illinois in 1831, he and his family settled in Suisun Valley, where they engaged in mining and established the first grocery store. Owen ventured into various businesses, including butchering and real estate, and played a crucial role in the community’s development, such as piping water to Suisun in 1858. He served as Napa’s city marshal and was married to Phoebe Ellen Rush, with whom he had four children.

Biography of Edward P. Hilborn of Suisun

Edward P. Hilborn, born on February 10, 1871, in Suisun, Solano County, California, is the deputy state surveyor general of California and a distinguished civil engineer. After graduating with a B.S. in civil engineering from the University of California in 1891, he worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, contributing to significant projects. Appointed chief deputy state surveyor general in 1903, Hilborn has a strong background in politics, serving on various Republican committees. He is active in several fraternal organizations, including the Knights Templar Masons, Shriners, and Elks.

Biography of Eugene D. Graham of Stockton

Eugene D. Graham, born January 22, 1866, near Stockton, California, serves as county clerk of San Joaquin County. His parents, Robert L. and Caroline (Stokes) Graham, were Kentucky natives with Revolutionary War ancestors. In 1852, they journeyed to California with ox teams and settled in San Joaquin County, where Robert engaged in farming and stock-raising. Eugene, raised on the family farm, received his education locally and worked in Lodi before returning to agriculture. In 1895, he became deputy county clerk, and in 1902, he was elected county clerk. Married to Frances E. Mann in 1888, they have three sons: Robert E., Lloyd L., and Myrl E. Eugene is a member of the I.O.O.F. and W.O.W., and a Republican.

Biography of Joseph N. Hubert of Monterey California

History of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties, California Volume 2 Title Page

Joseph N. Hubert, of 417 Pine street, Monterey, is now successfully engaged in business as a painting contractor. He was born on a farm in New Hampshire, October 2, 1857, a son of John G. and Jennie E. (Lowe) Hubert, his father being also a painter. The family came to California in February, 1876, and located at San Francisco, where, the very same year, the father died. The mother still survives him, having now reached the advanced age of ninety years. Joseph N. Hubert attended the public schools of Massachusetts, to which state the family had removed during his boyhood, … Read more

Biography of John W. Fretwell of Parkfield California

John W. Fretwell, justice of the peace at Parkfield, was born October 8, 1852, and is a son of John W. and Katherine (Ford) Fretwell, the former a native and the latter of Kentucky. The subject of this sketch came to California in 1872 and for about three years lived in the Sacramento valley and Solano county. In 1875 he came to Parkfield and is now the oldest resident in the valley in point of years, who arrived after he had reached the age of twenty-one years. He homesteaded one hundred sixty acres and preempted another one hundred sixty. By … Read more

Biography of John W. Barton of El Monte California

John W. Barton, pioneer rancher, located in the vicinity of El Monte in the ‘80’s and engaged in the cultivation of an extensive ranch of between fifteen hundred and eighteen hundred acres, in the meantime improving and developing a homestead of twenty-four acres. He met with success in his efforts, acquired a competence, and won a place among the loyal and public-spirited citizens of the locality.

Biography of Chester R. Barton of El Monte, California

Chester R. Barton Headstone found in Savannah Cemetery

One of the successful and enterprising citizens of Los Angeles County was Chester R. Barton, who located in El Monte, and the surrounding country, operating as an extensive rancher. He was a native Californian, his birth having occurred in Solano County, July 16, 1855. His father, John W. Barton was born in Vermont, the Representatives of an old New England family located in this country by an English Ancestor prior to the Revolution.