John Westley Van Benschoten was born in 1816 to parents Cornelius Van Benschoten (b.1784, d.1855) and Mary Keator-Van Benschoten (b.1786, d.1855), in Poughkeepsie, New York, an early Dutch settlement. He moved to New Orleans circa 1839, dabbled in stage acting, but prospered as a butcher. In 1846 he contracted with the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War to supply beef. Some sources assumed he followed Major John C. Fremont across the Great Plains to southern California circa 1846, but that was incorrect. He actually accompanied Major Lawrence P. Graham's Dragoons (cavalry troops) from Monterrey, Mexico, to California by way of the Yuma Crossing in Dec-1848. His timing was perfect because as his contract expired, word of gold discoveries had just arrived. He promptly followed others to the Sierra foothills, where he settled in Jamestown. There he and two partners opened the El Dorado Hotel.
J.W. soon became popular in Jamestown, and in Nov-1849 he was elected to California's first Assembly, representing the San Joaquin Senatorial District. But he quickly had a change of heart and resigned his office in Feb-1850 after serving only four days. A few months later in mid-1850 he left Jamestown and settled in Grayson City, a new town established on the San Joaquin River by A.J. Grayson, strategically sited along a route to the southern gold mines. Some sources assumed he was with Grayson when the town was founded in Feb-1850, but that too was incorrect. He actually arrived some months later. But right away he became partners with Grayson in his ferry business. He then built a second El Dorado Hotel, later known as the Grayson Hotel or Grayson House.
In late 1850 J.W. acquired full ownership of the ferry business. The following year he was appointed postmaster of the town, re-named Graysonville, but the post office closed in Oct-1851 after only three months. Graysonville had declined because fewer miners were passing through, and there was a lack of regular steamer traffic along the river. For a time in 1852-1853 J.W. was the only resident. He kept the town going, and in addition to the ferry and hotel, he began raising cattle. Others gradually joined him. In May-1854 there was a gun battle between ranchers and six cattle rustlers, and J.W. shot and killed one of the outlaws. Cattle raising was eventually replaced with farming, and Graysonville became known as a wheat-growing center. This was before the advent of irrigation, and seasonal droughts were a big problem for the farmers, as was flooding. In Jan-1862 a major flood along the San Joaquin River destroyed J.W.'s ferry and did other damage.
In Aug-1866 J.W. married Jessie McKay of Stockton, originally from Nova Scotia. A year later their first son Charles Wesley (b.1867, d.1948) was born. Earlier in 1867 J.W. purchased clear title to the 631 acres comprising Graysonville and its surrounding land for $788. The next year he had the town surveyed and subdivided into sale-able lots, naming streets after people in his life. In 1869, his second son Joseph died in infancy. The following year of 1870 started out well as the post office reopened and his town began growing, but tragedy struck again when his wife Jessie died on 6 May 1870.
In Sep-1873 J.W. married Mary Ann Cameron-Gunn, a widow with a grown daughter. The following year he deeded land to trustees for a public school for only one dollar. Around the same time, Graysonville officially became known as Grayson. All along J.W. continued to operate the ferry and the hotel, where he hosted a number of distinguished guests. Mark Twain and Bret Harte were guests in 1878, as was former President Ulysses S. Grant in 1879. In Jan-1880 J.W. deeded 1.75 acres of land to the Grayson Cemetery Association, again for only one dollar. The site was apparently being used as a graveyard already, and J.W.'s first wife Jessie was likely buried there. Another setback came in Nov-1884, when the Grayson Hotel succumbed to fire, but was soon rebuilt.
On Tuesday, 12 Jan 1886, J.W. was taking a passenger across the river on his ferry when he lost his balance and fell into the river. He was dragged under the boat and died. He was 69. He was buried in Grayson Cemetery with his first wife Jessie. In 1890, his mother-in-law Margaret Cameron (b. 1795, d.1890) was buried in the same plot, though her name does not appear on the headstone. And in 1908, J.W.'s second wife Mary was buried there too. The man now spends eternity buried next to both of his two wifes AND a mother-in-law!
Other Notes: J.W.'s year of birth is shown as 1817 on his headstone, but more reliable sources cite 1816. J.W.'s middle name was sometimes cited as Wesley. He was often known as "West" or "Van." J.W. did not found the town of Grayson, but he has been called the "Father of Grayson." J.W. did not found the town of Westley either. After his death, second wife Mary began selling some of the property she inherited, specifically land adjacent to Southern Pacific Railroad's new track two miles southwest of Grayson. The site became known as Westley in 1887 or 1888, a name she selected to honor her husband's memory. J.W.'s portrait photo is the only known image thus far found. It is from: "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California" by J.M. Guinn, 1905.
[Bio. by J.W. Adams, 2nd great-grandson, revised Sep-2015 to correct some factual errors contained in an earlier version and to add newly-discovered details].
J.W. soon became popular in Jamestown, and in Nov-1849 he was elected to California's first Assembly, representing the San Joaquin Senatorial District. But he quickly had a change of heart and resigned his office in Feb-1850 after serving only four days. A few months later in mid-1850 he left Jamestown and settled in Grayson City, a new town established on the San Joaquin River by A.J. Grayson, strategically sited along a route to the southern gold mines. Some sources assumed he was with Grayson when the town was founded in Feb-1850, but that too was incorrect. He actually arrived some months later. But right away he became partners with Grayson in his ferry business. He then built a second El Dorado Hotel, later known as the Grayson Hotel or Grayson House.
In late 1850 J.W. acquired full ownership of the ferry business. The following year he was appointed postmaster of the town, re-named Graysonville, but the post office closed in Oct-1851 after only three months. Graysonville had declined because fewer miners were passing through, and there was a lack of regular steamer traffic along the river. For a time in 1852-1853 J.W. was the only resident. He kept the town going, and in addition to the ferry and hotel, he began raising cattle. Others gradually joined him. In May-1854 there was a gun battle between ranchers and six cattle rustlers, and J.W. shot and killed one of the outlaws. Cattle raising was eventually replaced with farming, and Graysonville became known as a wheat-growing center. This was before the advent of irrigation, and seasonal droughts were a big problem for the farmers, as was flooding. In Jan-1862 a major flood along the San Joaquin River destroyed J.W.'s ferry and did other damage.
In Aug-1866 J.W. married Jessie McKay of Stockton, originally from Nova Scotia. A year later their first son Charles Wesley (b.1867, d.1948) was born. Earlier in 1867 J.W. purchased clear title to the 631 acres comprising Graysonville and its surrounding land for $788. The next year he had the town surveyed and subdivided into sale-able lots, naming streets after people in his life. In 1869, his second son Joseph died in infancy. The following year of 1870 started out well as the post office reopened and his town began growing, but tragedy struck again when his wife Jessie died on 6 May 1870.
In Sep-1873 J.W. married Mary Ann Cameron-Gunn, a widow with a grown daughter. The following year he deeded land to trustees for a public school for only one dollar. Around the same time, Graysonville officially became known as Grayson. All along J.W. continued to operate the ferry and the hotel, where he hosted a number of distinguished guests. Mark Twain and Bret Harte were guests in 1878, as was former President Ulysses S. Grant in 1879. In Jan-1880 J.W. deeded 1.75 acres of land to the Grayson Cemetery Association, again for only one dollar. The site was apparently being used as a graveyard already, and J.W.'s first wife Jessie was likely buried there. Another setback came in Nov-1884, when the Grayson Hotel succumbed to fire, but was soon rebuilt.
On Tuesday, 12 Jan 1886, J.W. was taking a passenger across the river on his ferry when he lost his balance and fell into the river. He was dragged under the boat and died. He was 69. He was buried in Grayson Cemetery with his first wife Jessie. In 1890, his mother-in-law Margaret Cameron (b. 1795, d.1890) was buried in the same plot, though her name does not appear on the headstone. And in 1908, J.W.'s second wife Mary was buried there too. The man now spends eternity buried next to both of his two wifes AND a mother-in-law!
Other Notes: J.W.'s year of birth is shown as 1817 on his headstone, but more reliable sources cite 1816. J.W.'s middle name was sometimes cited as Wesley. He was often known as "West" or "Van." J.W. did not found the town of Grayson, but he has been called the "Father of Grayson." J.W. did not found the town of Westley either. After his death, second wife Mary began selling some of the property she inherited, specifically land adjacent to Southern Pacific Railroad's new track two miles southwest of Grayson. The site became known as Westley in 1887 or 1888, a name she selected to honor her husband's memory. J.W.'s portrait photo is the only known image thus far found. It is from: "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California" by J.M. Guinn, 1905.
[Bio. by J.W. Adams, 2nd great-grandson, revised Sep-2015 to correct some factual errors contained in an earlier version and to add newly-discovered details].
John Westley Van Benschoten was born in 1816 to parents Cornelius Van Benschoten (b.1784, d.1855) and Mary Keator-Van Benschoten (b.1786, d.1855), in Poughkeepsie, New York, an early Dutch settlement. He moved to New Orleans circa 1839, dabbled in stage acting, but prospered as a butcher. In 1846 he contracted with the U.S. Army during the Mexican-American War to supply beef. Some sources assumed he followed Major John C. Fremont across the Great Plains to southern California circa 1846, but that was incorrect. He actually accompanied Major Lawrence P. Graham's Dragoons (cavalry troops) from Monterrey, Mexico, to California by way of the Yuma Crossing in Dec-1848. His timing was perfect because as his contract expired, word of gold discoveries had just arrived. He promptly followed others to the Sierra foothills, where he settled in Jamestown. There he and two partners opened the El Dorado Hotel.
J.W. soon became popular in Jamestown, and in Nov-1849 he was elected to California's first Assembly, representing the San Joaquin Senatorial District. But he quickly had a change of heart and resigned his office in Feb-1850 after serving only four days. A few months later in mid-1850 he left Jamestown and settled in Grayson City, a new town established on the San Joaquin River by A.J. Grayson, strategically sited along a route to the southern gold mines. Some sources assumed he was with Grayson when the town was founded in Feb-1850, but that too was incorrect. He actually arrived some months later. But right away he became partners with Grayson in his ferry business. He then built a second El Dorado Hotel, later known as the Grayson Hotel or Grayson House.
In late 1850 J.W. acquired full ownership of the ferry business. The following year he was appointed postmaster of the town, re-named Graysonville, but the post office closed in Oct-1851 after only three months. Graysonville had declined because fewer miners were passing through, and there was a lack of regular steamer traffic along the river. For a time in 1852-1853 J.W. was the only resident. He kept the town going, and in addition to the ferry and hotel, he began raising cattle. Others gradually joined him. In May-1854 there was a gun battle between ranchers and six cattle rustlers, and J.W. shot and killed one of the outlaws. Cattle raising was eventually replaced with farming, and Graysonville became known as a wheat-growing center. This was before the advent of irrigation, and seasonal droughts were a big problem for the farmers, as was flooding. In Jan-1862 a major flood along the San Joaquin River destroyed J.W.'s ferry and did other damage.
In Aug-1866 J.W. married Jessie McKay of Stockton, originally from Nova Scotia. A year later their first son Charles Wesley (b.1867, d.1948) was born. Earlier in 1867 J.W. purchased clear title to the 631 acres comprising Graysonville and its surrounding land for $788. The next year he had the town surveyed and subdivided into sale-able lots, naming streets after people in his life. In 1869, his second son Joseph died in infancy. The following year of 1870 started out well as the post office reopened and his town began growing, but tragedy struck again when his wife Jessie died on 6 May 1870.
In Sep-1873 J.W. married Mary Ann Cameron-Gunn, a widow with a grown daughter. The following year he deeded land to trustees for a public school for only one dollar. Around the same time, Graysonville officially became known as Grayson. All along J.W. continued to operate the ferry and the hotel, where he hosted a number of distinguished guests. Mark Twain and Bret Harte were guests in 1878, as was former President Ulysses S. Grant in 1879. In Jan-1880 J.W. deeded 1.75 acres of land to the Grayson Cemetery Association, again for only one dollar. The site was apparently being used as a graveyard already, and J.W.'s first wife Jessie was likely buried there. Another setback came in Nov-1884, when the Grayson Hotel succumbed to fire, but was soon rebuilt.
On Tuesday, 12 Jan 1886, J.W. was taking a passenger across the river on his ferry when he lost his balance and fell into the river. He was dragged under the boat and died. He was 69. He was buried in Grayson Cemetery with his first wife Jessie. In 1890, his mother-in-law Margaret Cameron (b. 1795, d.1890) was buried in the same plot, though her name does not appear on the headstone. And in 1908, J.W.'s second wife Mary was buried there too. The man now spends eternity buried next to both of his two wifes AND a mother-in-law!
Other Notes: J.W.'s year of birth is shown as 1817 on his headstone, but more reliable sources cite 1816. J.W.'s middle name was sometimes cited as Wesley. He was often known as "West" or "Van." J.W. did not found the town of Grayson, but he has been called the "Father of Grayson." J.W. did not found the town of Westley either. After his death, second wife Mary began selling some of the property she inherited, specifically land adjacent to Southern Pacific Railroad's new track two miles southwest of Grayson. The site became known as Westley in 1887 or 1888, a name she selected to honor her husband's memory. J.W.'s portrait photo is the only known image thus far found. It is from: "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California" by J.M. Guinn, 1905.
[Bio. by J.W. Adams, 2nd great-grandson, revised Sep-2015 to correct some factual errors contained in an earlier version and to add newly-discovered details].
J.W. soon became popular in Jamestown, and in Nov-1849 he was elected to California's first Assembly, representing the San Joaquin Senatorial District. But he quickly had a change of heart and resigned his office in Feb-1850 after serving only four days. A few months later in mid-1850 he left Jamestown and settled in Grayson City, a new town established on the San Joaquin River by A.J. Grayson, strategically sited along a route to the southern gold mines. Some sources assumed he was with Grayson when the town was founded in Feb-1850, but that too was incorrect. He actually arrived some months later. But right away he became partners with Grayson in his ferry business. He then built a second El Dorado Hotel, later known as the Grayson Hotel or Grayson House.
In late 1850 J.W. acquired full ownership of the ferry business. The following year he was appointed postmaster of the town, re-named Graysonville, but the post office closed in Oct-1851 after only three months. Graysonville had declined because fewer miners were passing through, and there was a lack of regular steamer traffic along the river. For a time in 1852-1853 J.W. was the only resident. He kept the town going, and in addition to the ferry and hotel, he began raising cattle. Others gradually joined him. In May-1854 there was a gun battle between ranchers and six cattle rustlers, and J.W. shot and killed one of the outlaws. Cattle raising was eventually replaced with farming, and Graysonville became known as a wheat-growing center. This was before the advent of irrigation, and seasonal droughts were a big problem for the farmers, as was flooding. In Jan-1862 a major flood along the San Joaquin River destroyed J.W.'s ferry and did other damage.
In Aug-1866 J.W. married Jessie McKay of Stockton, originally from Nova Scotia. A year later their first son Charles Wesley (b.1867, d.1948) was born. Earlier in 1867 J.W. purchased clear title to the 631 acres comprising Graysonville and its surrounding land for $788. The next year he had the town surveyed and subdivided into sale-able lots, naming streets after people in his life. In 1869, his second son Joseph died in infancy. The following year of 1870 started out well as the post office reopened and his town began growing, but tragedy struck again when his wife Jessie died on 6 May 1870.
In Sep-1873 J.W. married Mary Ann Cameron-Gunn, a widow with a grown daughter. The following year he deeded land to trustees for a public school for only one dollar. Around the same time, Graysonville officially became known as Grayson. All along J.W. continued to operate the ferry and the hotel, where he hosted a number of distinguished guests. Mark Twain and Bret Harte were guests in 1878, as was former President Ulysses S. Grant in 1879. In Jan-1880 J.W. deeded 1.75 acres of land to the Grayson Cemetery Association, again for only one dollar. The site was apparently being used as a graveyard already, and J.W.'s first wife Jessie was likely buried there. Another setback came in Nov-1884, when the Grayson Hotel succumbed to fire, but was soon rebuilt.
On Tuesday, 12 Jan 1886, J.W. was taking a passenger across the river on his ferry when he lost his balance and fell into the river. He was dragged under the boat and died. He was 69. He was buried in Grayson Cemetery with his first wife Jessie. In 1890, his mother-in-law Margaret Cameron (b. 1795, d.1890) was buried in the same plot, though her name does not appear on the headstone. And in 1908, J.W.'s second wife Mary was buried there too. The man now spends eternity buried next to both of his two wifes AND a mother-in-law!
Other Notes: J.W.'s year of birth is shown as 1817 on his headstone, but more reliable sources cite 1816. J.W.'s middle name was sometimes cited as Wesley. He was often known as "West" or "Van." J.W. did not found the town of Grayson, but he has been called the "Father of Grayson." J.W. did not found the town of Westley either. After his death, second wife Mary began selling some of the property she inherited, specifically land adjacent to Southern Pacific Railroad's new track two miles southwest of Grayson. The site became known as Westley in 1887 or 1888, a name she selected to honor her husband's memory. J.W.'s portrait photo is the only known image thus far found. It is from: "History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the San Joaquin Valley, California" by J.M. Guinn, 1905.
[Bio. by J.W. Adams, 2nd great-grandson, revised Sep-2015 to correct some factual errors contained in an earlier version and to add newly-discovered details].
Inscription
"J.W. VAN BENSCHOTEN, BORN OCT. 14, 1817, DIED JAN. 12, 1886"
Gravesite Details
Opposite side of stone = "MARY A. VAN BENSCHOTEN, AUG. 1, 1826, JUNE 12, 1908" and "JESSIE VAN BENSCHOTEN, BORN 1832, DIED MAY 6, 1870"
