Judge John S Stark, of Guenoc, died suddenly of heart disease, while working in a hay field. He was well and favorable known in Lake and Napa counties, being one of the early pioneers. The Napa Register says he crossed the Plains reaching California with the party of which his father-in-law Col. Ritchie, was Captain, the same year,. He first settled in Knight's Valley, then a portion of Napa county. He was County Judge of Napa in 1850-51, an office he resigned in the fall of the latter year to run for the Legislature, serving one term. After this he moved down the valley below Calistoga to a place that still bears his name. In 1835 he was, by the Court of Sessions, appointed Sheriff, and in September of the folklowing year elected by the people to fill that office. Six years ago he moved from Napa to Lake County, where he has since resided carrrying on large dairy operations in Coyote valley. He leaves a wife and eight children to mourn his decease. Two of his daughters are married; one is the wife of E. Irwin, of Guenoc, and the other the wife of L. Reed, of Petaluma.
A HEROIC RESCUER OF 11 MEMBERS OF THE DONNER PARTY
A son-in-law of Matthew D. Ritchie, Stark single-handedly rescued members of the Breen, Graves, and Jacob Donner families from Starved Camp. He was a large, strong man who weighed 220 pounds. John Breen wrote:
"To his great bodily strength, and unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence, determination, and what was absolutely necessary in that emergency, the immense physical powers of John Stark. He was as strong as two ordinary men. On his broad shoulders, he carried the provisions, most of the blankets, and most of the time some of the weaker children. In regard to this, he would laughingly say that he could carry them all, if there was room on his back, because they were so light from starvation."
According to H. H. Bancroft, Stark was county judge of Napa Co. 1850-51; a member of the legislature in 1851 and 1855-56; 1851-68 lived near Calistoga; lived in or near Guenoc, Lake Co., from 1868 till his death. McGlashan adds that Stark was sheriff of Napa Co. for six years and that he died instantaneously of a heart attack while pitching hay from a wagon. John and Mary Jane Stark had 11 children, six of whom were alive in 1879.
Contributor: Little Orange in the Big Apple (46817
A HEROIC RESCUER OF 11 MEMBERS OF THE DONNER PARTY
A son-in-law of Matthew D. Ritchie, Stark single-handedly rescued members of the Breen, Graves, and Jacob Donner families from Starved Camp. He was a large, strong man who weighed 220 pounds. John Breen wrote:
"To his great bodily strength, and unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence, determination, and what was absolutely necessary in that emergency, the immense physical powers of John Stark. He was as strong as two ordinary men. On his broad shoulders, he carried the provisions, most of the blankets, and most of the time some of the weaker children. In regard to this, he would laughingly say that he could carry them all, if there was room on his back, because they were so light from starvation."
According to H. H. Bancroft, Stark was county judge of Napa Co. 1850-51; a member of the legislature in 1851 and 1855-56; 1851-68 lived near Calistoga; lived in or near Guenoc, Lake Co., from 1868 till his death. McGlashan adds that Stark was sheriff of Napa Co. for six years and that he died instantaneously of a heart attack while pitching hay from a wagon. John and Mary Jane Stark had 11 children, six of whom were alive in 1879.
Contributor: Little Orange in the Big Apple (46817
Judge John S Stark, of Guenoc, died suddenly of heart disease, while working in a hay field. He was well and favorable known in Lake and Napa counties, being one of the early pioneers. The Napa Register says he crossed the Plains reaching California with the party of which his father-in-law Col. Ritchie, was Captain, the same year,. He first settled in Knight's Valley, then a portion of Napa county. He was County Judge of Napa in 1850-51, an office he resigned in the fall of the latter year to run for the Legislature, serving one term. After this he moved down the valley below Calistoga to a place that still bears his name. In 1835 he was, by the Court of Sessions, appointed Sheriff, and in September of the folklowing year elected by the people to fill that office. Six years ago he moved from Napa to Lake County, where he has since resided carrrying on large dairy operations in Coyote valley. He leaves a wife and eight children to mourn his decease. Two of his daughters are married; one is the wife of E. Irwin, of Guenoc, and the other the wife of L. Reed, of Petaluma.
A HEROIC RESCUER OF 11 MEMBERS OF THE DONNER PARTY
A son-in-law of Matthew D. Ritchie, Stark single-handedly rescued members of the Breen, Graves, and Jacob Donner families from Starved Camp. He was a large, strong man who weighed 220 pounds. John Breen wrote:
"To his great bodily strength, and unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence, determination, and what was absolutely necessary in that emergency, the immense physical powers of John Stark. He was as strong as two ordinary men. On his broad shoulders, he carried the provisions, most of the blankets, and most of the time some of the weaker children. In regard to this, he would laughingly say that he could carry them all, if there was room on his back, because they were so light from starvation."
According to H. H. Bancroft, Stark was county judge of Napa Co. 1850-51; a member of the legislature in 1851 and 1855-56; 1851-68 lived near Calistoga; lived in or near Guenoc, Lake Co., from 1868 till his death. McGlashan adds that Stark was sheriff of Napa Co. for six years and that he died instantaneously of a heart attack while pitching hay from a wagon. John and Mary Jane Stark had 11 children, six of whom were alive in 1879.
Contributor: Little Orange in the Big Apple (46817
A HEROIC RESCUER OF 11 MEMBERS OF THE DONNER PARTY
A son-in-law of Matthew D. Ritchie, Stark single-handedly rescued members of the Breen, Graves, and Jacob Donner families from Starved Camp. He was a large, strong man who weighed 220 pounds. John Breen wrote:
"To his great bodily strength, and unexcelled courage, myself and others owe our lives. There was probably no other man in California at that time, who had the intelligence, determination, and what was absolutely necessary in that emergency, the immense physical powers of John Stark. He was as strong as two ordinary men. On his broad shoulders, he carried the provisions, most of the blankets, and most of the time some of the weaker children. In regard to this, he would laughingly say that he could carry them all, if there was room on his back, because they were so light from starvation."
According to H. H. Bancroft, Stark was county judge of Napa Co. 1850-51; a member of the legislature in 1851 and 1855-56; 1851-68 lived near Calistoga; lived in or near Guenoc, Lake Co., from 1868 till his death. McGlashan adds that Stark was sheriff of Napa Co. for six years and that he died instantaneously of a heart attack while pitching hay from a wagon. John and Mary Jane Stark had 11 children, six of whom were alive in 1879.
Contributor: Little Orange in the Big Apple (46817
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