The death of his parents, when he was only fourteen, threw him entirely upon his own resources, and for a while he worked for wages as a farm laborer. On the anniversary of his birth in 1850 he started across the plains for the Pacific Coast. He was accompanied by his brother, and they traveled with ox-teams. They had the usual experiences, sometimes thrilling, sometimes amusing, often calling upon them in one way or another to show the stuft' that was in them, but, on August 11, luckily arrived all right at Placerville, in El Dorado County, and there, for a couple of years, Mr. Daulton tried his luck at mining.
In 1852, when it was evident to him that the steady influx of gold-seekers would demand, more and more, supplies with which to subsist, he returned East by way of Panama to buy sheep and cattle, and the following year, driving his stock before him, he once more crossed the plains. Again it was necessary to show bravery, endurance and the capacity to meet and overcome obstacles not generally contended with in the more settled and comfortable East, but the party arrived safely in Los Angeles early in November, and for a few years he remained in the San Gabriel Valley. Later Mr. Daulton settled on a farm twelve miles northeast of Madera, where he purchased a large tract of Government land. He had served as justice of the peace in Los Angeles during his stay in the Southland, and when he came North he brought with him a certain dignity and status that was helpful and enabled him more easily to lead and help others.
In 1857, feeling that another change was desirable, Mr. Daulton settled on what is known as the Santa Rita ranch in Fresno County, and later purchased the "Shepherd's Home," an attractive farm that he made his homeplace. L'sed to develop everything to a high standard whenever it was possible to do so, Mr. Daulton made both the necessary improvements and such as appealed to his fancy, and so made of his property such attractive places that many came from a distance to enjoy the scene and to get the benefit of whatever was new in plans or devices.
But it was not only as a successful rancher that Mr. Daulton was entitled to recognition: he held public office, and he discharged his responsibility as a public trust that had been solemnly committed to him. In 1860 he was elected supervisor of Fresno County, and held that position until 1875. He helped to organize Madera County, and was chairman of the commission when Madera County was formed on May 20, 1893. He was also elected supervisor of Madera County, was chairman of the first board, and was in office at the time of his death, on October 28, 1893.
At the San Gabriel Mission, in 1854, Mr. Daulton married Mary Jane Hildreth, a daughter of Jesse and a sister of Thomas Hildreth, who had crossed the plains in the same party with her husband. She was a woman of sterling character, and her demise in 1907 was widely regretted. Ten children were born of the union, and five are still living: Ida Saxe of Fresno; Mrs. Maude L. Mann of Oakland; John, Jr., and Jonathan of Madera; and James William.
A self-made man, Mr. Daulton started in life very poor, yet when he died he left an estate of 18,000 acres, all in Madera land. He had, besides, a beautiful home in Oakland.
Source: The History of Fresno County, by Paul E. Vandor, The Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA., 1919.
The death of his parents, when he was only fourteen, threw him entirely upon his own resources, and for a while he worked for wages as a farm laborer. On the anniversary of his birth in 1850 he started across the plains for the Pacific Coast. He was accompanied by his brother, and they traveled with ox-teams. They had the usual experiences, sometimes thrilling, sometimes amusing, often calling upon them in one way or another to show the stuft' that was in them, but, on August 11, luckily arrived all right at Placerville, in El Dorado County, and there, for a couple of years, Mr. Daulton tried his luck at mining.
In 1852, when it was evident to him that the steady influx of gold-seekers would demand, more and more, supplies with which to subsist, he returned East by way of Panama to buy sheep and cattle, and the following year, driving his stock before him, he once more crossed the plains. Again it was necessary to show bravery, endurance and the capacity to meet and overcome obstacles not generally contended with in the more settled and comfortable East, but the party arrived safely in Los Angeles early in November, and for a few years he remained in the San Gabriel Valley. Later Mr. Daulton settled on a farm twelve miles northeast of Madera, where he purchased a large tract of Government land. He had served as justice of the peace in Los Angeles during his stay in the Southland, and when he came North he brought with him a certain dignity and status that was helpful and enabled him more easily to lead and help others.
In 1857, feeling that another change was desirable, Mr. Daulton settled on what is known as the Santa Rita ranch in Fresno County, and later purchased the "Shepherd's Home," an attractive farm that he made his homeplace. L'sed to develop everything to a high standard whenever it was possible to do so, Mr. Daulton made both the necessary improvements and such as appealed to his fancy, and so made of his property such attractive places that many came from a distance to enjoy the scene and to get the benefit of whatever was new in plans or devices.
But it was not only as a successful rancher that Mr. Daulton was entitled to recognition: he held public office, and he discharged his responsibility as a public trust that had been solemnly committed to him. In 1860 he was elected supervisor of Fresno County, and held that position until 1875. He helped to organize Madera County, and was chairman of the commission when Madera County was formed on May 20, 1893. He was also elected supervisor of Madera County, was chairman of the first board, and was in office at the time of his death, on October 28, 1893.
At the San Gabriel Mission, in 1854, Mr. Daulton married Mary Jane Hildreth, a daughter of Jesse and a sister of Thomas Hildreth, who had crossed the plains in the same party with her husband. She was a woman of sterling character, and her demise in 1907 was widely regretted. Ten children were born of the union, and five are still living: Ida Saxe of Fresno; Mrs. Maude L. Mann of Oakland; John, Jr., and Jonathan of Madera; and James William.
A self-made man, Mr. Daulton started in life very poor, yet when he died he left an estate of 18,000 acres, all in Madera land. He had, besides, a beautiful home in Oakland.
Source: The History of Fresno County, by Paul E. Vandor, The Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA., 1919.
Family Members
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Mary Sabrina Daulton
1855–1872
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Thomas Henry Daulton
1856–1858
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Maj Henry Hildreth Daulton
1858–1899
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Ida Daulton Saxe
1860–1948
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John Francis Daulton
1862–1930
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Agnes Daulton Heiskell
1864–1895
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Naomi Grace Daulton
1866–1898
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Jonathan Rea Daulton
1868–1923
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Maude Louise Daulton Mann
1870–1927
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James William Daulton
1871–1950
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