Sacramento County Biographies Information thanks to Nancy Pratt Melton

Sacramento County Biographies
Information thanks to Nancy Pratt Melton:
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/sacwris.htm
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~npmelton/sacwrist.htm

SAMUEL E. WRISTON

Samuel E. Wriston, a resident of this county since 1852, was born in Morgan County, Illinois, March 19, 1834. His father, James, a native of South Carolina, emigrated to Illinois when a young man. In Morgan County he married Miss Catharine P. Sage, a native of Terre Haute, Indiana, had three children, and died in 1839 at the age of thirty-four years. Samuel, our subject, is the only one now living. The eldest son, William B., came to this State in 1849, and was accidentally killed in “Russell Pocket,” four miles from Galt, July 7, 1856. The other son, Elihu R., came to California in 1859, and died in Woodbridge, San Joaquin County, June 27, 1877. In after years Mrs. Wriston married John Rafferty, who also is now deceased. The widow is now living in Pella, Jasper County, Iowa, at the age of sixty-nine years. By the last marriage there were six children, of whom four are still living. Mr. Samuel E. Wriston, the subject of this sketch, was brought up on a farm. In April 1852, when seventeen years of age, he came to California overland with mule teams, in company with three families and twenty-seven men, consuming exactly three months on the trip from the Missouri River. When he arrived in Sacramento his brother William was living in the “Pocket.” He intended to go over the mountains to Carson Valley, but chills and fever attacked him and prevented him from going. After recovery he began to work on ranches, meanwhile owning some livestock in company with his brother. After the death of the latter he took charge of all the stock for awhile, and then disposed of it. In November 1857, he returned East on a visit. He arrived in Sacramento again June 1, 1859, and again entered the livestock business, buying and selling and dairying, and followed this business for nine years in partnership with C. W. Harvey, in the meantime owning some land which he had bought before going East. Up to about three years ago his business was mainly stock-raising, but lately he has paid more attention to general agriculture. His farm consists of 422 acres, on the Laguna, five miles east and north of Galt. He has made his residence in this village since it was started in 1869. Mr. Wriston is a member of the Odd Fellows’ order, and of the A.O.U.W. of Galt. Politically he is a Republican, although his first Presidential vote in 1856 was cast for Buchanan. In 1860 he was a Douglas Democrat, and since then he has been a Republican. He was united in marriage June 14, 1870, to Jennie V. Ferguson, a native of Illinois, and reared in the city of Chicago. They have had three children, as follows: Carrie F., born May 13, 1872, and died December 24, 1880; Charles R., born October 3, 1874; and Samuel C., born September 3, 1877, and died February 17, 1878.

Transcribed by Debbie Gramlick

An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. By Hon. Win. J. Davis. Lewis Publishing Company 1890. Page 377-378.

Closely identified with Galt and its vicinity for many years, Mrs. Jennie V. Wriston is one of its most esteemed residents, having contributed much to its progressive ideals. During her long residence here she has been very prominent in the Rebekahs and besides being a past noble grand of that order, she has written an interesting history of the Galt Lodge. Mrs. Wriston, who was born in Chicago, Ill., was the daughter of S. M. and Naomi (Rice) Ferguson, the former a native of New York and the latter of Rhode Island. The father came to California in 1852, and after remaining awhile started back to his home in Chicago, but was never heard from, so it was supposed that he was murdered while on his journey.

Mrs. Wriston was educated in the Scammon school in Chicago and in 1870 she came to San Francisco, where on June 14 of that year she was married to Samuel E. Wriston, who was born at Jacksonville, Ill., March 19, 1834. Mr. Wriston had come to California across the plains in 1852, and after mining a short time, engaged in the cattle business. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wriston came to Galt and Mr. Wriston became extensively interested in the cattle business here, owning a ranch of 422 acres west of Galt and also a range in the mountains for his stock. He was also in the retail meat business, having a butcher shop at Galt and four meat routes, covering the vicinity of Galt and Elk Grove. With Charles Harvey of Galt he also owned the present site of the Tahoe Hotel of Lake Tahoe. Mr. and Mrs. Wriston became the parents of three children: Carrie F. died when nine years old; Charles R. lives at Stockton; and Samuel Chester died in infancy. After a long and useful life, Mr. Wriston passed away on November 2, 1909, and he was deeply missed, especially in the ranks of the Odd Fellows, having been noble grand of the local lodge several times.

The present home of Mrs. Wriston has quite an interesting history. It originally stood on the banks of Dry Creek, where the State Highway now crosses it. In those days there was no bridge across the stream, and it was used as a stopping-place for travelers when the rains made it impossible for stages to cross the creek. This house was then known throughout this vicinity as the “Old Folks’ Home” and when Galt was laid out it was moved there and used as a hotel, being the first hostelry in this part of the county. Most of the lumber in it came around the Horn in a sailing vessel, and a settee and set of chairs still used by Mrs. Wriston also came to California by this route. After the house had been used for a hotel for some years, Mr. Wriston purchased it and remodeled it into a comfortable home and Mrs. Wriston has continued to reside there since his passing away. Mrs. Wriston belongs to Rei Rebekah Lodge No. 132, I. O. O. F., of Galt. She named it and was its first noble grand, first past noble grand and first district deputy, and is still an active member.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 514. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.