John W. Tucker
John W. Tucker - This old pioneer of Napa Valley is the son of R. P. and Delilah Compton Tucker, and was born in Ohio, January 26, 1833. He resided in his birthplace until he was four years of age, when, with his parents, he went to Rock Island County, Illinois. He remained in that place until April, 1846, when he, with his father, started across the plains with the intention of going to Oregon, coming the old Fort Hall route. Arriving at Fort Hall they were advised, on account of the lateness of the season, not to go to Oregon. They then turned their faces towards California, entering this State at Trnckee, and crossed the mountains a little in advance of the Donner party, and only passed the place of the terrible sufferings of that party a short time before the storm came on. On their arrival in this State they rented a piece of land on the Johnson ranch on Bear River, and put in a crop. In the spring of 1847 they moved to near Sacramento, and there bought a farm, and remained one year. Not liking that location they concluded to move to Napa Valley, locating on the farm now owned by his brother, G. W. Tucker. In the spring following they bought a farm, and continued farming until 1872, when, their title being declared illegal, and after a residence on this place for more than twenty-five years, they were compelled to give it up. The years following, until 1880, Mr. Tucker made his home in the valley, and in the above year he bought his present farm, comprising one hundred and eighty acres, and is once more nicely situated in his favorite valley. Mr. Tucker is in every sense of the word a pioneer, and his mind can not help wandering back to the beauties of Napa Valley thirty-five years ago, when this district had no resident save the Indian, or the herds of undomesticated cattle and horses, the beast of prey, and the fowls of the air. Mr. Tucker is now engaged in general farming. He was united in marriage, October 8,1879, with Mrs. C. E. Weed, who was born in Moscow, Maine, December 3,1838. He has three step-children: Bertha E. Weed, born September 10,1860, in Carmel, Maine; Nettie M. Weed, born March 20,1862, in Carmel, Maine; Edwin H. Weed, born January 10,1864, in Bangor, Maine.
History of Napa and Lake Counties,: San Francisco, Cal.: Slocum, Bowen & Co., Publishers, 1881
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, February, 2007 Pages 571-572
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Last updated February 2007