John Henry BROCKMANN

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JOHN HENRY BROCKMAN

There are but few left of the old pioneers who located in Sutter County in 1854, one of the number being John Henry Brockman, a pioneer stockman who since 1895 has made his home at 501 Bridge Street, Yuba City. He is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred at Frederickstown, Madison County, November 1, 1845, the third of five children born to John Henry and Clara (Thomson) Brockman, the former of German descent, born in North Carolina, and the latter of Scotch ancestors, born in Virginia. John Henry Brockman, Sr., first crossed the plains to California in 1852, and upon his arrival in California prospected in the mines in Grass Valley. The following year he returned via Panama to Missouri, where he bought a large band of cattle. Then, with his wife and three children, and a party of emigrants, he again started across the plains with ox teams and wagons via the Beckwith Pass. Six months were consumed in this tedious journey, but it was made without serious mishap. The party located in Yuba County, in the southern part of Browns Valley. The first winter was spent in a canvas house. Mr. Brockman fenced a large tract of land with brush, the land in 1854 not having been surveyed. He farmed this land until 1861, when he died, survived by his widow and five children.

John Henry Brockman, Jr., attended school but a short time. At the age of nineteen he left home to work in West Butte, at one dollar per day. From this wage he was able to save until he had accumulated $400, with which he bought 200 eves. In 1868 he rented the Elmore place of 160 acres in Sutter County, and carried on his sheep business for two years, after which he formed a partnership with Fred Hoke. For ten years a profitable and extensive sheep and wool business was conducted at West Butte; and during this time Mr. Brockman acquired 1600 acres of land in the county. He recalls the time when he was offered his pick of land on the Colusa side of the Sacramento River for ten cents per acre, but refused it, as many others had done. After the death of Fred Hoke, his son William assumed his interest in the partnership with Mr. Brockman, and for the following sixteen years a successful business was carried on. From 1872 until 1885, Mr. Brockman trailed sheep across the Siskiyou Mountains from Oregon into California, at times having as many as 5000 head of sheep, and at one time 10,000 head. About twenty-six years ago, Mr. Brockman sold his land. Since then he has been engaged as a sheep dealer; and he spent six years as a wholesale butcher at Fruitvale, Cal., where, with the assistance of his only son, William, he carried on a profitable business. He sold this business in 1919, but continues the business of buying and selling sheep, in which he has had so much experience, shipping principally to the San Francisco market.

At the Sutter Buttes, on February 23, 1875, Mr. Brockman was married to Miss Adele Chappell, a native of Illinois, who accompanied her parents to the West as a girl and settled at the Sutter Buttes. Five children have been born to Mr. and Brockman: William H., who married Miss Estella Hill, born in Illinois, and who passed away on December 19, 1918, survived by his widow and five children–Estelle, W. J., Donald C., William H., and Floyd H.; Lulu Mae, now the wife of D. M. Stevenson; Minnie E., deceased; Irma C., residing in San Francisco; and Gladys A., a graduate of the San Francisco Teachers’ College and a teacher by profession. There are eight grandchildren in the family. Mr. Brockman is a member of the California Wool Growers’ Association. In politics he is a Republican.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p 679

Name: J. H. Brockman

Home in 1880: Butte, Sutter, California

Age: 32

Estimated Birth Year: abt 1848

Birthplace: Missouri

Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)

Spouse's Name: Adella

Father's birthplace: South Carolina

Mother's birthplace: Tennessee

Neighbors: View others on page

Occupation: Farmer

Marital Status: Married

Race: White

Gender: Male

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Household Members:

Name Age

J. H. Brockman 32

Adella Brockman 22

William Brockman 4

Lulu Brockman 3

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