Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 321 his arrival in Albany, New York, he entered the law department of the Union University at Albany, and graduated in 1885. He returned to Califurnia and located at Clarksville, El Dorado County, where he again commenced the practice of law. He is also financially connected witha general merchandise business. Recently he became a resident of Placervillv, and has a lucrative practice. Politically he is allied with the Republican party, and is an active politician. In 1888 he was the choice of his party for the Legislature from the Seventeenth Assembly District, but was defeated by a small majority. Socially he affiliates with the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 69, of Folsom. Mr. Lukens was married in Carson City, Nevada, November 15, 1880, to Miss Dora B. Cram, a native of California and daughter of Sylvester K. Cram, who was a California pioneer of 1851, and has been prominently identified with the mining interests of this State. Mr. and Mrs. Lukins have an interesting family of five children, viz.: Sylvester G., J. Earl, Nancy, Gladys and an infant daughter. SER AR ON. JOHN CARLETON GRAY. — Maine has furnished to California a number of citizens who have become prominent and useful in the various departments of commercial life, but none have risen to a higher position of respect and esteem than Judge Gray. Both his paternal and maternal ancestors emigrated from England to America, settling in Maine befure the Revolutionary war, in which they served on the side of the Colonies, though suine of their family supported the Luyalists. Grandfather Gray and also grandfather Carleton were born in Maine, and so also were the parents of John C., Hon. John L. and Lydia (Carleton) Gray. To the latter was given a family of nine children, four boys and five girls, the subject of this sketch now being the only survivor of the at boys. He was born at Dresden, Lincoln County, Maine, February 2, 1837, and in growing up, like most of the boys of that day, divided his time between working on the farm in summer and attending schvol a few months daring the winter seasons, so that at the age of nineteen he had acquired a good common-school education. In 1859 le entered Waterville (now Colby) University and continued his studies there two years, then became a student in the study of law in the law office of A. Libbey, of Augusta, Maine, at this time Judge of the Supreme Court of that State. He was admitted to the bar June 16, 1863, and the next day sturted four California, the first year and a half after arriving being devoted to clerking in Sacramento. In 1865 he came to Butte County, where schovl-teaching occupied his attention seven years, five years being passed as principal of the Oroville schools, when he resigned to enter upon a professional career. After practicing with good success until 1873 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the State Assembly, serving one term, during which time he was chairman of the Committee on Public Lands and a member of the Judiciary, Election and Appointment committees. Returning home, he resunined his law practice, and at the same time became part owner and editor of the Oroville Mercury, which interest he was obliged to dispuse of fuur years later tu devote his entire attention to his rapidly increasing legal duties. Since then he has not departed from the profession. In 1885 he was elected District Attorney, and re-elected in 1887, ‘declining a renomination for a third term. In 1890 he was nominated by his party for the position of Snperior Judge, and at the succeeding election received a highly complimentary vote and was elected. Horticultural interests have also received some attention from him, and on his large tract of land ninety-seven acres are devoted to olives, fifty acres to white Adriatic tigs, while 6,000 peach trees are in excellent bearing condition. He has held the position of Deputy Superin-