John Francis Daulton 1862-

In what is now the County of Madera, but was then a portion of Fresno County. J. F. Daulton was born January 24, 1862 being a son of the late Henry Clay Daulton, one of the most influential stockmen in this part of the state. The family possession ample means, he was given every advantage for obtaining an excellent education, and for a time studied in the Stockton Business College. From his father he inherited a fondness for stock and at an early age he selected stock-raising for his life work. At the age of twenty-two he started out for himself as a sheep-raiser in Madera County and from a small beginning accumulated a large flock in later years.

Upon the death of is father in 1893 J. F. Daulton took charge of the estate and has since maintained a close supervision of the ranch and the stock. To promote the interests of the family, in 1898 he incorporated the Daulton Ranch Company, of which he is president and manager. In the ranch there are seventeen thousand acres, all under fence and supplied with water by means of flowing springs. Of the entire tract four thousand acres are under cultivation, mostly in grain, while the remainder of the land is utilized as pasture for the stock. In sheep he makes a specialty of the Merino breed and at this writing has about eight thousand head on the ranch. In 1889 he moved from the ranch into Madera, where he has since made his home, but his residence in town has never interfered in any respect with the close supervision he maintains of the ranch and stock.

The Marriage of Mr. Daulton in San Jose united him with Addie M. Raynor, who was born in Connecticut and came to California with her father W. M. Raynor, who was the owner of twelve thousand acres in Merced, Mariposa and
Madera Counties. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Daulton comprises four children namely: Hazel, Raynor, McErland, Henry Clay and Erma. Mrs. Daulton is a member of the Presbyterian Church and the family is attendants upon its services. From the time of his attaining his majority Mr. Daulton has voted and worked with the Republicans. Formerly he was a member of the Republican County Central Committee. As the nominee of his party, in 1898 he was elected Supervisor of the third district of Madera County for a term of four years, and during this time the Courthouse was planned and completed. His fraternal relations include membership in the Masonic Lodge No. 280, F. & A.M., of Madera; Independent Order of the Odd Fellows, in which he is past grand of the local lodge; Ancient Order of United Workmen at Madera, and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks at Fresno.

Source: History of the State of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California by James Miller Guinn.Chicago: Chapman, 1905, p. 598.