YUBA COUNTY Biographies
JOHN SANDERS JOHNSON
Among the horticulturists of the farming community adjacent to Yuba City none is more prominent than John Sanders Johnson. In the fall of 1889 he was engaged in budding trees for Mr. Phillips; and under that famous horticulturist he budded the first Phillips cling peach trees ever budded, the buds being taken from the original Phillips cling peach tree in the Abbott orchard. He was thus engaged for about nine years. Born in Jungby, Smaaland, Sweden, December 28, 1872, he is a son of Andrew and Catherine (Carlson) Johnson, both natives of Sweden. Andrew Johnson was a shoe merchant who in 1893 brought his wife and two children to America, coming directly to Sutter County, where our subject had already located. John Sanders Johnson is the eldest of three sons, the others being Carl A. and Fred. He attended public school in Sweden and came to the United States in 1888, locating in Sutter County, where he had uncles living; and after coming to Sutter County he attended school in the Central district.
In 1911, Mr. Johnson began propagating a cling peach of his own, which today is known as the Johnson cling peach. This peach measures from two and a quarter to four inches in diameter, is of rich yellow color and fine flavor, has a small pit, and is a prolific yielder. Mr. Johnson and his brothers are now experimenting with three new varieties of peaches, which they are propagating and which bid fair to show good results. For many years Mr. Johnson and his brothers engaged in the nursery business, raising nursery stock, including peach, prune, almond and cherry trees, as well as rooted grapevines. They did the budding and grafting themselves, an art in which they excel. Three years ago they brothers divided their interests; and J. S. Johnson is now farming his own eighty acres devoted to peaches, prunes, almonds and Thompson Seedless and Zinfandel grapes. At the Peach Growers’ Contest in 1922, Mr. Johnson’s display of Johnson cling peaches took first prizes for the biggest crop or yield from six-year-old trees; and he also received the first prize for the biggest crop from trees of any age.
On December 18, 1900, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Hilda Lynd, a native of Marysville, Cal., daughter of Albert and Ida Lynd. Albert Lynd was a native of Smaaland, Sweden, and came to California in and early day, where he followed his trade as a contractor and builder, being both a carpenter and a brick mason. He passed away at the age of fifty years, and his wife was forty-eight years old when she died. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of seven children: Elmer, Ellsworth, Idalynd, who is in Marysville High School, class of 1924, Virgil, in Yuba City High School, and Theodore, Veda and Lois. Mr. Johnson is a Republican in politics. At the present time he is a member of the board of trustees of the Barry school district, and a member of Barry Center of the Sutter County Farm Bureau. Fraternally, he is a member of the Woodmen of the World at Yuba City.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 991
EDNA JANE HEWITT
As head of the Sutter County Library, in Yuba City, Edna Jane Hewitt is directing her efforts along the line of public service; and by training, experience and native ability, she is well fitted for the responsibilities which devolve upon her. One of California’s native daughters, she was born in Yuba City, her parents being A. H. and Mettie (Metteer) Hewitt. Here she attended grammar school, and afterward she became a pupil in Marysville High School, from which she was graduated in 1915. She then became a student at the State Teachers’ College at San Jose, and afterward entered the State Library at Sacramento, where she received a thorough course of instruction. In June, 1918, she was made assistant at the Sutter County Library; and her excellent work in that connection led to her appointment as librarian in September, 1920. She is now filling that important office, and under her administration a definite publicity policy has been followed which has resulted in increased usefulness on the part of the library and a clearer understanding of its functions on the part of the public.
Miss Hewitt is an adherent of the Republican party, and is well-informed on all questions of public moment. She is a prominent club woman, and is chairman of the library and information departments of the Northern District of the California Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Bi-County Federation, being also a member of the Bogue Wednesday Club. She possesses marked executive ability and superior intellectual powers, and through the capable conduct of an indispensable public utility she is making valuable contribution to the world’s work.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 992
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