YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
JOHN WESLEY MORE
While not all the days of John Wesley More were equally bright, and at times the storm-clouds gathered, yet he never became discouraged nor disheartened by conditions, and his resolute spirit and energy enabled him to overcome obstacles and difficulties and steadily advance on the high road to prosperity. For sixty years he engaged in agriculture in Sutter County, where he came to own 320 acres of choice land three miles west of Yuba City. His birth occurred in Royalton, N. Y., twenty miles southeast of Niagara Falls, May 25, 1833; and he was the eldest of five children born to Peter and Eliza (Simonds) More, both natives of New York. Peter More had two brothers who served in the War of 1812. His wife passed away in 1841, and subsequently he was married to Mrs. Phoebe Sprague and the family removed to Michigan, where the father and the step-mother passed away.
John Wesley More began his education in the public schools and finished with a course at Olivet College, from which he received a teacher’s certificate. He followed his profession for three years, and then decided to come West. Leaving New York on October 20, 1863, accompanied by his brother, he came via the Isthmus of Panama and arrived in San Francisco after thirty-two days en route. He worked on a dairy in Oakland for six months, and then sold books through Lake and Sierra Counties. In 1864 he went by river boat to Sacramento, and then by stage to Marysville. He soon found a good job in Sutter County on the Fiske ranch, and from the spring of 1865 taught two terms in the Sutter County schools. Next he had a job as a ranch hand on the Henry Best ranch, and later became a joint-owner of 160 acres of this ranch. Later still, he sold out and moved into the northern part of Sutter County, where he bought 160 acres of government land, which he farmed for about five years.
On January 11, 1870, at Grand Ledge, Eaton County, Mich., Mr. More was married to Miss Mary Elizabeth Gons, a native of Richland County, Ohio, and a daughter of George and Sarah (Chroninger) Gons, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Her parents were early settlers of Eaton County, where she was educated in the public schools. Mr. and Mrs. More became the parents of one daughter, Georgia Belle, now the wife of C. W. Jopson, and they have one child, Wesley Paul. In the management of Mr. More’s home ranch of 320 acres, he was assisted by his son-in-law, Mr. Jopson, who is also represented in this history. Mr. More was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Franklin Corners, as is also Mrs. More. Recently this pioneer couple celebrated their fifty-third wedding anniversary; and on Mr. More’s ninetieth birthday he was surprised by his many friends, when he was the recipient of congratulations upon reaching his fine old age.
Since the interview in which the facts from which this sketch was written were secured, John Wesley More passed away, on September 27, 1923, aged ninety years, four months and two days. His passing removed one of the oldest and most highly esteemed citizens of Sutter County.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 741
JOHN D. LAY
A well-known grain farmer of Sutter County is John D. Lay, who owns and operates 469 acres located one mile west of O’Banion Corners, and by close application and unremitting industry has gained a place among the prosperous and representative grain-growers of his vicinity. Born in Union County, Tenn., June 14, 1882, he is a son of Andrew Jackson and Mary Elizabeth (Wagner) Lay, both natives of Tennessee. John D. Lay attended the district school near his home place in Tennessee, and remained with his parents until he was eighteen years of age, when he began to ranch on his own account. In 1902 he removed to California and settled at Colusa. There he worked as a farm laborer for about eight years; and later he leased land, which he farmed. Removing to Sutter County, he farmed from 300 to 500 acres belonging to the Alameda Sugar Beet Company; and in addition he also leased 100 acres from the Sutter Basin Company. Later, he purchased the Conrad Schuler ranch of 469 acres, where he now makes his home. The present place is located one and a half miles northwest of O’Banion Corners, and is devoted to grain and alfalfa.
On April 8, 1914, Mr. Lay was married to Miss Valletta Madge Smith, born on her father’s ranch on the Sacramento River near Grimes, a daughter of James and Sarah Smith, whose sketch will also be found in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Lay are the parents of two sons, Elvin Jesse and Morgan Claire. Mr. Lay is progressive in politics, casting his vote for the candidate he considers best fitted for the office to be filled. Fraternally, he is a member of the Grand Island Lodge No. 266, I.O.O.F., of Grimes; and both he and his wife are members of the Rebekah Lodge of Grimes.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 741-742
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