Alameda-Napa County CA Archives Obituaries.....Lewelling, John December 25, 1883
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Steve Harrison raleighwood@juno.com January 17, 2010, 11:28 am

Pacific Rural Press, December 29, 1883 (and more)
Pacific Rural Press (San Francisco, California), December 29, 1883 (Saturday). 
Page 560, Column 2.

“Death of John Lewelling. 
How many readers will be grieved to hear of the death of John Lewelling, of St. 
Helena, Napa county, which is announced by telegraph as we are going to press. 
We have not time for a fitting tribute to the memory of this sterling good man, 
this loyal and devoted Patron of Husbandry, this pioneer horticulturist, whose 
deeds will live long after him in the many departments of his enterprising 
work. His death will be deeply mourned in all parts of this coast and the most 
earnest sympathy will be extended to those who are directly bereaved by his 
death. We expect to present a sketch of his busy and useful life hereafter.” 
END 

AND 

Pacific Rural Press (San Francisco, California), January 5, 1884 (Saturday). 
Page 4, Column 3.

“The Death of John Lewelling. 
Editors Press: — Inside please find resolutions passed by St. Helena Grange in 
memory of our lamented Bro. John Lewelling, which I will thank you to insert in 
your issue.—William Peterson, Secretary St. Helena Grange. 
Whereas, It has pleased our Divine Master to remove from our midst our worthy 
brother, John Lewelling, to that higher Grange above; therefore, be it 
Resolved, That in his death our Order has lost an earnest and faithful member, 
and the community a highly valued citizen, the memory of whose active and 
useful life will be cherished long after his familiar face and form have been 
forgotten. Resolved, That we tender our heartfelt sympathy to the family and 
friends of the deceased, and commend them to our Great Master above, who alone 
can give consolation and comfort in this their hour of trial. 
Resolved, That our Grange hall be draped in mourning for thirty days, and that 
these resolutions be spread upon the minutes of the Grange; also, copies be 
sent to the family of the deceased, to the Rural Press and California Patron 
and local papers for publication.—Committee, Sarah Pellet, William Peterson, 
Chas. A. Storey.” END 

AND

Pacific Rural Press (San Francisco, California), January 12, 1884 (Saturday). 
Page 28, Column 1.

“A Pioneer Horticulturist Gone to Rest. 
(Written for the Rural Press, by W. H. Jessup.) 
Christmas, which brings so much joy and happiness to so many homes and hearts, 
brings grief and mourning to others and casts a cloud of gloom over a 
community. Such was the case on our last bright and cheery Chrismas - children 
joyous over their presents of toys and candies; parents and friends happy over 
the little ones' joys, and feasting on the good things of earth in blissful 
ignorance of the gloom that hung over one devoted household, ignorant of the 
fact that one whose hands and brain had produced some of the good things spread 
before them, was then lying cold in death. In the death of John Lewelling on 
Christmas morning, at his beautiful home near St. Helena, Napa county, the 
horticultural interests of California have met with a great loss. He was one of 
the twelve pillars that support the fabric, and one that we can illy spare. Mr. 
Lewelling had an attack of serious illness early last fall, and we were alarmed 
to hear of his dangerous condition. So serious was his illness thought to be 
that his old family physician, Dr. K. Kimball, of Haywards [sic], was sent for. 
On the return of the physician we were gladdened by his report that his patient 
was out of immediate danger, which was confirmed by his appearance at the next 
meeting of the State Horticultural Society, when we had (as we thought) the 
pleasure of congratulating him on his recovery. 

But alas! the uncertainty of life. We had not heard of his second illness until 
after his death. His last illness was a long and a painful one, lasting some 
twenty days, the patient the greater part of the time suffering excruciating 
torture, but bearing it like a true Christian. His death was the result of a 
severe attack of erysipelas, followed by dropsy, first appearing in the leg, 
where he had been afflicted with a white swelling when quite a young man, which 
came near making a permanent cripple of him. Although suffering intense pain in 
the early stages of his last illness, it was gratifying to his friends that his 
last moments were apparently painless, and he passed away without a struggle.

Mr. Lewelling was born in Randolph county, North Carolina, January 16, 1811. 
From thence he moved with his parents to Indiana, where he settled in the dense 
beech and maple forests of Henry county, near where subsequently grew up the 
village of Greensborough [Greensboro], where they went energetically to work, 
clearing away the heavy forest, preparatory [to] opening a farm and building a 
home. Here they engaged in general farming and nursery, sufficient for the 
primitive needs of horticulture in those days. Here he received a common school 
education in a log school house. Those were not the days of paint and plaster. 
The family remained here until the summer of 1837, when they removed to Henry 
county, Iowa, where he, with two uncles and his father engaged in farming and 
nursery work. The latter they made a specialty, being the pioneers in the 
nursery business, as the Territory of Iowa was not regularly organized as such 
until the following year, 1838. 

Like thousands of other hardy pioneers, Mr. Lewelling caught the California 
fever, and started on that tedious and tiresome journey in the spring of 1850, 
overland. Arriving in the fall of the same year, he engaged in mining for a 
short time, but he very soon discovered that mining was not suited to his 
tastes, and that there was a brighter future in store for California in her 
agricultural resources than in her gold fields. With the cool, farseeing 
judgment that has marked his long and honorable life, he foresaw the future 
possibility of horticulture on the Pacific coast, and as Oregon was at that 
time the only available field in which to obtain stock, he left for that 
Territory in the spring of 1851, and engaged in the nursery business at 
Milwaukee [Milwaukie], in that Territory, with a brother [Henderson] who had 
preceded him. Returning to California in 1852, he went home [to Iowa] for his 
family, and again arrived in San Francisco January 3, 1853, being twenty-three 
days from San Juan to this port, on the old floating coffin S. S. Lewis. On his 
arrival in San Francisco he lost no time in looking up a suitable locality to 
embark in his favorite pursuit, that of horticulture. Selecting San Jose 
Mission, Alameda county, as a place offering the best advantages, he engaged 
with the late Captain Beard to start a nursery and plant an orchard, and he, 
Mr. Beard, Meek and Crane, of San Lorenzo, sent an agent East to select stock 
for a nursery. The result of this venture was the making of many wealthy men. 
It was in part the introduction of the cherry currant that made Alameda county 
famous and wealthy, and raised the price of her land from $60 to $400 per acre. 
To him, mainly, is due the impetus given to horticulture in California. He 
always has been (and justly too) regarded as authority on horticultural 
matters. He was by taste and nature a horticulturist. His path from the 
Atlantic to the Pacific is lined with fruit trees. His tracks from Carolina to 
California are as plain as the footprints in the rock. He can justly be called 
the father of California horticulture. 

He remained at the Mission of San Jose about three years, when he bought 40 
acres of land at San Lorenzo of a Mr. Farley, to whom he had sold some fruit 
trees, shortly taking possession of his new home and moving his nursery stock 
to it. He subsequently bought the balance of Mr. Farley's interest, making, all 
told, 117 acres. Subsequently he bought the Castro title, Farley holding only 
the squatter title. This land he soon set out to orchard, realizing a handsome 
fortune from the proceeds in a very few years. 

After a residence of about ten years in Alameda county, in consequence of poor 
health, he was forced to seek a change. Finding the mild and genial climate of 
Napa valley better suited to his condition he bought the place that has ever 
since been his home, in 1864, containing about 600 acres, about 200 acres of 
which he has planted to orchard and vineyard, converting a grainfield and 
chaparral into a paradise of luxury. 

His love for his family and friends would scarcely outmeasure his love for his 
vine and fruit tree. Like all lovers of God's best works he felt at home and 
happy with them. 

Mr. Lewelling was a hard and zealous worker in all that he undertook to do, 
doing whatever he did well and with a will. A man of sound judgment; making 
money out of all his ventures without wronging any one; a zealous Granger who 
did much to aid that brotherhood and build it up, and was a large stockholder 
in and President of the Granger's Hank of California in this city [San 
Francisco]. He was also a faithful working member of the State Horticulture 
Society; an active member of the Winegrowers' Association, and to his superior 
judgment, in a great measure, is due the reputation and standing of the wine 
industry of Napa valley. An affectionate husband and father, a kind and 
hospitable neighbor, and a true friend whose friendship was deserving. He 
learned well the lessons of the creed in which he was reared (a Quaker), 
honesty, peace and good will unto all men; but in latter years he dropped 
creed, apparently in the belief that a man could be a good man and Christian 
without the influence of sects, living in the love (not the fear) of God and 
his good works. 

Mr. Lewelling married Miss Elvy Elliott five years before moving to Iowa. Eight 
children were born to him, six sons—Eli, Elisha, Silas, Seth, Arthur and Harvey 
J.—in the order in which they are named. Eli, the eldest, still lives on the 
old homestead at San Lorenzo. Silas and Seth died at eight to ten years of age; 
Elisha died a few years ago. He represented Alameda county in the Legislature 
just before his death. Harvey is with his mother on the home place at St. 
Helena. Of the daughters— Sarah and Delila - the latter died in infancy; Sarah 
lived to womanhood and married a Mr. Robert King, who kept a commission house 
in San Francisco for a number of years. They returned to Iowa, where she died 
about fifteen years ago, leaving three children. 

The elegant marble bust of himself in the grounds of his home (emblematical of 
his life and works), was appropriately draped in mourning. 

In accordance with his wishes, lie was buried at San Lorenzo, Alameda county, 
showing his affection for his old home. His remains were brought down on 
Wednesday morning's train by his mourning relatives and friends. The mourning 
procession was met at Oakland Point by a delegation of old neighbors and 
friends from San Francisco and San Lorenzo, who accompanied the remains to 
their last resting place.” END

AND

Sacramento Daily Union, December 27, 1883 (Thursday). Page 2, Column 3.

“The Last Rites. St. Helena, December 26th.  - John Lewelling, President of the 
Grangers' Bank of California, died at his home Tuesday [December 25], of 
erysipelas and dropsy. The remains were conveyed from Vineland station this 
morning [December 26], in charge of an escort of pall-bearers, to San Lorenzo, 
where the funeral services were held. Deceased was well known all over the 
Pacific coast.” END

Additional Comments:
Note that I have included four items related to the death of John Lewelling 
above.  He was buried, in the family plot, at San Lorenzo Cemetery, San 
Lorenzo, Alameda county.

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