Merced-San Joaquin County CA Archives Biographies.....Baxter, James Campbell 1841 - 1924
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Author: John Outcalt (1925)

JAMES CAMPBELL BAXTER

   Among the pioneers who helped make history after 1868 in California, and at
the same time build up for posterity a heritage of a good name and a competence
to start them out in the world, was the late James Campbell Baxter. He was born
in Nova Scotia on March 19, 1841, the son of David and Helen (Waugh) Baxter,
both born in Scotland, the former on March 30, 1799, and the latter on June 25,
1800. They were married on January 13, 1824, and raised their family on a farm.
James C. attended the schools in his native province and farmed there until
1862, when he was united in marriage with Agnes Miller, who was born in Nova
Scotia in 1842. He had decided he would come to California, where a brother,
Robert Baxter, had already settled, and in 1868 he left his family in Nova
Scotia and came via Panama, arriving in that year in San Joaquin County. He
farmed near the present site of Tracy with ordinary results; also he and Lee
Fancher worked together in the construction of the Central Pacific Railway when
it was built into Stockton. In 1871 Mr. Baxter came into Merced County and
settled about twelve miles from Plainsburg, hauling the lumber for his first
house from Dover, a point then reached by the steamers plying the San Joaquin
River. He began to make headway and developed a ranch, equal to the best in the
county.

   In 1874 Mr. Baxter was joined by his wife and their two children, George W.
and Margaret Ellen, who later became the wife of Ernest Kahl. In time the
following children were added to the family circle: James Robert, David Andrew,
Mary Agnes, Mabel Agnes, now in Oakland, John Jerdine and Harrison. Their oldest
child, named David, had died in Canada. Mrs. Baxter passed to her reward in
1891. Mr. Baxter continued to be a successful farmer and stockman in Merced
County until 1900, when he retired to Oakland and there he passed away on
December 17, 1924. He left to his heirs 3400 acres of as fine land as there is
to be found in Merced County. Mr. Baxter was a Christian gentleman and endeared
himself to all with whom he came in contact.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH A
Biographical Review
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
JOHN OUTCALT

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925


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