Napa-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Atkinson, J. B. 1827 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2005, 4:07 am

Author: Lewis Publishing Co.

J. B. ATKINSON.—The splendid double stone wine-cellar at Rutherford, of Messrs.
Ewer & Atkinson, is one of the sightly structures in the county, and upon
examination was found to be as well arranged and fitted as could be the case and
a model of convenience. In dimensions the main cellar is 120 x 97 feet in size,
two stories in height. It consists of two cellars adjoining with a stone wall
running through. At the rear is an addition 25 x 40 feet in size, four stories
in height, where all the wine-making is done, the upper floor being the crushing
room, to which the grapes are raised by elevator. On the next floor are two
large tanks for white grapes. On the next lower are the presses, while on the
ground floor will be the bottling room when everything is in running order. The
first half of the cellar was erected in 1885, and the other half in 1889. The
total capacity is about 400,000 gallons of wine. It is the intention shortly to
put up a distillery in connection with the cellar. The building is entirely of
stone and iron, and therefore secure from fire. Water is in plentiful supply
from artesian wells, and the building is supplied with automatic bells
throughout. Adjoining the cellar Mr. Ewer has 100 acres of vines, while a little
south of Rutherford Mr. Atkinson has a vineyard of 115 acres surrounding his
comfortable home.

  Mr. J. B. Atkinson is a pioneer to California, and for a great many years has
been a leading spirit in the mercantile and financial circles. He is a native of
New Jersey, born in 1827. In 1849 he determined to come to California, although
not yet out of his teens. He took passage on the ship Sarah and Eliza, landing
safely after a long and tedious voyage of seven months and twenty days with but
one stop, at Valparaiso, in San Francisco, September 7, 1849. Like all the rest
of the world he went to the mines, going in 1850 to the upper waters of the Yuba
River. He soon came back, however, and entered into business in the city of San
Francisco, and for twenty years was one of the most prominent wholesale
merchants of the city of the Golden Gate. Perhaps no firm in the city enjoyed a
better rate or a greater popularity than that of L. Atkinson & Co. Since 1855,
when he settled down to business, he has been going back East nearly every year.
Ten years ago, in 1880, he decided to abandon the more active part in affairs
and retire from business to his elegant ranch at Rutherford. It consists of 154
acres, of which 115 is in vines. He is largely interested elsewhere, however,
aiming rather to see the better side of life and leaving his foreman to take
Charge of the ranch. He is interested in the Napa Valley Wine Company, in the
California Hosiery Company, and is a Director in the St. Helena Bank, etc. He is
married but has no children. He is one of the most able business men, a man of
stanch integrity and a leading figure in anything he undertakes.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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