Wilcoxson, Jefferson, 1809-1898.

Jefferson Wilcoxson was a California pioneer who became involved in merchandising, farming, banking, and land investments in Northern California.

From the description of Jefferson Wilcoxson papers, 1872-1891. (University of California, Davis). WorldCat record id: 55075878

Biography/History

Jefferson Wilcoxson was born on February 24, 1809 in Mercer County, Kentucky to Isaac and Priscilla Wilcoxson. In 1819, he emigrated with his family to Missouri.

In 1849, he moved to Weaverville, California with his brother, Jackson. They remained there until the Spring of 1850, when they moved to Sacramento. Together they set up a wholesale merchant business, Wilcoxson & Co., on J Street in Sacramento. Wilcoxson & Co. enjoyed a large trade up to 1852, then closed. After the brothers dissolved their partnership, Jefferson became a member of the firm of Burton & McCarty.

A few years later, Jefferson engaged in the livestock business and became partners in a land owning company with James Farris. They purchased a tract of one thousand seven hundred and eighty acres of land, part of the Hardy grant, located four miles west of Woodland.

For more than twenty years, Wilcoxson resided on a farm located on the Sacramento River, two miles below Washington (now part of West Sacramento).

He was at various times involved extensively in merchandising, farming, warehousing, banking, land investment, and the livestock business in Colusa, El Dorado, Placer, and Yolo Counties. Through his business dealings he acquired property which was estimated to be worth several million dollars in the 1890s.

He died on April 8, 1898.

Sources:

"Another Pioneer." Woodland Daily Democrat . April 8, 1898.

History of Placer County, California, with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men and Pioneers. Oakland: Thompson & West, 1882.

An illustrated history of Sacramento County, California: containing a history of Sacramento County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future ... portraits of some of its most eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also prominent citizens of today. Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1890.

The Western shore gazetteer and commercial directory for the state of California ... Yolo County: one volume being devoted to each county of the state, giving a brief history of each county. Woodland, [Calif.]: C.P. Sprague & H.W. Atwell, 1870.

From the guide to the Jefferson Wilcoxson Papers, 1869-1897, (University of California, Davis. General Library. Department of Special Collections.)