Biographical Sketches.
CHAPTER XII.
JOHN F. FOUTS.
Few men are better known throughout the county than this pioneer of the State, John F. Fouts. He was born in Preble County, Ohio, April 26, 1829. When he was ten years old, his family removed to Lee County, Iowa, where he lived seven years, moving, afterwards, to Davis County and Burlington, in the same State, at which latter place he resided till the spring of 1850, when he decided to come to this State. He set out on this long, and then adventurous journey, coming by way of the North Platte from Council Bluffs and Fort Hall, along the old Downieville road. He was over five months making the trip with ox-teams. He located in the town of Meridian, Sutter County, where he farmed and carried on a merchandise business till 1863. In 1860 he put in the first ferry-boat across Sycamore Slough, at Meridian, and was the chief instrument in laying out and building up that place, which promised to attain large proportions till a flood came along in 1867 and retarded its progress. In 1868 he built a steam saw-mill in the mountains, four miles south of Fouts Springs. These springs, whose reputation for healing waters is universally acknowledged, were located by Mr. Fouts in 1874, and opened to the public in June, 1874, when the hotel was completed and cabins ready for occupancy. Mr. Fouts still resides at the Springs, in the midst of most romantic scenery, and to our mind the most charming and delightful bit of landscape in the whole Coast Range. He was married, June 5, 1853, in Peoria County, Illinois, to Miss Elizabeth O'Neil, by whom he as had three children.
COLUSA COUNTY
ITS
HISTORY TRACED FROM A STATE OF NATURE
THROUGH THE EARLY PERIOD OF SET-
TLEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT,
TO THE PRESENT DAY
WITH A
DESCRIPTION OF ITS RESOURCES, STATISTICAL
TABLES, ETC.
ALSO
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF PIONEERS AND
PROMINENT RESIDENTS
by Justus H. Rogers
Orland, California
1891
Page 343-465
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 7/2/2009
Copyright © 1996-2010; This Web page is sponsored by Supporters on behalf of the California portion of The USGenWeb Project by The Administrative Team of the CAGW. Although believed to be correct as presented, if you note any corrections, changes, additions, or find that any links provided on this page are not functioning properly please contact the Archive Coordinator for prompt attention to the matter.