Amador County Biographies

FREDERICK ARNOLD HORTON

Submitted by Kathy Sedler, September 2004

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	Frederick A. Horton, who was the proprietor of the Commercial Hotel 
at Ione and is a member of one of the leading families of this section of the 
valley, members of which have done their full share in the development of their 
respective localities, was born on a ranch near Ione, July 23, 1876, a son of 
John Quincy and Mary Ann (Graham) Horton, the former a native of Kentucky and 
the latter of Illinois.  They came across the plains with ox teams and covered 
wagons and, though in the same company, were strangers when they started, but 
during the long journey they met and were married.  On arriving in California 
they located at San Bernardino county, where they resided for two years, during 
which time they experienced a very uncommon condition, losing all of their crops 
because of a very hot season.  They then came to Amador county and settled in 
the Jackson valley, where the father preempted a large tract of government land, 
on which he farmed and ran cattle during the remainder of his active business 
life.  His death occurred in 1917 and the mother lost her life through injuries 
received when her horse ran away in 1893.  To them were born eight children, 
four of whom are living, and in the family were two sets of twins.  Fifteen 
hundred acres of the original Horton land was taken by the East Bay Water 
Company, but a portion of the old home place is still owned by F. A. Horton and 
his brother, who are associated in the cattle business on this land.
	Frederick A. Horton received his early education in the district 
schools, after which he took a commercial course in the Stockton Business 
College.  He then went to San Francisco and for two years was employed as a 
salesman there.  He then returned to the ranch, where he finds his time well 
occupied.  He also conducted the Commercial Hotel, which was a famous hostelry 
during early California history and which was destroyed by fire July 12, 1930.  
He conducts a prosperous insurance business at present.
	Mr. Horton was united in marriage to Miss Emma June Phifer, a native 
of Iowa, and to them have been born five children, as follows:  Roland 
Montgomery, who was formerly the owner of the Commercial Hotel, and died in 
March, 1928, at the age of thirty years; Allen Montrose, who is associated with 
his father in business; Edith Leona, who is the wife of D. E. Prouty and the 
mother of a son, Daryl; Verna; and Kathryn. Though a busy man, Mr. Horton does 
not neglect his duties of citizenship and is deeply interested in those things 
which relate to the welfare of his community.  He is a genial and companionable 
gentleman and is exceedingly well like by all who come in contact with him.
 
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. 
W. Wooldridge, Chicago:  The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931 pp 23-24