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"History of Solano and Napa Counties, California with Biographical Sketches of The leading men and women of the Counties, who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time., History by Tom Gregory and other well known writers., Illustrated ~ Complete in one volume, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1912, p 822:
THOMAS BENTON EDINGTON.
The early days in the history of the state are recalled by Thomas B. Edington, who came to California in 1857, at the age of seventeen years, in search of fortune; not in the mines, however, as the excitement in that direction was on the wane, but rather in the broad fields that were waiting for the efforts of the agriculturist to make them bloom and blossom. The scene of his boyhood years was passed near Springfield, Mo., where he was born March 31, 1840, the son of W. H. Edington, a native of Kentucky, the descendant of German ancestors. In young manhood the father removed from Kentucky to Missouri, settling near Springfield, where he followed the occupation of farming. His wife, formerly Louisa Patterson, was a native of Missouri and the descendant of Scotch ancestors. Both of the parents rounded out their lives in Missouri and there they reared their four children, three sons and one daughter. The first of the family to leave the parental roof was William, who in 1856 came to California and settled in Napa, where he died.
The youngest child in the parental family, Thomas B. Edington, was reared on the home farm in Dallas county, Mo., and in that locality he gained such an education as the subscription schools of that day offered. In 1857, when he was seventeen years of age, he became restless on the home farm and determined to follow his elder brother, who the year before had come to California to make his home, Joining a company of ten men who had outfitted with ox teams for the overland journey, the young man made the trip in safety, coming directly to Napa county, where he was fortunate in finding work as a farm hand. Later he engaged in farming fourteen miles from Napa on the Rutherford place, continuing there for twenty-six years altogether, when he gave up the position, and after three years passed in San Jose. again came to Napa and resumed farming. The latter was soon relinquished in favor of the real estate business, however, and it is this business that engages his attention at the present time, the firm of Edington & McDonald being recognized as reliable and thoroughgoing. Of late Mr. Edington has been giving some attention to the development of oil in Napa county, having found such good indications that he feels justified in making further investigations. Associated with others he is now engaged in drilling for oil on a lot across from the court house on Third street, where oil of high grade has been reached at a depth of sixty feet. Besides this enterprise, he was one of the organizers and the vice president of the Sunshine Oil Company in Bakersfield, but is no longer connected with the enterprise, having sold his interest.
In Solano county, Cal., in 1864, Mr. Edington was united in marriage with Miss Malvina Stice, a native of Scotland county, Mo., who came to California overland with her parents in 1857. The following children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Edington Jannettie Bell. the widow of John Grigsby, residing near St. Helena; Irena, Mrs. Bradley, residing at Rutherford ; Joseph Lee, a rancher in Chiles valley ; William Hampton and James B., who are engaged in the butcher business at Rutherford ; David Newton and John J., both residents of San Francisco ; Leland Stanford, of Napa; and George R., foreman of the Harris ranch at Rutherford. Politically Mr. Edington is a Democrat, and on the ticket of this party was at one time a candidate for the office of county assessor and sheriff, but was defeated, as the party was in the minority; but the fact of his nomination is worthy of mention as it indicates Mr. Edington’s popularity among his fellow citizens."
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1840 - 1919 (78 years)
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