Trafton family

David Trafton (1790-1852), born in Maine, set out to bring his family to California, but died during the trip in 1852. The rest of the family continued, settling in the Pajaro Valley.

Son ([George A. Trafton (1834-1927), born in Canada, established the family in Watsonville in 1858, shortly after his marriage to Melissa Matthis in the Sacramento Valley. George established a general store, and served in "civic affairs".

George's oldest son William Abraham Trafton (1864-1931) served as Watsonville mayor. "The Trafton brothers" are profiled in Harrison, p.281.

George's second son Howard Trafton (1871-1925, bio in Martin) was elected County Sheriff in 1902, and still held that position in 1925, when he was killed in a gun battle while trying to evict a squatter.

• Geoffrey Dunn, "Death In the Afternoon", Santa Cruz Style, Spring-2019, p.60-63, republished online at SCPL Local History Articles

A daughter named Ida moved to southern California. The other family members are buried in Watsonville's Pioneer Cemetery, including David.