Trafton family

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1937 Trafton-Melissa-obit.jpg

The first of the Trafton family to arrive in Santa Cruz County was George A. Trafton (1834-1927), born in Canada, who came to California in 1851 and to Watsonville in 1858, shortly after his marriage to Melissa Matthis in the Sacramento Valley. George established a general store, and served in "civic affairs"

Son William Abraham Trafton (1864-1931) served as Watsonville mayor. "The Trafton brothers" are profiled in Harrison, p.281.

Son Howard Trafton (1871-1925) 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.

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