J. J. Waste was a pioneer settler of Chico, Butte County, Northern California

John Jackson Waste

The residence of John Jackson Waste, 1877, Chico, California This image was passed down through the years to my father. It dates from the 1870's. Click on the image to see large version.   Photograph of J. J. Waste's ranch house Click on the image to see larger version.   "Jack", as friends called him, settled in the Rock Creek area northwest of Chico in Butte County. He became a successful farmer-rancher as well as the chairman of the board of Butte county supervisors. Click on the old list below to see his name recorded - keeping in mind that throughout that time period the entire area of Butte County and northeast California were still part of "the Wild West". Sometimes there were occasional attacks by the Mill Creek Indians and, of course, dangerous outlaws. Actually, in those early days, the Native Americans were being systematically exterminated in much of that part of Northern California.     John and Mary Waste's son William Harrison Waste, seen below, grew up to become the Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court. William Harrison Waste, son of J. J. Waste, probably received his middle name in honor of his uncles Lewis Harrison McIntosh and Lewis Harrison Helphinstine. It has been a long-standing belief in our family that we are related to the two President Harrisons. It seems likely that the connection exists although I haven't learned the circumstances yet.   John married Florence (Flora) Maria Helphinstine on Nov. 29, 1874. Florence was a cousin of his first and second wives, Margaret Helphinstine and Mary McIntosh.   Florence (Flo) Maria Helphinstine Birth: Sept. 17, 1852 in Washington, Daviess County, Indiana Died: Oct. 1, 1885 in Chico, Butte County, Calif. How and when Flora and her parents traveled to California isn't known yet. But the 1870 census listed her as a resident of Monroe, in what was then Colusa County (now Glenn). Her nearest post office was at St. Johns, which is just south of Hamilton City, directly across the Sacramento River from Chico. Flo married John Jackson Waste on Nov. 29, 1874 in Chico, Butte County. She and John had four children together. She outlived her husband by three years and was buried next to him at the Chico Cemetery. Here is a page about Florence Helphinstine Waste.     Click on the image for large version.   Children of John and Florence Waste Harry Lotis Waste, born Sept. 2, 1875 John Morten Waste, born 1877 Mabel Emma Waste, born March 3, 1880 Jesse Jackson Waste, born June 12, 1882             List of the County Officers of Butte County From The Year 1850 Until 1878 including J. J. Waste. J. J. Waste was the chairman of the Butte County board of supervisors.

John Peter Jacob Helphinstine Residence, 1877

It was the dying wish of Mary that her son William should be brought to live with his "Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Mary" Helphinstine in Chico. This was probably the farm where they lived. Later they would move to Los Angeles. This image was passed down through the years to my father. It dates from the 1870's. Click on the image to see hi-res version.

There remains to this day several living legacies from the story of John Jackson and Mary McIntosh Waste. My father's name is James McIntosh Waste and my older brother's name is Stephen McIntosh Waste. Until recently, their middle name really didn't mean too much. But now it's importance is becoming clearer.

In another possibly related development Steve's son is named Jackson Waste, although I don't think that was to intentionally remember our ancestor. But nonetheless, there it is!