Los Angeles: Times-Mirror Press, 1927. 478 pp. First Edition. Approximately 6 x 9". Illustrated dust jacket with chips, tears and missing parts, in good + condition. Blue cloth over boards with gilt title on cover and spine, bookplate of Alice & J.B. Levison on front paste-down endpaper, black and white illustrations throughout, in near fine condition.

J. A. Graves (1857 - 1927) moved from Iowa to California in 1857 when he was just 5 years old. This book tells of his childhood and education in Northern California. It then moves on to the issues he experienced such as politics, conflicting land claims (while he was a lawyer), railroad interests, water rights, farming, Hispanic citizens, etc. It also deals with his personal life and professional career. A wonderful first-person narrative of an interesting time in the growth of California. The bookplate is from Alice & J.B. Levison, with J.B. being the President of Fireman's Fund from 1917 to 1937. J. B. was largely responsible for the Fireman's Fund surviving the massive amount of claims and helping customers after the great San Francisco earthquake of 1906.