JAMES M. AKIN.  The Akin family is an old English one and the American branch of it was established before 1700.  Still other Akins have come over from England since, and it was from pilgrams and pioneers that James M. Akin, who lives near Springville, Cal., was brought down through successive generations to his own.  He was born in the state of New York in 1850, his mother dying at his birth, and in 1852 his father came overland to California.  The boy was reared as a member of the family of an uncle in his native state, attended school there and did chores on the farm until he was eighteen years old.  Then he came to California, where his father had preceded him by about sixteen years.  Locating in Sacramento, he remained there about one year, then came to Tulare county.  His life here begun in 1870 and for two years thereafter his home was in the vicinity of Visalia.  In 1880 he settled on his ranch of three hundred and twenty-acres three miles from Springville.  Early in his career here he engaged in stock-raising, in which he made so much success that he is considered one of a substantial men of his neighborhood.  The confidence reposed by his fellow townsmen in his ability and intelligence is shown in the fact that they have conferred upon him for twenty years the honor of the office of school trustee.
     Farming and stock-raising have not commanded all of Mr. Akin's attention.  He and his son Claude have twelve mining claims, which will be developed soon, and the latter has copper and zinc mines near Springville.  In 1911 Mr. Akin started a nursery known as Akin's nursery, which is devoted to the raising of oranges.  He makes a specialty of Washington navels, of which he has twenty thousand two year old budded trees.  In 1913 thirty thousand more will be planted, a new industry promising to become very important in this section.  It was in 1880 that Mr. Akin married Sarah Hudson, who was born in California and who bore him five children, all of whom, except the youngest, are married.  Their names are Claude, Lola, Lerta, Leeta and Melva.  They are native children of California.  All of them were born in Tulare county, and four of them were educated at Springville, and the fifth is being educated there.  Their mother died Feb. 2, 1911, and was buried near Springville.  It will be interesting to note that Mr. Akin was induced to come to California in quest of health.  In order to be in the open air as much as possible he spent his first six eyars in the state hunting in the woods and on the plains.  He relates that within a comparatively short time he and his brother-in-law killed seven bears.  He has literally grown up with the country, and being a man of public spirit, has done much for the general welfare.  Fraternally he is a member of the Court of Honor.
Source: HISTORY OF TULARE and KINGS COUNTIES, CALIFORNIA - Published by Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California - 1913 - Page 325