Colusa & Glenn Counties California

Biographies

1918

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 EUGENE THOMPSON BUTLEE

It is interesting to chronicle the life history of the pioneers who braved frontier dangers and hardships. Such a man is Eugene T. Butler, born in De Witt, Clinton County, Iowa, January 22, 1855. His father, John P. Butler, was born in Indiana. He was a millwright by trade, and settled in Clinton County, Iowa, where he married and was engaged in farming. On the breaking out of the Civil War he volunteered his services, enlisting in Company H, Twenty-sixth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and served with his regiment until he was taken ill at the siege of Vicksburg, from which illness he died in 1863. The mother, Mary Shields before her marriage, was born in Indiana. Her half brother, Major John Lynch, was major of the Sixth Illinois Cavalry; and six of her nephews served under him in the same regiment during the Civil War. Some years after the death of John P. Butler his widow was married again, to William Gibbs, who died in Iowa. By the first union she had four children; and by the second, two. She passed away in Elk Creek, Cal.

Eugene Thompson Butler was the fourth child of his mother’s first marriage, and was reared in Iowa until fifteen years of age.  His education necessarily was limited, since he and his brothers, after his father’s death, during the Civil War, were compelled to go to work when they were mere lads, and were kept busy in the fields. At thirteen years of age he bound his station in the grain fields of Iowa, with the other men.

On reaching fifteen years, Eugene Butler emigrated to California, arriving on October 24, 1870; and here he worked at the old John Williams sawmill, above Elk Creek. Later, he worked with his In-other-in-law, Hugh Nelson, who was in the sheep business ; and in 1883 he went to Washington, driving a band of sheep through for Warren Green. He remained in Yakima County, Wash., farming and logging, and was married there, in August, 1884, to Miss Annie O’Neal, a native of that state, born in Olympia. She was a daughter of Abija and Minerva (Underwood) O’Neal, natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively, and pioneers of Washington, who crossed the plains with ox teams in 1852. Five children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs.  Butler: Charles, a merchant in Elk Creek; Hugh; Alma, Mrs.  Warmack, of Willows; Bessie, Mrs. Jess Haskell, of Fruto; and Etta, who lives with her parents.

In 1887, Mr. Butler, with his wife, returned to Elk Creek and engaged in the sheep business there with Warren Green, and later in the cattle business, the partnership lasting until the death of Mr.  Green. After the death of Mr. Green the partnership was continued with his heirs, a period of twenty-five years in all. In 1915, Mr. Butler sold out his interests. He now lives on his ranch of one hundred twenty acres, in the Oakdale district, retired from active cares, and enjoying the fruits of his years of industry, and the reward of the hardships endured during early life.  In national politics Mr. Butler is a Republican; locally he supports those men he finds best fitted for their respective offices.  He has served on the county grand jury, and also as school trustee in Strong and Oakdale districts; and he has always been actively interested in all movements for the progress and upbuilding of his section.

GEORGE B. PENCE

As supervisor from the fourth district, George B. Pence, of Maxwell, is holding a position of importance among the public officials of Colusa County, with credit to himself, and with satisfaction to his constituents. He is a man of marked business ability, good judgment, and upright principles, and enjoys to a high degree the esteem and respect of the community. Of honored pioneer stock, he was born near Staunton, Macoupin County, ILL., October 25, 1865, a son of Samuel and Eliza (Griswold) Pence, natives of Pennsylvania and Vermont respectively. The father crossed the plains with ox teams, from Illinois to California, in 1854, mined in the Sierras near Forbestown for a time, and then returned home by way of Cape Horn and continued farming in Illinois. In 1872 he came back to California to find a location that suited him, intending to go back later for his family. In 1876 he brought his family and settled in the Antelope Valley, Colusa County. He leased land from John Sites, and for four years farmed to grain on a large scale, meeting with very good returns.  He then took up a government claim in Letts Valley, on the south side of Snow Mountain, proved up on it, and for four years was  engaged in raising horses and cattle. One year was spent on the Cleghorn ranch in Grapevine Valley after which, in 1884, he settled in Maxwell and built the Maxwell Hotel, where for twenty-five years he was “mine host” to the traveling public, among whom he became widely and favorably known. In 1909 he moved to the state of Washington, where he died. He was a member of Maxwell Lodge, No. 288, F. & A. M. His three sons are living: James S. and Charles, both in Washington; and George B., of this review.

George B. Pence finished his education in Colusa County, after which he assisted his father on the ranches, and then became his partner in the Maxwell Hotel, from 1884 till 1896. From 1896 to 1898 he farmed in Washington. On his return to California he spent one year in Indian Valley and four years on the Morris Dooling ranch, in Antelope Valley, raising grain and stock, after which he was engaged in the same enterprise on the Langenour ranch of two thousand seven hundred forty acres in the same valley.  In August, 1914, he bought fifty-two and one half acres near Maxwell; and he is now devoting his time and energies to developing it into a modern dairy, alfalfa and fruit ranch. He has his own water system, with fine wells and pumping plant to supply his needs for domestic and irrigating purposes. In four years his place has become one of the show places in the county. Mr. Pence is still operating the Langenour place. In 1913 he took into partnership with himself his son Marvin Earl Pence, who resides on the ranch. Some six hundred acres a year is planted to grain ; and the balance is devoted to raising cattle, horses, mules and hogs.  The place is operated with the latest improved machinery.  Mr. Pence was united in marriage at College City, August 13, 1891, with Irene Estelle Suggett, who was born in Missouri. She is a daughter of George H. Suggett, a veteran of the Civil War, who served in a Missouri regiment in the Federal army. Mr. Suggett became a pioneer of College City, and is now living retired in Sacramento, enjoying a well-earned rest. Of this marriage four children have been born: Marvin Earl, George Howard, Buford Eugene, and Mattie Irene. Mr. Pence is giving his children a good education, and is fitting them well for positions in life. In politics he is a Democrat; and he has always been active in the councils of the party. For eight years in succession he was constable of Maxwell ; and so well did he discharge the duties of the office that he was favorably considered for supervisor, and was induced to become a candidate for the office from the fourth district of Colusa County in 1912. He made the race for the office, and won by a handsome majority over his opponent. He gave his time unsparingly to the duties of the position, and worked hard for his district, always striving to do the most good for the greatest number of people. At the expiration of his term he was a candidate for reelection in 1916, and was again chosen to the office. Mr.  Pence is a member of Maxwell Lodge, No. 288, F. & A. M., and of Maxwell Lodge, No. 361, I. 0. O. F. He has a wide acquaintance, and many friends, in the northern part of California, and especially in the Sacramento Valley.

ROBERT YARBROUGH

A pioneer business man of Maxwell, Colusa County, Robert Yarbrough has been a factor in the growth of the town and district, and has aided materially in their development. A Southerner by birth, like so many of the pioneers of the Sacramento Valley, he was born in Hopkins County, Ky., November 2, 1857, and .was raised on a farm there until twenty-one years of age.  Being an ambitious young man, on reaching his majority he desired to broaden his horizon, and went to Colorado, where he worked in the mines for a year and a half. He then moved further west, arriving in the Golden State in 1880. He first came to Fresno, but located in Madera, where he remained for two years.  In the year 1882, Mr. Yarbrough came to Colusa County and engaged in farm work on ranches on Grand Island. He later rented a part of the Joe Evans ranch and farmed it to grain for four years, when he became manager of the Joe Evans Stock Ranch on Madeline Plains, in Lassen County. He proved to be a most capable manager, and met with success ; but wishing to employ his capacities directly in his own behalf, in 1893 he settled in Maxwell, Colusa County. Here Mr. Yarbrough established a butcher business, which he personally conducted for seventeen years. At the same time he bought a four-hundred-thirty-acre ranch west of town, his present home place, planting some of the acreage to grain and using the balance for pasture land and stockraising.  A lover of fine horses, Mr. Yarbrough has raised some splendid specimens of saddle and work horses, and has gained recognition throughout this section as a breeder of fine horses. Besides his ranch property he owns several lots in Maxwell. Like many other progressive ranchers in this section, he is devoting a considerable acreage to rice-culture, which is proving an important industry in the valley. This year (1917) he is planting one hundred acres of his ranch to rice.

With these multiplied business interests, Mr. Yarbrough has found time to help in the upbuilding of his district, especially along educational lines. He is a school trustee, and lias been on the school board for eighteen years ; and during that time he has been unsparing in his efforts to bring about better educational facilities for the community. He was the chief promoter of the new Maxwell grammar school, one of the best school buildings in the county. It is constructed of reinforced concrete, Mission style, with fine interior finish. It has its own heating and water system, and is modern in every way.

Mr. Yarbrough was united in marriage at Grimes, on November 12, 1889, with Rebecca Vann, a native of Potter Valley, Mendocino County, Cal., and a daughter of William H. and Angeline (Cates) Vann, born in Tennessee and Missouri respectively. Her parents were one of the pioneer families of the state, having crossed the plains with ox teams about 1854. Mrs. Yarbrough was reared and educated in Los Angeles. Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Yarbrough: William R., proprietor of the Maxwell meat market; Burr, a farmer; Vann, attending high school; and John and Henry, students in the grammar school.

JOHN H. LOVELACE

The genial and popular Justice of the Peace of Maxwell, Colusa County, John H. Lovelace, has brought to his office those qualities of diplomacy and fair dealing for which the South is noted. A native of Missouri, he was born in Montgomery County, February 10, 1865, a son of John and Ann (Shearin) Lovelace, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter a native of North Carolina.  He is therefore a Southerner “through and through.” His parents became pioneers of California ; and a resume of their activities will be found in the sketch of his brother, Charles W.  Lovelace.

John H. Lovelace was two years old when the family settled in Bear Valley, Cal. They came to Colusa County, in 1867, and he received his education in the schools of that county. His first employment was on the Stewart Harris ranch. Later he rented land in the Grapevine, Cheney Slough, and Maxwell districts, and farmed several thousand acres of land to grain, meeting with success in the venture. During his farming activities he worked at intervals at the carpenter’s trade; and in 1906, in partnership with two of his brothers, Stewart and Walter, he engaged in contracting and building, erecting many of the fine homes in Maxwell, as well as many residences and barns on ranches in the district. He was one of the carpenters that helped build the town hall in Maxwell. The year following the San Francisco fire, 1906-1907, Mr.  Lovelace worked on many of the new buildings which went up in those strenuous times, and helped to build up the new San Francisco.  He also did carpenter work on Angel Island, in the San Francisco harbor. Judge Lovelace has a place of twenty-five acres, located one half mile south of Maxwell on the state highway.  Here he built his bungalow home, and has made other improvements.  Judge Lovelace’s marriage united him with Melvina Prine, a native of Colusa County, who died in May, 1904, leaving four children:

Mrs. Emma Schoener, Gertrude, Desrosier, and Marion.  In 1911, Mr. Lovelace was elected Justice of the Peace of Maxwell Township, and took office on January 1, 1915. He has ably and conscientiously fulfilled the duties of his office, and has won a place for himself in the esteem of his fellow citizens.

OSCAR WAUGH

A representative of a prominent old Southern family, Oscar Waugh was born at Gonzales, Texas, August 8, 1864. His father, James H. Waugh, was born in Amherst County, Va. ; while his grandfather, Roderick Waugh, who was of Scotch descent, was a planter in the Old Dominion and served in the War of 1812.  James H. Waugh, as a young man, migrated West to Texas, and there was married to Miss Sarah Houston, a native of Texas and a daughter of General Sam Houston, ex-Governor of Texas, who was at the head of the forces that accomplished the independence of Texas. Returning to Virginia, where he owned a plantation, James H. Waugh, on the breaking out of the Civil War, enlisted in the Second Virginia Regiment, serving in the Confederate army until the close of the war. During the war his wife had returned to Texas, where she died soon after the birth of their son, Oscar.  After the war, the father resided on his plantation in Amherst County; however, he suffered from wounds received during the war, and died in 1867.

After his father’s death, Oscar Waugh lived with an uncle until eleven years of age ; but not finding his surroundings congenial, he ran away, and went to Kansas City, Mo. Arriving there, he had but two dollars and ten cents left ; but through the aid of relatives in Texas, he attended school two years, and then, on one of his uncle Bob Houston’s trips to Kansas City, returned to Texas with him, where he attended school until he returned to Virginia.  There he entered Roanoke College. After completing his college course, be came back to Texas and rode the range for his uncle until 1881, and then rode over the trail to Montana and rode the range in that state until the fall of 1885, at which time be became such a sufferer from inflammatory rheumatism that, following the advice of a physician, be took a sea voyage to Alaska and return, only’ to find that it did not have he desired effect. On his return be took a course of mud baths at Steamboat Springs, Nev., which relieved him of the malady.

Coming to the Sacramento Valley, on May 15, 1886, Mr.  Waugh entered the employ of J. S. Garnett, and continued in his employ during his life; and be bas remained in the employ of the J. S. Garnett Company since his death. Having had years of experience with cattle and horses, be was soon placed in charge of this branch of the work, a position he bas held ever since. He also owns some cattle and horses himself ; but his time and attention are given to the J. S. Garnett ranch.

Mr. Waugh’s marriage, in 1896, united him with Miss Edna Minton, a native of Kansas; she died in 1898, leaving one child, Ada Virginia, who passed away on March 13, 1915, in her eighteenth year. Mr. Waugh owns a residence on North Shasta Street, Willows. Fraternally, be was made a Mason in Laurel Lodge, No.  245, F. & A. M., at Willows. He bas the true hospitality of the Southern gentleman, is well posted on general politics of the day, and is an interesting conversationalist.

CHARLES E. PEARSON

Charles E. Pearson was born in Moniteau County, Mo., March 1, 1852, a son of Charles and Sarah Pearson, natives of Virginia and Tennessee, respectively, and of Scotch descent. The father brought the family across the plains in 1863, when Charles was two years of age. He was reared on a ranch near Dixon, receiving his education in the public schools, with two years at the University of California. He spent ten years on the Stock Exchange in San Francisco. From 1881 till 1885 be was in Texas, after which be returned to California, at the time of his father’s death, and assumed the responsibilities of administrator of the estate.  After spending a year at mining in Trinity County, he went to Elko County, Nev., in 1886, and began in cattle-raising, locating his ranch on Bruno River. He was among the very first settlers in that region. His place was known as Warm Springs; and be adopted the familiar 17 as his cattle brand. During the twenty-five years of his residence there, he did what he could to build up the country and advance the cause of education, serving as school trustee. He was a candidate on the Republican ticket for the state assembly ; but it was at the time of the free-silver wave in Nevada, and of course he failed of election. Having sold his ranch in Nevada he located at Willows, Glenn County, Cal., in 1911, where he purchased a ranch of four hundred twelve acres, three miles southwest of the town. This he subdivided into forty-acre and twenty acre tracts, and sold. -Two places he improved with wells and pumping plants, and planted alfalfa, demonstrating it a success.  He sold all but sixty acres. In 1912, having traded for a ranch of two hundred sixty-one acres adjoining Stonyford, he moved on the place, where he is now devoting his time to raising, buying, and feeding cattle. He is raising an abundance of hay, having one hundred acres in alfalfa. He has a ditch from Stony Creek, which supplies an abundance of water for irrigation.  Mr. Pearson was married in San Francisco to Miss Emily Johnson, who was born in that city. She died in Elko County, Nev., in 1890, leaving three children: Florence, Mrs. Parkinson;

Violet, Mrs. Ross; and Everett, a mining man, all of whom live in Nevada. Mr. Pearson is enterprising and successful, and at the same time liberal and kind-hearted, ever ready to aid those who have been less fortunate; and he is sociable and hospitable to a marked degree.

ELLSWORTH C. HARELSON

The distinction of being the youngest county assessor in California at the present time belongs to Ellsworth C. Harelson, who was elected to this office in 1914, at the age of thirty years, taking office in January, 1915. Mr. Harelson was elected at the primaries, which is sufficient of itself to show his popular standing in the county. He is the son of Adelbert J. and Ida (Thurston) Harelson, the former a native of Wisconsin, and the latter, of Missouri.

Ellsworth C. Harelson was born in Orland, Glenn County, September 4, 1884, and was educated in the public schools of his native town, which possesses a fine high school. After graduating from the high school he took a course in the Polytechnic Business

College of Oakland, and immediately entered the employ of the Wells-Fargo Company in San Francisco, becoming secretary to the general agent. Later he entered the employ of the West Coast Construction Company of the same city. He was traveling salesman

for the Edwards Dental Supply Company of the bay city until, with a fine business experience acquired in meeting and dealing with Men, he returned to Orland and entered into partnership with his father in the general contracting and building business.  This line of work he followed until 1911. From 1912 to 1913 he served as deputy county assessor, and in 1914 was the popular nominee for assessor, as already stated.

In February, 1916, Ellsworth C. Harelson married Miss Lola Neel, a charming young native daughter of Willows. Mr. and Mrs. Harelson are highly esteemed in their community, where Mr.  Harelson is recognized as a rising business man.

THOMAS H. NEWSOM

A pioneer of 1876, in Colusa County, and likewise a veteran of the Civil War, Thomas H. Newsom was born in Bartholomew County, Ind., April 15, 1842. He came from a prominent family of Quakers in Indiana, of. Irish ancestry. He had but a limited school education; for his father, William Newsom, died when his son was but three years old, and after his mother, Elizabeth Seibert Newsom, married again, his stepfather required his services at an age when other lads were going to school. However, he was a close student of current literature, and through wide reading and his travels he became a well-informed man. In 1857, when Thomas was fifteen years old, the family moved over into Illinois.  He worked at farming until the outbreak of the Civil War, when he decided to join the colors and enlisted, on July 8, 1862, in Company A, Twelfth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. As a private soldier he did his duty honorably, taking part in many engagements.  Among the more important of these were the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Knoxville, Atlanta, Kenesaw Mountain, Chattanooga, and Bridgeport.  He was with Sherman on his march to the sea, and took part in the battles at Richmond (Ivy.), Iuka, Corinth, and Nashville. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Richmond, Ky. At the close of the war he was discharged with rank of corporal. His regiment, the Twelfth Indiana, had the honor of leading Sherman’s Army in the Grand Review at Washington, at the close of the war.  He was a member of New Monitor Post, No. 144, G. A. R.  Returning once more to civil pursuits, Mr. Newsom went to Springfield, Mo., and for ten years was engaged in buying and selling live stock. Thinking to see more of the country and investigate the opportunities on the Pacific Coast, in 1876 he came to California, where he was employed on the Devenpeck ranch, in Colusa County, for five years. He then purchased two hundred forty acres of land located three and one half miles west of Willows, and engaged in raising grain for the next ten years. Soon after the death of his first wife, he sold his Glenn County ranch and moved to Butte County. A few years were spent in that county very profitably. From 1897 to 1900 he was in Redding, Tehama County, dealing in live stock ; and it is safe to say that no one was better posted on values than was he. He came back to the scenes of his first efforts, and farmed on three hundred twenty acres west of Willows until he moved to the vicinity of Glenn, where, in 1910, he bought one hundred thirteen and one half acres. This property he improved, clearing the land and making of the place a comfortable home and a model ranch, where he profitably carried on general farming. During his long residence in this part of the Sacramento Valley, Mr. Newsom witnessed many changes in the country; and as he was able, he helped along many worthy projects for the uplifting of the people and the establishment of good government.  A loyal Republican, but never an aspirant for office, he met in the councils of the party, where he cast his influence for good.  On August 28, 1893, Mr. Newsom was united in marriage with Mrs. Lillian (Hanson) Miller, who was born in Sutter City, October 23, 1855, a daughter of Wm. Patton Hanson, mention of whom is made in the sketch of N. P. Hanson. Although Mr. Newsom had no children, he took great pleasure in the company of young people; and he was highly regarded as one who showed public spirit on every occasion. He always favored and supported good schools, good roads, and good government. After a lingering illness from heart failure and kidney trouble, he passed to his reward on September 2, 1917, mourned by his widow and a large circle of friends.

JAMES EWING MITCHELL

One of the last remaining of the old pioneers of the northern part of what is now Glenn County, and a man who has always had the respect and confidence of all his acquaintances, is James Ewing Mitchell, who was born in Roane County, Tenn., September 4, 1830. His parents, George and Sarah (Ewing) Mitchell, were also natives of that state, their parents having been among the earliest pioneers there. In 1837 the family moved to the new territory of Missouri, and settled on a farm in Polk County, which the father worked until his death in 1847.

James Mitchell attended the public schools of Missouri and took a course in Ebenezer College, near Springfield, that state; and when not in school, he worked on the farm. In 1854 he  crossed the plains with a baud of cattle that he had bought in Indian Territory, now Oklahoma, and only lost seven per cent, of them in the long drive to California. He located in Butte County, on the Sacramento River, opposite St. John, where for three years he was engaged in cattle-raising. In 1857 he returned to Missouri, and in partnership with an uncle. Col. Adam C. Mitchell, engaged in horse and mule-trading at Bolivar, in Polk County. In 1864 he again came to California, by way of New York City and Panama.  For six years he managed the John M. Montgomery ranch on the Sacramento River, known thereafter as the Montgomery & Mitchell ranch, on the Tehama and Glenn County line, near Kirkwood.  They owned eighteen thousand sheep, which they sold on the hoof in bands of from one hundred to three thousand; they bred fine stock, and paid at one time six hundred dollars for one sheep ; another time they paid one thousand dollars for two ewes and three lambs. After the death of Mr. Montgomery, Mr. Mitchell sold out in 1876, and purchased six hundred forty acres of land five and one half miles northeast of Orland, in what is now Glenn County, where for thirty years he ranched with very gratifying success.  He has always been recognized as one of the pioneers in the sheep business, as there were no high-grade sheep here before his time, but only the Spanish variety, with little or no wool. This gave Mr. Mitchell the idea of importing some good stock. He found that it took about seven years to get a high-graded animal ; but he persevered until he had a splendid flock—so much so, that John S.  Wise of San Francisco, and other prominent sheep men and buyers, said that Mr. Mitchell had the highest-graded band of sheep in the Sacramento Valley. Later he traveled and sold sheep all over the state, and in Nevada, being particularly well and favorably known all over Tehama, Butte, Colusa and Glenn Counties.  He has made many trips East and back to California, making the trip twice across the plains and back, twice by way of Panama, and once by the Nicaragua route.

Mr. Mitchell was married in Willows, Cal., his wife being Miss Eliza Cleek, a native of Shelby County, Mo. Her father, Andrew Cleek, a native of Virginia, crossed the plains in 1849 and became a pioneer of Colusa County. He was a member of the first jury in Colusa County to pronounce the sentence that hanged a man. This was at Monroeville, then the county seat. He was also a member of the first board of supervisors. Mrs. Mitchell was educated in the public schools of this state and in the college at San Jose.

Mr. Mitchell is a Democrat. He was tendered the office of sheriff of Glenn County upon its organization, but declined the honor. He later regretted his action, as the proffer was made by his friends’ in both Republican and Democratic circles, who assured him he would have no opposition. On account of his natural diffidence, however, he has always refused public office. He is said to be the oldest living Mason in California, having been made a Mason in Polk County, Mo., in 1857. He now belongs to Chico Lodge, No. Ill, F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master; Chico Chapter, No. 42, E. A. M. ; and Chico Commandery, No. 12, K. T.  For a man of his age Mr. Mitchell is wonderfully well-preserved.  Though in his eighty-seventh year, he is hale and hearty, with a memory as keen as when he was a young man.

LINDLEY P. FARNHAM

The name of Farnham has been associated with Glenn County since the year 1876, when Rev. Moses Pember Farnham settled on land near Germantown, where he farmed for many years. He was born in New York, January 20, 1838, and was educated in the public schools and academies of that state, and in Northwestern University, in Illinois, of which he was a graduate. In 1861 he enlisted in the Thirteenth Wisconsin Regiment for service during the Civil War ; and when he received his discharge at the close of hostilities it was with the rank of first lieutenant. He married Mary M. Cromwell, who was born in New York on March 10, 1841.  With his wife, he came to California in 1867, by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He was a Methodist minister, and Methodist ministers have been pioneers since the days of John Wesley.  Upon the arrival of the Reverend Farnham and his good wife in this state, he went at once to Weaverville, Trinity County, then a booming mining town, and preached the gospel to its people.

Later he went to Chico, Butte County, where he preached on Sundays, and taught school on week days for a living. In 1876 he settled in what is now Glenn County, and farmed a section of land near Germantown. In that neighborhood he taught one school for nine years, meanwhile preaching the gospel whenever the call came to do so. On July 17, 1896, this Christian soldier passed to his reward. It was such men as he who “carried the cross” in California when the paths were trails; and the present generation, worshiping in the fine church edifices of today, owe much to these godly, fearless pioneer ministers who unselfishly preached for the Master’s sake, and meanwhile taught school, and plowed and sowed the land like other men, for a living. His widow is still living at her home in Willows. Reverend and Mrs. Farnham were the parents of four children : Daniel C, an osteopathic physician in San Francisco ; Olive M., a teacher in the schools at Willows; Mrs. Amy P. Thomas, of Orland; and Judge Lindley P., of this review. 

Lindley P. Farnham was horn in the Germantown district, January 15, 1878. He received his education in the public schools of Glenn County, and was graduated from the high school at Willows with the class of 1902. He later read law in the office of Judge 0. Pirkey, was admitted to the bar of the state in 1904, and began the practice of his profession in Willows. From the start he began to build up a good practice, and to take part in all movements for the public good. He is a prominent factor in the Republican ranks, and was a candidate, in 1906, for Justice of the Peace from the fourth judicial township, which comprises two supervisorial districts, including the town of Willows. This is a strong Democratic district, but Judge Farnham. won by a handsome majority; and so satisfactorily were the duties of the office discharged that he has been returned to the office twice. He is also serving as city recorder of Willows, and maintains an office in the city hall on Butte Street. His private practice is confined to civil actions. He is a member of Monroe Lodge, No. 289, I. O. 0. F., and of the Rebekahs. He has passed all the chairs of the former, and is now a Past Noble Grand. The judge has won his own way, and is accorded a prominent place among the leading men of Glenn County, where his entire life has been spent.

JOSEPH C. EUBANK

Among the leaders who have guided the public affairs of the progressive town of Willows, is J. C. Eubank, the town clerk, who was born in Kentucky, December 13, 1847. When he was seven years old, the family moved to Texas, where he grew up on a farm near Austin. He attended the public schools, getting such education as he could, and meanwhile devotedly assisted his father on the home ranch. Later, when grown, he began to farm on his own account ; and having a natural liking for agriculture, he pursued it for ten years, and with success. He then studied for the ministry of the Christian Church, and having satisfied the high standards of that communion, he was ordained at Salado, in Texas. He preached the gospel in Central and Northern Texas, and through his ministry many were brought to repentance. While in that state he became a member of the Texas Christian Missionary Association.

Deciding to migrate further West, the Reverend Mr. Eubank came to Willows in December, 1912, where for two years he was the acceptable pastor of the Christian Church. In the work of his ministry, however, he became impressed with the urgent need of more earnest endeavor along civic lines ; and resigning his pulpit, he was elected town clerk in 1913, the choice being a decided vote of confidence on the part of his fellow citizens. About the same time, he opened an office for the real estate and insurance business.  In 1913, Mr. Eubank displayed his business sagacity by opening up an entirely new field in the poultry business, through the adoption of a unique method of fattening turkeys for the holiday market. He leased twenty-five acres south of town, and there he has erected sheds and pens for his broods. Mr. Eubank ‘s method of procedure in this important enterprise is very interesting. He commences in the summer to look about him for choice opportunities to buy turkeys ; and by fall he has a thousand or more ranging and fattening in the hills in one immense flock, under the care of a herder, who is employed to look after them on their range, like a shepherd tending a flock of sheep. When the turkeys are killed, they are shipped to the market in San Francisco and Oakland.  By a method all his own he has built up a lucrative trade ; and he expects to increase the size of his flock each year. In addition to carrying on this enterprise, he also raises hogs on the premises.  Some years ago Mr. Eubank was married to Miss Rebecca Barton, of North Carolina, by whom he has had five children : Otis, Louise, Elizabeth Eva Dena and John—the latter a girl, who is now the wife of W. G. Edwards, of Willows. Mr. Eubank is happy in his home circle. He enjoys the social life of the Masons, in the Blue Lodge at Willows. He was formerly a member of the Royal Arch Chapter in Texas.

HENRY GROVE RAWLINS

The Rawlins family in Glenn County now numbers about fifty.  Henry Grove Rawlins, educator and man of business affairs, and for some years past the principal of the Willows grammar school, is a native of Texas, and a son of the Rev. Thomas Franklin Rawlins, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this history. He came to California when he was sixteen years old, learned the printer’s trade at Fresno, and set type on the Fresno Republican. In 1889 he came north and located in what is now Glenn County, when the family settled in Butte City. Always thirsting after knowledge, he attended Pierce Christian College at College City, Colusa County, and also took special courses in education at the University of California. For a time lie followed ranching, and then began his career as an educator, teaching his first school in the Grindstone district. He then taught at Edison and Fruto, and later became principal of the Orland grammar school. In 1907 he was made principal of the Willows grammar school, and has since filled the position with satisfaction to the entire community. For the past sixteen years he has been a member of the County Board of Education, of which he has served five times as chairman. He has also acted as one of the trustees of the Willows Public Library, and in 1916 was elected trustee of the city of Willows.  Naturally interested in scientific farming, Mr. Rawlins has invested to a considerable extent in ranch properties. For four years he owned and farmed a ranch of considerable size near Butte City ; and he now owns an eighty-three-acre ranch in the Elk Creek district, twenty acres of which is planted to apples. This mountain orchard, planted at timber line, has been developed by him into one of the best in the state.

On November 4, 1894, Mr. Rawlins married Miss Nancy S.  Small, a native daughter of California, and the granddaughter of Henry Small, California pioneer and prominent cattle man of Colusa County. Three children have blessed this union: T. Ellsworth, who is taking a special course in soil chemistry at Berkeley, and who is in charge of his father’s apple orchard; Aubrey G., also attending the University of California; and G. Allen, a student in the public schools of Willows.

WILLIAM R. ZUMWALT

One of the chief elements in the attractiveness of any town is found in the artistic design and stable quality of its architecture; and when the finest edifices in a community are the product of one of its own gifted and experienced citizens, as is the case with Willows, there is special reason for local pride and satisfaction. W. R.  Zumwalt, the prominent contractor and builder of Willows, is a native son, born near Colusa, Colusa County, on February 27, 1885.  Mr. Zumwalt's parents are John H. and Fannie (Craigmiles) Zumwalt, natives of Illinois, who came to California in 1880, and in 1890 located at Willows, where the elder Zumwalt followed the carpenter’s trade. John Zumwalt is held in high esteem in his community. He is a member of the Masons.  One of three children—the other two being Grover and Eva Zumwalt—William R. Zumwalt was educated at the Willows public schools, and afterwards learned the carpenter’s trade with his father. He then took a course in architectural drawing in the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pa., and as a result he is able to make his own plans for buildings. He has erected many fine residences here, among them being the homes of Frank Glenn and Frank Weinrich; and many others also have been designed by him. Since 1906, Mr. Zumwalt has been engaged in contracting and building throughout Glenn County. He has made a specialty of schoolhouses, having erected the following very creditable buildings : the high school at Willows, the Plaza school near Orland, the Cherokee school west of Orland, the Butte City school at Butte City, and the Union school at the east of Butte City. He was also the builder of the new library at Bayliss. He recently completed three reinforced concrete bridges in the county, and previously erected five of the same kind ; and he has built a number of reinforced concrete culverts.

As a man of business affairs, Mr. Zumwalt ‘s interests are varied, including among others an interest in a drug store. He is a member of the firm of Crete & Zumwalt, proprietors of the Willows Pharmacy. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of Laurel Lodge, No. 245, of Willows. As a citizen, he is a supporter of all worthy enterprises that have for their aim the upbuilding and betterment of the community.

LARS HANSEN TWEDE

Another illustration of the interesting and valuable contribution made by Denmark and the Danes to the agricultural development of California is afforded in the career and accomplishments of L. H. Twede, the present manager and half-owner of the Twede Ranch & Land Co., of Willows, and one of the leaders in ranching and land development in this section of the state. Born in pastoral Denmark, on June 13, 1852, he did his full duty by his fatherland in three years of exacting service in the army, and then followed general farming in his native country until 1879, when Be migrated to the United States. He came almost directly to California, and rented five hundred acres in Alameda County, near Mills College. After a year, however, in the fall of 1881, Mr.  Twede removed to Lake County; and for ten years he farmed there with fair success. In 1891 he went to Fresno County, and near Parlier set out eighty acres in an orchard and vineyard.

This venture proved to be a success ; but he sold out in 1895. He then began contracting for orchard and vineyard work, having several good orchards to his credit. At the same time he engaged in raising grain. He leased two thousand acres in the Elk Horn district of that county ; but a great flood came and -wiped away all the fruits of his labors, and in 1903 he removed to Berkeley, where for six years he was active in the hay and grain trade.  In the fall of 1909, Mr. Twede settled on his ranch southeast of Willows, and at once began energetic and notable improvements.  He brought the first traction engine seen in the district, for the development of land, and was able to accomplish much with it for both himself and his neighbors. Having attended the agricultural school in Denmark, and spent six months on a dairy ranch, he was unusually well equipped for the work of a farmer; and he has been more than successful with his piece of land, which in the opinion of many was almost worthless when he took hold of it.

The domestic life of Mr. Twede has been particularly happy.  He married Miss Maren K. Erlandseu, a native of Denmark, by whom he has had four children: Erland, Mrs. Ellna Barnhouse, Herbert, and Meta.

In 1909 the Twede Ranch & Land Co. was incorporated with the following members : L. H. Twede, his son Herbert, and John F. and Charles A. Schroth, of San Francisco. They own twelve hundred eighty acres of land, which was undeveloped when they secured control of it, but is now well fenced in and proA’ided with houses, barns, hog sheds, and other buildings. An altogether different appearance has been given the place, which had not been farmed for twenty years. Grain, corn and rice are raised, as well as hogs, which are all thoroughbred Berkshires. They started with twelve registered sows and one registered boar; now there are in all nearly two hundred fifty head on the place. Eighty acres are planted to alfalfa; while three hundred acres, in 1916, yielded nine thousand sacks of rice. About four hundred acres have been planted in 1917. As a separate enterprise, Mr. Twede and his son have rented four hundred acres of land near Germantown, which have been planted to rice.

Mr. Twede came to Glenn County to develop the property he had purchased, and has been a busy man ever since. Every improvement seen on his place today has been placed there under his own supervision. He was the first man to harvest a good crop of rice in the county. His first crop was harvested in 1913, when he had fifty acres. His experiment proved a success, and others followed his lead. In 1917 there were some twenty-five thousand acres in rice within the county confines. He introduced the first tractor in the county, a twenty horse-power machine, which at that time was a wonder to all the other ranchers, who shook their heads, saying mules were better. He prospected for water, struck a fine well, put in a centrifugal pump, and got an abundant supply.  He is progressive and public-spirited, and supports all good measures for public improvement. He is a member of the Clampers organization, and a booster of Glenn County’s possibilities.

AMIEL D. PIEPER

No one will deny the great debt of the New World to the Old.  Among those from foreign lands who have contributed of their brain and their brawn to the making of California is Amiel D.  Pieper, of the well-known department store at the corner of Butte and Walnut Streets, in Willows. He was born at Hamburg on May 12, 1870, and when a lad came to the United States, and to Willows, arriving with his parents and brothers on May 4, 1882.  For four years he attended the excellent grammar schools here, and for two years thereafter worked on various ranches in the county. He was always wide-awake and ready to take the next step forward, and there were not wanting those who early perceived in him the possibilities of an energetic, successful business man.

By 1888, he had entered the mercantile establishment of Eppinger & Company, at Germantown, where he began at the bottom and learned each stage in the business. With this firm he remained until 1902, when he formed a partnership with H. J. Somers, and opened a store in Willows. Two years later, however, he sold out to his partner and bought the store of J. T. Harlan, located at the corner of Tehama and Walnut Streets, where the Bank of Willows now stands. Business flourished from the day the shop passed under the new management, and soon the store-room was too small for the trade. In 1900, therefore, Mr. Pieper moved into his new and up-to-date department store, now familiarly known to both citizen and visitor in Willows. At the same time his brother, J. F.  Pieper, and his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Laura Pieper, became partners in the business ; but two years later he bought them out, and is now the sole owner of the concern. This superb department-store building, although not belonging to Mr. Pieper, was built for him under his own supervision. The business has continued to increase, and now the Pieper department store is the second largest in Glenn County. Built up by the best of business methods and honest dealing, this well-known store draws trade from miles around.

An evidence of the confidence and esteem in which Mr. Pieper is held is found in his election, in 1910, as director of the Willows Chamber of Commerce. This responsible position he continued to hold for two years. But he has enjoyed other marks of good-will

and confidence on the part of those who have come to know him more or less intimately. From 1912 to 1916, he was a trustee of Willows, serving for the first two years as chairman of the board; and under the excellent business administration of the town during his incumbency in office, the public indebtedness of twenty thousand dollars, which stood against the town when he became a trustee, was reduced, by the time his term expired, to the sum of five thousand dollars. For the past eight years, too, Mr. Pieper has been a member of the Willows school board.  The marriage of Mr. Pieper united him with Miss Sybil A.  Weisman, a charming native daughter whose parents were early settlers in the county, and who, in the work of the Women’s Improvement Club and in other channels, has become very active in public affairs. Two children, Arline and Donald, have blessed their union. While always giving freely of their time to advance what is best in civic life, Mr. and Mrs. Pieper have by no means neglected the calls to church endeavor. For several years Mr.  Pieper has been a trustee of the Willows M. E. Church, of which Mrs. Pieper is also a faithful member, always ready to do her share in the work of the church.

BAYAED KNOCK

Few things are more stimulating to the rising generation than the example of those who, like Bayard Knock, the popular surveyor of Glenn County, have made good in the very district or section in which they were born and raised. Bayard Knock first saw the light of day at Orland, December 22, 1882, and attended the Willows public school, later pursuing a course in civil engineering.  From 1903 to 1913 he was in the employ of the United States Geological Survey, and was one of the party who ran the first spirit-level line into Death Valley to establish the official depth of that famous depression. In 1910 he made the topographic survey of the Butte City area of Glenn County, for the government. His proficiency having thus been attested, he was employed by the Mississippi Drainage Commission, and the Beach Survey of Porto Rico, and then worked on the Washington State and International Boundary Survey, and on the Hydraulic Survey of the Pacific Coast rivers in Washington. He also had a part in the Bay Shore Survey at San Francisco, and measured land, in fact, all through the Middle West. During his work in Tennessee, he had many thrilling experiences with the moonshiners, whose secluded districts he was compelled to invade in the prosecution of his official duties, and who naturally resented the intrusion which threatened to lay hare their haunts.

In January, 1913, Mr. Knock resigned from the government service. Taking up his residence in Willows soon after, he continued in the practice of his profession until he was elected County surveyor, in the fall of 1914. On January 1, 1915, he entered upon the administration of his office; and he has prosecuted its duties with such vigor that now some seven or eight concrete bridges are being erected each year in Glenn County.

Fortunate in possessing personal traits which make him affable and easy of approach in matters of business. Bayard Knock is also especially popular in social circles. He is a prominent figure among the Masons. He was made a Mason in Laurel Lodge, No. 245, F. & A. M., of which he is a Past Master, and is also a member of Colusa Chapter, No. 60, E. A. M.

GEOEGE MELLOR

Prominent among those who had great faith in the future of Willows, and who gave tangible evidence of that faith by both liberally investing in local property and subscribing generously, in 1891, to the fund raised by citizens to aid in the formation of a new county, was George Mellor, a native of Devonshire, England, where he was born on April 3, 1847, and where he was reared on a modest farm. When he had reached the age of thirteen, his father put him out for four years as an apprentice to a blacksmith, under whom he received excellent training, according to thorough Old World methods, and became a clever and skilful workman.  Soon after attaining to the dignity of a journeyman, Mr. Mellor sailed from England for the United States; and traveling as far westward as Cheyenne, Wyo., he worked there at his trade.  In the early seventies he came to California, and entered the employ of William Johnson, who had a blacksmith shop at Dixon.  In 1877, Mr. Mellor reached Willows, and soon started in business as the pioneer blacksmith here. He bought the corner lot at Butte and Walnut Streets, and erected there a blacksmith’s shop, in which he continued in business for many years. He was a skilled mechanic and gunsmith, and never lacked employment.  With unbounded faith in the future, he invested in town lots, and at Walnut Street erected a brick block. He owned a number of city lots, which he later sold at a fair profit.

A few years before his death, which occurred at Willows on November 25, 1911, Mr. Mellor retired from active life and gave himself up to rest and the enjoyment of leisure hours. He was a wide reader in English history, on which he became something of a local authority. Mr. Mellor was a Mason, a charter member of Laurel Lodge, No. 245, F. & A. M., at Willows, and he was also a member of Marshall Chapter, No. 86, 0. E. S.  George Mellor was twice married. His first wife was Miss Agnes Cadman, an Englishwoman, whom he married in Dixon while he was employed there. She died in Willows, in October, 1881. On January 30, 1884, he married Mrs. Dora Kyes, born in Baltimore, Md., but- who had been a resident of Willows since April, 1879. She was a widow with two children. Since her husband’s death, Mrs. Mellor has lived on the old home place. She is an active member, and also a Past Matron, of Marshall Chapter, No. 86, 0. E. S., at Willows.

LOUIS ASH

Not everyone puts his shoulder to the wheel with the same confidence and enthusiasm as does Louis Ash; yet if more ranchers viewed their work with the same broad attitude of mind, success would oftener attend the labors of those to whom is committed the responsibility of getting the earth to yield its utmost for the benefit of the sons of men. Louis Ash is a native son, born on the old Ash ranch in Colusa County, May 20, 1886, a son of the late Captain William Ash, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. Louis Ash was educated in the public schools of Colusa County and at Heald’s Business College in San Francisco, after which he returned to the home ranch and, with his father and brothers, operated it in partnership. After his father’s death he continued on the old home ranch of two thousand acres as superintendent until 1911, when he leased the ranch. Here he is engaged in raising grain on an extensive scale. Besides this branch of agriculture, he devotes considerable time to the raising of a good grade of hogs.

In all his ranching operations, Mr. Ash makes use of the most modern machinery and methods, using a seventy-five horse power Best tractor for “plowing and putting in his grain, to which he plants between seven hundred and twelve hundred acres annually, and a Holt combined harvester for the harvesting of the crop.  With his up-to-date machinery he not only does his own work, but reaps and threshes some thousand acres for his neighbors, which work adds to his annual income. The grain from his ranch is hauled to the Berlin warehouse, two miles distant, which makes a very convenient shipping point.

Louis Ash was united in marriage in San Francisco, with Miss Marguerite B. Myers, born in Colusa County, a daughter of Jacob E. Myers. He is a pioneer farmer and stockman of the county, and has been identified with its growth and development for many years. Mrs. Ash received her education at St. Gertrude’s Academy at Rio Vista. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ash two children have been born, Marie Louise and Marguerite Lois.

Mr. Ash is a member and past Vice-Grand of Spring Valley Lodge, No. 316, I. 0. 0. F., at Arbuckle, and is Past Chief Patriarch of the Encampment ; and he is also a member of Marysville Lodge, No. 783, B. P. 0. Elks. In politics he is a Republican, and has been an active member of the County Central Committee.  Since becoming of age, in 1907, Mr. Ash has been a director in the William Ash Company, a family corporation.

JOHN P. RYAN

A civil engineer and licensed land surveyor, who has practiced his profession in both Oregon and California, and especially throughout this section of the latter state, John P. Ryan is a citizen who, by his public spirit, has contributed much toward the building up of the communities in which he has lived. He is a native of Wausau, Wis., where he was born on March 15, 1883.  When only ten years old, he came with his father, Frank Ryan, to Hamilton City, Glenn County; and there he attended the country schools. Later, when more advanced in his studies, he finished a course with honor at the Van Der Nailen School of Engineering at Oakland, and so laid the foundation for his eventful career.  For two years Mr. Ryan was in the employ of the United States Geological Survey, in the Sacramento Valley ; and for three years he served as engineer to the Sacramento Valley Sugar Company, at Hamilton City. He spent another three years as assistant engineer to the Sacramento Valley Irrigation Company, at Willows ; and this experience may be said to have brought him to the fore, for one of his important engineering accomplishments was the designing and constructing of a concrete irrigation system for Monroeville, Glenn County—a system of underground cement pipe line unlike any other in the county. 

At present Mr. Ryan is special tax agent for a number of corporations owning property in this part of the state. He examines lands, and reports systematically on their condition. His undeniably high personal character, together with his known reputation for experience and technical ability, peculiarly adapts him for this responsibility, assuring his patrons of a trustworthy and intelligent handling of their interests.

In 1907, Mr. Ryan started the anti-saloon movement in Glenn County. He gave liberally of his time and energy to the work of effacing one of the great sources of crime and poverty; and in a few short years he saw his efforts rewarded in turning the county dry, with the exception of a single town.

In June, 1914, Mr. Ryan was married to Miss Mary Sauer, a charming lady from Pittsburg, Pa. ; and one daughter. Miss Margaret, has blessed their union. Mr. Ryan is a devout member of the Roman Catholic Church, and is also active as a member of the Knights of Columbus.

ZACHARIAH LUCE

A ranchman who is favorably known among other ranchmen of his vicinity, and concerning whom every one has a pleasant word to say, Zach. Luce, as he is familiarly called, is esteemed by his many friends in Newville for his industry and progressive spirit. A native of that part of Colusa County which is now Glenn County, he was born on September 20, 1876, on the old home place near Newville, the youngest child of Alonzo and Elizabeth Luce, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this work. He went to school at Newville and West Side until he was seventeen years of age, and for another four years worked with his father at farming.  When he attained his majority, Zach. Luce started out for himself. He commenced driving teams, and for eleven years followed teaming with fair financial success. About 1901, he rented the home ranch of fifteen hundred twenty acres, and went into the raising of cattle, hogs and horses. In 1907, the home place was subdivided. He took his own share, and farmed two hundred thirty acres, devoting his efforts especially to hogs and cattle. On this i)lace he has built a residence and barns, and made the necessary improvements.

At San Francisco, on August 15, 1903, Zach. Luce and Miss Edith May Lockwood, a native of Elk Creek, were married—an event that contributed in no small degree to Mr. Luce’s later prosperity. Mrs. Luce is the daughter of William and Sarah (Knight) Lockwood, natives of England, who settled in Yolo County, Cal., and afterwards became early settlers of Elk Creek. They now reside at Newville. An active Republican, supporting Republican platforms, but broad and liberal in his views toward local candidates, Mr. Luce in 1914 was elected constable of Newville Township, which position he is now filling with entire satisfaction to his community.

MARCUS L. CONKLIN

An experienced agriculturist and an expert goat-breeder, Marcus L. Conklin has for years contributed something peculiarly his own towards bringing California into the front rank of the great sisterhood of American states. Born December 14, 1853, in Jo Daviess County, ILL., he came with his parents to California.  His father was Levi Conklin, a native of Onondaga County, New York State; while his mother was Cynthia A. Wells, a native of Illinois, in which state she was married. After serving with honor in the Mexican War, Levi Conklin came to California in 1853. Here he embarked in farming, having been brought up on a farm in the East.

In 1865, the elder Conklin moved to Marysville, and later to Colusa County, now Glenn County, where he located a preemption claim, and later a homestead, which is now a part of Conklin Bros.’ ranch. He went into stock-raising and general farming, and was very successful. In 1880, he took up sheepraising, but at the end of three years gave it up for cattle, horses and hogs. In the arduous work of the ranch he had the cooperation of his sons. The father passed away in 1897. The mother died in Red Bluff about 1885. They had six children, five of whom grew to maturity : Marcus L. ; George W., who died at the age of fifty-one; Josephine, Mrs. Harriman; Abram; Wells; and Walter, who died at nine years. Of these, Abram and Wells are associated together in the stock business.  Marcus Conklin went to school in Marysville, and then worked with his father up to the time of the latter ‘s death; for being the oldest son of the family, much was expected of him.  When he first came to this section of the county, practically the entire area was government land, and there were few or no settlers here. Now the Conklin Bros.’ ranch embraces some two thousand five hundred acres. Three brothers, M. L. Conklin, A. Conklin and Wells Conklin, are in partnership together; and each contributes to the reputation of the firm for successful breeding.

Having been one of the first families in this part of the state to go in for goat-raising, they have spared no pains or expense to elevate and maintain the standard of their breed ; and they are among- the most active members of the Angora Goat Breeders’ Association of the United States. Marcus Conklin is, in fact, one of the board of thirteen directors, a second vice-president, and chairman of thefinancial committee—positions of responsibility, as will be seen from the fact that the association handles about two million dollars’ worth of products every year. They brought to California two of the thoroughbred Billies, imported from South Africa at a cost of eight hundred dollars, and among the finest specimens in the state. They are said to be the largest goat-raisers in Glenn County.

Popular in business circles, Mr. Conklin is equally so among the Masons, being an active member of Newville Lodge, No. 205, F. & A. M. Abram and Wells Conklin were born at Yreka; and from the time they were lads, they have been working with stock.  Abram is married to Alice Wilder; and they have two girls, twins, Eubina and Eudena.

THOMAS TALBOT ANDERSON

A native son of California, Thomas Talbot Anderson was born in Colusa County on September 25, 1895, a son of John Thomas and Susie (Pickings) Anderson, the former born in Missouri and the latter in Colusa County. His father, when a lad of twelve years, came to Modoc County, Cal., where his uncle, Thomas I. Talbot, had a stock ranch of large proportions. There he rode the range and learned a great deal about the stock business, so that when he came to Colusa County he became a valued assistant to another uncle, James R. Talbot, who owned large ranch and stock interests southwest from Willows. Here he remained for some time, and later became associated with Logan brothers, with whom he continued until he engaged in ranching and stock-raising on his own account. He went back to Modoc County, and in Big Valley, where he had acquired land on the Thomas I. Talbot ranch, began raising stock, at which he continued very successfully until his death, which occurred in San Francisco on July 31, 1905. His widow, now Mrs. Gibney, resides in that city. Of the union of John Thomas and Susie (Pickings) Anderson, Thomas Talbot Anderson is the only child.  

The early life of Thomas Talbot Anderson, from the age of five, was spent on the stock ranch in Modoc County ; and his schooling, until he was twelve, was obtained in the public schools of his locality. At the age of twelve years he became a student in Belmont Military Academy, in San Mateo County. After an attendance of six years, during which time the foundation of his young manhood was laid, Young Anderson entered the agricultural department of the University of California, at the experimental farm at Davis. One year before he completed the course he took up ranching. In 1917 he purchased his present place, located about one and one quarter miles from Davis, in Yolo County, where he makes his home. Here he is raising alfalfa and stock, using the modern methods whereby “two blades of grass are made to grow where only one grew before,” and is meeting with good success.

Mr. Anderson was one of the heirs of his great-uncle, James R. Talbot, and upon his death inherited an interest in the Talbot ranch located southwest from Willows. Having an ambition to own a large body of land, Mr. Anderson used his income to purchase the interests of the other heirs, until today he is the owner of thirteen thousand three hundred acres of that ranch. This he leases for stock- and grain-raising.

The marriage of Thomas Talbot Anderson with Miss Catherine Sehorn was celebrated in San Francisco on November 8, 1915.  Mrs. Anderson is the daughter of Edward M. Sehorn, editor and proprietor of the Willows Journal, of whom mention is made on another page of this work. She was born in Willows, Glenn County, and received her education at Mt. St. Gertrude Academy at Rio Vista, in Solano County. This happy couple have been blessed with one son, Thomas Edward Anderson. Mr. Anderson is a very progressive citizen. His aim in life is to do all that he can, by giving of his time and means, so far as he is able, towards improving the condition of the people, and towards giving publicity to the advantages of soil and climate to be found in California, of which state he is proud to be called a native son.

HENRY MILLIGAN

A ranchman who, by hard labor, economy, and the wise application of the lessons of yesterday to the solution of the problems of tomorrow, has succeeded where many others have failed, is Henry Milligan, who was born near Alexandra, Licking County, Ohio, on May 11, 1848, and came alone to California when he was twenty-one years of age. His father, Robert Milligan, was a native of Douglas, Isle of Man, England. He was a millwright, and came to Ohio in 1813, where he followed his trade and the milling business near Alexandra. There also he was married to Electa  Benjamin, who was born in Massachusetts. They removed to Marion County, Iowa, in 1856, where he continued for a time in the milling business and in farming. Later they removed to Utica, Mo., where the father died in 1883. The mother afterwards removed to Rising City, Neb., and died in 1893. They had five children, three of whom are living. Henry is the oldest. He was raised on a farm in Iowa; and at sixteen years of age, in 1864, when the terrible Civil War was at its height, he enlisted in Company B, Forty-eighth Iowa Infantry, in which he served with credit for six months, after which he was mustered out at Rock Island Barracks and honorably discharged. In Omaha, he went to work for the Union Pacific, and stayed with them for two years; and then, in 1869, he came to California.

Arriving in California, Mr. Milligan was attracted to Newville, in what was then Colusa County; and having no capital of his own, he commenced working out as a ranch hand for other people, in which he continued for some years. In 1883, however, he took up government land and started in for himself.  In the middle of the nineties, he commenced to manage the present home place, going into stock-raising and general farming.  He started with eighty acres, and later added to it until he had seven hundred twenty acres in the ranch. This land he devotes to sheep, cattle and hogs, and to the raising of grain.

Mr. Milligan was married at Newville, on May 1, 1879, to Miss Clara Luce, a native of Sonoma County,, where she was born in 1861. She died on “New Years’ Day, 1917. Two children blessed this union : Anna, who is deceased ; and Ira Arthur, who is farming the home place. Politically, Mr. Milligan has always been a Republican. He has served his community as trustee and clerk of the West Side school district.

JACKSON VAN SCYOC

The proprietor of a general merchandise store, Jackson Van Scyoc brought to his responsible undertaking a varied experience in other fields, acquainting him with human nature and the practical affairs of human life. Born on December 27, 1851, in Fremont County, Iowa, he attended school a short time. Early in life he began work on a Western farm. Leaving home in 1872, he went for a year or two to Wyoming, and while there broadened his experience by contact with frontier life.  Later, in 1874, Mr. Van Scyoc came to what is now Fruto, being employed on ranches in the winters, and spending the summers in the mountains of Bound ^”alley, Mendocino County, in the stock business for John Boggs. On November 10, 1880, he was married at Colusa to Miss Lucy Beasley, a native of Illinois.  That same year Mr. Van Scyoc bought a hotel in Elk Creek, which he continued to manage until 1883. He then sold the property and bought his present home place. At first, he contented himself with a hundred twenty-six acres ; but from time to time he added to his original purchase, until now he is the possessor of eight hundred acres of the best land in this section.  He took up stock-raising and general farming ; and working early and late, and giving intelligent consideration to details, he has made of his enterprise a decided success.

In 1914, Mr. Van Scyoc embarked in the general merchandise business; and all those who have had the pleasure of dealing with him, and choosing from his well-assorted and up-to-date stock, are impressed with his adaptability to the mercantile life.  Four children—Stella, William, Junius and Dewey, all living —blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Van Scyoc. Fraternally, Mr. Van Scyoc is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Lodge No. 321, of Newville, in which he has passed through all the chairs.

ANTWINE T. ST. LOUIS

The honor of being a son of a pioneer of California, as well as being a pioneer in his own right, is accorded A. T. St. Louis, who is farming with his son west of Willows. He is descended from an old and honorable French family, and was born at St. Louis, Mo., January 17, 1852, the same year that his father, Colbert St. Louis, crossed the plains to the Golden State. Colbert St. Louis was a native of Canada, born near Montreal, and came to the United States at an early day, locating in St. Louis County, Mo. The town and county of St. Louis were named in honor of members of his family who played an important part in the early development of that section of the country. On the trip across the plains, the party of which Colbert St. Louis was a member was attacked by cholera; but fortunately only one death resulted. On his arrival in California, Mr. St. Louis located his family in Yolo County, in the vicinity of Knights Landing, where he engaged in farming for a year. He then sold out and bought a tract of land near Yolo, in that same county, where he farmed and made his home until his death in 1863. He was married three times, the third time to Miss Margaret Lucia, who was born in St. Louis. They had six children who grew up, Antwine T. being the eldest of the family. The others were Henry B., living in Glenn County; Mary, Mrs. William Spence of Colusa County ; Margaret A., Mrs. H. V. Branham of Willows; Emma, Mrs. Jule David of Chico; and George E., of the vicinity of Glenn. After the death of Mr. St. Louis, his widow married Louis Jarvis, and resided at Willows.  A. T. St. Louis was educated in the public schools of Yolo County, and was reared to farm work. In 1869 he came to Colusa County. Near Colusa he was engaged in cutting wood for a time, until he met with an accident while hunting, on March 17, when he suffered the loss of three lingers of his left hand by the premature discharge of his gun. Nothing daunted, he was at work in the hayfield in May of that year. In the fall of 1870 he bought a quarter section of railroad land. He put the first plow in the soil, built fences and buildings, set out trees, and planted grain, which, when harvested, he had to haul to Princeton, as that was the nearest point for transportation. Later the grain was hauled to Norman, when a station was established there. He branched out in his operations by leasing land, and farmed from four thousand to seven thousand acres annually to grain, using modern machinery to plant and harvest his crops as such innovations came into existence.  He added to his own holdings, and now owns four hundred acres of good land. He has made a success of his operations as a rancher.

In Woodland, Yolo County, occurred the marriage of A. T.  St. Louis with Mary E. O’Brien, a native of New Bedford, Mass., but a resident of California since 1865. Their marriage has been blessed with ten children : John Joseph, assisting in farming the old home place ; Annie, who died aged four years ; Vandever A., in Sacramento ; Maybelle, wife of M. Bond ; George M., assisting on the home place; Margaret Agnes, Mrs. Swensen of Monticello; James Colbert, who died at the age of sixteen ; Monica Marie, Mrs.  Miller of Orland; Herman J., also assisting on the home ranch; and Lucy Agnes, Mrs. Reeve of Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. St.  Louis have fourteen grandchildren to brighten their pathway in their declining years.

The improvements seen today on the home ranch were all placed there by Mr. St. Louis. A considerable acreage is now in alfalfa. Since 1910 he has resided with his wife at their home in Sacramento, which he purchased at 1214 P Street. However, he still superintends his ranch, and leases lands adjoining, engaging in farming on a large scale, in which he is assisted by his sons.  Much of his success he credits to his faithful wife, who is a splendid housekeeper. She did her housework, reared her children, and cooked for some twenty-eight men during busy seasons.

In politics a Democrat, Mr. St. Louis was a candidate for supervisor at one time, and lost the election only by two votes. He has served faithfully as a school trustee in Liberty district, and was on the first board organized, that built the first schoolhouse.  Now, in the evening of their days, this sturdy pioneer couple, after forty-seven years on the plains of Glenn County, can look back on work well done and a life well spent, with no regrets for work undone, for they have given their utmost endeavor to build up and advance their home county.

CHARLES A. BUTLER

A merchant of Elk Creek who has both set and maintained a high standard in the conducting of his business, so that patrons from miles around come to select from his varied and excellent stock, is Charles A. Butler, who was born on March 9, 1886, in North Yakima, Yakima County, Wash., and came to Colusa County in 1887, the year of the great California boom, in company with his parents, Eugene T. and Anna (O’Neal) Butler, natives of Iowa and Washington. The former had come to Colusa County when a lad of sixteen years, and later engaged in the sheep business, driving a band to Washington Territory, where, he was married. He returned to California in the above-named year, and became a stockman on Stony Creek, where, with a partner, Warren Green, he ran sheep until 1892. He then went into the cattle business, carrying it on until 1915, when he sold his interest and retired. He is now residing on his ranch southwest of Elk Creek.

Charles A. Butler was the oldest of five children,, and was brought up on the ranch, where he became used to hard work. He attended the school in Strawn district until he was sixteen; and when he was nineteen he went to work on the P. H. Green stock ranch. Having had considerable experience in stock-raising, he later became foreman and proved his value as a conscientious and capable employe, and was appreciated accordingly. For a year he was in the Forestry Service, after which he was engaged with the A. D. Pieper Company, at Willows, remaining in their employ three years. A short experience in the produce business with Wood Curtis Company, of Sacramento, preceded his return to Glenn County, when he bought the store of J. S. Sale at Winslow.  The stock in the store was valued at two thousand dollars; he enlarged and improved the stock and business, and remained there until October, 1913. Then he consolidated stock with Messrs.  Knight & Lucas, at Elk Creek, and built the present large store building. The firm is now known as Knight, Butler & Lucas, and they conduct a general merchandise business, carrying a stock worth over ten thousand dollars. They make a specialty of farm implements, and have the happy faculty of giving such genuine satisfaction that that alone is all the advertisement they need.  Mr. Knight’s residence being in Sacramento, Messrs. Butler and Lucas are managing the business.

On September 14, 1913, Charles Butler was married to Miss Anita Warnack, a native daughter of San Francisco, the ceremony taking place at Elk Creek. Both wife and husband are popular throughout the section, and especially so among the Odd Fellows, in which order Mr. Butler is the present Noble Grand of Newville Lodge, No. 321.

GEORGE W. TROXEL

It does not take long for a community to recognize leadership in men and women of native ability and valuable experience ; and this is true of George W. Troxel, one of the influential residents of the section about Glenn, in Glenn County. He was born on September 27, 1851, in Will County, ILL., and at the age of three came to California with his parents, Daniel Z. and Eleanor (Zumwalt) Troxel, natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively.  Daniel Troxel left Illinois in the fall of 1853 and spent the winter in Iowa; and on April 9, the following year, he set out, with a party consisting of about sixty wagons drawn by ox teams, across the plains to California under the leadership of Joseph Zumwalt, captain of the train. Mrs. Troxel and her four living children, the youngest of whom was Albert, then a nine-day-old baby, were put into a wagon, and the journey that was to last almost six months was begun. She was then a frail woman weighing only about one hundred twenty pounds ; but when she arrived in California she weighed some one hundred sixty pounds. She had ten children born in the East, and one after settling in this state, all of whom are now deceased except George W. and Albert, who lives in Washington, near Centralia. On arriving at their journey’s end, Mr. Troxel had one ox, one cow, and two horses hitched to his wagon. He had started out with three yoke of oxen, two cows, and two horses. The first stop made by the family was in Placer County. In 1857 they moved to Solano County, and were engaged in farming about four and one half miles from Dixon until 1870, when George W. Troxel came to Colusa County and settled six miles west of Willows, now in Glenn County, where he made his first independent venture.

In 1875, George W. Troxel and his two brothers, Joseph E. and Albert, became partners in the purchase of twelve hundred eighty acres of land. This they improved, setting out trees and building barns, and began the raising of grain and stock. In a short time Joseph dropped out of the firm; but George W. and Albert continued together until 1889 or 1890. In 1888, Mr.  Troxel moved to Elk Creek and invested in a ranch there, on which was one of the finest orchards of peaches and pears, as well as apples, in the entire county. On removing to this place he still retained his interest in the former ranch for two years.  There was no market for fruit at that time; and besides, Mr.

Troxel had made the change from a grain-raiser to a fruit man.  Not succeeding in his venture, he left Elk Creek and spent one year in Willows. The following year, 1897, he moved to Woodland, and thereafter was variously employed until 1902, when he came with his family to the place where they now live, near Glenn. This property originally consisted of twenty-seven acres, and was so heavily wooded that a space large enough to erect his house upon could barely be found without grubbing out trees.  To his first purchase in 1900, he added other land until he owned at one time some sixty acres; but some of this was lost by the erosive action of the Sacramento Eiver. He cleared the land of timber by hard work, and planted corn, beans and grain, which yielded good harvests year after year. In 1917, he set out a prune orchard of eight acres, which is in a thriving condition.  This property was a part of the Glenn ranch, and is very fertile ground. Besides his own acreage, Mr. Troxel leased other land and farmed to grain, meeting, on the whole, with good results.  On January 14, 1886, Mr. Troxel was married at Woodland to Miss Anna Caroline Everts, a native of Niles, Mich., who came to California in 1878, arriving at the home of her uncle, Thaddeus Hoppin, in Yolo County in March of that year. She spent two years with her rmcles and then returned to her home, Imt later came back to Woodland with her parents, who remained liere until their death. She has lived here ever since. Three children were born of this union: Stanley E., Myra C. E., and Morvel E. By a former marriage, on December 24, 1879, at Willows, Mr. Troxel was united with Miss Lou Ogle, a native of Adams County, Ohio. Two children were born of that marriage, Clarence M., and Verda. Mrs. Lou Troxel died in April, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Troxel and their family are members of the Baptist Church of Glenn, of which Mr. Troxel is senior deacon and a trustee. He gave the ground for the building and lot, and also helped to build the church.

When the history of Colusa and Glenn County is written in detail, the life of George W. Troxel will not be forgotten. He was one of the pioneers in grain-growing, and farmed in 1872 where the town of Willows now stands. In 1880, he harvested eighteen sacks of wheat to the acre from nine hundred acres.  An evidence of the esteem in which this pioneer is held, and of the influence he has long exercised for the upbuilding of the county, is seen in his election in 1916 to the vice-presidency of the Glenn County Farm Bureau, of which he was also previously a director at large.

JACOB WILLIAM KAERTH

A native son of Colusa County, where he has grown up and spent the better part of his life, Jacob W. Kaerth is county surveyor and civil engineer, with headquarters and a home in Colusa.  He was born on June 22, 1866, a son of William Kaerth.  The father was born in Germany, in 1825, and came to the United States in young manhood. He followed the trade of blacksmith in Philadelphia, and in the fall of 1849 traveled west to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he outfitted, the next spring, for the trip across the plains to California. On reaching his journey’s end, in the fall of 1850, he went at once to the mines in the vicinity of Placerville. He mined with varied success for a number of years, and then took up land in Yolo County; but in 1857 he sold his claim and came to Colusa County, where he bought land twelve miles south of Colusa. Here he improved a farm and operated it, and also ran a blacksmith shop on the place. He died in 1899 at the age of seventy-four years.

Some time after his arrival in California, Mr. Kaerth married Mrs. Mary (Davis) Julian, born in Wales, who came to the United States with her father, David Davis, and settled in Utah. There she married her first husband ; and with him she came to California, where he died soon after. She made , three separate trips across the plains, each time with ox teams. After the death of Mr. Kaerth, she located in Arbuckle to spend her last years. Of her marriage with Mr. Kaerth ten children were born : Mrs. Edwin Swinford, of Berkeley; George W., of Williams; Frank D., of Susanville; Jacob William, of this review; Edgar C, of Maxwell; Charles D., a farmer of Colusa County ; Nellie, the wife of Boscoe Kahm of Arbuckle ; and three others, who are deceased. By her first marriage Mrs. Kaerth had a daughter, Amelia, Mrs. J. W.  Johns, now deceased.

The fourth child in the family, Jaeoh W. Kaerth attended the public schools of Colusa County, and Pierce Christian College at College City, graduating in the class of 1890 as a civil engineer.  In the fall of 1891 he was licensed to practice his profession. He had worked his way through college, earning money by working on ranches. While he was going to college, he was a member of a corps of surveyors that laid out a part of the Central Irrigation Canal in Colusa and Glenn Counties ; and after receiving his degree, he returned as assistant engineer with that company. Two years later, in May, 1892, he opened an office in Maxwell, where he carried on his work. In 1894 he was elected county surveyor, assuming the duties of the position January 1, 1895. In 1898 he was reelected, and continued in office until the expiration of his second term in 1903. In 1910 he again became a candidate for the office and was elected, and has held the office ever since.  The range of Mr. Kaerth ‘s activities has been wide. For ten years he has been city engineer of Colusa, during which time much street paving has been done, and municipal sewer and water works have been built. He has constructed over one hundred bridges of concrete in Colusa County. He has been largely interested in reclamation work in Colusa County and adjoining counties for the past twenty years, and is engineer for several districts in Colusa, Yolo, and Contra Costa Counties. He is one of the assessment commissioners of Reclamation District No. 1001 in Sutter and Placer Counties at the present time. He was engineer for the old Sacramento Drainage District. His work has even extended into Lake County and other sections of Northern California. In the early days of reclamation work in the Sacramento Valley he made a map of the valley. From 1896 to 1906 he was also a deputy United States land surveyor, mostly for the southern part of the state, in San Bernardino, San Diego, Riverside, Inyo and Kern Counties, while in Northern California his work was principally in Plumas County. He made the sectional survey in the Elk Hills district, Kern County, doing the instrument and field work under James Duee, contractor for the United States Survey. He has made two official maps of Colusa County, the first one being published by himself and Raymond Houx, in 1902, and the second by himself and Byron D. Beckwith, in 1915. When the counties of Colusa and Glenn were divided, on May 5, 1891, Mr. Kaerth took a prominent part. In every way he has made his influence felt for the public good in his special field of constructive effort.  Mr. Kaerth holds the rank of Major, through Ms appointment, in 1904, by Governor Pardee, as Major and Engineering Officer of the Third Brigade, N. G. C. In his home county he is recognized as a supporter of all movements for advancing the inter ests of the county; and in the Sacramento Valley and the state at large he is considered an authority on reclamation and irrigation matters. He has a wide acquaintance professionally throughout the state.

Mr. Kaerth worked under the late Gen. Will S. Green as a rodman in 1887, and takes great pride in the fact of their close friendship during the latter ‘s lifetime. He was a true friend of the General, and was present at the last irrigation meeting he attended, at Red Bluff, on June 15, 1905. He well remembers and often quotes General Green’s prophetic words, uttered on that occasion:

"Gentlemen, my only hope, as I am on the decline of life, is that some day I may stand on Pisgah and see a Promised Land for God’s people in this valley. Then I will be ready to lay me down and die." On July 2, of that year, Gen. Will S. Green passed away. Mr. Kaerth is serving on the executive committee of the Sacramento Valley Development Association, organized in 1900 by the late General Green. He was one of the charter members, and is the only one of these who has held a directorship continuously since its organization. In the interests of the general development of the valley, he has served without pay, even paying his own traveling expenses. Marshall Diggs is now president of the Association, an office held by Gen. Will S. Green from the day the Association was organized until his death.  In 1895, J. W. Kaerth and Miss Lucy E. Hannah, of Maxwell, were united in marriage. They have two children, Velma and Edna L. Mr. Kaerth is progressive in his views. In politics he has always been a stanch Republican. Prominent in fraternal circles, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Encampment branch of that order, has passed all the chairs in the subordinate lodge, and is a member of the board of trustees of the Odd Fellows Home at Saratoga, Cal. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters; and of Colusa Parlor, N. S. G. W., of which he was the first president. Interested in the maintenance of good schools, he served several years as trustee of the grammar and high schools of Colusa. For years, also, he has been a member of the local Board of Trade.

WILLIAM DODD

That the community of Elk Creek know how to appreciate the good services of a faithful and accomplished public servant, is proved in the election and reelection of William Dodd, the efficient, conscientious and popular Justice of the Peace. A native of historic and beautiful Lincolnshire, England, in which country he was born at South Kyme, on May 14, 1867, he was a son of William and Mary Ann (Knight) Dodd, farmer folks in Lincolnshire, England. William Dodd went to school there, and in 1889 first came to the United States, almost immediately proceeding West to California. For three years he remained at Woodland, principally in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and then came to the section with which he was to become permanently identified.

Upon locating at Elk Creek, Mr. Dodd engaged in the butcher business, and also ran a threshing-machine, working especially in Clark’s, Millsaps, and Stony Creek Valleys, in partnership with Lockwood and Hayward, also of Elk Creek.  In one line or another of activity, he continued until 1903, when he was nominated and elected Justice of the Peace, and was made a notary public. These offices he held from 1903 till 1907. After that, for several years, the Judge was in the hotel business, and a more genial host never smiled on the traveler entering Elk Creek. In 1915, Mr. Dodd was again elected Justice of the Peace.  For twelve years he has been a member of the Republican Central Committee; and for years he served as clerk of the Elk Creek school board.

On December 22, 1897, in Elk Creek, Mr. Dodd married Miss Molly Long-worth, a native of that part of Colusa County which is now Glenn County. Her parents, Francis Marion and Mary (Anderson) Longworth, came to this section as pioneers. Mrs.  Dodd spent fifteen years of her early life in the East with her parents, returning to California in 1894. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dodd: Mary Aileen, Wallace Longworth, and Anita Eloise.

HARDY J. HASKELL

What California owes to her sturdy yeomen of the fields, many of whom have come from other and distant states, will be seen by a study of the life of Hardy J. Haskell, who was born in Scott County, 111., September 19, 1880. When he was nine years of age, he came with his parents to the Golden State. His father was John J. Harden Haskell, a native of Illinois; and Ms mother, before her marriage, was Mary Jane McKamy, also a native of that state. On choosing Glenn County for the scene of his activities, John J. Harden Haskell located at Germantown, in the winter of 1888-1889, and worked on the Glenn grant as a farmer. Two years later he moved to Willows and took up carpentering, following that trade for a year. In 1893, Mr. Haskell  moved to Elk Creek, located in that vicinity, and took up farming there. For the last four years he has been in Fruto.  After finishing his school days, Hardy Haskell went to work on ranches in the vicinity of Willows, and as soon as he was able also farmed for himself, continuing in that way four years. On November 15, 1911, he bought the D. E. Zumwalt store at Fruto, and began a general merchandise business; and at the same time he was appointed postmaster, which position he has filled to the satisfaction of the public. His valuable and varied experience, and his genial personality, have combined to make for Mr. Haskell many friends, and to render him popular in social circles. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge of Newville, No. .321, of which he is a Vice Grand.

Mr. Haskell was united in marriage on December 2, 1914, to Miss Cora Pearl Humphreys, a native of Oakland, Cal.

ED FLANAGAN

A pioneer agriculturist who came to California in the important period of the middle nineties, and one to whom his district is indebted for some of the most efficient support of popular education, and particularly of the proposition for a high school there, is Ed Flanagan, a native of Saratoga Springs, N. Y., at which famous watering-place he was born on June 3, 1862. He attended school in New York State, and early foimd employment in the dye works at Saratoga, where he remained five years. Next, he went to Lawrence, Mass., and for a year was connected with a dye works there.

In 1883, Mr. Flanagan came west to North Dakota, where he took up a hundred sixty acres of government land near Bismarck, and later bought railroad land, which he planted to grain and used for the raising of stock; and there he remained for ten or eleven years. About 189-1, he moved still further westward, until he reached Princeton, Colusa County, Cal.; and there he took up one hundred seventy-eight acres of land, or rather contracted to clear the same of heavy timber. According to agreement, he was to do this in six years; and in six years or less he had fulfilled his contract. When he had finished clearing this land, he bought it, and devoted the same to general farming, the raising of stock, and a dairy of forty cows, besides eighty head of young stock.  Still later, he bought thirty acres more. Now, on the home place alone, he owns two hundred eight acres ; and he also has property in Princeton. One hundred ten acres of his land is planted to alfalfa.

On March 10, 1891, at Bismarck, N. D., Mr. Flanagan was married to Miss Evelyn A. Lane, a native of Vermont; and by her he has had four children: Nellie May, who married George Farthing; Kathryn, who is a public school teacher; and Evelyn and Beatrice. An active and prominent Democrat, Mr. Flanagan has served fourteen years on the school hoard of Union district; and, as has been stated, he has worked hard to raise the standard of education in the vicinity. He also served five years on the high school hoard of Princeton, two years as president.

 

ROBERT HARVEY YOUNG

A patriotic and enterprising Glenn County rancher, well known for his success as an agriculturist, and popular in local circles, is Robert Harvey Young. His father was Samuel Davis Young, who was born in Kentucky on January 13, 1825, but moved to Missouri, and in 1850 came with his brothers to Cali­fornia, stopping at Forbestown for five or six years to engage in mining, and meeting with success, especially in placer mining. Later, for a short time, he busied himself with dairying at Oroville, and afterwards came to Stony Creek, Indian Valley, where he took up government land. Later still, he settled on what was afterwards known as the Tiffee place; but in the fall of 1864 he sold out, and then bought cattle, which he afterwards sold. Soon after, he came to his home place of five hundred seventy-nine acres, known as the Nichols place, which he bought from Mr. Winckler. In 1868, he returned to Missouri by way of the Isthmus, and while there married Miss Sarah C. Coons, a native of Ken­tucky, who had been reared in Missouri. They returned across the plains to California, and on December 13, 1891, Mr. Young died on his home ranch. Seven children were born to this worthy couple, four of whom are living today: Robert Harvey; Mrs. B. E. Nelson, of Chico; Joseph R., of Chico; and James Franklin, of Oakland.

Robert Harvey Young first saw the light on May 20, 1571, at Colusa. He finished both a high school course and a year at Pierce Christian College, worked with his father on the ranch, until the latter's death, and then ran the place for his mother until, on August 3, 1913, she, too, passed away. He is now con­ducting the home place of six hundred acres, where he has an orchard of several acres planted to fruit and almonds, and is devoting the balance of the land to grain and general stock- raising.

On April 12, 1903, Robert Harvey Young and Miss Alice Floretta Ludy were married; and the event was one of the happy occasions of the social season. Miss Ludy was a native daughter of Colusa (now Glenn), County. One child, David William, has blessed this union. Mr. Young is always ready to do his duty as a citizen. Politically, he supports the principles of the Demo­cratic party.

JAMES H. RYAN

One of the greatest conveniences to the traveling public in Glenn County is the ferry in charge of James H. Ryan. Mr. Ryan was born at Wausau, Wis., on August 13, 1891, and was two years old when the family settled in Glenn County. He is the son of Francis J. Ryan, whose interesting life-sketch appears elsewhere in this book. He was educated in the public schools of St. John, Glenn County, and found his first employment with the Hamilton Sugar Beet Factory, working on the preliminary survey made before the construction of the works. He also took part in the actual building of the factory, and for four years there demonstrated his native talent as a mechanic. For the two years following, Mr. Ryan was employed in construction work on the Hamilton City Bridge across the Sacramento River. His skill created for him an enviable reputation, and he was employed by the Sacramento Valley Irrigation Company to install and operate their pumping station at their head gate four miles north of Hamilton City. He also had charge of the reinforced concrete and steel work for the construction of the Willows Creek Syphons, Nos. 2 and 3, for the same company, and was in the employ of the Mills Orchard Company, installing and operating a pumping plant for irrigation at their ranch near Hamilton City.

On June 17, 1915, when the Glenn and Butte County ferry across the Sacramento River at Ord was put in operation, Mr. Ryan was placed in charge of the same; and he still retains the position. The ferry has proved a great convenience to the travel­ing public. During the year 1916 it enabled five thousand four hundred thirty-five vehicles to cross the river.

Some years ago, Mr. Ryan married Miss Clara Scott, of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who came with her parents to Glenn County in 1907; and they have one daughter, Katherine. The family is deservedly popular in Ord circles. Mr. Ryan is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, Ord Camp, No. 10,300, and also belongs to Willows Camp, Woodmen of the World.

 

TENNEY & SCHMIDT

One of the best-equipped modern garages in all the county is the Tenney & Schmidt Garage, established by Messrs. Tenney & Schmidt, both experienced business men and expert mechanics, who started, in February, 1914, with a small repair shop located in a shed in the rear of Mr. Tenney's home on Oak Street, Willows. The room was only about sixteen by eighteen feet in size, and sufficed for their needs but a little more than one month. They then next located in a small sheet-iron building, on South Tehama Street. After remaining there three mouths, they bought Floeck­hart's garage at 115 West Oak Street. Here they did a hustling business until they moved to the present location at 305 North Tehama Street, where they put up a building fifty by one hundred fifty feet, built especially for them and after their own plans. There is a show-room and sales-room in front, and a well-equipped repair department in the rear, with a modern oxy-acetylene welding and cutting plant and a motor generator set for recharging storage batteries, which has a capacity of ten six-volt batteries at one time, the largest storage-battery plant in Glenn County. The firm is a member of the California Automobile Association, which is affiliated with the Automobile Association of America ; and the garage, therefore, is one of the official repair and stopping places in the state. The firm is also a member of the California State Automobile Association, of Los Angeles.

As a straw to indicate the extent of this enterprising firm's business, it may be mentioned that they carry eight lines of standard makes of automobile tires. Among these are the famous Goodrich goods. They are agents for the Saxon car, for the Mitchell motor car, and also for the Commerce trucks. The Saxon car is a very popular, low-priced automobile. The Saxon Six, in particular, gives thorough satisfaction to their numerous customers. It is noted for its pulling power, its rapid acceleration, and its economizing qualities. It will give more miles of satisfactory service, for less money, than any other automobile made. The material used in its manufacture, and the quality of workmanship, are of the best. The Saxon car finds great favor with women, by reason of the extreme ease with which these cars are handled. They are easy to guide through the busy traffic of city streets, while their grace and beauty of design are other strong points in their make-up.

In the spring of 1917, Messrs. Tenney & Schmidt took the agency for the Mitchell car. This automobile is noted for its strength of construction, and its ability to run thousands of miles with the minimum of repair expense, and is therefore called the "lifetime car." Many parts are much over size. These include the steering parts. The parts which get a major strain are built of chrome-vanadium steel. This over strength means freedom from trouble; it means a small up-keep cost, and long life and safety.

Joseph G. Tenney, now the sole proprietor of this firm, was born in San Mateo County, Cal., on August 10, 1885, and since then has resided in different parts of this state. He started in his business experience in Arcata, Humboldt County, where he ran a bicycle shop; and in 1908 he went into the automobile business in Oakland. As late as 1911 he first came to Willows, taking employment in Floeckhart's garage, where he remained until he em­barked in business with his partner, in 1914. Mr. Tenney was married to Miss Nellie W. Dickey, of Oakland; and the happy couple have been blessed with one son, named Everett.

Frank R. Schmidt, until recently a member of the firm, was born in Tehama County, on October 20, 1888, and came to Willows with his parents when he was six years old. In course of time he was employed hi a garage at Willows; and there he remained until the way was open for him to show what lie could do on his own responsibility. Mr. Schmidt is a popular member of the Odd Fellows and of the Clampers,

on December 11, 1917, Mr. Tenney purchased his partner's interest in the firm. He is continuing the business under the same name, in the Tenney K Schmidt Garage.

 

JESSE L. BONDURANT

A home-loving man, devoted to both his fireside and his family, and a highly respected citizen who left behind him. bearing his name, those equally esteemed in their community, was Jesse L. Bondurant, a -native of Missouri, born near Paris, Monroe County, February 1, 1850, who passed away on December 10, 1919, widely mourned. When eighteen years of age, he came to California with his mother, Nancy Lewis Boudurant. His father had died when he was a small boy ; and since his twelfth year he had helped to support his mother, and assisted in the upbringing of the other four children.

On settling in Colusa, now Glenn County, be worked for a time on the Glenn ranch as a farm hand. Afterwards he obtained . government land, still working for wages to make both ends meet. Still later, he bought a ranch of a hundred ten acres near German­town, and for many years farmed the same to grain. In 1905, he bought eighty, acres near Glenn, and there he lived the rest of his life.

On January 22, 1874, Jesse L. Bondurant was married to Miss Edna Hatton, who was born near Stockton, San Joaquin County, the daughter of Abner and Nancy (Taylor) Hatton, both natives of Missouri, who crossed the plains to California in an early clay, settling for a few years on a farm near Stockton, after which they removed to Tehama County, where they were also engaged in farming. Abner Hatton died, and his wife afterwards married W. D. Martin, who was a prominent rancher of the Germantown district. They moved later to Woodland, where they both died. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hatton are: Mrs. Edna Bondurant ; Mrs. Penola Papst, of San Francisco; August and Odon, of Woodland; and Claude, of Idaho. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bondurant : Ella, the wife of George Ramsay; Jesse Lee; and Joseph Odon, who married Kate Baylor, and is the father of Geraldine, Joseph Leonard and Roger Bondurant.

Jesse Bondurant always took a great interest in education, and advanced the interests of the public schools, serving as trustee of his district. Mrs. Bondurant is an active member of the Baptist Church at Glenn, and of the Ladies' Missionary So­ciety. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay- are also devoted church workers.

 

CAPT. THOMAS ALEXANDER SMITH

A pioneer who will he long and pleasantly remembered, and whose good work and influence are still carried on and extended by his accomplished widow, who is daily identifying herself more and more with the history of Willows, was the late Capt. Thomas Alexander Smith, who was born near Burksville, Cumberland County, Ky., December 8, 1837, the eldest child of Stephen and Sally Martin (Pace) Smith. His mother was a great-grand­daughter of Sergeant John Alexander, of Virginia, a Revolution­ary soldier, who served with "Light Horse" Harry Lee; and from this maternal ancestor came Captain Smith's middle name. The Paces also distinguished themselves as soldiers of the Revolu­tionary War. On the paternal side, Captain Smith traced his ancestry to the Smiths and Packwood's of Virginia, sturdy pio­neers in that old commonwealth, who bore their share of the burden in the great struggle for American independence. In 1839, Stephen Smith, with his wife and infant son, moved from Kentucky to Greene County, III. Daniel Smith, a brother of Stephen, had a year earlier settled nine miles east of White Hall; and to this place Stephen came, after which the two brothers, who had married sisters, ran a farm together, for a year or so living in the same log cabin. Within a few years, however, Daniel moved to a farm a mile east of Athensville.

Thomas Smith spent his childhood on the farm, attending the school located on the corner of the quarter section which his father owned. He secured a fair education for those days, and even taught a term or two just prior to the Civil War. As time passed on, there were born to Stephen Smith and his wife eight other children, six boys and two girls. Their names were Greenville, Nancy, Edward, .James, William, John, George and Hattie.

When the call for the nation's defenders, in 1861, came, Thomas enlisted in Company D, Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry; and at the mustering in of the company he was chosen sergeant. Later, on August 28, 1862, he was promoted to be first lieutenant. His regiment reported at Camp Butler, and went thence to Cairo, and later to Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Bolivar, La Grange and Vicksburg.. Following the fall of the latter city, the regiment was at Natchez; and in January, 1864, the regiment reenlisted. After a thirty-day fur­lough, it reported at Decatur, Ga. On October 26, 1864, Lieutenant Smith resigned, and returned to care for his father and mother, two of his brothers by that time having entered the service, thus leaving the home folks with only the younger members of the family. The title of Captain, therefore, was not official, but was given him because he had command of the company for consider­able periods in the latter part of his service. He was first lieutenant for nearly two years prior to his resignation, and was succeeded by Frank H. Walton, of White Hall.

Thomas Alexander Smith was married to Miss Mary Jane Cobb, of Roodhouse, in the fall of 1866, after which they lived on a farm in the neighborhood of his father's for several years, and then moved to Roodhouse, where he was principal of the Rood­house schools for a term or so. He later removed to White Hall, and engaged in teaching at Swamp College School, west of that town. He then entered into partnership with David Culbertson for the manufacture of drain tile, and remained in that business for many years ; and at the same time, Mr. Culbertson and he were engaged in the merchandising business. He later sold his inter­ests, and retired from active business life.

In 1903, Captain Smith went to Oklahoma, where he took up a claim of one hundred sixty acres of land, He proved up on this in about one year, and then sold it and returned to White Hall. Two years later, on August 6, 1906, his wife died. Following her death, her brother, James Cobb, and his wife kept house for Captain Smith, and he gave himself to the care of his property, and to reading and study. On September 11, 1907, he married Miss Maud Errett, of Oklahoma City, Okla. They lived in White Ball until 1912, when they came to California. Here he devoted himself to the improvement of a home in the Sacramento Val­ley, twelve miles to the east of Willows, even while steadily failing health was hastening- his life to its close.

Of this period of his residence in White Hall, ILL., the White Hall Republican very truthfully says: "It would be difficult to estimate properly Captain Smith's public services. However, we may briefly enumerate some of his contributions to the public weal. First, the highest service he rendered was four years of devotion to the flag of his country in the War of the Rebellion. It would he expected of a young man who had heard from parents and grandparents the story of sacrifices of Revolutionary days, that he should respond to the call of his country, and this he did; and there are still living in this county members of the old Thirty- second who can testify to the friendship, the companionship, the leadership and devotion, of Captain Smith. One of the first am­bitions when he returned to his home, in the winter of 1864, was to take steps to pay off a mortgage upon the neighborhood church. He encouraged all forms of culture and community advancement. While teaching, he organized a debating society and encouraged its literary gatherings. While a citizen of White Hall he served as a member of the city council for several terms, and he was one of the first directors of the White Hall Soldiers Monument Asso­ciation. Captain Smith was also favorably known in political circles. Ile was a lifelong member of the Republican party. Fra­ternally, he was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows orders, and his devotion can be attested by every member."

Captain Smith came to the Bayliss district, in Glenn County, on May 17, 1912, and bought twenty acres of land. He brought with him a herd of pure-blooded Jersey cows, conducted a dairy, and sold seventeen hundred dollars' worth of grade Jerseys in three years. Mrs. Smith is still conducting a small dairy, and is also branching out in the poultry business, making a specialty of White Leghorns. Captain Smith was an associate member of the Presbyterian Church of Bayliss.

Mrs. Smith was horn in Minnesota, and there received her education. She was a daughter of Thomas L. and Ruth (Wing) Errett. She traces her lineage hack to the Holland Dutch on the paternal side, while her ancestors on the maternal side come of Scotch and English extraction. Ruth Wing Errett was a daughter of Dr. Orange Wing of Minnesota, of Scotch and English descent. The Wing castle in England joins that of the Shakespeare estate. The progenitor of this family came to America in 1632. One of her ancestors was a "minute man" in the Revolutionary War. Mr. and Mrs. Errett came from Canada, and settled in Minnesota in 1858. This family is now incorporated, and includes more than one hundred thousand members in the United States alone. Mrs. Smith is a cultured woman of superior education. She taught school and did newspaper work in Montana, after she settled there in 1854; and she has been interested in mining and smelter promotion in Oregon, since she came to the West. She was connected with club work in Illinois; and she was one of the organizers of the Bayliss Association of Domestic Science—the first association of the kind in Glenn County—serving as chair­man of the by-laws committee.

But it is in another and special field, that Mrs. Smith has ren­dered her greatest service to the community in which she now resides. Very truly may it be said of her that she is the mother of the beautiful new Carnegie Public Library of the district. She was the first to start the movement for its building, and no one worked harder for its success; and naturally, she is a member of the library board.

LESLIE A. NICHOLS

An honored citizen who has been proud to take an active and helpful part in forwarding in every way the irrigation project of his district, is Leslie A. Nichols, who was born in Johnson County, Mo., September 22, 1865, and came to California when be was nineteen years of age. He worked on the L. E. Moulton ranch, near Colusa, for a year, and then put in half a year in Willows, when he assisted in the construction of the old irrigation canal. After that, he returned to Colusa, and worked for a while on a ranch.

For the next thirteen years he was in the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad, in Sacramento, and in 1912 he was in the East, where he remained for a year. At the end of that time he returned to California, and bought his present ranch in the Codora district, where he owns sixty-five acres of very fine land, and has a dairy with twelve cows, and some forty acres planted to alfalfa. He raises peaches, apples, pears, and plums, and has a quarter of an acre set out to strawberries, of the Gold Dollar and Oregon varieties, from which he has received as high as three hundred dollars a year. He has been particularly fortunate with his Elberta peaches, and claims that his trees of this variety, now seven years old, are the largest in the state for their age. These peach trees have made a record for the size of the fruit, nine peaches having given a combined weight of six and three quar­ters pounds.

On April 24, 1895, Mr. Nichols was married to Miss Lena Williams, of Colusa, the daughter of Thomas Williams, whose wife was Elvina E. Kingston before her marriage. Mrs. Williams crossed the plains to California in the early fifties, and traveled, like so many other pioneers, by means of an ox team. At first Mr. Williams mined; and afterwards he had a little farm in Colusa County, where he died. One daughter—Vesta, thirteen years of age—has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nichols, to brighten the home life in one of the happiest of Butte City's homes.

J. OVERHOLTZER

A large factor in the building up and the development of the community in and around Butte City has been J. Overholtzer, who was born in San Joaquin County, Cal., July 20, 1377, the son of Samuel A. Overholtzer, who crossed the plains in 1864, and farmed for a couple of years in Yolo County. For eighteen years, in fact, Mr. Overholtzer was a successful farmer in the San Joaquin Valley; and there he remained until he settled in Los Angeles County.

Growing up on a farm, as a lad young Overholtzer was sent to the public schools at Covina; and afterwards he continued his studies at the College at Lordsburg, where he graduated. Four years later, he was preaching the gospel at Colton; but in April of 1905 he settled in the Codora district of Glenn County, where he bought twenty acres of land. He was one of the first to settle on the Packer tract, and he was also the first to plant an orchard there. He has put out English walnuts, figs and peaches; and today his orchard is in splendid condition, and is producing finely. Having made a special study of horticulture, Mr. Overholtzer obtains the largest and best returns.

Since coming to Glenn County, the Reverend Mr. Overholtzer has organized a federated church—a successful arrangement and a great blessing to the community. This movement is thoroughly evangelistic and orthodox. The federation is founded on the individual basis, denominational affiliation not being renounced, but religious harmony being obtained in the community. Meetings are held in the auditorium of the new grammar school building. The membership numbers more than fifty, and the attendance is far in excess of that number. The originator of this movement has a strong influence for moral uplift; and the results of his efforts have been, and will be still more, widespread and definite.

A citizen with a high sense of civic duty, Mr. Overholtzer is serving as a trustee of the Union High School of Princeton, and also of the Codora grammar schools. He is a wide-awake business man, and has taken an active part in the operations of the Water Association, serving on the reconstruction work of the Central Water Users Association.

On Angust 9, 1397, Mr. Overholtzer and Miss Anna M. Ewing were married. Mrs. Overholtzer was born in Canada, but was reared in Michigan from the age of four years. Eight children were born to bless their home. These are Ruth E., Paul M., Esther, Mark, Ada and Arba twins), Bernice, and Miriam.

JOHN KELLY

The careful and efficient manager of the Mayberry Davis ranch, south of Butte City, John Kelly, was born in Buffalo, N. Y., on January 22, 1859, and received his education in the public schools. Being of an ambitions nature, at the age of seven­teen he decided to seek a broader field of activity, and accord­ingly came to California. For a time he was employed on the Glenn ranch. He became interested in horticulture, in which he is an expert. His first experience in that line was gained when he was employed to set out a large prune orchard for George P. Packer, north of Butte City. This was accomplished in due time, and in such a manner that it won recognition at once, after which his services were in great demand. He went to Sutter County and set out many orchards, among them the T. E. Holmes orchard on the Sutter ranch. As an expert on hop-growing, also, he has few superiors; and for a time he was manager of the Rideout hop ranch at Nicolaus, in Yuba County. For five years he was in the employ of Hon. John A. Boggs, in Colusa County, after whirls be took charge of the Davis place, where he is now located.

Mr. Kelly is a natural leader of men, and has the happy faculty of getting the best possible out of them, at the same time retaining their good-will. He knows ranching in all its branches, is a born manager and overseer, and among his other talents has unusual mechanical genius. All who are familiar with local conditions concede that he has brought the Davis property to a high state of productiveness, thus making it a profitable venture for its owner. He takes especial pride in accomplishing everything he undertakes; and his work is character­ized by a thoroughness and understanding that are sure to bring results.

At the time of the county-division movement, Mr. Kelly was favorable to the project, and worked and fought, as it were, for its success. In fact, he was the only man in the Packer outfit who registered in the proposed county in the Jacinto district, and cast his vote in favor of Glenn County. He has given patriotic service to his country. In 1882 he went East and enlisted in the United States Navy. He was assigned to duty on the battle-ship Michigan, Captain Hardy, commanding, and served for three years. At the time of the Spanish-American War, being too old to enlist for duty in the field, he entered the transport service in Manila, and served until the close of the war. Mr. Kelly is a valued member of the Princeton Lodge of Odd Fellows. He is public-spirited and congenial; and wherever he is known, he has a wide circle of friends.

HUBBARD FRANCIS MARSHALL

Another example of a self-made man who arrived in Willows with scarcely any means, and yet is now one of the prosperous and successful ranchers and business men of this section, is Hubbard Francis Marshall, a native of Laclede County, Mo., where he was born on March 11, 1862, the son of Dr. Hubbard Francis and Mary Jane (Switzer) Marshall, both of whom came from Indiana. His father was a graduate of a medical college in Marietta, Ohio, and was a practicing physician in Laclede County, Mo. He was shot down in cold blood during the Civil War. The mother then moved with her three children to Marion County, Ill.; and there Hubbard F. Marshall was educated, growing up on the farm, where be worked until he was twenty-two years of age.

In 1884, Mr. Marshall started out to earn his own living, finding employment in a livery stable in Harlan County, Nebr., and later in a mill, after which he worked on a farm for one year. The winters proving too severe, however, he came to California in 1886, almost immediately settling in Willows, then in Colusa Comity, but now Glenn County. For ten years he drove teams and was machine man on combined harvesters on the Tom Newsom and the Devenpeek ranches. In 1896, having saved much of his earnings, lie rented six hundred acres of land four miles to the northwest of Willows; and for four years he farmed this to grain with much success. His wheat, for example, averaged him fifteen sacks, or better, to the acre.

In 1900, Mr. Marshall bought four hundred six acres of the Kern ranch, ou the Fruto road, two miles west of Willows; and here lie still makes his home. He has improved the place with fences, houses and farm buildings, and for a decade and a half has here farmed to grain. He sunk a well and installed the first pumping plant west of Willows, also checking land and putting in the first alfalfa. After demonstrating the success of irrigation by that method, he subdivided all but seventy acres of his ranch into small farms, in 1910, which he sold to settlers, who developed them to alfalfa and orchards. On the portion lie has retained, he raises alfalfa for his growing herd of cattle. Marshall Villa, as the ranch is named, is also improved with a comfortable residence, farm buildings, and a family orchard.

On September 22, 1895, Mr. Marshall was married near Oskaloosa, Mans., to Miss Eva Hull, born in Jefferson County, Kans., the daughter of James and Rizpah (McKnight) Hull, natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respectively. Her parents came from Kansas to what is now Glenn County in 1886. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall has been blessed by the birth of seven children. Leon is a graduate of Glenn County High School; Dorothy is now a student at Glenn County High School; and Alice, Francis, John, Raymond and Emory are still in the grammar school. Mr. Marshall has always been interested in the cause of education, and is trustee of the Kenawa school district.

JOSEPH EDWIN McVAY

A pioneer family of Colusa County that will be long and pleasantly remembered for its prominent and effective part in the. early shaping of civic affairs here, is that of Joseph Edwin McVay, who was born on a ranch in Colusa Comity, near Butte City, on January 11. 1865, and who passed away on September 17, 1910. His father, Clinton McVay, was a native of Tennessee; while his mother, Mrs. Ann (Nelson) McVay, was born in Richmond, Va. When the great prairies were still unsettled, Clinton McVay crossed the plains and settled on a ranch southeast of what is now Butte City, where he engaged in farming until his death in 1900. At his demise, he left, to mourn his loss, a son, Charles H. McVay; a daughter, Mrs. Jesse Wescott ; and another son, .Joseph E. McVay, the subject of our sketch. Educated in the public schools of the district in which he passed his boyhood, Joseph McVay was associated with his father on a ranch until, in 1889, he started to farm for himself. He rented his uncle's ranch of eleven hundred acres, and for three years farmed the same to grain. Later, he leased a large tract of land on the plains in the eastern part of the county, and became both an extensive grain farmer and a well-known raiser of cattle and hogs. At one time he was engaged in farming in seven differ­ent places, cultivating simultaneously as high as three thousand acres of land.

In course of time, Joseph McVay bought the four hundred eighty acres on which his widow now resides, one hundred sixty acres of which was known as the Peter McDaniel ranch, and the balance as the Clinton McVay ranch. This land he devoted to the raising of grain, cattle and hogs, making a specialty of the latter, with the Poland-China strain. For years he was engaged in the raising of hogs in large numbers, selling them in lots of one hundred.

In 1889, Mr. McVay was married to Miss Annie V. Clarke, a native of Ontario, Canada, who came to California with her father, Nicholas Clarke, in 188d, at the beginning of the great boom. Nicholas Clarke was an Englishman by birth. In Canada he had been a school-teacher, a prominent merchant, and the clerk of his township; and after coming to Colusa County, also, he took an active part in public affairs. Mr. Clarke bought the Blodgett place, which he successfully farmed. He died in 1899, the father of seven children. Mr. and Mrs. McVay were the parents of two sons and three daughters: Herbert R., Marjorie and Mildred (twins, the latter deceased), Dorothy, and Joseph Edwin, Jr. As a public-spirited citizen, Mr. McVay was a school trustee; and as a practical professing Christian, he was a steward of the Metho­dist Church South. He belonged to the Foresters and to the Colusa Lodge of Masons.

Since the death of her husband, Mrs. McVay, who is acknowledged as a woman of exceptional business ability, has success­fully managed the ranch, in addition to completing her residence, which had just been started at the time of her husband's death. She has also bought three hundred acres of adjoining land, and now owns some eight hundred acres in very desirable locations. A large part of this estate is rented out to others; but she has reserved a portion, on which she raises cattle and hogs, and in the management of this particular enterprise her business ability is well demonstrated.

 

REV. FATHER P. A. GREALY

Fitting it is, indeed, that in this state first developed by the Spanish Fathers other faithful and zealous toilers of the Catholic Church should still find fields to be tilled, and harvests to be gath­ered at the end of the season of labor. One of the devoted and enlightened priests of this great church organization is the Rev. Father P. A. Grealy, the present pastor of St. Monica's Catholic Church at Willows, who was born in Ireland, November 1, 1866, and began at an early date to study for the ministry. He went to St. MeIs College, Longford, in his native county, and then to All­Hallow's College at Dublin, where, in 1891, he was ordained a priest.

The same year he came to the United States, and to Califor­nia, and entered on his first church work as assistant pastor of the Catholic Cathedral, of Sacramento. At the end of a year he was made the assistant pastor of the Catholic Church in Woodland, and afterwards he went to Grass Valley, Nevada County, where he served six years. When he returned to Woodland, he became pas­tor of the Church of the Holy Rosary. He started the fund for the erection of the new edifice; and before he left that parochial charge, he had raised seven thousand six hundred dollars toward that undertaking. The Woodland church has since been built, and is a splendid monument to all concerned in its erection. While Father Grealy was faithfully performing his duties at Woodland, the Catholic school there was under his charge; and his influence in raising its standard is perceptible today.

In 1911, Father Grealy came to Willows; and since then he has been the much-beloved and very efficient pastor of St. Monica's Catholic Church. Besides attending to his onerous duties here, he holds services twice a mouth in Orland and once a month in Hamilton City. At considerable expense he has enlarged the church building in Willows, and remodeled the interior, for his rapidly growing parish made the changes necessary. He arranged, also, for the erection of a modern two-story priests' residence, which was built in 1917.

Father Grealy is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of Sacramento; and he enjoys also that more intimate fraternity of the faithful pastor, whereby be holds fellowship in the hearts and affections of all his flock.

St. Monica's Catholic Church of Willows was erected in 1979 by Rev. Father M. Wallrath ; and it was he who organized the Roman Catholics residing in Glenn County at that time. He remained in charge until 1884. The first Catholic services in Willows were held in the little court room of Squire Carloff. The early mission­aries who visited Willows before it secured a resident pastor were Fathers Oubert, McGrath and Petit. The pastor in charge from 1892 to 1893 was Res-. Father F. A. Reynolds. The Rev. Father M. Wallrath was born in Prussia in 1841, and came to the United States in 1866. He entered the seminary of St. Mary's of the West in Cincinnati, and came to California first in 1871; and in that same year he was ordained a priest. In 1877 he took charge of the church in Colusa, the Church of the Immaculate Conception, everywhere favorably known for its good work. He built for the community a brick church; and, as stated, he built the church at Willows. In 1882 he erected the Church of the Sacred Heart at Maxwell, and in 1884 St. Dominick's Church in Orland. Eight years later, through his untiring efforts, the Church of the Incarnation was put up at Williams; and in 1899 he built the Holy Cross Church of Arbuckle. He also erected the Holy Ghost Church at Sites, in 1904-1905. Father Wallrath has thus contributed much to the upbuilding of California ; and his name will  al­ways be associated with the history of her religions growth and accomplishment.

JOHN PRICE

Whatever of success has come to John Price, another of the pioneer settlers of the Golden State and of Glenn County, has been gained through his own exertions, for he started in life a poor boy, and by his industrious habits and strict integrity of character has W On a place for himself in the community and in the esteem of his fellow citizens. When he settled in this part of the state, it was an undeveloped wilderness of prairie and plain; and lie has been an interested witness and a participator in its growth and progress.

A native of Tennessee, John Price first saw the light of day on October 18, 1840, in Giles County. He was a son of John and Winifred (Taylor) Price, who were born in North Carolina. The former died in 1857, and the latter in 1852. He received what education was possible in the pioneer schools of his community, where the teacher was paid by subscription. At the age of six­teen, he started across the plains in a train of forty people with is drove of cattle to Salt Lake, finishing the journey in five mouths and eighteen days. Upon his arrival in September, 1857, he had but one dollar and fifty cents as his cash assets. He located for a time in Plumas County, and some months later, in August,

1858, moved over into Colusa County and leased land on the Parrott grant, which he operated with success. In 1872, he located in what is now Glenn County, which at that time was a part of Colusa County, for the division had not yet been made. He had saved some money, and with it he located on the east side of the river, and bought a quarter section of land. As lie succeeded he added to his holdings, acquiring three hundred twenty acres, upon which he raised grain, cattle, sheep and hogs, and met with more than an ordinary degree of success. The improvements placed on the ranch were of his own making, and with the passing of the years he developed a line property, as well as building up an enviable reputation for himself.

In the fall of 1874, Air. Price married Lydia (Bassett) Anderson, who came to California across the plains in 1865; and of this union five children were horn: Frank, deceased; William W., who married Olive Owen, and has two sons, Grayson and Eldon ; Earl; Jessie, who died at the age of six years, in 1888; and John, who married Jessie Willis and has one child, Robert. Mr. Price is a Democrat in his political affiliations on national issues ; but in local matters he supports the man rather than the party. He takes an especial interest in political matters, and has served several times as a delegate to the county conventions. Mrs. Price is a member of the Christian Church of Butte city.

JOHN DELPAPA

Among the agriculturists and horticulturists who are making a success, and advancing and developing the natural resources of Colusa County, is John Delpapa. A native of Central Italy. he was born in Tuscany, near the celebrated town of Lucca, on August 4, 1869; and from young manhood he has worked his own way in the world. He attended the schools of his native laud, receiving a good education, and meantime, from a lad, assisted on his father's farm until he was twenty years old. Besides the farm, his father, Francisco Delpapa, owned several lime-kilns; and these occupied most of his time. These kilns had been built by grand­father Rauieari Delpapa, who, with John, tilled the farm while Francisco tended the kilns, which are still being used. Francisco Delpapa married Beatrice Bigongiari ; and they had ten children, four now living: John, of this review ; Emil, who married Cesira Bertolucci, and is employed by his brother John; Antoinette, wife of Vincenzo Donati ; and Olympia, who is unmarried and lives at home with her parents. At the age of seventy-four and seventy‑seven the parents are still hale and hearty, and are enjoying their old age in their Italian home.

John Delpapa had read of the opportunities offered in Cali­fornia, and had heard a great deal from some of his countrymen who had been in this state and returned to Italy, and from friends here who had sent letters back home; and he thought he could better his condition by coming to California. On November 9, 1889, he left his native land; and November 28, Thanksgiving Day, lie arrived in San Francisco with just one dollar and fifty cents in his pocket, a stranger in a strange country. He stopped at an Italian hotel and told his story to the good-hearted landlord. He was will­ing to work at anything that offered; and hearing of work to be had in Yolo County, he bought some blankets on credit, told the landlord to charge his hotel bill, and set out to find Nob County and the work. He found employment there in a vineyard and winery, and soon paid back what he owed his good friends in San Francisco. After three years of steady work he went to the Napa Valley, where he has employed for one year. In 1893 he went to Sacramento, but in a few days came up to Colusa County and found employment with a market gardener who had his gardens on the Cromer place. In the fall of that year he bought out his employer; and thereafter he conducted the business himself, enlarging his operations and branching out from year to year. He made a success of the business, and always paid a hundred cents on the dollar.

Having accumulated a considerable sum of money, Mr. Delpapa found himself able to branch out on a still larger scale. He leased one hundred fifteen acres of the Cromer place—upon which, by the way, he has worked ever since he got to Colusa in July, 1893—and also three hundred eighty-five acres from the Moulton Land Co., and began raising wheat, barley and beans. In 1912 he discontinued gardening, to devote his time to horticulture and gen­eral agriculture. In 1916 he put in three hundred twenty-five acres of rice west of Colusa. He bought all the machinery neces­sary to harvest and thresh it, and reaped a good harvest. He has two Deering rice binders and one Case rice thresher, with a 36y48- inch cylinder. During the threshing season he employs some thirty men, while lie regularly employs six. In 1917 he put in two hundred fifty acres of beans and two hundred thirty acres of bar­ley, but did not devote any acreage to rice. In addition to his gen­eral farming interests, he has a twenty-acre prune orchard.

Mr. Delpapa has been very successful in his various under­takings; and he has many friends throughout this part of the val­ley, where lie is well and favorably known. He is a kind-hearted, considerate, and public-spirited man. Since becoming a citizen, he has supported the Democratic party. A brother, Emil, and his wife, reside with Mr. Delpapa, and assist him in looking after the ranch.

ALLEN T. MOORE

Prominent among the successful ranchers in this part of the state who have become authorities on California agriculture, is Allen T. Moore, who was born in Buchanan County, Mo., in 1865. At the age of twenty, he moved westward to Jackson County, Kan.; and there, for four years, he tried his hand at farming. Then, hearing of the greater opportunities in the Golden State, he came to California in 1839, arriving at Willits on February 27. He had only a few cents in his pockets when lie alighted from the railway train; but he was possessed of the requisite courage, health and strength, and in a short time had begun the career which has placed him among the successful self-made men of Glenn County.

For a while he worked for wages in Willits; and on Novem­ber 7, 1890, he arrived in Orland. His first employment here was on the I. W. Brownell ranch, where he remained until April 10, 1892. Later, he worked for Simpson Finnell. In February, 1893, he entered into a partnership with B. A. Bell, of Red Bluff, and leased the Gallatin ranch in Tehama County, where they engaged in sheep-raising on a large scale. He was quarter owner in a baud of twenty thousand sheep. This partnership was afterwards dis­solved; and Mr. Moore then bought four thousand sixty acres of W. B. Miller, thirteen miles northwest of Orland, and to that hold­ing he kept adding until he owned six thousand four hundred acres. On this vast range he ran his sheep, cattle and hogs. The sheep were his main interest, and he became known as one of the largest and most successful sheep-raisers in the Sacramento Val­ley. He carried, in fact, about six thousand head of sheep. On May 5, 1916, he sold his ranch at a fine profit to Mallon & Blevius ; and since then he has lived retired from active business.

When Mr. Moore came into Glenn County, in 1890, he brought with him a small pack of thoroughbred registered fox hounds. He was always a lover of fine dogs, and continued to raise them and increased the number. lie still owns a fine pack, probably the best in Northern California. He brought some with him from Missouri, and since 1860 his breed has been registered. He has exhibited at big shows, and in the fall of 1916 lie took first, second and third prizes, in their respective classes, at the Bench Show held at Lawson, Mo. He has sold dogs for as high as one hundred fifty dollars each; and he owns some which he values at three hun­dred dollars a head, and which are very naturally not for sale. Ile has imported dogs from Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri and Ok­lahoma. Dowever, he no longer deals in dogs, but simply keeps them for his own pleasure.

When Mr. Moore married, he chose for his bride Miss Allie V. Lewis, a native of Tehama County, and a member of one of the well-known pioneer-families that helped settle the state. Mr. and Mrs. Moore are the parents of a promising son, Willis. By a for­mer marriage Mr. Moore had another son, Allen E. Mr. Moore is a Royal Arch Mason, and a Knight Templar, at Red Bluff; and he also belongs to the Blue Lodge and the Eastern Star at Orland.

THOMAS JEFFERSON HICKS

One of Orland's early settlers and pioneer business men, T. J. Hicks dates his arrival in California bark to 1877. He was horn in Scottsville, Elm County, Ky., on June 2, 1850. He was raised in a home of refinement on a plantation, and educated in the acad­emies of the Southland. At the age of nineteen he went to Missouri and worked on a farm, sixty miles east of Kansas City. Later he was employed in a mercantile establishment, and taught school to pay his way through college. In 1877 he came to California, to cast his fortunes with the golden West.

After his arrival in the state, Mr. Hicks engaged in teaching school for five years, and then turned his attention to farming and the dairy business in the vicinity of Orland, Glenn County. An opportunity then presenting itself, he engaged in the mercantile business in that city, conducting a growing business until succeeded by his son and Mr. Chaney.

Mr. flicks was one of the most active men in the irrigation movement under the Wright law, and under the government irrigation system. For two years he served as secretary of the new organization, doing much to put it on a sound basis. As he prospered he bought and improved business property, and built a modern block, in which he was located for years, and which he still owns. Always interested in progressive movements, he served as trustee of the Orland high school for several years. He was the first clerk of the Orland school hoard. and also served as one of the trustees of the town. He was elected and served as justice of the peace of Orland Township for several years. Prior to his locating in Orland, he served as deputy county assessor of Colusa County from 1881 to 1886, and took an active part in local politics. No movement for the good of the county has been promoted that has not had his support in time and money.

The marriage of Mr. Hicks united him with Roberta Christian, of Missouri. Mr. and Sirs. hicks have three sons, Wilbur, Byron and Proctor Knott—all aide and useful citizens.

 

M. A. SICKELS

M. A. Sickels WAS horn near Kilbourn, Columbia County, Wis., June 29, 1862, and grew to manhood on a farm. His father, Ephraim Sickels, also a native of that state, was a farmer. He died on September 17, 1865, when his son was only three years old. The mother, whose name, before her marriage, was Margaret Riddle, was born in Ontario, Canada. She kept the little family together, working hard against heavy odds to rear and educate her children. By her amiable disposition and kindly nature she endeared herself to her relatives and her ninny friends. She lived to the age of seventy years, three months and three days, dying in Kilbourn, Wis., June 10, 1910.

M. A. Sickels was the eldest of four children. Ile attended the district schools until he was old enough to go to work to help his mother. When he was thirteen, he started out for himself, working on farms in Dane County, Wis., beginning at six dollars and fifty cents per month. At the end of the first six months he had saved twenty-six dollars out of his wages. At the age of eighteen he left farm work and took a place in a cheese factory at Milford, Jefferson County, Wis.; and later, with F. E. Allen, he engaged in manufacturing cheese and butter at Waukesha, Wis., and met with success in that venture.

From Wisconsin Mr. Sickels came to California, locating in Oakland, where he sold butter and cheese at retail until 1909. He then sold out and came to Colusa County, where he found a good opening in his line; and since that date he has done much to build up the dairy interests of the entire Sacramento Valley. He owns a fine eighty-acre alfalfa farm south of Colusa, and has it stocked with pore-bred .Jerseys and Guernsey's. Ile is proprietor and owner of the. Colusa Butter Co.; and from his factory he sop- plies the home trade with hatter and cheese, besides selling direct to the retailers in the Bay cities and other places. His brand, "Sickels Pasteurized Butter." denotes quality of the very highest standard. The following extract, relative to Mr. Sickels' dairy, is copied from the Sacramento Bee, of March 24, 1917: "The record- holding Jersey bull, Jacoba's Emanon 84177, owned by Si. A. Sick­els of the Colusa Butter Co., has been sold to Dr. H. AV. Hand, of Willows. The bull was purchased in the East last summer by Sickels, and shipped to this city [Colusa]. Dr. Hand is the owner of a fine Jersey herd near Willows, and will use the bull in bring­ing his stock to a pure-bred plane."

While attending the Department of Agriculture at the Uni­versity of Wisconsin, Mr. Sickels became intimately acquainted with such men as Professor Henry, the dean of the Department of Agriculture of the University at Madison, and Dr. Babcock, origi­nator of the Babcock standard test for determining the amount of butter fat in milk. Mr. Sickels also numbers among his close friends the late Jeremiah Rusk, ex-Governor of Wisconsin and for­merly United States Secretary of Agriculture, and ex-Governor W. D. Hoard, 0. S. Cornish, D. W. Curtis, Senator Walter S. Greene, and others.

Through his knowledge of dairying and his years of experi­ence in manufacturing dairy products, Mr. Sickels has gained a wide and intimate acquaintance with farmers and dairymen throughout the valley, with whom he cooperates, helping them to procure good cows. He furnishes milch cows to them on butter­fat payments; and has already sold two thousand cows on that basis. He operates the Willows Creamery and a cheese factory at Gridley, furnishing cows to the dairymen in those localities on the above-named basis. Mr. Sickels makes trips back East to Wiscon­sin and Michigan, where be purchases pure-bred Jersey and Guernsey stock, which he ships to California in car-load lots. The pay roll for his three factories ranges from twenty thousand dol­lars to twenty-five thousand dollars per month. lie is agent for the Simplex and Vega Separators, and is a member of the Guern­sey Club of California. His son, Delos M. Sickels, is associated with him in business. Mr. Sickels is a "booster" for California, and is interested in every movement for its upbuilding. He has made his own way in the world since he was thirteen years old; and he is recognized, by all who know him, as an enterprising man and an upbuilder of the country.

GEORGE MONROE AND MARTHA JANE POTTS

In the year 1869, a lad of fifteen appeared in Colusa County, who had come from far-off Illinois with his mother and stepfather, arriving in California on November 22. This lad was George Monroe Potts. He was born near Jamestown, Clinton County, on February 6, 18.54, and bad the advantages of a common-school education up to the time he came West. Wishing to finish his schooling, he returned to Illinois in 1870, and attended Carlisle College until the winter of 1871. He then returned to California to join the family, arriving the second time on January 1, 1872. He was anxious to make a success in life, and took the first position offered, that of a clerk in a hardware store in Colusa, where he worked four years. He later operated a grocery store for himself. For three years he served as deputy marshal of Colusa under J. T. Arnold, and afterwards was deputy under Sheriff James How­ard for two years. For some time he teamed from Princeton to the settlement of Willows, where he finally took up his residence, bringing, his wife to the place on June 7, 1877. He was favorably known in the community, and was elected constable in 1882, serv­ing in that capacity until he was made town marshal, upon the in­corporation of the city in 1885. He also served four years as jus­tice of the peace of Willows. Ile has been an important factor in the political life of the county and has been actively interested in all good works for the advancement of the county and city. lie. Potts is a valued member of the Knights of Pythias and has nearly always held some office in the lodge.

In 1874 was celebrated the marriage that united George M, Potts with Miss Martha Jane Stormer, mention of whose family is made on another page of this work. She came to Willows with her husband in 1877, and ever since that date has been a factor in the commercial life of the city. In 1890 she opened the first bak­ery in town, on Walnut Street, in the rear of the present site of the Bank of Willows building. Her equipment consisted of four large stoves, with an oven capacity of ten loaves each. She did all the work herself, and added to her labors and her income by running an ice cream and refreshment parlor. In those (lays ice cream sold for twenty-five cents a dish, and was considered a lux­ury. One clay a fire visited that section of the town and burned all except her establishment. The business section then moved a block further south; and so, to be in a good location, Mrs. Potts moved to South Tehama Street, just below the Crawford Hotel, and there continued her bakery business, with its side issue of ice cream and other refreshments. She had bought the property to which she moved and was prospering nicely, when another fire wiped out this section of the town, and her establishment with it. Nothing daunted, however, she at once rebuilt two brick buildings. She equipped a modern bakery to carry on her growing business, and still maintained the ice cream parlor, besides conducting a room­ing house in the second stoma-. IIer hard work insured her success, and after carrying on the business a number of years she finally sold out to good advantage and retired. She still owns the build­ings on Tehama Street, and also has stock in the Stormer Land Company, incorporated from her father's estate. With her hus­band she rents two hundred forty acres southwest of Willows, where they are raising grain. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Potts three children have been born: Mrs. Cora F. Wickes; Mrs. Maude Lightner, now deceased; and Miss M. Monreo Potts. It is due the women of California that they should receive just recog­nition for the part they have played in the upbuilding of the va­rious counties in the state; and no one is entitled to more praise than Mrs. Potts, who, as a woman of fine executive and business ability, has done her part to promote the general welfare of Glenn County.

MRS. MAE BLONDIN

One of the most capable and successful business women of Glenn County, and one who, in fact, has the distinction of being the second woman on record to hold the position of county tax col­lector in the state of California, is Mrs. Mae Blondin, the present incumbent of that office of trust and responsibility in Glenn County. Mrs. Blondin was closely associated with her late hus­band in his business enterprise; and she inherited from her ances­tors the capacity for detail work and the special qualities neces­sary for the successful management of business interests in vari­ous lines.

A native of New York State, Miss Mae Cochrane, as she was known in maidenhood, was born in St. Lawrence County, where she received a good education, well fitting her for the responsibil­ities that have fallen to her lot. She was married to Mr. Blondin at St. Albans, Vt., in 1900, and five years later they came to Cali­fornia, locating at first in Redding, after which they went to Chico, and still later, in 1907, settled in 'Willows, when the town was beginning to "boom." Mr. Blondin was a paper-hanger, painter and decorator; and he plied his trade in the various places of their residence. Mrs. Blondin assisted her husband in his store; and after his demise in 1913, she carried on the business until she found all opportunity to dispose of it to advantage, when she re­tired from commercial life to give all of her attention to the office of county tax collector, to which she had been elected, and upon which she entered in January, 1914. She was persuaded by her many friends in the county to become a candidate; and her popu­larity was demonstrated when she won over nine opponents in the race for the office. She is filling the position in 0 very efficient and able manner.

For many years the sheriff of the county attended to the du­ties of tax collector in Glenn Comity; and it was not until the election of Mrs. Blondin to the office that the two offices were sepa­rated. In reality, therefore, it fell upon her to organize the work of the office as a separate branch of the county government. She believes in system; and her management of the financial affairs of the county is characterized by business method and precision, and has met with hearty approval from all sources.

Mrs. Biondin is a bright, active woman, who has bravely shouldered unusual responsibilities. She is the mother of two sons, Francis Linwood and Rockwell Edward, whom she is rearing in a manner that assures their future appreciation of their moth­er's devotion. She is a member and Past Noble Grand of the Wil­lows Rebekah Lodge, and a member of Marshall Chapter, 0. E. S. She is also an active member of the Episcopal Church, and parti­cipates in the work of the Ladies' Guild. Her daily life, with its manifold duties, official, social, and domestic, is a pleasing example and illuminating illustration of woman's versatility.

JULIAN MARTIN RASMUSSON

The obliging and popular superintendent of the Willows Gas and Water Works for the Northern California Power Company, is Julian Martin Rasmusson, a thoroughly trained technician, and a man of fortunate versatility, as well as practical experience. lie was born on February 4, 1868, in Laaland, Denmark. When fif­teen years old, he came to the United States, and settled for a while in Springfield, Ill. He attended both the common and high schools, and accomplished one important thing there, for he learned to read and speak the English language. After a time, he set out with two of his brothers for Furnas County, Nebr., where he engaged in farming; but conditions were bad, and as a conse­quence he lost most of his money.

In 1890, Mr. Rasmusson came to California and settled at Oroville; and the next year he became an American citizen, Ile learned the trade of blacksmith from his brother-in-law in that city, and also learned how to do skilled woodwork. At the end of three years he was employed by the California Stage Company, in that place, to look after repairs to their rolling stock. He re­mained there three years, and then went to Plumas County, locat­ing in Quincy. Two years later he removed to Marysville, and bought an interest in a thirteen-acre vineyard. At the end of that year, however, he went to Redding and became night engineer of the Redding Ice Works. From 1898 to 1900 he was foreman car­penter for the Iron Mountain Copper Company. On moving to Dunsmuir, he worked for the Burns & Coggins Lumber Company, until 1904, when he returned to Redding once more, and soon af­terwards entered the employ of the Northern California Power Company, Consolidated, as superintendent of the gas and water works ; and with this company he has been associated ever since. In Redding he not only manufactured gas, but he constructed the water works system for the company. In 1911 he was transferred to Willows, where he superintended the installation of the gas works, which be completed, and later was also made superintend­ent of the water works.

Some years ago, Mr. Rasmusson married Mrs. Mary (Davis) Moore, born in California, the daughter of Robert Davis, a New Yorker and a pioneer of 1849, who mined for gold at Rich Bar, and who is now living, at the age of ninety-five, in Yuba City, Sutter County. With characteristic enterprise, Mr. Rasmusson has invested in a quarter section of timber land in Shasta County, which is bound to become valuable in time. He has won success and standing by his own integrity, and is what is termed a self- made man.

LEWIS EDMUND TUTTLE, P. V. S.

A rising professional man of Willows is the prominent and successful veterinary surgeon, L. E. Tuttle, a native of the Buck­eye State, born in Clinton County, April 8, 1881. He grew to young manhood on his father's farm, and attended the district school. When he had reached his majority he went to the Palouse country, in Southeastern Washington, and worked in the harvest fields and on ranches there, and later he worked in the timber sec­tion in the southwestern part of the state.

In 1902, desiring to see more of the West, Mr. Tuttle came down to California; and at Whittier, Los Angeles County, be was given charge of a dairy of fine registered Jersey cows, owned by C. W. Leffingwell. He was also given entire charge of Sargent Fox, a registered Jersey bull that has since become famous, and is regarded as one of the best of his breed in the United States. This bull was of high pedigree, and imported stock, a son of Miss Sargent and Flying Fox, and was handled by Dr. Tuttle from his first service. it was while in Whittier, in this position, that Dr. Tuttle first began to familiarize himself with veterinary work, rid­ing through the country with a prominent veterinary surgeon and assisting him in surgery, gaining what in later years proved to be valuable experience. 

So impressed was Dr. Tuttle with the profession that he ar­ranged to perfect himself for the work, and attended the San Francisco Veterinary College, returning to Whittier during the summer mouths to get practical experience. The third year of his attendance at the college, he was appointed assistant surgeon in the veterinary hospital. In 1907, he was graduated with high hon­ors, taking the gold medal for the best general examination. In April of that year he came to Willows, and for eighteen months practiced successfully. At the end of that time he returned to San Francisco, and formed a partnership with Dr. C. F. McCarthy in his clog hospital, purchasing a one-half interest; and for two and one-half years be continued in this business. His first experi­ence in Glenn County, however, had satisfied him that he could find a more satisfactory field for his labors than in the northern metropolis; so he came back to Willows, where he has since re­sided and practiced his profession with decided success. He is counted among the leading veterinarians in the Sacramento Val­ley; and his advancement to his present standing has come through his own efforts. He is truly a self-made and self-edu­cated man, and is highly esteemed by all who know him.

In partnership with his father-in-law, August Henning, Dr. Tuttle is owner of a cattle ranch northeast of Willows. This he is developing into a thoroughbred shorthorn Durham stock farm, having recently purchased a registered shorthorn Durham bull from the Butte City ranch. At the present writing, he has ninety head of cattle on the place. With his past experience and progressive ideas, it is predicted that Dr. Tuttle will do much to advance the stock interests, not only of Glenn County, but also of the entire northern Sacramento Valley; and a bright future is antici­pated for him.

The marriage of Dr. Tuttle, which occurred in Willows, united him with Miss Gussie Henning, and they are the parents of one son, Corwin A. Tuttle. Fraternally, Dr. Tuttle was made a Mason in Laurel Lodge, No. 245, F. & A. M., in Willows, in which he is Junior Warden. Both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star.

WILLIAM CHANEY

The firm of Hicks and Chaney is well known in Orland and vicinity. Under the wise management of the proprietors, who are wide-awake, energetic business men, the business of this company has expanded until the firm now occupies an important place in the commercial life of the community.

William Chaney, one of the partners, was born in Ogdensburg, New York, February- 10, 18435. When he was a child, his parents moved to Detroit, Mich.. and later to Worthington, Minn.; and in these cities his education was acquired. His first experience was obtained on a farm; and later he was engaged in the hay and grain business. He then entered the furniture and undertaking business, becoming in time a licensed embalmer, both for Minnesota and for California.

Mr. Chaney located in Orland in October, 1909. In January, of the following year, he formed a partnership with P. Knott Hicks. Since then they have worked together toward a common end, in the building up of a successful business establishment. Prominent in local business circles, Mr. Chancy served for one year as president of the Chamber of Commerce, and later as its secre­tary; and he is interested in all projects for the advancement of Glenn County.

The marriage of Mr. Chaney united him with Miss Avalin French; and they have one daughter, Katherine.

PROCTOR KNOTT HICKS

A progressive, up-to-date business man and member of the firm of Hicks and Chaney, of Orland, P. K. Hicks was born in Glenn County, August 26, 1883. He is a sou of T. J. and Roberta (Christian) Hicks, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this history. Mr. Hicks obtained his education in the grammar and high schools of Orland. For a time he was associated with his father in the mercantile business in that city. Possessed of an en­ergetic nature, he wanted to branch out in other lines of business; and in 1905-1900, he became manager of the Sierra Lumber Com­pany, in Orland. The next year he went to Nevada and secured a position with the Wood Curtis Company, wholesale produce dealers.

After a time, Mr. Hicks came back to Orland, and became interested in the business with his father. In *January, 1910, he succeeded to the business of the T. J. flicks Company, established by his father, and took William Chaney into partnership with him­self, changing the name to Hicks and Chaney. They are still located in the Hicks Building, where they carry a fine line of heavy and shelf hardware, specializing in American fence, air motor mills, Sharpless separators, and John Deere plows. In connection with the hardware business, they run a complete plumbing establishment. To supply a long-felt want, they have also an undertaking department. The company enjoy the confidence of the community, and their business is expanding year by year.. Mr. Hicks owns a ten-acre prune orchard, and is a booster for his county and home town, being a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Fraternally, be is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Encampment.

Proctor Knott Hicks was united in marriage with Frances French, a native of Rochester, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Hicks enjoy a wide acquaintance in Orland and vicinity, where they are leaders in their social set.

JOHN KYLE WEAST

To have lived in one community for more than half a century is a record equaled by few men in Colusa County; and to have attained the age of ninety years, and still be in touch with all the up-to-date movements of one's community, is the lot of but few of the sons of men. This is the record of John Kyle Weast, who was born in Lycoming County, Pa., April 15, 1827. He has been an eye-witness to all of the wonderful development of the county since 1866, seeing it develop from a vast cattle range to waving grain fields, to be still later brought under more intensive cultivation. The large ranches of the early days have been split up into smaller tracts; and fruit and dairy interests now pervade the country, bringing in large revenues to the ranchmen. Latest of all is the development of rice lands from the sheep pastures that for years were thought to be worthless. All of this, and more, has been witnessed by Mr. Weast, now one of the retired citizens of Colusa County.

Mr. Weast is a descendant of an old pioneer family in America. His grandfather, Abraham Weast, was born in Tioga County, N. Y., and married a Miss Sludge, a lady of German extraction, whose family were represented among the very earliest German settlers of New York State. She was a daughter of a soldier who served in the French and Indian Wars, and in the Revolutionary struggle, from the Battle of Bunker Hill to the close of the war. Abraham Weast died in a block house in Pennsyl­vania. He had a son Joshua, a native of Tioga County, and by trade a cabinet-maker, who migrated to Indiana as early as 1834 and settled in Laporte County when that region was in its primeval condition. Ile cleared land and improved a farm, on which be lived for many years; but eventually he came to Cali­fornia, where he spent his last days. He died at the home of his son, John K. Weast, in Colusa County, when in his eighty-first year. His wife, Isabella Kyle, was born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of John Kyle, a farmer. She died in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Weast became the parents of four children, of whom John K. was the oldest, and the only one to settle on the Pacific Coast.

When John K. Weast was a lad of seven years of age, his parents went to Indiana, and his earliest recollections are asso­ciated with the development there of a raw tract of land. When he was eighteen, he began working for the farmers in his section of the county, receiving ten dollars a month for his services. In 1846 he left Indiana, and went to Illinois to assist in moving some of his relatives to McHenry CountY, passing through the present site of Chicago when that city was an insignificant town, without visible indications of its future greatness. Subsequently he resumed work in Indiana as a farm hand.

On February 4, 1850, Mr. Weast went to New York, intending to take ship for California. It was not until March 16 that he was able to get passage on the boat Georgia for Chagres., From there he went up the Chagres River a short distance, and then walked the remaining distance, twenty-two miles, across the Isthmus of Panama. It was six weeks and two days before he could get passage on a steamer there, and meanwhile expenses were very high. Finally he became a passenger on the Columbus, which cast anchor in San Francisco on June 4. Soon after landing he went to the mines in Eldorado County, and while working there a season be was a member of the election board clueing the exciting time of voting for statehood. His next location was Kelsey's Diggings, after which be was at Weaver's Creek, and later on the Feather River; and still later he went to Downieville.

In December, 1851, be went to the Suisun Valley. Abandon­ing the precarious occupation of mining, he here took up agri­cultural pursuits, making a specialty of raising grain. Two years later he went to the Sacramento River and took up what he sup­posed was government land. He made valuable improvements on the property and tilled the soil assiduously for the following nine years, only to discover that the property was part of a land grant, and that he must lose it. The experience was discouraging; but soon afterwards, in 1866, be settled on a ranch lying seven miles north of Colusa, where for many years he tilled the soil, meeting with a fair degree of success. He became the owner of some three hundred twenty-three acres in his home place, and of a tract of one hundred fifty-two acres located not far distant. This entire property be devoted to the raising of cattle, hogs, grain and alfalfa. Ile cleared the land from the thick growth of timber that grew along the river, and during the winter of 1867-186S superintended the cutting of two thousand cords of wood, which he sold to the steamboats that were running on the river at that time. When the stumps were removed and burned, he found himself the possessor of as fine a tract of land as could be found anywhere in the state. Besides this land he bought a ranch of one hundred sixty acres in Modoc County, located in the Little Hot Springs Valley.

In September, 1911, Mr. Weast sold his ranch on the Sacra­mento River and spent a few months in Modoc County; but he returned to a place near Colnsa to spend the winter. In the spring of 1914 he bought the ranch upon which he now resides, which consists of seven hundred twenty acres in the Antelope Valley. He moved onto it; and with the aid of his sou, Byron, who is managing the place, he here is raising cattle, sheep, hogs and grain.

The marriage of Mr. Weast was celebrated in Colusa County on August 23, 1866, when be was united with Margaret Day, a native of Illinois, a daughter of Nathaniel and Rhoby (Green) Day, natives of Maine and New York, respectively. In 1855 the Day family crossed the plains from Illinois to California and settled, first, in Colusa County, but later moved to Modoc County, where both Mr. and Mrs. Day died, the former at the age of ninety-three years. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Weast there were eight children: Walter H., now in Shasta County; Henry, who died at the age of two and a half years; Rhoby, who married Charles Coleman, and died, leaving four children; Rachael, Mrs. Lampier of Colnsa, the mother of seven children; Arthur, a farmer near Glenn, who has nine children; Mary J., who died, aged six years; Flora, Mrs. Yates, who has four children and who, with her husband, is on the home ranch; and Byron, manager of the home place. Mr. and Mrs. Weast have twenty-seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Mrs. Weast is a good manager, and has been a most able assistant to her husband. They are liberal supporters of all progressive movements, are hospitable and open-hearted, and are enjoying life to the full among the many friends they have made during their long years of residence In Colusa County.

WILLIAM HENRY MORRISSEY

In making the most of the many Western opportunities that came his way from the time when, in the late seventies, he first came to the Coast, the late William Henry .Morrissey took a prominent part in the upbuilding of Orland and vicinity, again and again displaying characteristic enterprise. Born in Illinois in 1862, he removed to Iowa with the family when he was but two years of age. In 1878, when he was sixteen, he migrated with his father, Thomas Morrissey, and his brothers and sisters, to California, and settled on the O'Hair farm, five miles northeast of Orland, in Glenn County.

As a young man Mr. Morrissey took an active interest in real estate matters in Orland, and soon joined in partnership with N. K. Sped. Later, he was associated with a number of prominent men in a large subdivision of land; and on account of his knowl­edge and experience, he was made president of the company. He also served a term as constable.

Recognized everywhere as a leader, Mr. Morrissey  gave good service as a member of the executive committee of the Sacramento Valley Development Association, and also became a director in one of the first irrigation systems of Orland. His wide experience led to his being appointed a commissioner to the St. Louis Exposition in 1904, where he represented Glenn County. He also took an active part in the formation of the government irrigation system. At the front of every public enterprise in this locality, he joined others in developing the orange groves of Orland; and he also owned in that vicinity a two-acre lemon orchard, which he set out. He bought and improved a ranch of a hundred sixty acres near Orland, and had the land seeded to alfalfa. On this ranch he erected barns and outhouses, making of it a valuable property. It is still in the possession of the fancily, and is rented as a dairy ranch. For a number of years Mr. Morrissey was engaged in the buying of stock. In 1891 he favored county division, and took an active part in bringing it about. He also served one term as post­master of Orland. At Orland Mr. Morrissey erected a reinforced concrete theater and garage, and otherwise proved himself one of the upbuilders of the city. He was a Mason, and a Past Master of Orland Lodge; a member and Past Grand of the Orland Lodge of Odd Fellows; a member of Chico Lodge of Elks; and a Forester. At his death in 1914, Orland lost one of its most useful citizens.

In San Francisco, on January 17, 1895, William Henry Mor­rissey married Mrs. Elizabeth (Templeton) Clark, who came to California in 1885. She was the daughter of Frederick and Eliza­beth (Papst) Templeton, farmers in Sanilac County, Mich. Mrs. Morrissey attended the public and high schools, and was for a time engaged in educational work. By her marriage with Mr. Morrissey she had one son, Marc Templeton Morrissey, a student at the University of California, who will take up law. Her first husband, Robert Lee Clark, was engaged in the hardware business in Orland, where he was a member of the firm of Clark & Behrens.

Two years after their happy marriage he died, leaving a daughter, Gwendolyn, now the wife of Will Adams of San Francisco. Be­fore her marriage, Mrs. Morrissey was the popular postmaster of Orland, as well as the manager of the Postal Telegraph Company. She is an active member and Past Noble Grand of the Rebekahs, and was formerly an efficient president of the Women's Improve­ment Club of Orland.

CLAUDE D. STANTON

Among those whose citizenship has contributed largely to the agricultural, commercial, and political development and welfare of Colusa County, the name of Claude 1). Stanton holds an important place. He is a son of Joseph Byron Stanton, who was born in Ohio on March 21, 1536. When Joseph Stanton was a child of two years, his parents removed to Hancock County, ILL., where he was

educated, and where he lived until he was nineteen. His life had been spent on a farm and he was inured to hard work at an early age. In 1855 he started for California, driving an ox team across the plains, and taking six months to complete the journey, and ar­rived in Oroville in October, 1855. He had no money when he landed here, and willingly took any job that offered, in order to meet expenses. He worked at ranching, mining and teaming until in January, 1856, when he came to Colinas County. On his arrival in this county he located on Grand Island, secured some land, and began farming. In 1818 he married Miss Margaret N. Tull. Her health failing in this section, he sold out, and with team and wagon drove to Mendocino County, where her parents lived. The change not proving beneficial, medical advice was sought in San Francisco and Mr. Stanton was advised to return to the Sacramento Valley. He again settled in Colusa County and resumed ranching; bnt his wife did not recover, and passed away in 18116. She was the mother of four children, of whom three were living at the time of her death.

In the fall of 1866 Joseph Stanton was appointed deputy sheriff by I. N. Cain. He held this position for four years, and was then elected to the office of sheriff for the term of two years, and reelected in 1872 by a large majority. He was popular with all classes of people, carried out the duties of his office with tact and fairness to all, and gave good satisfaction. After he retired from the office. he became connected with an enterprise to. connect Colusa, Calistoga, and Napa by telephone. In the prosecution of his work he crossed Lake County. His attention was attracted to Indian Valley, and with a partner he bought a relinquishment there, becoming owner of some twenty-four hundred acres; and af­ter the government survey, he acquired title to this property.

Mr. Stanton married a second time, his second wife being Mary Green. With her and his family he moved on to his land and began raising sheep, conducting the business with profit for four years. Ile then came back to Colusa County, and soon was appointed under sheriff by D. H. Arnold. For seven years, also, he had the contract to furnish the supplies and care for the inmates of the county hospital, after which he was again made un­der sheriff, by W. T. Beville. He continued in that position until 1890, when he was once more elected sheriff, serving a four-year term. He was then appointed lieutenant of the guard at Folsom prison, a position he filled for ten years. lie was there at the time of the break led by Evans and Sontag. After his retirement from the lieutenancy, until he finally retired to private life, he was dep­uty sheriff under his son, Claude D. Stanton. He died in 1914; and his wife died the following year. Of the four children by his first marriage, two are still living. His second marriage resulted in the birth of ten children, seven of whom are still living. Politically, Joseph Stanton was a stanch Democrat. Fraternally, be was a Knight Templar Mason, and a Past Master of Colusa Lodge, No. 240, F. & A. M. He was an active member of the Christian (lurch.

Claude D. Stanton was the third child in order of birth in the family of Joseph Byron Stanton, by his first marriage, and first saw the light of day on March 28, 1863, on Grand Island. He was reared and educated in Colusa County, and followed farming until he started in the hotel business at Arbuckle, where he owned and conducted the American Hotel until he was burned out. Then, on completion of the Hotel Ash, he became "mine host" there, and ran that hotel until he became sheriff of the county. He was elected to that office in 1906, and entered upon its duties on Jan­uary 1, 1907. In 1910 he was reelected without opposition, and again in 1914—an evidence of his popularity with all political par­ties, and of the efficiency of his conduct of the office. He holds a high place in the esteem of his fellow citizens throughout the county, all of whom have only good to say of him, and of his discharge of the duties entrusted to his care.

In 1884 Mr. Stanton was united in marriage with Mrs. Alameda (Kilgore) Black, a native of Sutter County, and a daughter of one of the pioneers of Colusa County. Mr. and Mrs. Stanton are very hospitable and charitable people; and their liberality and kindness of heart are manifested in many ways. When Mr. Stanton's sister, Mrs. Adah Winship, died, they took and cared for her son, B. A. Stanton, whom they reared and educated. He graduated from the College City High School, and is now purser for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company in San Francisco. They also reared a daughter of Mrs. Winship, Clara, now Mrs. Williams, who is residing in London, England. Mr. Stanton was made a Mason in Meridian Lodge, No. 182, F. & A. M., at Arbuckle, and is a member of Colusa Chapter, No. 60, R. A. AL, and of Colusa Commandery, No. 34, K. T. lie is also an Elk, bolding member­ship in Marysville Lodge, No. 783, and is a member of Colusa Par­lor, N. S. G. W.; and with his wife he belongs to the Order of the Eastern Star.

ORD L. LEACHMAN

To what extent the agricultural interests of Glenn County, and those of the individual farmer, have been advanced through the Farm Bureau, and how much the experience, wisdom and eloquence of Ord L. Leachman, the Bureau's appealing auctioneer, have contributed to that organization's success, those who are associated with the Bureau, and who have worked side by side with Mr. Leachman and come under the spell of his oratory, can well testify. Born at Lineville, Wayne County, Towa, February 4, 18S6, Ord was reared and educated there, graduating from the high school. Ile also attended and graduated from the Normal School of Lineville, and after finishing his course taught for the period of three months.

Deciding to move to Des Moines, Mr. Leachman learned the barber's trade, and opening a shop there conducted the same for nine years. He also became one of the organizers of the Brother­hood of American Yeomen, and boasted a record for new members of the order, doing one hundred sixty-five thousand dollars' worth of business during his first month as solicitor. Arriving in Corning, Tehama County, on July 16, 1913, he bought out a bar­ber's shop there, and also engaged in the auctioneering business. While in Corning, he assisted (Jumble, the auctioneer, as a part­ner, and added considerably to the volume of his operations.

On August 1, 1915, Mr. Leachman sold out his shop and stand. and then came to Orland, seeking a larger field for his auction bus­iness; and that his choice of a business locality was well-advised is shown from the volume of his sales since coining to this vicinity. Om of his large sales was that of the ranch property known as the Downing estate, which he sold for fourteen thousand dollars. In February, 1917, Mr. Leachman was appointed salesman to the Glenn County Farm Bureau, a live and very important organization, through which over four hundred farmers pool their interests in the sale of cattle, sheep, hogs and grain, leaving to Mr. Leachman. the task of disposing of their products. This he does in car load lots, working for a commission; and the arrangement is of great benefit to the farmers, not only relieving them of work and worry, but enabling them to get much better prices than their products would otherwise command. Being a good talker. Mr. Leachman is able to reap results, if anyone can.

But Mr. Leachman has not only eared for the interests of others he has had a sensible eye to some provision for himself. He owns a ten-acre ranch in Corning, and a forty-acre ranch in the Plaza district, on the Thompson tract, in Orland. This has been nicely developed, and is planted to alfalfa. In addition, be has a well-improved farm in Illinois, and his extensive private auction business. His success and popularity in this particular line may be determined from the fact that he conducts folly ninety-five per cent. of all the larger sales that are made, in both Glenn and Tehama Counties.

Some years ago Mr. Leachman was married to Pearl R. Critchfield, of Iowa, an attractive lady and a talented musician, who has become the mother of a promising son, William Ord. Both Mr. and Mrs. Leachman are popular in social. circles. Mr. Leachman is an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

 

CURRY M FRENCH

A native son of the state, and a representative of one of the pioneer families of Glenn County, Curry M. French was born on September 6, 1886, at Willows. His parents, Milton and Lizzie ( Williams) French, are both natives of Missouri, and are men­tioned on another page of this work.

Curry M. French was educated in the public schools of Willows, and was graduated from the high school of that city, after which he at once became associated with his father in his large ranching interests. Upon the death of his parent lie took charge of the home place, and since that time has had actual charge of the thousands of acres which his father had accumulated. For years this property has been planted to wheat and barley, and has been devoted, also, to the raising of cattle, hogs and sheep, thousands in number.

Mr. French is a Mason, a member of Laurel Lodge,  F. C A. M., of Willows. In business relations he is a director of the Bank of Willows. He married Miss Lulu L. Jacoby, a native of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and a lady of refinement, who, with her worthy husband, has a wide circle of friends throughout this part of Glenn County. Mr. French is a worthy successor to his father, and, like him, is a supporter of all movements that have for their

aim the advancement of the best interests of the county and the uplifting of the people. He gives his personal attention to the details of his extensive interests ; and as the years pass he is widening his influence in the community, where he is highly respected.

 History Of Colusa and Glenn Counties, California
History by: Charles Davis McCormish and Mrs. Rebecca T. Lambert
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1918
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham, Pages: 657 - 757

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