USA > California > Glenn County > History of Colusa and Glenn counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 27
USA > California > Colusa County > History of Colusa and Glenn counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 27
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In 1883, the first train was run through from Willows to Red Bluff; and from that year development went on at a steady pace. Schools and church buildings were erected, and many comfort- able homes were established.
The College at Orland
In order that the young men and women of the town might have higher educational advantages than those afforded by the public school, Prof. J. B. Patch interested several of the large landowners in the vicinity and the business men of the town in establishing a college at Orland. The plan was to sell stock to the value of a certain number of thousands of dollars,
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to seenre the price of the building material; the professor was to superintend the building and aid in its construction for his inter- est, and the expense of maintenance was to be met by charging the pupils tuition. A substantial two-story briek building was erected, and the school was liberally patronized by the people of the town.
Professor Patch was a very good instructor, but he did not have the necessary tact for managing an institution of that sort. In fact he had a wonderful capacity for making enemies, and soon found himself in very straitened circumstances as a result. The following amusing incident in the professor's career is taken from Rogers' History of Colusa County :
"It appears that he [the professor] was indebted to Mr. Lake and refused to pay. Lake, on January 14, 1884, secured judgment after bringing suit. Armed with an execution, Lake and Constable Gifford proceeded to the college. But the professor was prepared for them. Up in the belfry of the college he had deposited a cart load of stones from the creek. When the con- stable would approach, down would come a shower of cobble- stones. . If the officer of the law attempted to parley with him, the professor would ring the bell vigorously. Then the constable proenred a warrant against him for resisting an officer. Return- ing with this document, the constable effected an entrance into the second story, but there was the professor again in the bell tower overhead, with the ladder pulled up. Then the besiegers endeavored to capture the determined professor by means of planks shoved into the scuttle hole, when down ont of the airy fortress came the muzzle of a gun with the doughty professor behind it. A parley was held, the professor dictated his own terms of surrender, and these were, that he was to be allowed to carry his gun, was to be tried in Colusa and not in Orland, and that no one should come within so many yards of him. The besieged then came down from the tower, where he had been exposed for hours to one of the coldest northers that had ever visited the valley. He entered one of the school rooms, where he drew a dead line with a piece of chalk, the constable being placed on one side of it and the professor on the other, where both spent a cheerless night."
Professor Patch was succeeded by Prof. William Henslee, who conducted the school for four years in a highly successful man- ner. He was followed in turn by Prof. A. P. Stone. The college had never paid any dividends -- in fact there was generally a deficit-so the enterprise at length was abandoned. The old build- ing stood vacant for many years, but was finally razed to the ground.
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The Bank of Orland
On March 7, 1887, the Bank of Orland was incorporated with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. A. Bierman was elected president; Laban Scearce, vice-president ; and R. B. Mur- dock, cashier. The directors were H. W. C. Nelson, L. Scearce, A. Bierman, A. D. Logan, and W. C. Murdock.
A Patriotic Event
On April 30, 1889, the one hundredth anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington as President of the United States was celebrated at Orland. Hon. Laban Scearce was presi- dent of the day, and Gen. N. P. Chipman delivered the oration. In the afternoon there was a general reunion of the pioneers of the vicinity, and the celebration closed with a grand ball in the evening.
Irrigation and Development
Orland was the pioneer community of the county as regards its interest in irrigation matters. It was the first section to organize a district under the Wright Irrigation Act, in 1887; and after struggling along for twenty years under faulty irrigation laws and adverse conditions, it has the greater honor of being the first and only section of the county to have solved its irriga- tion problems successfully. The period from 1887 to 1894 was one of growth and development for Orland. Great interest was felt in the possibilities of irrigation; and enough was done in the way of development, during this period, to prove conclu- sively that the soil and climate were suited to agricultural indus- tries, particularly along horticultural lines, and that water, the only lack, could be supplied if only enough capital could be in- terested in the undertaking.
About 1894-1895, development was arrested. The supply of water was found to be inadequate to carry out the plans of the directors, the irrigation company became involved in litigation, and from that time until the project was backed by the United States government the growth of the town was very slow.
By the combined efforts of the prominent landowners and business men of Orland and vicinity, Secretary of the Interior Garfield was interested in the benefits which would accrue to the community by the application of water to the land. Under his orders engineers of the Government Reclamation Service were to investigate conditions. The plan met with considerable oppo- sition, because this was the first instance where the government had ever advanced the initial cost of irrigation works for the benefit of privately owned lands. All other irrigation projects,
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up to this time, had been undertaken for the purpose of bringing water to arid government lands, for the benefit of the actual settlers. After a period of nerve-wracking suspense for the people most vitally interested, the government accepted the re- sponsibility of bringing water to a district comprising fourteen thousand acres, including Orland and the immediate vicinity. The property which. now constitutes the reservoir site on the head waters of Stony Creek was secured; and work commenced on the dam for impounding water to fill the reservoir which was to be created. The dam is a massive concrete structure, over ninety feet high, and serves the country below it in the dual capacity of protector from drought and flood. The channel of Stony Creek is utilized by the government for carrying the irrigation water as far as the diversion dam a few miles west of Orland. Here the water is diverted into a canal, and is thence conducted to the lands of the project. In 1914 a canal was con- structed, greatly adding to the drainage area by which the reser- voir is fed; and with this additional supply of water secured, the territory affected by the project was increased to twenty thou- sand acres.
As soon as the government signified its intention of com- pleting the irrigation project, Orland entered into an era of prosperity; and from year to year its growth and development have steadily increased. The population of the town has more than doubled. There are now over eighteen hundred people residing within its corporate limits. As no sketch of Orland can be written without combining it with the history of the irrigation project, it would probably be fairer to say that the population has quadrupled, for there are over thirty-five hundred people residing in the project for whom Orland is the center, commer- cially and educationally. During the last five years, many hand- some business buildings have been added to the town. The largest of these is the Masonic Temple building, a fine three-story con- crete structure.
The Schools
Perhaps no better indication of Orland's increase in popula- tion could be given than the growth of her schools. In 1910 the district erected a thirty-thousand-dollar grammar school build- ing of the most approved type, providing, as the trustees then thought, sufficient space for future expansion. The school has now, within four years from that date, completely outgrown the space allotted, and is using in addition the old high school build- ing, which is just across the street. The average daily attend-
STERE .11 Brony Greek Hallows, olan To Ses.
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ance for 1915-1916 was three hundred twenty-seven, the largest of any school in the county.
One of the finest things about the community life of Orland is the splendid cooperation that exists between the teachers and the parents. This is reflected in the school spirit of the children, who believe the Orland schools to be not only the biggest but the best in the county, and take pride in trying to keep them in the lead.
The Orland Joint Union High School
This spirit is manifested also by the pupils of the Orland Joint Union High School, which in point of attendance is the largest high school in the county. The course of instruction is eminently practical, and consistently and thoroughly followed ont. One year the boys of the manual training class built a bun- galow. The next year they employed their time in the erection of a large concrete gymnasium for the school. The demonstra- tions of the other departments of the school work were among the most interesting exhibits of the Couny Fair held in Orland in October, 1917.
The Orland Joint Union High School is an accredited insti- tution. The building was erected at a cost of forty-five thousand dollars, and is modern in every respect.
The Churches
Orland has excellent church facilities, nearly all the prin- cipal religious denominations being represented. The Baptist, Methodist and Catholic Churches are the pioneer churches of Orland. In the case of each of these denominations, the church building was erected in the eighties, before the rapid growth of the town began. The Catholic congregation is still without a resident priest, the priest at Willows dividing his time between the church at Orland and his home congregation. The Presbyterian and Swedish Lutheran Churches have been erected more recently, since the division of the lands of the project brought in an influx of settlers belonging to these denominations. The Episcopalians maintain a mission, at which services are held once a month.
Fraternal and Civic Organizations
Some of the most prominent fraternal organizations of Orland are the Masons, Eastern Star, Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Woodmen of the World, Women of Woodcraft, Fraternal Brother- hood, and Independent Order of Foresters.
Orland has also a very active Women's Improvement Club, of which Mrs. S. Albee is president, and Mrs. G. E. Rawlins, secre-
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tary. This organization has strongly backed the movement for a civic center, and has obtained from the Carnegie Corporation the promise of eight thousand dollars for a library building.
The Saloons
Orland is the only town in the county where the sale of liquor is still licensed. There have been two heated controversies and elections, in an endeavor to make the town dry. In these, public opinion was about equally divided. The first election, in 1913, resulted in a tie vote; and as the law says "a majority" vote is necessary, conditions remained the same. The matter was brought up again at the next election; but this time the "Wets" had made a distinct gain, and had a majority in their favor.
Orland however is a clean town morally. Regulation is most strictly enforced, not only by the officers, but also by the saloon- keepers themselves, who realize that it would take very little to turn the balance of public opinion against them. There has never been in Orland any such violations of the law, nor any such flagrant defiance of public opinion, as made the abolition of the saloons in Willows a necessity.
Industries
Business in Orland is flourishing. The country tributary to it on the west is the center of one of the most profitable indus- tries of this period, the raising of cattle and sheep. On the small intensive farms of the project, dairying is carried on extensively. The pay rolls of the two creameries in Orland aggregate many thousands of dollars each month. Just outside the project in each direction are extensive areas of development from private water supply-pumping wells, etc. These areas are being planted to fruits and nuts-oranges, olives and almonds being the favor- ites. These young orchards have not yet come into bearing; but the next two or three years will see, through them, wonderful additions to the wealth of the community. Orland is now, and will continue to be, the center of the most thickly populated dis- triet in the county. One thing that augurs well for the future of the Orland district is, that all the industries conducive to its prosperity are such as are congenial to American settlers and laborers.
Appearance of the Town
The town of Orland itself presents a somewhat scattering appearance in some of its residential districts, but that is because it is essentially a collection of homes. Rarely do you see more than three houses to a block in Orland. Each home is set in a
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wide yard, with flowers and trees, and a small garden patch or poultry yard. During the last five years, many fine residences have been built in the town. There is no place of similar size in Northern California where so large a percentage of the popn- lation is honsed in commodious homes equipped with all modern conveniences. Probably this condition is dne to the recent rapid growth of the town.
A List of the Business Places
The following list of business places will show the number and variety of the business interests in the town of Orland at present :
Two banks: The Bank of Orland and the First National Bank. Five grocery stores: Orland Mercantile, Hightower's Cash Grocery, F. Lofgren, The New Grocery, and The Table Supply Grocery, W. F. Beanlieu, proprietor. Two jewelry stores: R. A. Beland and T. J. Green. Realty dealers: The California Farms Company, Ehorn's Realty Office, Geo. E. Nygaard, and Spence & Thompson. Confectionery stores : Wright's Confectionery ; Kandy Korner, Jos. Sperlich, proprietor; and T. J. Green. Lumber yards: The Diamond Match and Hazelton Lumber Companies. Hardware stores: G. M. Hickman and Hicks & Chaney. Saloons : E. M. Ehorn, E. E. Green, and Gus Utz. Hotels: Hotel Orland and Hotel Royal. General merchandise stores: Farmers' Cash Store and The People's Store Company. Bakery: Home Bakery. Garages: Fifth Street Garage, Johnson Bros., Mecum's Garage, J. Michie & Son, and E. O. Minton. Dry goods: A. Gattmann. Drug stores: Harrington's Pharmacy, Orland Drug Store, and Vinsonhaler & Snow. Butcher shops: City Market, J. Johansen, and H. Sievers. Cyclery: C. A. King. Oil dealer: Minton Bros. Dairy: J. Morrill. Feed and produce stores: Orland Exchange, Orland Milling Company, C. H. Steere Company. Restaurants: Ung Lee and Orland Cafe. Livery stable: W. R. Tucker. Newspapers: The Orland Unit, and the Orland Register. Other places of business are: The Orland Alfalfa Meal Mill, the Orland Cheese Factory, the Orland Creamery, and the Orland Steam Laundry. John Mehl, the pioneer shoe dealer of Orland, is still proprietor of a shoe store on Fourth Street.
The Professions
The physicians of Orland are Dr. T. H. Brown, Dr. H. W. Hand, Dr. S. Iglick, and Dr. Martin, the last-named being absent at the front at the time of this writing. The attorneys are H. W. Blichfeldt and H. W. McGowan. The dentist is Dr. G. E. Rawlins.
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The Glenn County Livestock and Agricultural Association
In 1917 the Glenn County Livestock and Agricultural Asso- ciation was formed, with John J. Flaherty, president; Chris Myhre, vice-president ; E. A. Kirk, secretary ; and H. M. Kingwell, treasurer. It was decided to hold the first annual fair in Orland on September 26-29, 1917. All through the summer the officers and directors of the association worked tirelessly to perfect their plans and arrangements. It seemed as though they had prepared for every possible contingency; but alas, "The best laid plans o' mice and men gang aft agley." On the Monday before the Wednesday on which the fair was to open, disaster overtook its promoters. The big tents had just been erected, and the booths were being installed, when a strong "norther" brought all their work to naught. At eleven o'clock on Monday, the big tents were flat and the canvas a mass of flying ribbons. By one o'clock the same day, the directors had had their meeting, had post- poned the opening just one week, and had already started in to notify exhibitors and repeat their advertising campaign. Seven of the best sailmakers in San Francisco were imported to repair what could be saved of the tent. Ruined sections. were com- pletely replaced; and Wednesday morning, October the third, found everything in readiness. The fair was an unqualified suc- cess. Seventy-five hundred people passed through the gates the. first day. The courage and optimism of the directors, and their quickness of decision, tireless energy and splendid cooperation, had snatched victory from defeat. This incident of the fair is given in such detail because it typifies the spirit prevailing among the people of Orland, their freedom from faction and petty jeal- ousy, and the whole-hearted cooperation with which they stand shoulder to shoulder for anything tending toward the welfare and advancement of their community.
BIOGRAPHICAL
ФО Елве
BIOGRAPHICAL
PACIFIC ORD EIBE
From the time of settling in what is now Glenn County, in 1870, until his death, which occurred in February, 1917, Pacific Ord Eibe was one of the most influential business men and citizens of the county. Emphatically a man of work, he was never idle, but continued to be one of the most enterprising and active men of Willows. No enterprise was projected that failed to receive his substantial encouragement, and every plan for the promotion of the public welfare had the benefit of his keen judgment and wise cooperation. A man of broad and charitable views, he aided every movement for the advancement of education, morality or the well- being of the county. "No man was held in higher esteem by the people of this county, and they showed their love for him by thrusting honor after honor upon him." Thus spoke one of the leading county newspapers of Pacific Ord Eibe, at the time of his death; and the sentiment unquestionably reflects the opinion of thousands of his fellow citizens who, during his varied and useful career, either knew him or knew about him.
Born at Pacific Springs, Utah, on June 29, 1854, the future pioneer first saw the light when his parents, Matthew and Emily (Zumwalt) Eibe, were crossing the plains to California. They were members of a large train of emigrants drawn by ox teams, and when they reached Pacific Springs many of their oxen so sick- ened and died from poisoning that this delayed the parties at that point for a number of weeks. While there a baby son was born; and his parents, wishing to commemorate the event, gave him the name Pacific after the place of his birth.
When the Eibe family arrived in the Golden State, they settled for a time in Solano County, near Silveyville, where their son, Pacific Ord, attended the common schools. Afterwards he took a preparatory course in a business college at Berkeley, and then worked at home until in 1870, when, with his brother, J. C. Eibe, he took up his residence on what is today known as the Eibe ranch, two miles west of Willows, Glenn County, where he farmed to grain and raised stock successfully. In due time his fellow citizens found in Pacific Ord Eibe the qualities necessary in a public officer, and he entered upon his public career as a deputy under Lon Stewart, county assessor of Glenn County upon its organiza- 16
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tion. For eight years Mr. Eibe served in that capacity, and then became a candidate for the office of assessor and was elected by a handsome majority. At the end of his first term he was reelected to the office through the will of the people, serving to the end of his term with commendation from everybody.
Believing that it would be a good plan to let some one else have a chance at the office, Mr. Eibe refused to be a candidate for reelection and retired to business life for the following four years. In partnership with I. J. Pronlx, he carried on a very successful and extensive real estate business. During this time, he was in- strumental in having the great Glenn estate subdivided, and in having thirty thousand out of the fifty thousand acres sold. In 1905. the community thonght no better representative of Glenn County conld be selected for the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, and Mr. Eibe therefore went north on his official mission, returning to his home after the duties of the position were ended.
In 1909 Mr. Eibe was induced to become a candidate for the office of county supervisor from the First District in Glenn County; and he was elected by an overwhelming majority. Four years later he was reelected; and still again the people, appreciat- ing his honest and painstaking administration, invited him, at the November election, 1916, to retain his portfolio. He worked for and favored every project that would build up Glenn County. He induced many to buy land and become settlers on the Glenn Tract, when the land was cheap. Since that time the land has increased five, and even six, times in value. He favored the building of good schoolhouses and the maintaining of a high standard of education. He named the Ord district; gave to every church, no matter what its denomination ; was a man of broad intelligence, keenly alive to every opportunity offered in the county; and made and retained friends wherever he went. It was while he was an inenmbent in office that he passed away, following a long period of illness. His death was commemorated by the unfurling at half-mast of many flags throughout the city and county. Thus passed a man who held a clean record all through his career, which he left as a her- itage to his dependents.
The first marriage of Pacific Ord Eibe took place in 1880, in Solano County, when he was united with Miss Maud Emma Abbott, and two children were born to brighten the home circle: Ernest V .; and Maud Emma, who died at the age of five months. Ernest V. is living on the home place and assisting in its manage- ment. Mrs. Eibe passed away on December 23, 1884; and on No- vember 5, 1905, Mr. Eibe married Mrs. Belle (Quint) Barceloux, who survives him, together with three of his brothers and a sister : A. O. Eibe, of San Francisco; J. C. Eibe, of Sacramento; T. T.
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Eibe, of Dixon; and Mrs. M. J. Parrish, of Napa. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Eibe, Mrs .. Eibe was the widow of Ernest J. Barceloux, a son of Peter Barceloux, a pioneer of Glenn County. Three children were born of her first marriage: P. Elmer, Leo Vernon, and Ernest J., who are with their mother on the home ranch. Of a very sociable nature, Mr. Eibe was a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B. P. O. Elks, and of Monroe Lodge No. 289, I. O. O. F., at Willows, of which he was a charter member, and in which he passed through all the chairs. Shortly before his death, he embraced the Catholic faith of his own free will.
After her husband's death Mrs. Eibe took up the burden of running the home ranch, assisted by Mr. Eibe's son, Ernest V .; and here they raise fine Egyptian corn, barley, hogs and cattle. On the place there are some two thousand prune trees, five years old, besides cherries, apples, peaches and apricots. The place was developed by Mr. and Mrs. Eibe after they took up their residence there. Mrs. Eibe ever proved her worth as a true helpmate to her husband in all his business affairs. She made his home life happy, and in his home he was always to be found after his business was concluded, his happiest hours being spent in her society.
JOHN NELSON
Those men who have been far-sighted enough to engage in the dairy industry in Colusa County are now reaping their re- turns, and realize that intensive farming on a few acres will bring a larger percentage of profit, in proportion to the expenses, than the cultivation of a large acreage. John Nelson of Maxwell is one of these men; for immediately upon his arrival in Cali- fornia, in 1904, he came to Maxwell, bought sixty acres of land, part of the Moak ranch, and began making improvements by putting in alfalfa, preparatory to starting a dairy. He further improved his place with a family orchard of almonds, pears, figs, peaches, prunes and oranges; and he has eight and one half acres in table and raisin grapes, from which he gathers from four to six tons annually. Mr. Nelson sunk a well and installed a pumping plant, run by electric motor, so that he has his own irrigation system for his seventeen acres of fine alfalfa, besides his orchard and vineyard, and also has an ample supply of water for domestic purposes. A dairy of fifteen cows yields a good income ; and he also raises Duroc-Jersey hogs for the market.
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