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 73
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 73
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William Kirkup learned farming when a lad. His education was obtained in the public schools, and at Heald's Business Col- lege in San Francisco. After finishing his studies, he continued to assist his father on the home place until the latter's death, and since that time has managed the ranch. He is raising grain, cattle, sheep and hogs, making a specialty of hogs, and is meeting with merited success.
Fraternally, Mr. Kirkup is a member of Maxwell Lodge, No. 361, I. O. O. F. He is liberal and kind-hearted, ever ready to give of his time and means to assist those less fortunate than himself, and is well liked and universally esteemed by all who know him.
HERMAN DUNLAP
A native son of Colusa County, Herman Dunlap was born at Fifth and Clay Streets, Colusa, April 17, 1862. His father, Judge H. Willis Dunlap, was a New Englander, who came from Vermont to California in 1852, and became an early settler of Colusa County, where he practiced law, and rose to be one of the leading attorneys of the county. He served as a member of the state legis- lature; and in 1863 he was a candidate for superior judge against J. J. Hickok. The records show that H. W. Dunlap received three hundred sixty-four votes, while J. J. Hickok received but two hun- dred eleven. Mr. Dunlap served on the superior bench until his death in 1865. His funeral was held at the courthouse; and being a Mason, he was buried with Masonic honors. The mother of Her-
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man Dunlap was Jane Van Ness, also a native of New England. She died in 1874, leaving four children, as follows: Shelly, de- ceased; Mrs. Mary Schnoor, who resides in Fortuna; an infant, deceased; and Herman, the subject of this review.
After he was left an orphan, Herman Dunlap lived with his unele and aunt, Martin and Mary Dunlap, in Colusa. His aunt was well-known and much loved in the early days, through the comfort and aid she gave to sick people as a nurse. Herman Dun- lap received his education in the public schools of Colusa, and at University Mound, San Francisco. When fifteen years of age, he began working on ranches, where he learned the rudiments of farming and stock-raising as it is carried on in California, and thus laid the foundation for his later successes. He had become the owner of a three-hundred-acre ranch in the upper part of An- telope Valley; and when he reached the age of eighteen years, he began farming it. Wishing to enlarge his operations, he leased a ranch in Bear Valley, and engaged in grain-raising until 1891, when he returned to his Antelope Valley ranch. There he con- tinued in the raising of grain and stock; and as he prospered, he bought land and ranches adjoining until he now owns thirty-three hundred acres in a body, well improved, fenced, and cross fenced. In 1910, he also leased the Gibson place, or rather the old Wash Larch place, of twenty-seven hundred acres in Antelope Valley. Leaving his home farm to the care of his son Willis,. he moved to the new place and enlarged his operations in grain- and cattle- raising. In 1913, he completed the purchase of the place. They use three eight-mule teams and a Holt caterpillar sixty-five horse- power engine in the operation of the ranches. This engine is also used as the motive power for pulling the combined harvester. In his operations as a stockman, Mr. Dunlap raises horses, mules, cattle, sheep and hogs. His brand is his mother's old brand and mark-D on the left hip, erop and split in the right ear, under slope in the left ear.
Mr. Dunlap was married in Bear Valley, August 6, 1882, when he was united with Miss Thurza Epperson, born in Sutter City, October 1, 1864. Her father, Brutus Clay Epperson, was born in Estill County, Ky., October 27, 1830. He lived for a time in Bour- bon County, Ky .; and then the family went to Coles County, Ill. In 1851 he came to California via the Nicaragua route, and after his arrival followed mining in the Sierras. In 1859 he returned East, and in Illinois married Lucretia Lawson, born in Hardin County, Ky. Her father, Thomas F. Lawson, was employed on the Louisville Courier Journal. After his marriage, Mr. Epper- son farmed in Illinois. In April, 1864, with a herd of fine horses and Jacks, he crossed the plains to Sutter County. In 1868, he
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purchased a ranch in Bear Valley, and in 1869 moved on to it and there.farmed and raised stock. In Jannary, 1873, seeing the need of a public thoroughfare from Colusa through Lake County and on to Ukiah, he organized a company and built the Bartlett Springs and Bear Valley toll road. His place was located on the road, as was also the Epperson post office. He also built what is known as the Epperson grade, a central road ont of Bear Valley, at a cost of five thousand dollars, and afterwards gave it to the county. He died in San Francisco, in May, 1911. His widow now resides in Colnsa. Of their four children, two are living: Mrs. King Becker, of Sacramento; and Mrs. Dunlap.
Mr. and Mrs. Dunlap have three sons. Willis Epperson is operating the home farm. He married Esther Brown, and has five children : Chas. B., Thurza A., James Willis, Janet E., and Esther June. Herman, Jr., is a stockman near Maxwell. He married Catherine Feeney. Brutus Clay is assisting his father in ranch- ing, and is married to Myrtle Boyes. Mr. Dunlap and his three sons are charter members of Williams Parlor, No. 164, N. S. G. W. For many year he was a trustee of Jefferson school district. In politics he is a stanch Democrat. Mr. Dunlap believes in having charity towards all men, and strives to practice the Golden Rule.
STEPHEN A. STILLWELL
'An enterprising young man who until recently was a large grain-grower of the Sacramento Valley, Stephen A. Stillwell has been a resident of the state since the first year of his life, in 1874, when he came with his parents to California. He was born in Hancock County, Ill., on September 5, 1873. His father, John T. Stillwell, was also born in Illinois, where he was reared and be- came a farmer. There, too, he was united in marriage with Eliza- beth Tanner. In 1874, he brought his family to Chico, California, and the next year located on a claim southwest of Tehama, where he is still engaged in farming. This worthy couple had nine chil- dren, eight of whom are still living, Stephen being the eldest.
Stephen A. Stillwell received his education in the Tehama County schools. From a lad, he made himself useful, assisting his father on the farm; and when twenty-one years of age, he became his partner as a grain-grower. In 1903 he dissolved partnership with his father, and leasing a ranch of one thousand acres in the same vicinity, farmed this to grain until the fall of 1908, when he removed to Glenn County. Here he leased the old Welch place of eleven hundred acres, and for five years raised grain and hogs, 44
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after which he operated the Talbot ranch for one year. In 1914, he leased the Glide place of sixty-eight hundred acres, west of Maxwell, where he engaged extensively in raising grain, farming over two thousand acres a year to barley. In his operations he employed twelve eight-mule teams for putting in the crops ; and for gathering the crops he used two combined harvesters propelled by thirty-two mules each. In his ranching enterprises, Mr. Stillwell has been ably assisted by his wife. Recently they retired from farming, and bought a nice home in Tehama County, near the new town of Gerber, where they expect to make their permanent residence.
The marriage of Mr. Stillwell, in Red Bluff, October 4, 1896, united him with Miss Ella Whitlock, who was born near Paskenta, Tehama County, the daughter of Harrison and Frances (Oakes) Whitlock, who came from Iowa to Paskenta. The mother is de- ceased. The father, who is still engaged in farming, served his country in the Civil War, in an Iowa regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell have eight children: Marietta (Mrs. Etchason), Ivy, Douglas, Eunice, Elige, Marvin, John, and Stephen. Mr. and Mrs. Stillwell are enterprising and progressive, and have a large circle of friends, who esteem them highly.
EDWIN HENRY PEAKE
A resident of California for more than a third of a century, Edwin Henry Peake was born at Peakeville, Clark County, Mo., on September 4, 1865. He was a son of Arthur W. Peake. His grandfather, Dr. John Peake, brought his family to Clark County, Mo., where he engaged in the practice of medicine. Arthur W. Peake was educated at Palmyra, Mo. After the completion of the elementary branches, he took up the study of the law, but on ac- count of weak eyes had to abandon it. He then engaged in farm- ing, in which he met with good success. Mr. Peake and other members of the family became owners of three sections of land. The town of Peakeville was named for them. He was prominent in local affairs and was highly esteemed in his community. His death occurred in 1892. The mother of Edwin H. Peake was in maidenhood Johanna Byers. She was born in Virginia, and was a sister of John A. Byers, one of the early settlers of Colusa County. Of her four children, Mr. Peake was the eldest.
Edwin Henry Peake was brought up on the home farm in Clark County, Mo., receiving his education in the public schools. When eighteen years of age, he decided to come to California; so
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in May of 1884 we find him in Colusa County, where he was em- ployed on the ranch of his uncle, John A. Byers. In 1885-1886, he attended Pierce Christian College, at College City. Thereafter he continued to follow farm work in the vicinity of Arbuckle until he started in the livery business in town, on the present site of the lumber yard. He continued in the livery business for a period of four years, after which he engaged in ranching for a short time, until he accepted a position as foreman of the warehouse at Ber- lin. This position he held for three years, and then filled a like position, for an equal period, at Dunnigan. He then removed to Vallejo, where he was employed in the United States navy yard at Mare Island until 1904, after which he spent a year on a fruit ranch at Santa Rosa. From 1905 to 1906, he was foreman of the workhouse at Harrington Station. Since 1907, up to the present time, he has been foreman of both the Byers and the Hershey warehouse, at Hershey Station. The Byers warehouse is six hun- dred feet long; and the Hershey warehouse is two hundred feet in length. They have a combined capacity of one hundred sixty thou- sand sacks, enabling him to handle a very large quantity of grain.
The marriage of Edwin H. Peake occurred in Colusa, where he was united with Miss Lucy Ward, a native of Missouri, who came to California with her parents when three years of age. Her father, J. C. Ward, is represented on another page in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Peake have five children: Roy D .; Lela, teaching music; Nellie, a graduate of Pierce Joint Union High School, who is elerking at Dunnigan; Alba, attending Pierce Joint Union High school ; and Wayne. Fraternally, Mr. Peake was made a Mason in 1888, in Meridian Lodge, No. 182, F. & A. M .; and he is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, he is independent, preferring to vote for the man rather than the party.
BENJAMIN POLLARD PRYOR
For forty-two years, ever since his arrival in Colusa County in 1875, Benjamin Pollard Pryor has been a resident of California. He was born in Richmond, Va., January 6, 1855. His father, whose given name was also Benjamin Pollard, was born in Ten- nessee. His grandfather, Dr. Pryor, was born in Virginia, whence he removed to Tennessee. Dr. Pryor afterwards returned to his plantation in Hanover County, Va., where he spent his last days. His son Benjamin, also a planter, served in the Virginia Home Guards and died during service, in August, 1862, aged forty-one years. Mr. Pryor's mother, Frances Bacon Clark
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before her marriage, was a native of Virginia, the daughter of William Clark, who served as sheriff of Hanover County, Va., for many years, and afterwards as a clerk and copyist in the state capitol in Richmond until his death. The mother came to Colusa County, remaining with her children until her death at the age of eighty-seven years. Her six children all reside in Colusa County. They are: Mary E. (Mrs. Smith), William, R. A., Benja- min P., F. B., and C. E.
Benjamin Pollard Pryor, the subject of this review, was reared in Richmond, Va. When nine years of age he went to work, making himself generally useful in a grocery store as an errand boy, thus aiding his mother in the support of the family. From that time on, he was employed at various occupations, as a boy in the city usually is. In 1875 he came to Colusa County, where he was employed on grain ranches until 1888, when he began farming for himself, being located near Williams for three years. In 1891, he purchased the County Well ranch, his present place of seven hundred twenty acres on the Grapevine, on which he located, and where he is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising. The place is well improved with buildings and fences. In his door yard is a gigantic water oak, nearly twenty- seven feet in circumference, one of the largest trees of its kind in the state.
In Antelope Valley, Colusa County, Mr. Pryor married Cora L. Rosenberger. Six children were born of this union, all of whom are living in Colusa County. In April, 1884, Mr. Pryor was made a Mason in Tuscan Lodge, No. 261, F. & A. M., at Williams. With his wife, he is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal Church at Sites.
MARVIN EARL PENCE
Earl Pence, as he is familiarly called by all his friends, was born at Maxwell, Cal., August 13, 1891. He is the eldest child of Supervisor George B. Pence, who is represented on another page in this work. Earl Pence received his early education in the public schools. After moving to Antelope Valley, in 1902, he completed the common branches in the local school, and then took a course in Heald's Business College at Stockton. He then worked for his father one year, after which, in 1913, he became his partner. Since that time he has had charge of their farming and stock-raising operations.
Mr. Pence and his father are leasing the P. T. Laugenour ranch of twenty-seven hundred forty acres in Antelope Valley.
Hora Lambirth L. L. Lambirth
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They operate the place with two and three eight-mule teams, gathering the grain from six hundred or seven hundred acres each year with a Holt Combined Harvester propelled by thirty mules. They also engage in the raising of cattle, horses, mules, and hogs, their well-known brand being P. L. combined.
In San Francisco, on October 28, 1912, Earl Pence was united in marriage with a daughter of one of the oldest families in Antelope Valley, in the person of Louise Sites, a native of the valley and the daughter of William F. Sites, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this history. Three children have been born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Pence: Marvin, Melvin, and George. As a conscientious and energetic young man, Mr. Pence is deservedly popular. Both he and his wife have a high standing in the community.
CHARLES LEROY LAMBIRTH
Among the successful farmers and stock-raisers in Colusa County is Charles Leroy Lambirth, a native son of California, born at Yuba City, Sutter County, February 8, 1878. His father, John Lambirth, migrated from Illinois in the fifties, crossing the plains with ox teams, and located in Yuba City, where he was en- gaged in farming until his demise in 1879, when Charles Leroy was only a year old. The mother, Jane Gillham, also crossed the plains, coming with her parents to California, where she after- wards met and married John Lambirth. She was the mother of nine children, her two youngest being twins, Charles Leroy and a sister. The mother died at their birth. Thus Charles was left an orphan when one year of age. He lived with his uncle Hiram in Yuba City until he moved to Stonyford in 1882, where he was reared on a farm north of town. After completing the gram- mar school he worked on his uncle's farm, where he learned farm- ing and stock-raising.
In Colusa, on October 9, 1899, Mr. Lambirth married Miss Nora Keffer, who was born in Indian Valley, the daughter of John and Rachel (Lovelady) Keffer, early settlers of Indian Valley, where Mrs. Lambirth was reared and educated. After his mar- riage Mr. Lambirth leased a ranch at Stonyford, where he farmed, meeting with fairly good success, until the fall of 1906, when he came to Leesville. There he worked for Cornelius Boardman for two years, and then leased the Hart ranch for one year. In the fall of 1909 he purchased his present place of nineteen hundred sixty acres in the upper end of Bear Valley. Moving on the place, he bent his energies to paying for it, for he had to go in debt
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to buy it. He met with success beyond his expectations; and with the able assistance of his wife, he has won a competency. About five hundred acres of the ranch is under plow, and on this he raises wheat and barley. The balance is devoted to raising graded Hereford cattle, of which he has a constantly increasing herd. A ditch from Mill Creek enables him to irrigate his land and raise alfalfa; and besides, the ranch is watered by numerous springs, all but one being springs of a mild sulphur mineral water, excellent for the stock. The cold, pure spring water of the other spring is piped to the house for domestic use.
Mr. and Mrs. Lambirth have had five children, two of whom are living, Belden Leroy and Marine Ellen. Mr. Lambirth has been a member of the board of trustees of Leesville school district since 1907. Politically, he supports the principles of the Republi- can party.
GEORGE NEWTON TAYLOR
Born at Healdsburg, Sonoma County, on November 1, 1868, George Newton Taylor was the son of Rev. Dyer Taylor, born in Missouri, who was educated for and ordained in the ministry of the Baptist Church. As a young man, in the fifties, he crossed the plains in an ox-team train to California. After his arrival in this state, he served as pastor of Baptist churches at various places. Among these were Healdsburg, Upper Lake, Potter Val- ley, Willits, Williams, Willows, and Maxwell. He established his home on a ranch of two hundred twenty acres, which he pur- chased in Bachelor Valley, Lake County, and after retiring from the ministry, he lived on his ranch until his death, on November 18, 1893, at the age of sixty-five years. His wife was Susan Jones, a native of Missouri, who came with her parents across the plains, locating in Sonoma County, where she married Rev. Taylor. She died in Upper Lake, May 1, 1902.
Of the nine children in his parents' family, George Newton was the fourth in order of birth. From the age of nine months, he was brought up on the farm in Bachelor Valley, near Upper Lake. After completing the public schools, he gave his attention to farming and stock-raising, and in time took charge of his father's place. After his father's death, he became possessor of fifty acres, where he resided and engaged in general farming until July, 1910. He then rented the place and moved to Colusa County. There he purchased three hundred thirty-seven acres of land ten miles west of Sites, where he is engaged in raising grain, alfalfa and stock. The name of the valley there has been changed
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from Rail Canyon to Surprise Valley, from the fact that on reach- ing the summit of the Grapevine grade, and seeing the valley lying below, people express surprise at finding a valley there. Mr. Taylor has labored energetically to improve his ranch with fences, residence, and barns. The place is well watered by creeks, springs, and wells. Ample government range adjoining makes of it a splendid stock ranch.
In Butte City; on November 25, 1892, George Newton Taylor was united. in marriage with Miss Mary Ellen Wiles, a native daughter of Butte City, and the only living child of John M. and Maria Jane (Hampton) Wiles. Her parents were born in Tennes- see and Missouri respectively. They were married in Missouri in 1868, and in 1869 settled at Butte City, where they engaged in farming for twenty-two years. Thereafter, for shorter periods, they were located at Lincoln, in Lake County, and at Santa Rosa, where Mr. Wiles died on November 29, 1911, aged seventy-one years. Since then Mrs. Wiles has made her home with Mrs. Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have three children : Juanita, Mrs. Blakely, of Santa Rosa; and Chester Wiles and Cecil Lester, both of whom are assisting their parents on the ranch. Fra- ternally, Mr. Taylor is a member of the Woodmen of the World. In national politics he is a Democrat. He has served as school trustee in Lake County, and also in Mt. Hope district, Colusa County.
DICK MOORE
Dick Moore was born on Stony Creek, near Stonyford, in June, 1857, a son of Ben Moore, who was a pioneer of Colusa County. Dick was reared on the farm, and early learned the best methods employed in farming and stock-raising, at which he worked steadily until his savings were sufficient to buy a farming outfit. He then leased a ranch on the Little Stony Creek, and operated it for about fourteen years.
In 1909, Mr. Moore leased the Brown ranch of six thousand . three hundred acres, where he has since been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising. He raises large quantities of grain and alfalfa, and has abont six hundred head of cattle of the Here- ford strain. He is engaged in feeding cattle for the markets.
At Willows, Dick Moore was married to Miss Nora Stinch- field, who was born on Grand Island, the daughter of George Stinchfield. Her father crossed the plains in the early fifties, in an ox-team train, as a member of the Onyett party, and after- wards became a pioneer farmer in Colusa County. To Mr.
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and Mrs. Moore have been born five children: Amelia, Mrs. Heard, of this vicinity; and Beulah, Earl, Lawrence, and Irene. Irene is a graduate of the Chico State Normal School, class of 1917. Mr. Moore is one of the oldest settlers of the Stony Creek section, and one of its substantial and highly respected citizens.
ARTHUR T. WELTON
An honored, cultured, and refined gentleman who has been a resident of Colusa County since 1868, Arthur T. Welton was born in Sidney, New South Wales, Australia, on June 8, 1843. His father, Major William Welton, was born in London, England. He was a commissioned officer in the English army, and was stationed in Australia for many years, until he retired from service. His death occurred soon after his retirement.
Arthur T. Welton was left an orphan, and was brought up in Sidney, where he was educated in the public schools, afterwards studying the classics under a private tutor. Later he began to learn the stock business, riding the range, in time becoming super- intendent of a stock ranch. Filled with the spirit of adventure, he severed his relations with the stock business in Australia, intending to go-either to the Fiji Islands to cultivate cotton, or to South Africa to engage in hunting; but instead he accidentally drifted to California. Happening to see an advertisement in the daily paper of a vacant berth on a sailing vessel bound for San Francisco, he decided to take it and in less than five minutes had his ticket purchased. He landed in San Francisco in the summer of 1868, and in the fall of the same year drifted into Colnsa County. The year following he began teaching school in the Butte Creek district, and for fourteen years he continued in educational work. During this time he took a course in civil engineering in Heald's Business College in San Francisco. He did some land-surveying, and was the nominee of the Republican party for county surveyor; but the county being strongly Democratic, he failed of election.
About 1876, Mr. Welton located a preemption claim of one hundred sixty acres near Stonyford, and later also located a homestead. Here he made improvements, and engaged in stock- raising. For some years, while improving the place, he continued his work as teacher and surveyor. He now owns two hundred forty acres in his Stonyford farm and one hundred twenty acres in the foothills. The land has been brought under irrigation by taking ont a ditch from Stony Creek, which runs through the ranch. This enables him to raise alfalfa and to run a dairy,
Leonard. Aufmaster.
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besides raising stock. He has built a comfortable residence, spacious barns, and good fences, and has set out an orchard. The ranch is now one of the best-improved places in the vicinity.
Mr. Welton is both enterprising and progressive. He was one of the original stockholders and builders of the Stonyford Cream- ery, and was president of the company until he resigned. He is also a stockholder in the Willows Creamery.
In Marysville, July 20, 1875, occurred the marriage of Mr. Welton with Miss Ida M. Morris, who was born near Jacksonville, Ore., the daughter of Lewis Morris. The father was born in Kentucky, and came to Missouri, where he married Louisa Bradley, a native of Tennessee. They migrated to Oregon by the overland trail, with ox teams, and later came to California, locating in Colusa in the early sixties ; and in November, 1867, they settled on Stony Creek, where they resided until their death. Mrs. Welton is the second youngest of six children. She was educated in the public schools and. Notre Dame convent at Marysville. Fra- ternally, Mr. Welton was made a Mason in Equality Lodge, at Colusa. He was a charter member of Snow Mountain Lodge, No. 271, at Stonyford, of which he has been secretary for many years. Mrs. Welton is a charter member of Eowana Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, at Stonyford. As a Republican, Mr. Welton is actively interested in the success of his party. He is a member of the County Central Committee.
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