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 75
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 75
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Coming to Stonyford in 1913, Mr. Martinelli leased the Kesselring ranch of twelve hundred acres, four hundred of which is seeded to alfalfa. Here he engaged in dairying, later enlarging his operations by leasing the Sutliff place of eight hundred six acres, one hundred ten of which is planted to alfalfa. Both places are irrigated from a canal taken from Stony Creek. He milks one hundred twenty cows. The cream is separated by a separator, and is shipped to the Central Creameries in San Francisco.
Mr. Martinelli's success is in no small degree due to his wife, who is his able and devoted helpmate. His marriage occurred in Napa City, on December 21, 1881, and united him with Miss Ida Welch. She was born in Vallejo, in 1860, the daughter of Philip and Elizabeth (McConnell) Welch, who came to California in 1856 and 1857, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Martinelli had eight chil- dren: Marie, Mrs. Wall, of San Jose; Edward, who is assisting his parents; Loretta, Mrs. Stetson, of Sacramento; Rose, in Napa; Frank, who died at seven years of age; and Regina, Alice, and Ida. Fraternally, Mr. Martinelli is a member of the Knights of Columbus.
FRANK LESLIE GOBEL
A native son of Colusa County who is making a success of stock-raising and farming, Frank Gobel was born on his father's ranch, twelve miles west of Williams, on August 17, 1886. He is the son of Obadiah and Hannah (Clark) Gobel, who were born in South Carolina and Wisconsin, respectively. The father came to California across the plains, in an ox-team train when a young man, and followed mining until the time of his marriage, after . which he began farming in Colusa County. There he purchased a ranch, twelve miles west of Williams, where the family have been engaged in farming ever since. Of the nine children born to this worthy couple, eight are still living. Frank L. is the fifth in order of birth.
Frank Leslie Gobel received his education in the public schools. From a youth he assisted his father on the ranch, and was early set to work driving big teams. On reaching his
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majority, he went to Washington, but after a stay of three months, returned to Colusa County. His brother Charles had a team on the road, hauling mineral water from Bartlett Springs to Wil- liams; so Frank Gobel also engaged in hauling Bartlett water, using an eight-horse team. He had made only a few trips when his brother Charles was accidentally killed by falling from the wagon, which ran over him. Frank Gobel continued hauling for five seasons, after which, for one year, he worked in a horse- shoeing shop in Williams.
In 1913, Mr. Gobel came to Stonyford, and for one season worked with his team on the government ditch. He then leased the Millsaps ranch of nineteen hundred thirty acres, where he is raising grain, cattle and hogs. Here he has succeeded in building np a nice herd, and is meeting with merited success.
Mr. Gobel was married in Sacramento to Miss Clara New- man. Mrs. Gobel was born in Bartlett Springs, but was raised near Meridian and Sutter City. Until the time of her marriage, she was engaged in educational work. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gobel: Leo, Evelyn, and Zola.
FRANK DAYTON BOARDMAN
A native son of Colusa County, Frank D. Boardman was born on the Bank ranch, in Indian Valley, December 17, 1885. His father, Wilbur W., was born in Illinois, and came to California as a young man, where he became a successful farmer, in Colusa County. Wilbur W. Boardman married Sarah Metzley, also born in Illinois. He is the owner of two large ranches at Leesville; and now that he is supervisor from his district, he leases his ranches to his son, Frank D., who is the youngest of his four children.
Frank Dayton Boardman received his education in the public school in the Leesville district and at the business college in Woodland, after which he returned to assist his father on the ranch. In 1909 he leased both of the ranches, which together com- prise about thirty-one hundred acres, one thousand acres of which is under plow. Aside from raising large quantities of grain he is also engaged in raising cattle of the Durham strain. He is a stockholder in the Freshwater Vineyard Company, who set out and own on eighty-acre vineyard of Sultana and Thompson Seedless grapes, west of Williams.
a D girard
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Mr. Boardman was married near Leesville to Margaret Reese, who was born in that vicinity, the daughter of Stephen Reese, an old and highly respected pioneer of the section. Fraternally, Mr. Boardman is a member of Williams Parlor, No. 164, N. S. G. W. Politically, he is a stanch Republican.
ALCID D. GIRARD
A citizen of worth who has made his own way in the world since he was a lad of some sixteen years of age is Alcid Girard, a prosperous rancher of the Willows district in Glenn County, in which locality he has made his home since 1892, one year after the organization of the county. Born near Montreal, Canada, on No- vember 2, 1875, he is a son of Joseph and Alma Girard, farmers of the vicinity of Montreal for many years, and descendants of an old family of that province. The mother is now deceased, and the father is making his home in the city of Montreal.
The fourth child in a family of nine, Alcid Girard grew up on the home farm and attended the public schools of his native prov- ince. At the age of sixteen he determined to come to California, whither a brother Joseph had preceded him by two years, who had sent back glowing accounts of the state as a prosperous country, and as a place of opportunity for young men who wanted to get ahead in the world; and in May, 1892, we find him in Glenn County, willing to begin the upward climb to success. His first work was on a ranch owned by Charles Fortier, where he got used to the methods employed in running a ranch in California. He worked as a ranch hand, principally in the Liberty district, driv- ing a header wagon, and one of the big teams used by the ranchers to put in their crops. After seven years of hard work he had saved enough to buy a farming outfit; so he leased land for two years, and met with good success, harvesting bountiful crops.
Anxious to become a landowner, Mr. Girard invested in eight hundred eighty acres of land on the Colusa and Glenn County line, and began in the stock business and in the raising of grain. He keeps sheep, hogs, cattle and mules, making a specialty of sheep. As a successful sheep raiser he has won wide recognition. To illustrate his operations in this enterprise, we summarize some of his successful deals. In 1916 he bought picked ewes at $4 each, and sold them in 1917 for $12 a head. He sold 2,000 head for $24,- 000; 500 head of lambs at $10.50 each, or $5,250; and 562 lambs for $3,300. He sold 471 old ewes for $9.50 each, and 70 ewe lambs at $12 apiece. He still has 3,000 head of sheep, and continues buy-
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ing and selling. He is also raising more than a thousand head of turkeys each season.
In 1916 Mr. Girard sold his ranch of eight hundred eighty acres and purchased five hundred fifty acres seven miles north of Chico, besides which he also leases land from the land company of Willows; and here he raises grain and stock. His success has been won in Glenn County; and during his residence here he has always shown his public spirit by his support of all movements for the betterment of the county. He is serving as road overseer of Road District No. 4, under Supervisor Leon Speier.
Mr. Girard was united in marriage with Miss Valedo Fortier, a native daughter, and a representative of an old French family in Glenn County. Of this union six children have been born: Roma, Alberta, Ellery, Alvin, Adrian and the baby. Mr. Girard has met with very satisfactory results since he began farming for himself; and he has made many friends throughout the county, who admire him for his many manly traits of character. He and his good wife are welcome guests in the homes of their many friends.
ROBERT EVERMONT PHELPS
The enterprising owner of Lakeside Ranch, Robert Evermont Phelps-or Bob Phelps, as he is familiarly called by his many friends-was born on October 1, 1853, near Lone Jack, Jackson County, Mo., where his father, Jacob M., was also born. The grandfather, Edward Phelps, was born in France, and migrated to the United States, settling in Jackson County, Mo. Jacob M. Phelps was a farmer in Jackson County, Mo. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate army, being twice wounded. He married Miss Hannah Daley, a daughter of David Daley, a native of North Carolina, who was a pioneer of Jackson County, Mo., where he became a large landowner and a man of affairs. Jacob M. Phelps brought his family to Colusa County, Cal., in 1871, and farmed for a while at Maxwell, after which he pur- chased a ranch of one hundred sixty acres in Indian Valley, now covered by the government dam. Selling his ranch, he located near Stonyford, where he died in 1900. His wife survived him, dying on June 20, 1917. Six of their eight children grew up, of whom Bob is the fourth in order of birth. His childhood was spent in Missouri, where he attended the public schools, which at that time gave very limited advantages, owing to the Civil War and its hardships, which left that section in straitened circum- stances. Coming to California in 1871 with his parents, he was
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employed on grain ranches, and later attended the public schools for several years, after which he studied at Pierce Christian College, at College City, where he pursned the scientific course for two years. Thereafter he assisted his father in farming at Maxwell. In the fall of 1881, he came to Indian Valley and pur- chased a ranch, a part of which is now under the water of the government dam. In 1885, he sold this ranch and purchased his present place, on which he moved and began the improvements that have made it one of the fine ranches of the valley. Lakeside Ranch comprises four hundred eighty acres lying four and one half miles north of Lodoga, and bordering on the east side of the East Park Reservoir dam. It is well named, as it commands a beautiful view of the lake. The location and climate are well adapted to fruit-raising and viticulture; and he has an orchard of apples, peaches, prunes, pears, and almonds, as well as a vineyard -all doing splendidly. His experience with almonds has been highly satisfactory, his orchard yielding a erop every year. Hav- ing an abundance of water from the lake and from numerous springs, it is also an excellent stock ranch; and aside from fruit and grain, he is raising cattle, hogs and turkeys.
The first marriage of Mr. Phelps took place at Maxwell, on September 22, 1882, when he was united with Sarah C: Allen. She was born at Upper Lake, and died near Stonyford, leaving six chil- dren: W. C., who is employed at Cooks Springs; Minnie, Mrs. Stafford, of Colusa; Archie Lee, who resides in Butte County; John Franklin, of Willows; Jesse A., of Maxwell; and Sarah E., Mrs. Schearin, of Sites. Mr. Phelps' second marriage occurred at Sacramento, on December 29, 1913, at which time Mrs. Mary E. (Cox) Morrissey became his wife. She was born at Hepsadam, Sierra County, the daughter of John and Virginia (Perry) Cox, who were born in Missouri and Ohio respectively. In 1852, when a very young man, the father crossed the plains to Cali- fornia. After mining a few years, he returned to Missouri to claim the girl he had left behind, and brought his bride via Panama to California, after which he continued mining in Sierra and Butte Counties. In the latter county he passed away. His widow now makes her home in Oroville. Of their three children, Mrs. Phelps is the second in order of birth. She was a graduate of the county schools, and engaged in educational work in Butte, Yuba, Solano, Kern and Colusa Counties. Through her first mar- riage, to James Pearce, who died in Butte County, she was left with two children, who were babies at the time of their father's death, after which she took up teaching, and was thus enabled to rear and educate them. They are Cecil, who attends Stanford
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University; and Myrtle, Mrs. Sachs, of Woodland. By her mar- riage to James Morrissey, she has one child, Robert Emmett. It was while teaching in Mt. Hope district, Colusa County, where she tanght for two years, that she met and married Bob Phelps, a union that has proved very happy. Mr. Phelps was formerly a member of the Sons of Temperance, and afterwards became a member of the Independent Order of Good Templars, serving as Chief Templar. He was also Master of the Grange. Mr. and Mrs. Phelps are members of the Baptist Church; and he is super- intendent of the Sunday school at Lodoga. Mrs. Phelps is a mem- ber of the Rebekahs, and was formerly secretary of the Inde- pendent Order of Good Templars. Both are Democrats in political principle, and are strong supporters of the temperance canse. From a lad Mr. Phelps has played the violin, an accomplishment he still enjoys. At times they have musicals at their home, at which he favors the people of the community with his playing. He has served as trustee of Mt. Hope school district for about twenty years, most of the time as clerk of the board. Mrs. Phelps is a cultured and refined woman, and is proving a true helpmate to her husband.
JOCHIM BRUGGMANN
Jochim Bruggmann was born in Hamburg, Germany, June 18, 1857, the son of John and Geschen (Wilms) Bruggmann, farmers near Hamburg. The mother died in 1860; and the father, later in life, came to Colusa County, where he spent his last days. Jochim was the second of the three children born of this union, and is the only one in the United States. The other two were named Peter and John. The father's second marriage united him with Annie Wilkens, by whom he had seven children, six of whom are living.
Jochim Bruggmann received a good education in the public schools, and was brought up to the life of a farmer. In 1877 he joined Company Eleven, Eighty-sixth Fusileer Regiment, in which he served for three years, until the expiration of his time, being mustered out on September 27, 1880. On October 11, of the same year, he married Cecelia Weber, the daughter of John and Sophie (Cords) Weber. The father was a cabinet maker, and died at his home near Hamburg. The mother now makes her home with Mrs. Bruggmann, who is the eldest of her for living children.
In May, 1881, Mr. Brüggmann migrated to California, locat- ing in Colnsa County, where he was employed at ranching on Grand
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Island until he had saved enough to buy a big team. Thereafter he worked with the team, and later leased a part of the Moulton ranch, where he raised corn for a period of five years. He then engaged in grain-growing on a farm near Arbuckle until 1897, when he located in Indian Valley. Soon afterwards he purchased a ranch on Little Stony Creek, becoming owner of four hundred eighty acres in East Park, well improved for raising alfalfa and stock. It is now about the deepest part of the government reser- voir, the dam lying just north of his land. In 1908, Mr. Brüggmann sold the ranch to the government. The site where his land stood is now about ninety feet under water. Some years before this he had leased the present place of twelve hun- dred acres in Indian Valley, where he engaged in raising grain, cattle, horses mules, and hogs, and also White Leghorn poultry. They are also owners of real estate in Oakland and Richmond.
Mr. and Mrs. Brüggmann had seven children, of whom six are living: Gustav, a farmer near Williams; William, of Sunny- vale; Anna, Mrs. Green, of Maxwell; Wilhelmina, who died at the age of twenty years and eleven months; Henry, living in Napa; Edward, who is assisting his father in his ranching opera- tions; and Olga, now Mrs. Sidell, of Willows. Mr. Brüggmann is a member of the Knights of Pythias in Colusa. He is a Lutheran, in which church he was raised. For fourteen years he has been a trustee of the Ashton school district, and is clerk of the board.
JOSEPH NORDYKE
A native son of Bear Valley, Colusa County, "Doc" Nordyke -as he is familiarly called by his friends-was born on March 26, 1875. His father, John Nordyke, was born in Illinois, and as a young man, in the fifties, came to California across the plains with ox teams. After prospecting and mining for a while, he began farming in the Sacramento Valley, in Colusa County. Later he became one of the first settlers in Bear Valley, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death. His wife, Mary Nolan, was born in Missouri, and also crossed the plains in pioneer days, coming with her parents. She now makes her home with her son, Joseph Nordyke, and is eighty-four years of age. Of her seven children, five are living, as follows: B. J., in Idaho; W. S., who resides with Mr. Nordyke; John, in Sites; Gordon, in Glenn Valley; and Joseph, of this review.
Joseph Nordyke was brought up in Bear Valley, and was educated in the Leesville schools, after which he followed ranch
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work, soon engaging in farming for himself on different places in the valley. In the fall of 1907, he leased his present place, the Epperson ranch of sixteen hundred acres, in Bear Valley, de- voting it to raising grain and cattle. He operates the ranch with two big teams, and gathers the grain with a large combined harvester.
Joseph Nordyke was married in Colusa to Miss Sarah Davis, who was born in Indian Valley, Colusa County, the daughter of Edward Davis, a pioneer farmer of the County and of Indian Valley. Of this marriage one child has been born, Dayton-a very bright and interesting lad, and the pride of his parents.
MATHEW J. KEEGAN
An enterprising and progressive man who has accumulated a competency in a few years is Mathew James Keegan, who was born at Moores Flat, Nevada County, January 11, 1872, the son of Robert and Ann (McAdams) Keegan, natives of Ireland. His father was a pioneer prospector and miner in California. In May, 1880, he came to Bear Valley and purchased a ranch, intend- ing to move his family hither later, but took pneumonia and died in September of that year. The mother brought her family to the Bear Valley ranch in November, 1880. She rented the place for seven years, after which, with her son, she ran it until her deatlı in 1900. Of her ten children, seven grew up, six of whom are living. Mathew J. is the eighth, in order of birth.
From the age of eight years, Mathew J. Keegan was brought up on the farm in Bear Valley, receiving a good education in the Leesville public school. At fifteen years of age he took charge of the farm, and thereafter ran it for his mother until her death. He was the administrator of the estate, and bought out the other heirs, in time paying off on the five hundred twenty-seven acres of the home farm. It is a valuable property, lying mostly in the valley and containing rich lands. He has made substantial im- provements on the place, and in 1910 built a comfortable residence. He also purchased over seven hundred acres adjoining, so that he now owns twelve hundred fifty-seven acres in all, lying in a body. Seven hundred fifty acres is under plow; and of this, three hundred acres or more is each year devoted to the raising of grain. Besides his own land he leases mountain range, on which he is engaged in raising cattle.
In Marysville, Cal., on September 29, 1909, Mathew J. Keegan was united in marriage with Rosemarie Lang, a native
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of Colusa County. Her father is William H. Lang, who was born in York State. When twenty-one years of age, he came to California, and is now engaged in farming in Sutter County. His wife was Rosie Burns, a native of Colusa County, and the daughter of Peter Burns, one of the California pioneers. Mrs. Keegan received her education in the public schools and in Mrs. Wilkins' private normal school in Marysville, where she was graduated. After graduation she engaged in educational work in Colusa and Sutter Counties until her marriage to Mr. Keegan. To Mr. and Mrs. Keegan four children have been born: Rosemarie, Mathew James, Jr., Wanda Ann, and Aloise Alexa. Mr. Keegan has served as trustee of Leesville school dis- trict. Fraternally, he is an Elk, being a member of Marysville Lodge, B. P. O. E. The family are members of the Catholic Church, in Maxwell parish. In politics he is a Democrat. He has been a member of the grand jury three terms.
WILLIAM WALLACE GIBSON
One of the oldest settlers in the Sulphur Creek region, and one who is very conversant with the quicksilver mines and the curative properties of the mineral waters of the district, is William Wallace Gibson, who is a native son born in St. Louis, Sierra County. His father, John Gibson, was born in London, England, and was one of the "Argonauts," coming to San Francisco around Cape Horn in 1849. He followed mining in Sierra County, and later ran a hotel. In 1878 he came to Forbestown, Butte County, and thereafter engaged in ranching until his death. Some years after his arrival in California, John Gibson made a visit to his old home in England. There he married Elizabeth Eldridge, who was born in London, England, and then brought his bride to his California home. She survives him, and is still making her home in Forbestown. Five children were born to this worthy pioneer couple, of whom Mr. Gibson is the third in order of birth.
After completing the public schools of Forbestown, William Wallace Gibson worked in the mines and sawmills, and on various stock ranches. In 1892 he came to Colusa County, where his brother, A. A. Gibson, was operating a quicksilver mine at Abbot, and later opened a mine on Sulphur Creek. He worked for his brother, off and on, for eleven years, at the mine, and at teaming and ranching. He ran cattle on shares on the ranch for eighteen or twenty years. During this time, he purchased land, which he added to, from time to time, until he now owns
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twenty-three hundred acres on Sulphur Creek. This property is devoted to the raising of hay and stock. He specializes in graded Hereford cattle, using the well-known diamond brand. Aside from his cattle interests, Mr. Gibson has been foreman at the Wilbur Hot Sulphur Springs, looking after the improvement of the property, and also gives attention to the quicksilver mines.
The marriage of William Wallace Gibson occurred in Wil- liams, where he was united with Miss Bessie Smith, who was born at Lower Lake, Lake County. Mr. Gibson is interested in the cause of education, and is serving as trustee of Quicksilver district.
HENRY DOMONOSKE
A ranchman highly esteemed by his fellow agriculturists, and one who is extremely loyal to Glenn County, is Henry Domonoske. He was born in Monroe County, Wis., December 28, 1855, and came to California when he was nineteen years old. On April 14, 1875, he first saw the beckoning ranch lands of the San Joaquin Valley; and he soon decided to locate near Stockton, where he worked on a ranch one year. He then went to Visalia, and for eight months added to his practical experience by working on ranches for others.
Being full of ambition, Mr. Domonoske wished to equip him- self better for competition with the world. Going to Sacramento, he found employment in the wholesale grocery house of Lindley & Co. In the evenings he took a business course in Atkinson's Busi- ness College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1878. In May of that year he came to Colusa County and found work with Williams & Co. Next he became foreman for Terrill & Wil- liams, in whose service he remained as an overseer for four years.
In the fall of 1882 Mr. Domonoske was able to make a start for himself. He leased the French ranch, west of Germantown, bought an outfit, and for thirty-three years farmed the place to grain, with few exceptions receiving abundant harvests. He also rented at different times both the Boggs and the Murdock ranch, and in addition farmed three hundred twenty acres of his own east of Germantown, which he had bought about the middle of the eighties. For some years he owned and farmed what is known as the Eucalyptus Farm, of twelve hundred eighty acres, south of Germantown. Some seasons Mr. Domonoske has leased as high as five thousand acres; and he has had twenty-five hundred acres in grain, necessitating the use of ten eight-mule teams to plant and harvest his crops. He has also farmed two sections of the Dudley
N. Domonokul
- Clara &
omonaske
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place, eight miles southwest of Willows, beginning there in 1890. In 1911 he bought the Sutton place of six hundred forty acres, and in 1915 moved from the French place to his. present home. He also rents land outside, and is now farming some two thousand five hundred acres, including eight hundred aeres on the Hart place, near Princeton, and eleven hundred acres on the Rasor place, near Butte City. On all these properties he raises grain, hogs and sheep. His specialty is wheat and barley, for which he uses six eight-mule teams, besides a seventy-five horse power cat- erpillar engine.
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