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 83
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 83
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CLIFFORD BARTLETT
One of the rising young men of the Sacramento Valley is Clif- ford Bartlett, widely known as the manager of the Northern Cali- fornia Power Company. Born at Fairhaven, Mass., May 27, 1885, he attended the public schools of New Bedford and Brookline, in that state, and entered on his first business experience in the estab- lishment of a Boston dry goods firm. Afterwards he went to the great metropolis of New York, and there soon attracted attention through his connection with the Sawyer Mann Electrical Company and the Warren Chemical & Manufacturing Company.
October, 1906, found him on his way to California. He came to Redding, in Shasta County, where he gave two years to advanc- ing the interests of the Northern California Power Company; and
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afterwards he had charge of an office for the same concern at Ken- nett, not far away. In 1910 he came to Willows as that company's manager; and in that capacity he has continued ever since. Such is the confidence of the company in his experience and ability, that his territory extends from Orland south through Colusa County, into Yolo County.
Clifford Bartlett became acquainted with Miss Ellen Wilson, a native of Marysville, and was united with her in marriage, thus becoming connected with the family of a worthy California pio- neer, Wesley T. Wilson, who crossed the plains in the days when a man took his life in his hands to go a single mile's journey through the uninhabited wastes. One daughter, Dorothy Ellen, has blessed this union. Mr. and Mrs. Bartlett are popular so- cially. Fraternally, he is a member of the Masonic order.
P. G. JONES
The wide-awake manager of the Associated Oil Company, at Willows, P. G. Jones, has had his full measure of success. Born in Chicago, Ill., September 4, 1882, he was the son of a brick con- tractor well-known in the early days in Chicago, the builder of the Palmer House. P. G. Jones was reared in MeHenry County, and embarked in the electrical business at Chicago; and for twelve years he traveled on the road for the Allen, Bradley Company, through New York, Pennsylvania and the Western states. In 1909, he came to San Francisco, and for a couple of years repre- sented an Eastern electrical manufacturing supply house. Two years later, he removed to Willows and at once displayed that characteristic energy by which he has always made his presence known in business circles. With a partner he established an oil- supply business under the firm name of Jones & Carvill, catering to both wholesale and retail trade, for which they erected an oil tank. After building up and enjoying a good business, they sold out their plant in 1913 to the Associated Oil Company and dis- solved partnership; whereupon Mr. Jones was made manager, an office he has continued to fill ever since.
So familiar has he proven himself with the wants of the dis- trict, and so acceptable has been his service to the numerous pat- rons of the company, that the local trade has grown until now three oil tanks are in operation and sixty thousand gallons are dis- tributed monthly. The territory of the Associated Oil Company, as managed by Mr. Jones, now extends from Maxwell to Orland,
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in one direction, and from the Sacramento River to Lake County in the other.
P. G. Jones was united in marriage with Miss Ione B. Miller, from Colorado. To this excellent couple three children have been born: Paul, Virginia and Bill. Mr. Jones is well known in the circles of the Elks, being a member of Muskegon, Mich., Lodge, No. 274.
JOHN H. GREY
It used to be an old saying in the East that if a man could sell sewing machines he could probably make anything prosper to which he devoted his time and talent; and judging by the success of J. H. Grey, the popular agent for the Standard Oil Company at Willows, both in earlier and in recent years, the old saying would seem to be true. Born in Monmouth County, N. J., where he was also schooled, young Grey early entered the service of the Singer Sewing Machine Company, of New York, and for fifteen years represented that world-famous concern, while traveling for them on the road. In 1905, he came to California, and for five years was with the same company at their headquarters in San Francisco. He then joined the forces of another world-famous concern, the Standard Oil Company, working at their San Fran- cisco office; and in 1912 he was transferred to Willows as the com- pany's special agent. His ability having been recognized, he was given the territory in Glenn County from north of Butte City to St. John, and from Maxwell to Orland, Stonyford and Elk Creek, Newville and the Millsaps district. In this, the largest territory on the west side of the valley, he has been instrumental in increas- ing the business of the company in a single year by fully fifty per cent. Mr. Grey has under his direction five men and one clerk. Two auto trucks supply the outlying districts; and three horse- drawn vehicles supply the short hauls and the local trade. The majority of the increase in business has been made under the man- agement of Mr. Grey.
John H. Grey was united in marriage with Miss Katherina Longlaw, of Vallejo, a daughter of one of the county's early and most honored settlers. By her he has had two children, Eliza J. and Katherine L. Grey. In the society of his family he finds his greatest pleasure. When he passes an evening elsewhere, it is likely to be in fraternity circles. Mr. Grey was particularly active in the social life of the Eagles of San Francisco.
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PAUL DAVIS BANE
Particularly instructive, as well as interesting, is the story of Paul Davis Bane, long one of the most prominent factors in the promotion of the Orland Government Irrigation Project. He was born near Gilroy, Santa Clara County, on July 26, 1864, being the youngest son of William R. and Ann W. Bane, natives of Ken- tucky and Missouri respectively.
Mr. Bane attended the common schools of his native county till his eyes weakened. While resting his eyes for a time, he learned the trade of painter and furniture-finisher in San Jose, after which he attended the Garden City Business College, gradu- ating from that institution in 1883. During the same year he en- tered the law office of Wm. L. Gill, but after eight months of cler- ical work and study, was again forced to give up his aspirations of becoming a lawyer. He then returned to his father's ranch near Gilroy, and took up the study and practice of agriculture.
Having a desire to own and operate an orchard, his efforts were directed to that end; but on account of circumstances over which he had no control, several years elapsed before a favorable opportunity presented itself. In 1888 he bought an undivided in- terest in an orchard in San Joaquin County. Owing to a very wet winter in 1889 and 1890, a heavy loss was sustained through the death of trees from too much water; so Mr. Bane, realizing his remaining interest would not justify his time, sold out and moved to Orland, Glenn (then Colusa) County, in 1890, having accepted the foremanship on what was known in those days as the Bryan ranch, containing nine hundred sixty acres and located two miles east of Orland.
On coming to Orland, Mr. Bane had a proposition made him by the Bryan heirs to plant an orchard; but he preferred living here for a time pending his decision.
On February 1, 1891, Paul Davis Bane was united in mar- riage with Miss Anna Newenm, of Oakland. Three children were born of this union: Berniece, William Reynolds, and Lila Wood Bane. Of these, Berniece and Lila Wood are living. They are now both married, and reside in San Jose.
After sizing up local conditions, Mr. Bane decided to plant an almond orchard, and in 1892 planted sixty-six acres under a heavy protest and severe criticism from his neighbors, who claimed that trees would not grow here without irrigation. Being an advocate of thorough cultivation, Mr. Bane ventured what he
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believed would be a safe investment; and his efforts have been crowned with success. He is considered the pioneer almond- grower of his county, and the best-posted man on almonds in Northern California. It was his almond orchard that proved be- yond a doubt to the government officials that they would be mak- ing no mistake should they recommend Orland favorably for fed- eral irrigation.
During the preliminary stages toward securing federal irriga- tion, Mr. Bane was very active in the promotion of this undertak- ing. He was appointed chairman of the first committee, and was afterwards chosen president of the Water Users' Association, which position he now holds. He has been a director of the Water Users' Association most of the time since its organization, and has been a director and president of the Orland Almond Growers' As- sociation since its organization.
Mr. Bane has taken an active interest in educational matters, and for a number of years has been president and secretary of the board of trustees of the Orland High School.
In 1901, Mr. Bane was married to Miss Annabell E. Hewitt, of Orland, but formerly of Michigan. Mrs. Bane was formerly identified with the schools in Michigan. After her arrival in Or- land, she was for some time connected with the Orland Register. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bane are in harmony with public enterprises, and are still active in many ways in their promotion. Much credit is given Mr. Bane, by his home town, his county, and his state. He is a Mason : and both he and his wife are members of the East- ern Star. Both are musically inclined.
JOHN HENRY PETERICH
What steady application to hard, honest labor may accom- plish, is illustrated in the career of John Henry Peterich, a native of Holstein, Germany, where he was born on November 4, 1849. His father was John Peterich, who married Katrina Wesselman. Both his parents died in Germany. Of seven children-three sons and four daughters-John Henry was the second in the order of birth. After he had finished his schooling, he was apprenticed to a shoemaker. Later, he was associated for a time with his father at Braunstadt. Then, joining a party of friends who were coming to the United States, he sailed for New York, and reached Califor- nia in the early seventies, and locating at Germantown, hired him- self out by the week as a ranchman. When he had saved money
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enough, he bought a hundred sixty acres to the west of the town, and there engaged in farming until 1895. Selling out this prop- erty, he then bought another tract, of five hundred seventy-five acres, a mile west of Germantown; and he also rented some seven- teen hundred acres.
At present, in addition to his farming operations, Mr. Peter- ich conducts a livery and feed stable at Germantown. He tills a thousand acres of rented land in the vicinity, which he has planted to grain; and he farms three hundred acres, also planted to grain, in the Jacinto district. Besides these interests, he owns three hundred acres of fine grazing land on the hills to the north of Germantown.
Some years ago, Mr. Peterich married Miss Christina Hinse, a native of Germany. Of this marriage several children have been born. Herman married Belle Horan and lives in Stockton; Agnese is the wife of Edward Rehse; Frederich married Miss Minnie Rehse, and is the father of two daughters; Karl married Miss Martha Johnson, and their home is brightened by two daughters and a son; Oscar married Miss Emma Rickens, now the mother of one daughter; John married Miss Maggie Masterson, by whom he has had one daughter; and Otto married Miss Manda Rex.
EUGENE P. SMITH
One of the rising young men of Glenn County is Eugene P. Smith, the efficient and up-to-date manager of the Glenn County Lumber Company, at Butte City. He was born at Reno, Okla., April 28, 1887, and when eight years old moved with his family to Scott County, Mo., where his father soon became engaged in the manufacture of wagon spokes. He was educated at the Oklahoma schools, to which state his parents returned after living for a time in Missouri; and having always been interested in the lumber bus- iness, even as a schoolboy, he decided to enter that line of busi- ness. At first he was employed for one year by the lumber firm of Davidson & Case, and afterwards was with the Conklin Lumber Company for one year, at El Reno, Okla., after which he returned to the employ of Davidson & Case, with whom he remained dur- ing four years in various locations in the state. With these two companies he learned the business thoroughly; and when the op- portune time came, he was able and ready to assume a much greater responsibility, with success.
In 1912 Mr. Smith arrived in California and located tempo- rarily in Willows, after which he became agent for the Glenn
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County Lumber Company, at Sidd's Landing, remaining there un- til October, 1916, when the plant was removed to Butte City, and he became manager there. As a side line, he writes fire insurance, working in the interests of a couple of the strongest fire insurance companies.
In 1913 Mr. Smith was married to Miss Ida Gelbach, of Penn- sylvania, by whom he has had two sons : Eugene P., Jr., and Rob- ert G. Smith. He has recently completed a fine modern bungalow for himself and family at Butte City, one of the best residences in the town.
MERTON BELL
The career of Merton Bell, the enterprising druggist of Butte City, affords an encouraging example of a man who, overwhelmed by disaster, has nevertheless been able by heroic pluck and intelli- gent management to rise again from the depths of misfortune. He was born at Richmond, Ind., July 19, 1889, the son of Charles C. Bell, a railroad man, who married Miss Ada Bartling, the danghter of a well-known inventor. His parents were both na- tives of Ohio. When eight years old, Merton moved with the fam- ily to Indianapolis. As a boy of ten years he worked in a drug store, while going to school, to help pay the expenses of his edu- cation. Later he had the satisfaction of graduating in both a reg- ular and a special course at Winona Technical Institute, the well- known branch of the University of Purdue, receiving the degrees of Ph. G. and Ph. C.
After graduating in 1906, Mr. Bell came West to Silver City, N. M., and there worked for a time as assayer. His next move bronght him to Merced, where he worked as clerk in the drug store of N. L. A. Cody. After that, he was manager of the Merced Drug Company, having under his direction no less than five clerks. This experience having demonstrated his power to organize and develop, he went into business for himself at Hawthorne, Nev. At the end of two years, however, he was burned out in a large fire which destroyed much property in the neighborhood; and he then settled at Tonopah, Nev., where he worked in a drug store for a couple of years.
In the spring of 1913, Mr. Bell came to Butte City and bought the Gatliff Drug Store, which had been closed for some years. In a short time he increased the stock from six hundred dollars' worth to six thousand; and in like manner he has progressed ever since. Recently he purchased two business lots on Main Street in Bntte City, buying these as an investment.
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Some years ago Mr. Bell was married to Miss Gladys Barne- burg, an attractive lady of Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Bell are social favorites in their community, where they have a wide circle of friends.
JOHN H. BROUGH
In John H. Brough, the manager of the well-appointed branch of the Sacramento Valley Bank, Butte City not only has one of its rising financiers, but an exemplary young citizen filled with that spirit of local loyalty so desirable in an expanding community. He was born in far-away New Brunswick, Canada, on December 7, 1888, the son of John M. Brough, the cashier of the Sacramento Valley Bank. After coming to California, he attended the public schools at Gridley, and then matriculated as a student at the Cali- fornia Baptist College at Oakland, from which in due course of time he graduated with honors. From there Mr. Brough went to Portland, Ore., where he became associated with the Western Lime & Plaster Company, which was owned and controlled by the Ladd & Tilton Bank, of Portland. When the branch of the Sacramento Valley Bank was opened, he was made cashier and manager.
This bank, one of the oldest in Butte County, was established in 1874 as a private bank by G. K. Smith. In 1891, it was incor- porated as the Sacramento Valley Bank; and fifteen years later John M. Brough was made cashier. The institution had a paid-up capital of sixty thousand dollars; and on December 1, 1910, a branch was opened at Butte City, to which reference has been made. From the first this branch has met with remarkable suc- cess. It is honsed in a modern brick building on the main busi- ness thoroughfare of the town, and is altogether an establishment of which the city may well be proud.
John H. Brough was united in marriage with Miss Diana Simpson, a native of Indiana. Mr. Brough owns forty-three acres of a fine fruit ranch, a mile south of Butte City, of which twenty- four are devoted to almond culture and fifteen to French prunes.
ANTHONY RADEMACHER
A general merchandise establishment in Butte City well worth a visit, both for its large and varied stock and for the methods by which its business is conducted in consideration of every want and preference of its many patrons, is that of Anthony Rademacher, who was born in Clinton County, Mich., November 25, 1883, the
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son of Anthony Rademacher, a native German, who died when his son was a baby. The mother, before her marriage, was Frl. Anna C. Thelen. Anthony was educated in his native state, attending the German Catholic School at Westphalia, Mich., where he man- aged to hold his own as a wide-awake and ambitious pupil.
Having learned the trade of a barber, he followed that line of work for a time in the great city of Chicago; and in 1905 he came west to California and opened a barber shop at Oakdale, Stanis- laus County. Four years later he removed to Butte City, and here opened another shop. In each of these towns he had the satisfac- tion of maintaining the best local tonsorial headquarters.
In 1913, Mr. Rademacher bought a lot and built the store building on Main Street, where he opened his general merchandise business; and from the day when he began to sell goods there he has steadily prospered, gradually creating one of the best mercan- tile establishments in the town.
Some years ago, Anthony Rademacher was united in mar- riage with Miss Grace Hamilton, of Chico, the attractive daughter of well-known early settlers in Butte County. Mr. and Mrs. Rade- macher are the parents of one daughter, Ardell.
HENRY K. McMATH
Besides an honored name, and the example of a well-directed and successful life, Henry K. McMath has inherited from his father, Cyrus McMath, a native of Detroit, those invaluable qual- ities so often transmitted by a pioneer, which have undoubtedly had much to do with the son's acknowledged attainments. In the early fifties, his father came to California with his wife, traveling from New York by way of Panama, and while crossing the Isth- mus had a thrilling experience such as might dampen anybody's ardor, and which could not but contribute, when the journey was over, to the settler's satisfaction at arriving safely in the prom- ised land. The railroad across the Isthmus had just been com- pleted; and when the train carrying the MeMaths and their fellow passengers was making its first trip, it had a head-on collision, and some of the cars went down with a poorly constructed bridge. Many of the passengers were killed, while others were crippled for life. Mr. and Mrs. MeMath arrived in San Francisco at the time when the young city was the scene of violent disorders, and when the Vigilantes were just beginning to appear and take the situation in hand; and this doubtless led them to hurry on to Sacramento, where, for a while, they were located. Later, they
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removed to Marysville; and it was not until the late seventies that they took up their residence at Willows. On the lot where the Tenney and Schmidt Garage now stands, Mr. McMath opened a livery business, which he conducted until some twenty years ago. After that, he undertook the grinding of barley and the baling of hay; and he became noted as one of the best authorities on grain and alfalfa in the valley. He also contracted for, and built, about twenty miles of the Central Canal and laterals, with steam power and graders.
Several years ago Mrs. Cyrns McMath, after long and faith- fully sharing her husband's joys and sorrows, died; and after her demise he lived with his daughter, Mrs. Kahn, where he was an interesting figure in a select family circle. His death, at the age of eighty-three, which occurred in his buggy, when he was about to drive to his work, was mourned by the community generally, and particularly by his brother Odd Fellows, who accorded him due funeral rites.
In 1867, when Henry K. MeMath was two years old, he ac- companied his parents and the rest of the family overland from Marysville, by way of Fouts Springs, to Gravelly Valley, in Lake County. The party was assisted over the mountains by Indians, with their pack teams. After a short time the family moved on to Cottonwood, in Tehama County, where a son, Edgar, was born, and where the subject of our sketch attended school.
The family next pitched its tent at Adin, in Modoc County, where the father for a year and a half managed a hotel; and in 1875 they came back to Lake County and settled on a government claim in Elk Valley. The pioneer engaged in sheep- and cattle- raising, and also built some of the first wagon roads through the mountains. With characteristic enterprise and a proper concep- tion of the wants of an undeveloped country, he also erected two sawmills-the first of the kind seen there. Wild animals and game then abounded. As many as fifty-three bears were killed in one summer; and it was in that neighborhood that Henry MeMath, when he was only fourteen years old, had his first shot at Bruin. Later, he killed many. In various ways, while at home, Mr. Mc- Math assisted his father, and particularly in the care of stock.
In 1889, he came to Willows, and for a short time conducted a butcher shop here, after which he went to Redding, in Shasta County, where he started the Modoc Corral, or feed stables. After three months he returned to Willows, and entered his father's em- ploy in the livery stable. He also worked on hay-balers and threshing-machines, and later started the Elk Horn Stables, on North Tehama Street; but when, after a couple of years, this was
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burned out, he went to Grass Valley, in Nevada County, and for three months managed a livery stable. Afterwards he worked for a while in a gold mine at East Harmony.
When he returned to Willows, he built the new Elk Horn Stables on the site of the old ones, that had been burned; and when he had made them a financial success, he sold out to C. B. Asher. Then he bought a house and thirty-two lots on Vine Street, for which he paid nine hundred dollars. He soon disposed of this property at a profit, receiving thirteen hundred fifty dollars. Later, he bought a place on East Wood Street, for four hundred fifty dollars, and soon sold it to Jake Beilar for fourteen hun- dred dollars. Mr. McMath helped his father to build the old irri- gation canal, for which he ran the steam engine used in excavat- ing. He was employed in this way on twenty miles of the canal.
Seeing a good opening in the second-hand furniture business, Mr. McMath set up shop in a barn in the rear of the Mike Kahn residence, and ran a business there for six months, when he sold out for five hundred dollars. Still later, he undertook a larger and better furniture establishment, handling both old, and new goods. He has built up a thriving business; and customers come from all parts of the valley to trade at his establishment. He is the oldest second-hand dealer in Willows, the one, in fact, who has made the undertaking a success, having opened business on November 21, 1910, and outlived five competitors. When he bought his present place, at 201 South Tehama Street, it was a rooming-house, for which, with the lot, he paid two thousand five hundred dollars; and having improved and enlarged the place, he rented a sufficient number of rooms, for fifteen months, to pay for his property.
By his first wife Mr. MeMath has two daughters, Mrs. Vernie Scott and Henrietta. The latter is still attending school. Mr. Mc- Math is an honored and popular member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Willows.
WILLIAM WALTER WHEELER
The manager of the supply station of the Northern California Power Company, at Hamilton City, W. W. Wheeler, was born at Benton, Mono County, Cal., on October 13, 1873. His father was J. Otis Wheeler, who sailed around the Horn from New Bedford, Mass., and reached the Golden State in 1852. Soon after landing he went to Mono County, where he mined for silver. His good wife died in 1878, and he lived in Mono County until his death in 1892.
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