Sonoma County CA

Biography of John H. O’Bryant

JOHN H. O’BRYANT. – We esteem it a privilege to be permitted to chronicle for the history of our county a brief review of the substantial and prominent citizen, whose name is at the head of this article, and who has wrought in the pioneer’s life so well and faithfully for the opening of this and adjacent counties and for their development and advancement for over one-third of a century, while his life of constant adherence to right and the principles of truth and uprightness, together with manifestation of sagacity and sound judgment, has placed him in a most enviable … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Page

Among the leading stockmen of the country, the subject of this article also stands with the prominent and substantial citizens of the county of Harney and is one of the real pioneers of this section, being also a westerner by birth. He owns Sonoma county, California, as his native place and February 13, 1858, is the date thereof. His parents were Joseph W. and Nancy (Johnson) Page. In 1867 they all came overland to Lane county, Oregon. The father had been operating a large dairy in California, and in Oregon he devoted his attention to farming, also raised stock. In … Read more

Biography of Elisha J. Parker

ELISHA J. PARKER. – A man who posseses the qualities that enable him to brave the dangers of the new country and settle in and develop the same, while he makes a success of the various undertakings that are incident to pioneer life, maintaining a record for uprightness, honor and ability, is one who deserves to be represented in the history of his county, while his name should be placed high in the roll of honor. Such an one is the gentleman of whom we know have the pleasure to write, and the strong character of Elisha J. Parker has … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Frank O’Neill

The sturdy pioneer, capable gentleman and patriotic citizen whose, name heads this article is one of the leading agriculturists and stockmen of his section of Malheur County, being a man who has wrought with great energy and commendable wisdom in his efforts to assist in the up building and advancement of this section of the country. Our subject was born in the County of Antrim, Ulster province, Ireland, on May 10, 1846, being the son of John and Elizabeth O’Neill. He was reared on a farm and remained in his native place until 1866, when he went to Scotland, and … Read more

Biography of L. M. Holt

L. M. Holt was born August 9, 1840, in the town of Sylvan, Washtenaw County, Michigan, near where now stands the town of Chelsea. His parents, natives of Connecticut, immigrated to Michigan while this was still a Territory. In 1852 the father died at Hillsdale, leaving five children. From the age of fourteen the subject of this sketch depended upon his own resources for maintenance and education. Attending the Hillsdale College from 1856 to 1859, he then went to Iowa, where he learned the printing business in the office of the Eagle, Vinton, Iowa. In 1860 he was married to … Read more

Taylor, Emma Augusta Abraham – Obituary

Funeral services for Mrs. Frank (Emma Augusta) Taylor, Sr., will be held Thursday, December 28, at the Evanson Funeral Home. A well-known resident of Ellensburg for more than 60 years, she died Sunday, December 24 [1967], at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Hospital. Born in West Bloomfield, Wisconsin, she was the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Augusta Abraham. At the age of 6 months, her parents moved to Orange, California, where she was reared. She attended schools in Orange and Santa Rosa. She moved with the family to a ranch in the Teanaway valley just before the turn of … Read more

Biography of Jesse C. Thompson

Jesse C. Thompson, a prominent resident of Westminster, was born in Clay County, Missouri, February 17, 1829. His parents, John B. and Hannah (Clark) Thompson were natives of North Carolina, and had eleven children, five of whom lived to be grown. They moved to Missouri in 1825, where the children were educated in such schools as were common in those times. In 1840 they moved to Andrew County. In March, 1850, Jesse started, in company with his brother Samuel, with an ox team for California. His brother died on the road, July 26. Jesse arrived in Placerville on August 31, … Read more

Biography of George H. Keller

The name of George H. Keller, one of the founders of Leavenworth, stands among old-time residents for all that is brave and generous and stable and whole-souled, in the most trying times of the territory and the state. As John Speer once said: “His name was a synonym for honesty, integrity and patriotism; his house in Leavenworth illustrated the proverbial hospitality of the ‘Old Kentucky Home.’” “Uncle” George Keller was born in that state in February, 1801; his wife, a Van Dyke, was also a native of Kentucky, and both were descended from Holland Dutch stock. Soon after his marriage … Read more

Sharp, Susanna Rebecca Plank – Obituary

Death claimed another pioneer of Ventura County when Mrs. J. M. Sharp passed away Sunday night [July 8, 1934] at the family ranch home at Saticoy. Mrs. Sharp was born June 14, 1851, in Philadelphia, and came to California in 1869 with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Plank, living first in San Francisco. There she graduated from the Normal school in 1873, afterward teaching school in Sonoma County. In 1874 she was married to J. M. [James Meikle] Sharp, a classmate in the Normal school. They lived near Santa Rosa two years, then moved to Ventura County, living first … Read more

Ainsworth, Margaret Helen Bowling Mrs. – Obituary

Baker City, Baker County, Oregon Margaret Helen Ainsworth died Feb. 28, 2005, in Baker City. At her request there will be no funeral. Her friends and family will have many memories of her to share now and always. She was born on March 16, 1919, at Mendota, Ill., to Edwin Bowling and Carrie Belle Ashley Bowling. Margaret was raised in Wyoming, Colorado and California. Her father was a Methodist minister and a circuit rider between small towns in Wyoming and Colorado, before being assigned to a church in California. Margaret graduated high school and married Harold W. Davis at Campbell, … Read more

Babb, Barbara Irene – Obituary

BABB, Barbara Irene, of Pismo Beach died Wednesday [December 30, 1982] in a San Luis Obispo hospital. She was 55. Services will be held Monday at 10 am at Reis Chapel in San Luis Obispo. The Rev. Roland Gustafson of Bethel Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Los Osos Valley Memorial Park. Mrs. BABB was born Independence Day, 1926 in Sebastopol. She married James H. BABB in Visalia and they lived there until moving to San Luis Obispo. James is an instructor at Cal Poly. Mrs. BABB was a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Grover City where … Read more

Barrett, Allen LeRoy – Obituary

Halfway, Baker County, Oregon Allen LeRoy Barrett, 70, died March 24, 2006, at his home in Halfway. A celebration of his life has been tentatively set for June 17. The time and place will be announced. Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. He was born on Feb. 13, l936, at Sheridan, Wyo., to Edorothy “Edie” and Allan Barrett. He grew up at Kellogg and Smelterville, Idaho. Allen attended school to the 11th grade and then went to work at the Kellogg mine. In 1954, Allen joined the U.S. Navy. He met Shirley Schultz in Seattle, Wash., … Read more

Biography of George W. King, M.D.

GEO. W. KING, M.D. – The early life of Doctor King of Pendleton was made dark by the terrible days of the Rebellion; and the recital of his early efforts to work out the distressful circumstances into which he was thus thrown is full of pathetic interest. He was born near Glasgow, Howard county, Missouri, November 14, 1844, and when but a boy of five went with his parents to reside near St. Louis, Missouri, where he lived until the spring of 1854, when his father moved to Kansas Territory, then but a prairie wilderness. He settled on Pottawatomie creek, … Read more

Miller, Louise L. – Obituary

Miller, Louise L. Union County, Oregon Obituary La Grande. Oregon Louise L. Miller, 91, of La Grande, died May 2 at her home. At her request, no services will be held. Loveland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Louise was born March 1, 1917, to Hans Albert Larsen and Anna Marie Hansen Larsen in Dwight, Ill. Raised in Montana, she graduated from Harlowton High School and Eastern Montana Normal School in Billings, Mont. She attended the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. During her long career in education she taught … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Meacham

David Meacham was born in Genesee County, New York, May 3, 1835, and was reared at Geneseo, learning the carpenter’s trade. In 1858 he came to California, crossing the plains with General Harney, shortly after the Mountain Meadow Massacre. He helped to gather up the bones of the murdered emigrants, and assisted in building the monument erected by the Government on the scene. Arriving in California, he located at Bloomfield, Sonoma County, where he followed his trade five years. In 1863 he came to San Bernardino, and here followed the building trade. He rode to Riverside on the first load … Read more

Biography of Thomas C. Fletcher

One of the earliest pioneers of this region of the country, a man whose life has always been dominated by wisdom prudence and upright principles,. having ever manifested also stanch virtues and a reliability that are becoming a good citizen and faithful man, the subject of this article is vie of the leading men of Malheur County, and a prominent resident of Ontario. Thomas C. was born in Mercer County, Kentucky, on October 11, 1841, being the son of Jewett and Elizabeth Fletcher. When our subject was six years of age he had the misfortune to lose his father and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Jacob Maggard

Jacob Maggard residing near Anaheim, was born in Caldwell County, Kentucky, August 12, 1815. His parents,. Jacob and Susan (Bright) Maggard, natives respectively of Virginia and Tennessee, had ten children, he being the fifth. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself by working by the day in Scotland County, Missouri, whither his father had moved fifteen years previously. He was reared principally in Randolph County, Missouri. He continued in his calling as a farmer, in which he was successful, until about twelve years ago, when he came to California and purchased property in Sonoma … Read more

Biography of Clarence Stewart

Clarence Stewart, a well-known businessman of Riverside, is a native of Rockford, Illinois, dating his birth in 1848. In 1849 his father, John N. Stewart, came to California and engaged in mining. In 1851 he returned East, and the next year brought his family to the State and located in Sacramento for about three years, and then moved to Sonoma County, where he engaged in farming until he came with his family to San Bernardino in 1865. The subject of this sketch was reared in California and schooled in her public schools. Shortly after his arrival in San Bernardino he … Read more

Biography of Edwin Caldwell

Edwin Caldwell, of Riverside, was born in Putnam County, New York, September 13, 1824. His father, Absalom Caldwell, was a native of that State, and a farmer by occupation. Mr. Caldwell was reared upon his father’s farm, and educated in the public schools. In 1846, deciding to seek his home in the great west, he went to Wisconsin, and located in Washington County, establishing his residence in the town of West Bend. There, in partnership with his brother, he built saw and flour mills, and was prominent in building up the pioneer industries of that section. The California gold fever … Read more