 History of Sutter County, California Thompson & West, 1879 Biographies O and P O'BANION, D., farmer; P.O. Yuba City; born in Kentucky in 1831; lived there about 11 years, and then emigrated to Indiana; lived there one year and removed to Missouri; remained there eight years; came to California in 1850, across the plains; was over 5 months on the route; stopped at Placerville two months, and came to this county; owns 560 acres of land; has followed farming since his arrival here. Married Miss Lizzie Howard in 1853; she was born in Kentucky; died in 1864, leaving three sons and one daughter. He married again to Mrs. Coats in 1868; she has two sons; Mr. 0'Banion returned to Missouri in 1853, and returned to California the following year; made a trip to Missouri in 1864, and came back the same year with several families he brought out; in 1866 he went back and made a stay of two years, returning here in 1868. Since then he has made two trips east, has crossed the plains six times and taken the water route five times; he lives on his farm about eleven and one half miles south-west of Yuba City. O'CONOR, Joseph, farmer; P.O. Meridian; owns 360 acres; lives about 4 miles east of Meridian; was born in Ireland in 1831. Emigrated to the United States in 1854; he lived in several states previous to moving to California, coming here in 1858; engaged in mining in Plumas county until the fall of 1860, when he moved to Sutter county, living a short time in Yuba City; moved to his present location in the spring of 1861. He was married in 1866 to Anna McGowen, also a native of Ireland; they have three children living - one son and two daughters. OHLEYER, George, farmer; P.O. Yuba City; was born in France in 1831; emigrated in 1833 to the United States and settled in Wayne county, New York; in 1835 he moved to Ohio and lived there until 1852; in that year he came across the plains to California, being four months on the way; he engaged in mining for a short time, and then worked on farm in Solano county, for two years; he then returned to Ohio and lived about two years. In 1856 he came back to California and settled in Yuba county where he lived until 1865, when he removed to this county and engaged in farming; he owns 240 acres three miles west of Yuba City; a view of his pleasant home is given elsewhere. He was married in 1855 to Miss Ellen Guthrie, a native of Ohio; they have seven children; four sons and three daughters. Mr. Ohleyer was a member of the Board of Supervisors from 1874 to 1877; was also Levee Commissioner at the same time. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention; was a charter member of Yuba City Grange, and Master of the Grange in 1874; he has been secretary and manager of the Farmer's Co-operative Union of Sutter County since its organization. OLSON, P., farmer; P.O. Yuba City; lives about 14 miles southwest of Yuba City; owns 320 acres of land; was born in Sweden in 1849; lived there until about 20 years of age; then emigrated to the United States, located in Chicago; remained there nine months and came to California in 1870, via the railroad, and settled in Sutter county, where he has since resided; in 1875, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Carlson; she was born in Sweden. O'MAHONY, D., farmer and stock raiser; P.O. Nicolaus; was born in Ireland, 1827; emigrated to United States when about 12 years of age, and settled in Indiana, where he lived until 1846; he then went to St. Louis and remained about three years; came to California in 1849, being about four months crossing the plains; on his arrival here he engaged in mining about one year on Dry Creek, Amador county; then he prospected all through the head waters of the Yuba, Feather, and American rivers; subsequently he engaged in the dairy business for about a year, in Sacramento. In 1851,he moved to Grand Island, but stopped there only about eight months, when he returned to Sacramento and stayed until 1852; in that year he settled in this county, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. He was elected Supervisor in 1859, and again in 1867, serving in the capacity about six years; has been School Trustee ever since he moved to the river. He owns 706 acres on the river, about four miles south of Nicolaus. He was married in 1862, to Annie O'Neil, a native of Canada; she emigrated to the United States when quite young. PAINE, Sumner, farmer and stock-raiser; P.O. Meridian; was born in North Anson, Maine, April 21, 1820; he removed to Massachusetts in 1845, and remained there until the spring of 1852; he then came to California, and engaged in brick-making in Marysville that summer; in the following winter he mined on Jackson creek. In the spring of 1853 he returned to Marysville, and engaged in brick-making and building, in that city, until 1859; he built by contract the Western House, St. Nicholas House, Dawson House, the Methodist Church, and a large number of the older brick buildings in that city. After leaving Marysville he settled at East Butte, Sutter county, where he lived many years, engaged in farming and raising stock. He settled on his present home, three miles from Meridian, on Sacramento river, in 1872, where he has been farming and raising stock ever since. Mr. Paine was commissioned Major of the 7th Regiment C. M., March 16, 1865, which position he held for some time; he was at one time a member of the Board of Aldermen of Marysville; has also served as Supervisor of this county. He was married January 1, 1847, to Miss Mary Keinsley, a native of Massachusetts. PAINE, S. F., farmer; P.O. Meridian; was born in Boston, April 23, 1848; came to California, and settled in Marysville in March, 1856, and remained until 1859; moved to East Butte in that year. He spent about 15 months at Santa Clara, attending the school; was a student at State Normal School three terms, graduating from that institution in 1869. He now lives near Meridian, on Sacramento river, engaged in farming. PARKER, Jeremiah, farmer.; P.O. Pleasant Grove; lives on section 25, township 12, north, range 4 east; owns 195 acres. He was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, in1812; born and raised a slave; in 1830 he moved to Missouri, where he lived until 1850; in that year he came across the plains to this State with his master, being four months on the way. He settled in Sacramento and engaged in gardening, which he followed until 1857; in 1853, he bought his freedom, paying $600 therefor; a year later he bought his wife's freedom, paying the same amount - $600. He settled in this county in 1857. He was married in 1832 to Rachel Forman, a native of Bourbon county, Kentucky, they have nine children - two sons and seven daughters. PARKER, W. M., farmer; section 5, township 12 north, range 4 east; P.O. Nicolaus; owns 160 acres of land; born 1824, in Montgomery county, Indiana; parents removed to Mercer county, Illinois, when he was quite young, settling near Rock Island; April 14, 1853, he started across the plains for California and came to this county where he has since continued to reside. He married Miss K. Rogers in November, 1864., who came to California in 1858; she was born in Illinois, 1850; they have five children - three daughters and two sons. PENNINGTON, J. T., farmer and civil engineer; P.O. North Butte; lives on section 30, township 17 north, range 2 east; was born in Warren county, Missouri, June 6, 1819, when Missouri was still a Territory, where he lived until the spring of 1849; at which time he came across the plains to California, arriving in Sacramento August 29th. He has lived at several places in the northern part of the State; in September, 1862, he settled in Sutter county; in 1873 he published a very fine map of Sutter county, which gave universal satisfaction; he now gives his farm his whole attention, which is situated at North Butte; he owns 525 acres; he also owns in company with S. J. Stabler, of Yuba City, 1,500 acres in Levee District No. 5, and 280 acres in Reclamation District No. 70; married May 9, 1871 to Miss Rebecca Boyd, who was born in Russell county, Virginia, November 19, 1843, they have an adopted daughter - Bessie Draper - 13 years of age. PETER, John A., farmer; section 7, township 12, range 4; P.O. Nicolaus; owns 400 acres of land; born in Dukedom of Castle, Germany, October 18, 1834; in 1852 he came to the United States, and lived in Rochester, New York; until he came to California, via the Isthmus, arriving in the State, May, the same year, and the following fall came to Sutter county, where he farmed and teamed until the fall of 1861, when he located where he now lives, one-half mile east of Nicolaus. We give on another page a view of his place. He married Miss F. H. Cramer, October 23, 1861. She was born December 8, 1837 in Hanover, and came to California, via Cape Horn, in 1858; in 1871 he took a trip to Europe, landing at Liverpool, traveled through England and then to Hamburg, and then on through the Rhine District to the scenes of his youthful days; he was absent four months. PHITZENREITER, Mrs. Catharine, farming on section 17, township 15 north, range 2 east; she owns 320 acres; P.O. South Butte. Mrs. P. was born in Germany, December 8, 1821; she emigrated to the United States in 1847; lived two years in New Orleans. In 1850 she was married to Phillip Nieason, in Missouri, who died in 1857; she was again married in the same State, to Wm. Phitzenreiter, in 1860. In 1866 they came to California, and settled in Sacramento, where they lived one year; subsequently she moved to Sutter county where she has since resided. A view of her residence may be found on another page. She has four children - three by her first marriage - Henry; born December 12, 1850; Josephine, born April 4, 1852; and William, born August 21, 1856, and one by her last marriage, Louisa, born December 8, 1866. PIERCE, R. B., farmer; P.O. Pleasant Grove; born in England in 1828; emigrated to United States in 1846; and settled in Illinois, where he lived until 1856; he then moved to Minnesota and remained there three years; came to California in 1859, being 7 months crossing the plains; lived in Nevada City until the fall of 1961, when he settled in this county; has been engaged in farming here ever since; owns 160 acres, on section 3, township 11 north, range 4 east. Previous to coming to this State he was engaged in lead mining. He was married in Illinois, 1849, to Miss Mary M. Howsley, also a native of England; they have five children - three sons and two daughters. PIPPIN, S. H., farmer; Lone Tree ranch; section 17, township 12; range 4; owns 160 acres of land; born near Philadelphia, Pa., December 14, 1830; parents moved to Benton county, Mo., in 1837; they died shortly after; he learned the blacksmith trade while there; in 1853, he came across the plains to California; arrived in September, fall of same year, went to mining at Shaw's Flat, Tuolumne county; in 1854 moved to Stanislaus county, where he farmed for about one year; then went to Pleasant Valley, Mariposa county, on the Merced river; after remaining there about six months, returned to Tuolumne county, where he mined until May, 1850, when he went to Sutter county, where he has continued to reside, following farming; he has also teamed and freighted over the mountains into Nevada, but retired from that kind of business in 1867, after working at it eight years. He married Miss Mary Jane Jacobs, December 27, 1865, a native of New York state. In early days Lone Tree Ranch was a great camping resort. PLASKETT, J. E., farmer; P.O. Yuba City; he lives on section 26, township 15 north, range 2 east; owns 800 acres; was born in Nova Scotia, May 13, 1838; his parents removed to Pennsylvania in 1842, where he lived until 1857; in that year he came to California. He engaged in mining in the counties of Plumas, Yuba and Butte, for about six years. In the spring of 1864, he settled in Sutter county, where he has lived ever since. A double page view of his place is given elsewhere in this book. Married May 13, 1868 to Emma Bortle, who was born in Greene county, N. Y., 1846. They have three children - Belle, born February 23, 1874; May, February 8, 1876; and James W., November 29, 1877. PLUMB, F. 0. S., mechanic; P.O. Yuba City; was born in Windham county, Vermont, in 1827. Moved to Massachusetts, and lived until 23 years of age, when he moved to Maine, and lived until 1859; in that year he came to California by water. He took passage aboard the "North Star" for Atlantic waters, and for Pacific waters, the "Uncle Sam." He first settled in Solano county, remaining there about 18 months; he then removed to Marysville, where he lived only about 6 months; in 1861 he came to this county and engaged in carpentering and painting; he owns 84 acres, ¾ of a mile northwest of Yuba City; he has on his place a very elegant residence, with good out-buildings; a view of his place is to be found elsewhere. He was married January 1, 1849, to Miss Hannah H. Heath, native of Vermont; they have 3 children, 2 daughters and 1 son. PORTER, J. C., farmer; P.O. West Butte; was born in Ohio in 1837; came to California in 1854, and came direct to this county, living here four years; in 1858 he removed to Sierra county, and engaged in mining, which occupation he followed until 1868, when he returned to Sutter county, where he has since resided; he owns 100 acres. A view of his place may be seen on another page. He was married at Crystal Peak, Nevada, in 1865 to Miss M. S. Stevenson; who has borne him three children, Addie M., 12; Lydia A., 10; and Robert H., 8. PRATHER, Philip, farmer; P.O. Grafton; lives 1¼ miles north of Knight's Landing; owns 100 acres; was born in Kentucky in 1827; when quite young he moved with his parents to Carrollton, Greene county, Illinois, and lived there until 1850; came to California in that year, across the plains, with an ox team, arriving in Sacramento August 3. He laid in a stock of provisions in that city and commenced mining on Deer creek, near Rough and Ready, and mined there until March; he then went to Humboldt Bay near mouth of Klamath river, and prospecting up, struck gold near the mouth of Salmon river; subsequently be mined at Yreka; Siskiyou county; late in the fall of 1851, he moved to Yolo county, and engaged in farming there until 1860; at that time he settled in this county, near his present location; and has resided in the county ever since; married in 1864, to Miss Sarah C. Dinwiddie, a native of Missouri; they have 8 children - 5 sons and 3 daughters. PROPER, E., farmer and stock raiser, born in New York in 1830; lived there until about 13 years of age and then went to Chicago; remained there about three years; while there, he learned tele- graphing in the first telegraph office established in the city; after leaving Chicago he traveled with a wholesale notion wagon for six years, through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, and then returned to New York State for two years; the next two years he railroaded in Ohio; in 1866 be came by water to California, located in this county; went to Butte mountains in 1858 with sheep; remained there until 1864; that year went to Melville, Shasta county, with sheep; after wintering there, went to Visalia with sheep; after being there two years returned to this county, where he has followed farming and stock raising; owns 480 acres of land twelve miles south-west of Yuba City. Married Miss E. J. Gilley in 1867; she was born in Maine; they have two children - Edward E., born in 1868; Philena S., born in 1870; their nephew Frank Gilpatric, born in 1867, lives with them. Mr. Proper is the man who first introduced the celebrated Proper wheat. PURRINTON, Henry O., farmer and stock raiser; P.O. Pleasant Grove; was born in Maine in 1838, and lived there until 17 years of age; he came to California in 1856 by way of the Isthmus, and first settled in Amador county; where he resided until 1865; then went El Dorado county, and remained until 1868; in that year he removed to Sacramento, and was in the land office there for four years; while in the mines he was Ditch Agent; while in El Dorado county, he kept a trading post; settled in this county in 1874, and has been engaged in farming and stock raising ever since; he owns 2,800 acres of land; lives on section 2, township 11 north, range 4 east; he was married in 1872 to Annie E. Parker, a native of Sacramento, California; they have three children - all girls. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |