Colusa County
Biographies
WILLIAM A. DURHAM
William Anderson Durham is a native of Green County, Kentucky, born February 18, 1839. When he was only three years of age, his family removed with him to Platte County, Missouri. His early life was passed here on a farm, where young Durham received such an education as the times afforded. He began farming for himself in 1860, and shortly afterwards, in 1861, he was united in marriage to Miss Emily J. Bell. On May 10, 1865, accompanied by his family, he started across the plains bound for Oregon by way of Soda Springs and Boise City. He located at Corvallis, in that State, where he lived for three years. Mr. Durham then came to Colusa County, locating on Freshwater, seven miles west of Williams. His father having preceded him to Colusa County, the subject of this sketch secured a farm adjoining. In 1874 he moved to his place northwest of Willows, which he later on disposed of. Mr. Durham has several times been called on by the people of the county to serve them in official capacities. He was elected Supervisor in 1884, in 1886 was elected County Assessor and in 1890 was re-elected to the same office, always on the Democratic ticket. He is a pleasant, accommodating gentleman and popular officer.
Mr. Durham makes his home on his farm, some three miles southwest of Maxwell, where, with his family, consisting of his wife, three sons and four daughters, he finds relief from monotonous abstractions of long columns of figures on acres of paper covered with property values.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 437-438
F. X. ST. LOUIS
Francis Xavier St. Louis is a native of St. Charles County, Missouri, born December 3, 1849. At the age of three years his parents crossed the plains for California, locating at Cacheville, in Yolo County. Young St. Louis spent his boyhood upon his father’s farm, and was afforded an education at the district school. In 1876 he was married to Miss Wilhelmine Lalonde, and settled down happily to a farmer’s life in Yolo County. In April, 1884, he moved to Colusa County, where he was enabled, by reason of cheap lands, to secure a home of his own. He purchased land six miles southwest of Willows, where he still lives, in contentment and plenty, with his wife and five children. He was among the first on the plains to engage in fruit-growing and has several acres of orchard and vineyard, which pay him a handsome return each year. Upon the organization of the Central Irrigation District, he was elected a director and has held the position ever since, taking an active interest in pushing forward to completion the district works.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 438
PERRY HANNUM
Perry Hannum was born near Nashville, Tennessee, in 1836. He is of German, or rather Pennsylvania German, extraction. His father being a farmer, young Hannum’s early life was passed in the same calling. He was married in 1857, and, owing to the ill health of his wife and the depressed condition of affairs in Tennessee, he came to California in 1869, accompanied by his family. Shortly after arriving in San Francisco, he went to Yolo County, where he had a brother residing. After one year spent in that locality, he came to Colusa County, and, by making a small payment down, he bought four hundred acres of land from the railroad company, which transaction marked the commencement of his prosperity. He afterwards bought range land and bands of sheep and hogs, and was now on the highway to financial success. His landed interests now include over five thousand acres of foot-hill land west of Arbuckle, all fenced in, nine hundred and sixty acres of grain land east of College City and a half section south of that town. In addition to these Mr. Hannum has for the past seventeen years rented and farmed the Reddington tract, of three thousand two hundred and forty acres, near Arbuckle. He resides in College City and conducts a livery stable, hotel and meat market there, besides owning a grocery store in Arbuckle.
Mr. Hannum’s family consists of his wife and eight children, six girls and two boys. He is at present serving his third term as Supervisor, having been first elected in 1884.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 438-439
J. O. ZUMWALT
Joseph O. Zumwalt was born in Well County, Illinois, March 10, 1835. He arrived in California when only fourteen years old, having come with his father across the plains. His first occupation was in the mines, at which he continued till the spring of 1853, when he returned to Illinois for the purpose of bringing out stock to California. He had succeeded fairly well and was now enabled to go into the stock-raising business, which he followed for nearly five years in Solano County. He again returned to the States in 1859 and came back with one hundred and fifty stands of bees, being about the first bees brought to this coast. Mr. Zumwalt now followed farming in Solano County till the year 1870, when he moved to Colusa County. Here he rented what is now his present home, one mile south of Williams, purchasing it two years later. At the home place he farms over five hundred acres. Besides, he is largely interested in horticulture, having a vineyard of twenty acres and an orchard of seven acres in a high state of productiveness. Mr. Zumwalt also owns two thousand and three acres of land on Stony Creek.
In 1888 he was elected Supervisor for the Third District. Although a Republican in a strong Democratic locality, he defeated the Democratic nominee for that office.
Mr. Zumwalt was married, at Sacramento, November 5, 1860, to Miss Mary Murphy, his family circle consisting of four sons and six daughters.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 439
J. H. POPE
John Henry Pope was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on November 5, 1835. At five years of age he was left an orphan, and was then taken by an aunt to her home near Washington City and cared for, being sent to school till he had reached his eighteenth year. In 1853 he went to Missouri and Kansas and obtained employment as a clerk at several points in these States. In 1858 he set out, driving a team, across the plains by way of Salt Lake, and after wintering in that city, he started early in the following spring for California. He reached Colusa County in 1859 and has ever since made his home there. On arriving here he clerked in stores at Princeton, Jacinto and Colusa. When W. N. Herd assumed the office of Assessor, Mr. Pope was appointed Chief Deputy, a position which he has ever since held, except during the two years when he served as Under-sheriff by appointment of Sheriff Arnold. Mr. Pope’s much appreciated competency in county affairs is universally acknowledged, and this, coupled with a genuine spirit of accommodation in discharging his duties, has made him an invaluable public officer. He is also secretary of the Colusa Canning, Packing and Drying Company.
He was married, at Jacinto, in 1865, to Miss Elvira King, and has one son, Arthur by name. Mr. Pope has a nice home at the county seat and a twenty-acre orchard one mile west of the town, planted in apricots, Bartlett pears and French prunes.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 439-440