Colusa County
Biographies
WILLIAM FLINN
This gentleman is a native of Georgetown, Indiana, and was born October 16, 1833. He lived in his native place some six years, when his family moved to the Big Miami Reservation, where he remained till 1849. In that year he crossed the plains, accompanying his father’s family. While en route the cholera broke out on the Big Blue, depriving him of his mother and brother, leaving his father with a family of eleven children. After many vicissitudes of travels, he reached the Sacramento River at Lassen in October of the same year, where they built a boat of oak timber and floated down the river. This was the first boat ever floated by white men down the Sacramento. He next turned up in the mines at Long’s Bar, where he continued with varying success till the fall of 1852, when he located four miles above Colusa with a band of sheep. In the summer of 1853 he again started to try his luck in the mines, working there till 1855, when he returned to Colusa. In 1862 he went to the State of Nevada, where he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Washoe County, under T. A. Reed. On returning to Colusa County he located a ranch in Bear Valley, and, after disposing of this, he bought the Webb ranch on Stony Creek. While there he was elected Roadmaster and Constable. On leaving Stony Creek he came to Williams, where he now resides. He has served as Constable in this place. He has a host of friends, who would make strenuous efforts to elect him Sheriff of the county if he would permit himself to enter the race. William Flinn was married, in 1868, to Miss Lizzie Marble.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 452-453
HANS JOHANNSEN
This gentleman is a native of Holstein, Germany, and was born in the year 1850. He came to America in 1869, and shortly after his arrival located in San Joaquin County, California, where he followed framing for several years. In 1870 he came to his present abode, twelve miles west of Willows, and having secured six hundred and forty acres of good land, he made it his permanent home. Besides cultivating grain extensively and raising stock, Mr. Johannsen wisely foresees that the fruit industry of his rich lands must in the near future be a source of great wealth, and hence he has already set out nearly two hundred fruit-trees, and will continue to enlarge their area of cultivation. Mr. Johannsen was married, at Willows, in 1880, to Miss Mattie Bender, by whom he has three children. The home of Mr. Johannsen is a model of neatness and comfort, and the evidences of intelligence, of interest in books, literature and music, found here are indicative of the refinement of his home circle.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 453
I. V. DEVENPECK
This prosperous and much-respected citizen of Willows was born in Montgomery County, New York, in 1830. He came to California in 1852, remained five years and then returned to the East. He came to Colusa County in 1875, locating near Willows when that town was a broad wheat-field, and has made it his home ever since. He owns a large ranch of ten hundred and seventy acres, two and a half miles northwest of Willows, which yields him a handsome income from the production of grain and the raising of stock. His residence at Willows is among the largest and most comfortable of the many elegant homes of that place. Mr. Devenpeck, surrounded by his family of four children, can pass the evening of his active life here in happiness and contentment.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 453
W. FRANK MILLER
This gentleman was born in Kentucky, in 1848. He came across the plains with his parents when but a year old, and has resided in Colusa County ever since. In 1873 he entered the general merchandise business on his own account, at Butte, and has continued in the same occupation ever since. He is also the postmaster and express agent of that place. Mr. Miller is married, and is the father of six children.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 453-454
JOHN D. ROSENBERGER
This gentleman, one of the most extensive farmers in Antelope Valley, was born in Augusta County, Virginia, March 17, 1834. He was raised on a farm, and in 1859 he went to Montgomery City, Missouri, and purchased a farm near that place. On April 2, 1865, he left Montgomery City for California, overland, arriving at Fosters Gap, foot of the Cascade Mountains, in September following. He lived for one year three miles west of Corvallis, Oregon, and another year on Long Farm, Benton County, Oregon, coming to his present home, in Antelope Valley, nine miles from Maxwell, on October 1, 1867.
Mr. Rosenberger was married, September 14, 1860, to Miss Tabitha Devine, a native of Missouri, by whom he has six children. His farm on which he resides embraces nearly fifteen hundred acres of land and is devoted to grain and stock-raising.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 454
P. R. GARNETT
Peter R. Garnett is a native of Ralls County, Missouri, born in the year 1841. His father was a farmer and stock-raiser, and young Garnett was brought up to the same pursuit. In 1868 he left his Missouri home for California, going by way of New York and Panama to San Francisco. He engaged in stock-raising in Solano County, in 1869, and continued there till 1873, when he came to Colusa County and began grain farming on his place three miles southeast of Willows, where he owns two thousand two hundred and fifty acres of superior land. He leases, besides, one thousand three hundred and fifty acres, all of which is cultivated.
Mr. Garnett is married and has a family of three children. He is a well-informed and useful citizen, and is Chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 454