Colusa County
Biographies
GEORGE B. HARDEN
This gentleman is a Missourian by birth, born in the town of Frankfort, Pike County, on November 11, 1847. When eight years of age he removed with his parents to Ralls County, Missouri, and in 1864 crossed the plains with his family, consisting of his father, mother, and four children. The family located in Yolo County for one year, when they removed to Grand Island, Colusa County. After ten years spent in farming there, they moved to Maxwell, and purchased land there. The Hardens were among the pioneers in agricultural pursuits in this locality. In 1878 the railway was completed to Maxwell, and Mr. Harden and his brother, Thomas P. Harden, erected a large warehouse for the storage of grain, and entered into the general commission business on a large scale, buying and selling wheat for themselves, or operating on commission. At the same time they conducted the business of the Puget Sound Lumber Company at Maxwell until 1888. In 1882 Mr. Harden became a member of the general merchandising firm of Bacon, Harden & Harden, who continued till 1887, and sold out. Mr. Harden was elected in 1880 to the office of County Assessor, a place he was well qualified to fill, and retired from that position with increased popularity. He was for a number of years a member of the Democratic County Central Committee. Having been an early promoter of the system of irrigation, and warmly interested in the subject, it was but meet and natural that his usefulness should be recognized in choosing the officers of the Central Irrigation District. Hence he was chosen Treasurer on the organization of the district, and has held this position ever since.
Mr. Harden was united in marriage, November 11, 1878, to Miss Lucy Lovelace, and is the father of three children.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 419-420
CLARENCE C. HICOK.
Clarence C. is the son of Hon. John J. Hicok, born at Marysville, this State, November 14, 1854. Two years later his parents moved to Grand Island, where he has spent the greater portion of his life. After receiving a common-school education, he took a course at Heald’s Business College, in 1873. Upon his return he worked in C. J. Diefendorff’s store, at Grand Island. July 29, 1874, he was married to Miss Cora Agnew. He then engaged in farming for himself on Grand Island, his capital at that time consisting of but two honest hands and a willing heart. “Fortune favors the brave,” and Mr. Hicok gradually accumulated of this world’s goods, and is now in very comfortable circumstances. In August, 1890, owing to poor health, he moved from his farm to Colusa, engaging in the grain and real-estate business. In politics he is a Republican, and takes a leading interest in politics. He was his party’s candidate for County Assessor at the last election, and received a handsome vote.
On July 19, 1889, Mr. Hicok met with a sore affliction in the death of his wife, an estimable woman, who was the mother of his three children, two sons and one daughter.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 420
EDWIN AUGUSTUS HARRINGTON
Edwin Augustus Harrington, of Colusa, was born in Burlington, Vermont, January 31, 1834. His parents’ names were William B. and Axey Harrington. He was raised on a farm till he reached his sixteenth year, when he was apprenticed to the carpenter and stair-building trade at Plattsburg, New York. Four years later he resided in Boston, engaged as a contractor in the same line of business. On May 10, 1857, Mr. Harrington sailed from New York for California on the steamer “Northern Light” to Panama, and was there transferred to the “Orizaba,”en route to San Francisco, where he arrived June 10, 1859. He shortly afterward took up his location at Marysville, where he organized and conducted a sash, door and blind factory for twelve years, a paint and oil store till 1880, and also put on foot a truck and dray company, which he superintended for eight years. Conducting these operations simultaneously, Mr. Harrington’s early years in California were very busy ones.
In September, 1876, he came to the town of Colusa, and incorporated the Colusa Stage Company, of which he is both president and superintendent.
In the spring of 1885 Mr. Harrington began soliciting stock for the purpose of building a narrow-gauge railroad from Colusa west, to connect with the Southern Pacific Company line. The confidence he reposed in the project was rewarded by his obtaining stock subscriptions to the road in thirty days, amply sufficient to construct it. Of this corporation he has been superintendent since its organization. Mr. Harrington is an energetic, clear-headed, persevering business man. Neither his industry nor his patience ever flags once he is resolved on a measure. Possessing the confidence of the community, he is regarded as unexcelled for his success as an organizer of companies. In politics he is a staunch Republican.
Mr. Harrington was married, in 1859, in Burlington, Vermont, his native State, to Miss Mary A. Lincoln, who became the mother of his two children, and who died in Marysville in 1882. He was married to Miss Lizzie Arnold, his present wife, on July 15, 1886.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 420-421
DR. E. B. MOORE
Dr. E. B. Moore is a native of Anderson, South Carolina, and was born there in 1828. He studied medicine, and attended lectures at the Transylvania University, at Lexington, Kentucky. After receiving his diploma, he practiced his profession for several years at Guntersville, Alabama, and Chalk Bluffs, Arkansas. He crossed the plains in 1857, had his first Indian fight, and several fierce ones besides, near Fort Ridley, and, following the old Carson route, reached Placerville. Here he followed mining successfully till the spring of 1858. After this he engaged in stock-raising till 1864, when he went to Washoe, Nevada, to superintend and extensive timber ranch for the Gould & Curry Mining Company. He returned to California after an absence of sixteen months, and, coming to Colusa County, he purchased a farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, located three miles northeast of the town of Colusa. It was well stocked with cattle, and was known as the ranch of the Rainsport estate. Dr. Moore lived here nearly two years, when he purchased nine hundred acres of land in Grapevine and Antelope Valleys, and went into the business of sheep-raising. He afterwards went to Grand Island and engaged in grain-raising on an extensive scale. He still owns five hundred acres on Grand Island and three hundred and twenty acres on the Blanchard ranch, near Williams. He is the owner of the justly celebrated Cooks Springs, and resides there the greater part of the year. Dr. Moore was twice married, his first wife, formerly Mrs. Judge Dunlap, being now deceased. He was united in marriage to Mrs. Jane Harver, of Grand Island, his present wife, in 1877. Dr. Moore is a man of tireless energy, and socially one of the most companionable of gentlemen.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 421-422
HON. HENRY P. EAKLE
Henry P. Eakle is a native of Clay County, Tennessee, born December 6, 1832. In early life he worked as a tailor for a short time in Lawrence and Columbia Counties, of his native State. He availed himself with assiduity of every opportunity to acquire a good common-school education, and succeeded. He was engaged on a farm for three years before coming to California, reaching the State in 1857, journeying overland by the South Platte and Carson Valley route. His trip was not without its adventures. At Gravelly Ford, on the Humboldt, they were attacked by a band of Snake Indians, with whom they fought a desperate battle, lasting half a day. All his company were wounded except Eakle. The Indians lost four killed and many wounded. Like most of the emigrants of that period, he was only blessed with such of the world’s goods as his hands could earn. He was bred to habits of industry and self-reliance, and, on arriving in this State, he accepted with alacrity the first opportunity for employment. He worked as a laborer and as a farm hand on the ranches in Placer and Yolo Counties, made himself conversant with the various systems of agriculture and methods of stock-raising, and at the end of nine years of unremitting toil, he came to Colusa County, bringing with him his humble but hard-earned accumulations. In December, 1867, he located in Spring Valley, in Colusa County, and engaged in stock-raising and farming. He prospered beyond expectation, and is now one of the large land-holders of the county. His possessions consist of seventeen thousand acres in Colusa County, and two thousand acres in Lassen, Butte and Yolo Counties. His home is located two and one-half miles southeast of Williams.
Mr. Eakle is a director of the Central Irrigation District, and has been for several terms one of the directors of the Cortina School District. He was nominated by the Democrats of the county for the Assembly in April, 1890, and was elected by a small majority over J. C. Campbell.
Mr. Eakle was first married, October 20, 1865, to Miss Eliza F. Edrington, of Healdsburg, Sonoma County, she dying two years after their union. On November 26, 1871, he was again united in wedlock, to Mary E. Miller, of Freshwater, his present wife, by whom he had seven children, three of whom are living.
Mr. Eakle is a quiet man, of unassuming character. Like most men who began at the lowest round of the ladder of life and achieve success, he does his own thinking, and has a mind of his own. He possesses a strong supply of nerve and will-power. One of his neighbors relates and incident of this characteristic of Mr. Eakle. He was, many years ago, driving some stock on one of his ranches when an unruly animal kicked him so violently on his right knee as to dislocate it. He was several miles from home or a physician; the pain was growing very intense, and he was now at a loss what to do. But he was equal to the emergency. He told his wife, who was with him, how to arrange some rails on a fence, under his supervision, and when this was done he inserted the swollen and painful limb therein, and coolly reset the disjointed leg by a powerful and sudden pull. After this he was able to walk home slowly and dispensed entirely with the services of a surgeon.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 422-423