Colusa County
Biographies
W. C. HENRY
William C. Henry, who resides one mile south of Arbuckle, is a native of Canada and was born March 4, 1838. When only three months old, he was brought by his parents to Iowa and afterwards to Savannah, Andrew County, Missouri, where he attended school. He was only sixteen years old when he crossed the plains to this State, arriving at and locating for a short time at Cold Grove Point, in Sutter County. After working nearly a year for George Howell, at Howell’s Point, he turned his attention to mining, working at various intervals at New Castle, Placer County, at Long Bar, in Plumas County, and at quartz mining on Jennison Creek in Plumas County. In 1864 he went under engagement to work in the mines at a considerable distance back of Mazatlan, Mexico, where fortune seemed to insist upon his remaining, but owing to the disturbed condition of that country, being then in the throes of the Franco-Mexican War, he only remained six months and then returned to Colusa County. Here, in March, 1867, he took up three hundred and twenty acres of land, where, as a busy, intelligent farmer, he has been living ever since.
Mr. Henry was married, November 27, 1884, to Mrs. May Miller, who has borne him two children. Mr. Henry is a popular man, full of energy and the spirit of progress. His name has been suggested by many of the leading citizens of the county for the office of Sheriff. He ranks high as an Odd Fellow and is the guiding spirit of the lodge of that order at Arbuckle.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 461-462
P. F. DOLAN
Peter Francis Dolan is a native of Ireland, born in August, 1839, and passed his early days on his father’s farm. He landed in the United States at Boston, on June 6, 1853. He here served an apprenticeship of one year at the shoemaking trade and was next employed for four years in a manufacturing establishment at Lynn, Massachusetts. He had now served nearly six years in industrious pursuits, and, having laid by the little store of his earnings, he sought a younger and less crowded field for his ambitions. In the fall of 1859 he started for California via Panama, arriving in San Francisco October 16 of the same year. On his arrival he engaged in farming in Sacramento County, with which he occupied himself for nearly three years. In February, 1862, he worked in the mines for a brief period and afterwards resided for a few months in San Francisco.
In 1867 he came to Colusa County, purchasing, in company with the late Captain Dwyer, his present home of six hundred and twenty-three acres, located two miles south of Colusa, on the west bank of the Sacramento River.
Mr. Dolan was married, February 20, 1878, to Miss Sullivan at Vallejo, by whom he had four sons and two girls. Mr. Dolan takes a lively interest in fruit-growing, in which industry he is among the pioneers of the county. In grain-raising and dairying he devotes most of his time and is eminently successful therein. His home is one of comfort and ease and Mr. Dolan is highly respected by his neighbors. Mr. Dolan is a firm adherent of the Democratic party and was chosen a delegate in the summer of 1890 to the State Democratic Convention, which met at San Jose.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 462-463
MILTON S. FRENCH
This prosperous and unpretentious gentleman is a native of Calloway County, Missouri. He was brought up on a farm and came to California in 1850. He engaged in mining on his arrival in the State and pursued that occupation for six years. In the spring of 1858 he moved to Colusa County, locating thirteen miles northwest of Willows, where he owns a ranch comprising a territory of twelve thousand acres. He engaged in farming and sheep-raising and was eminently successful. He remembers that on his arrival here there was one stretch of wild oats waist high. No birds or rabbits were to be seen, while between his place and Princeton there was but one house, if a box set up on the plains could be so designated. Mr. French is foremost in the business enterprises of his locality, is president of the Willows Water and Light Company, and vice-president of the Bank of Willows. He is married and is the father of three children.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 463
C. B. WHITING
Charles Boyer Whiting was born in Portage City, Wisconsin, February 22, 1852, and is the only son of Captain Samuel Whiting, a man of recognized literary ability and political distinction. When young Whiting was six months old, his parents moved to Winona, Minnesota, and in 1861 his father was appointed United States Consul to Nassau, Bahama Islands, when the family moved to that place. Aside from limited advantages of attending the public school, young Whiting received instruction from his parents. At the age of sixteen years he entered the office of the Cleveland, Ohio, “Leader,” and served a four-years apprenticeship at the printer’s trade. In May, 1874, he received an appointment in the United States Signal Service, which position he held ten years, being stationed at Washington, District of Columbia; Logansport, Indiana; Burlington, Iowa; and San Francisco. Upon his retirement from government service, he entered the office of the Colusa “Sun” as foreman, which position he still holds. February 20, 1878, he was married to Miss Minnie L. Rice, at Logansport, Indiana, and three boys and one girl are the result of their union.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 463