Colusa County
Biographies
S. HOUCHINS
Samuel Houchins is a native of Mercer County, Kentucky, born January 14, 1827. His father died when Samuel was twelve years old, leaving a widow and eleven children. Samuel being the oldest, upon him to a great extent devolved their maintenance. He labored on the farm nine months of the year and attended the local school the remaining three months. In 1844 he entered Bacon College, at Harrodsburg, Kentucky, and remained in that institution four years. On leaving college he entered regularly the profession of teaching, in which profession he has mainly continued ever since. In 1849 he married Miss Belinda Burks, a native of Kentucky, and in the following year he removed to Monroe County, Missouri, locating near Paris, the county seat. He came to Colusa County in 1872, meeting here many of his friends whom he had known in Kentucky and Missouri.
He was elected superintendent of schools in 1875, holding that office by re-election till 1883. He also served from 1876 to 1878 as principal of the Primary Department of Pierce Christian College, and in 1888 was elected auditor of Colusa County, and re-elected in 1890.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 459-460
JAMES WILLIAMS
This gentleman, who resides on a comfortable farm three miles southeast of Elk Creek, was born in England in 1824. After coming to America, he resided for a number of years in Indiana. In 1854 he arrived in California, where he went to work in the mines at Rough and Ready, Nevada County. In 1857 he located at old Bridgeport, in Colusa County, and moved to his present place of abode in 1871, where he farms one hundred and sixty acres of productive land. Mr. Williams is also one of the many who predicts that fruit will yet supplant grain in a large measure, and is satisfied that the land in his vicinity is unequaled in this county for this new industry. Mr. Williams was married in 1871, and four children are the fruits of the union.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 460
JOSHUA C. SMITH
This gentleman is a native of Michigan, and was born March 29, 1843. After receiving a good common-school education, he learned the trade of blacksmithing, and worked at it for many years. He came to Carson City, Nevada, in 1865, and served in the employ of the telegraph company, and also in the quartz-mills around that place. In 1866-67 he worked at his trade in Dixon, Cal. He left there and came to Williams in the fall of 1871, and worked for a time at his trade, when he moved to Ashton, on Stony Creek, at that time the center of a great copper-mining excitement. Here he secured four hundred and eighty acres of land, and farmed it for nine years, at the same time conducting a blacksmithing business. He was also afterwards employed in the same handicraft at Leesville, and at Williams. Mr. Smith was married, in the spring of 1871, to Miss Barbara G. Leek, of Ralls County, Missouri, by whom he had five children, of whom three are still living. Mr. Smith has served two terms as school trustee of the Ashton district and six years as road-master. He now resides at Williams.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 460
ABRAHAM BEERMAN
This gentleman, who was for many years most prominent in mercantile affairs in the northern part of the county, was born in Northern Germany, November 25, 1842. Here he received the benefits of a good common-school education, and was employed as clerk in his father’s store till he had reached his twenty-second year. Then he left home to begin life on his own account. Crossing the Atlantic, he went to Connecticut, and resided in various parts of the nutmeg State for three years, engaged in selling goods. An opportunity presenting itself for employment in Atlanta, Georgia, he removed there, and was engaged as clerk in a mercantile house for three years.
Mr. Beerman arrived in San Francisco in 1868, and shortly afterwards engaged himself as clerk in the store of M. M. Feder, at Elk Creek, in Colusa County. After six months spent in this employ, he and Sol. Davidson opened a general store in the old town of Olimpo, northwest of the present town of Orland. At the end of the first year, he purchased the interest of Mr. Davidson in their joint business, which he continued until the spring of 1888, having in the meantime moved his store to Orland just after the railroad had reached that town. Alive to the necessity of a banking institution in this place, he was one of the original movers in the organization of the Bank of Orland, which was incorporated in March, 1887, and of which he was chosen president.
In 1888 Mr. Beerman disposed of his store business in Orland, and moved to San Francisco, where, in financial comfort and surrounded with domestic blessings, he can take life in unvexed retirement, and see to the education of his children. Mr. Beerman was married, October 10, 1875, to Miss Rachael Davidson, by whom he has four children, Charles, Wilfred, Irene and Edith.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 460-461
W. T. TROXEL
This thrifty farmer and pioneer of the State, who resides nearly five miles southeast of Elk Creek, was born in Illinois in the year 1834. He received a common education and spent the early years of his life on a farm. He reached California in 1854 and was engaged in teaming for some time in Placer County. In 1870 he arrived at Colusa County and was occupied in farming near Willows till 1886, when he removed to his present farm, of two hundred and five acres, which he cultivates with industry and success. Mr. Troxel was married in 1867 to Miss Eliza Johnson, of Solano County, and has a family of seven children.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 461