Colusa County
Biographies
HENRY S. McMICHAEL
This gentleman’s home is “Oak Park,” in Antelope Valley, about fourteen miles from Williams. He was born in Walton County, Georgia, in 1830. He moved with his father to Benton County, Alabama, when a mere infant. At the age of seventeen he began learning the cabinet-making trade, at Jacksonville, in the same county, and in a couple of years afterwards purchased an interest in the business of his employer.
He set out March 10, 1850, to cross the plains to the Golden State with an ox-wagon, and arrived in Downieville, California, on the following July 29. He mined in that vicinity a few months, and located a ranch on Yuba River, in Sutter County, putting in five acres of potatoes. He set out again for the mines and never saw his ranch afterwards. He mined with excellent success in Nevada City, Red Dog, French Corral, Cherokee and Badger Hill, being the first to locate a claim in the latter camp. Mr. McMichael came to Colusa County in 1868, and purchased his present home place, in Antelope Valley, where he owns one thousand seven hundred and sixty acres of superior land. Besides growing grain and raising stock, he is deeply interested in the success of horticulture and grape production. Adjoining his large and comfortable residence is an extensive orchard and vineyard, the finest in the valley, which produces a most toothsome variety of pears, plums, apricots, apples and peaches. Mr. McMichael is justly proud of this, and predicts magnificent results from fruit culture in this section. He is as ardent a promoter of orchard and vineyard industries as he is a firm Democrat, to which party’s State convention, held at San Jose in 1882, he was a delegate.
Mr. McMichael was united in marriage, in North San Juan, in 1862, to Miss Amanda Winne, who was a native of New York State, by whom he has two children living, Lelia and Mabel.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 448-449
J. GROVER
Johnson Grover is a native of the State of Maine, born in 1838. He left his home when nineteen years of age, and secured a position in a mercantile house at Boston, Massachusetts. Here he remained five years, when he started for California, August 14, 1861, going there around the Horn, arriving in San Francisco February 6, 1862, after a voyage of one hundred and eighty-six days. He remained in San Francisco a few weeks, and tarried at Petaluma the same length of time, when he went to Humboldt County, Nevada, and was engaged there in mining for eighteen months. He next entered the hardware business in Sonoma County, California, having his brother for a partner, remaining here until 1872. Selling out here, he came to Colusa and opened out in the same business, where he has ever since conducted a prosperous business. At one time he conducted a branch store in the hardware line at Willows, under the supervision of his brother. Mr. Grover was married, in 1868, to Miss Nannie Robinson, and is the father of an interesting family.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 449
PALLAS LOVE
Pallas Love was born in Montgomery County, Missouri, September 28, 1853. At the age of ten years he crossed the plains for California. He worked on a farm on Grand Island until 1878, when he located in Colusa, and has since been engaged in the liquor business. He is a staunch Democrat and takes an active interest in politics.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 449
LEONARD B. AYER
Leonard B. Ayer is a native of Arlington, Massachusetts, where he was born March 30, 1835. His education was obtained in the common schools of his native place. At an early age he entered a merchandise establishment, and became an efficient salesman and accountant. In 1856, after having engaged in business for himself, he was obliged to seek rural recreation for his health, which had almost broken down under close application to business. Hence he wended his way westward to the prairies of Illinois, where he engaged in farming near Weatherfield. Three years later, his health having been restored by the hearty exercise of farm life, the plain living of those days, and the fresh, bracing air of that climate, he started across the plains, with four companions, for California, arriving at Marysville in October, 1859. He engaged in merchandising in Marysville until 1862, when he purchased an interest in the Marysville “Appeal,” becoming its business manager. In April, 1865, without solicitation on his part, he was appointed Register of the United States Land Office at that place, which position he held until the fall of 1875. Upon retiring from his official position, he engaged in the practice of land law, and in 1880 came to Colusa County to engage in farming in Antelope Valley. In 1888 he sold his farm and moved to Maxwell. He is interested in the development of Colusa County, and is engaged in superintending the planting and cultivation of a large orchard near the railroad station of Delevan. One hundred and sixty acres of fruit-trees and vines have already been planted, and it is proposed to plant four hundred and eight acres in addition thereunto. Mr. Ayer is a prominent Republican and takes a leading interest in local and national politics. He is a pleasant, far-seeing gentleman, well posted on the topics of the day.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 449-450
JAMES F. EASTON
This gentleman, residing on his farm, three miles east of Smithville, was born in Alabama in the year 1844. When very young he was taken to Illinois by his parents and lived there, engaged in farming, till 1870, when he set out for California, coming first to Colusa County. In 1882 he purchased the farm where he now lives, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, and has ever since been occupied with it in raising grain, stock and fruit. He is a warm advocate of fruit cultivation and the handsome orchard which stands back of his dwelling shows that he knows what character of fruits is best adapted to the soil and climate here. In the cultivation of alfalfa he exhibited a long stretch, which produces three crops a year without irrigation.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 450