Colusa County
Biographies
T. C. McVAY
Thomas C. McVay is a native of Cape Girardeau County, Missouri. His father dying in 1838, placed the responsibility of providing for his mother and seven children upon young Thomas. In 1849 he was residing in Dallas County, Missouri, when he set out for California across the plains by way of Sublett’s Cut-off. The journey occupied five months. He engaged in mining on his arrival in this State, meeting with moderate success in the camps around Nevada City and Grass Valley, until the year 1853, when he returned to Missouri. There he purchased six hundred head of cattle and drove them across the plains, disposing of them in Colusa County. In 1856 he went East on a similar errand, and bought and sold another band of cattle in Colusa County. These journeys were attended with great difficulties on account of Indian depredations.
In 1863 Mr. McVay was married to Mrs. A. M. Nelson, by whom he has four children. Mr. McVay’s farm is located on the east side of the river opposite Princeton and embraces some three hundred acres.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 440
A. A. JACKSON
A. A. Jackson is a native of the Pine Tree State, born December 27, 1842. He spent his early life on his father’s farm, and secured a common-school education. In September, 1863, he came to California via Panama. After spending one year on a ranch, he went to Puget Sound and worked in a saw-mill. In 1865 he engaged in mining, following that pursuit in Montana and Nevada. In 1873 he came to Colusa County and purchased an interest in a lumber yard with W. D. Dean, and the business was run under the firm name of W. D. Dean & Co. Two years later the firm purchased the lumber yard at Princeton, which was conducted under the name of A. A. Jackson. In 1879 the Colusa Lumber Company was incorporated, with yards at Colusa, Princeton, Williams and Willows, when Mr. Jackson moved to Willows, where he has ever since resided. In 1888 he engaged in the lumber business at Modesto under the firm name of A. A. Jackson & Co. Mr. Jackson is a leading Republican of the county, takes an absorbing interest in public affairs, and is always forward in aiding enterprises for public good.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 440-441
W. H. KELLEY
Noteworthy among the active business men of the county and that class of politicians who take a deep interest in party and public affairs for the sake of promoting its basal principles and not in a selfish scheming for office, is W. H. Kelley. He was born in Ralls County, Missouri, December 8, 1851, and is the oldest son of Hon. John M. Kelley, of Yolo County. His father having decided to leave Missouri and found <?> another home, the family commenced the long and at times perilous journey across the plains in 1859 with California as the objective point. On the journey, young Kelley, though but eight years old, made his first acquaintance with real work, being engaged in driving his father’s cattle all the way from the Missouri River to the Pacific. The Kelley family, shortly after arriving in the State, settled in Yolo County, where “Buck,” as he is familiarly called, attended the public school for a while, afterwards completing his education at the Jesuit College, Santa Clara. Attaining his majority about this time, he came to Colusa County, engaging in various occupations, such as farming, conducting a livery stable, journalism and the real estate and insurance business. In May, 1885, in conjunction with K. E. Kelley, he purchased the Willows “Journal” and during the co-partnership of these two bright, active, and aggressive gentlemen, the “Journal” came to the front and was much appreciated and quoted by its exchanges. Mr. Kelley again resumed the editorship of the “Journal” on September 1, 1890, which paper, besides issuing a weekly paper of eight pages, is one of the newsiest dailies in the Sacramento Valley. He takes great interest in politics, being one of the most indefatigable workers in the Democratic ranks and an acknowledged leader therein. He served as secretary of the Democratic County Central Committee from 1888 to 1890. “Buck” lays no claim of belonging to that rather numerous and unhappy class of local statesmen who seek to control communities for all the glory and pelf there is in it. An honorable, public-spirited man, when his locality or party are to be benefited, he does the work of any two men and pays for the pleasure of doing it out of his own means. This is all the glory or recompense he seeks.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 441-442
C. H. MERRILL
Mr. Merrill has resided in Colusa County twenty years. He is a native of Illinois, and has followed the business of harness making, in connection with his brother. Their harness business is second to none in the county in the amount of stock carried and in the extent of the trade conducted. The building in which this business is carried on belongs to the firm, and is one of the many fine business edifices of Willows. Mr. Merrill is a zealous advocate of irrigation, and foresees wonderful advancement in the material progress of this section of the county.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 442