Colusa County
Biographies
GEORGE MUDD
George Mudd was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1845. His father was Robert Mudd, a lead miner. George Mudd remained in Yorkshire and followed mining until 1864, when he emigrated to Canada West. Near the town of Kingston he engaged in farming and remained in that place until 1865. He then went to the copper mines near Lake Superior, to which place his brothers James and William had preceded him. Not being satisfied with this place, he set out, in company with a party of miners, including his brothers, to East Tennessee, where they expected to find the iron mines in operation, but on reaching their destination, in the vicinity of Chattanooga, the war having just closed, they found the mines of that district temporarily abandoned.
They continued on to West Chattanooga, where the Mount Aetna mine was in operation. The entire party found employment there. George remained in that district until 1866. He then went to Johnson County, Missouri, where his brother James preceded him, where they opened and operated a coal mine on their own account, and met with fair success. In 1867 he sold out his interest in the mining business to his brother James, and he, in company with his brother William, turned his face toward the Pacific Coast. Arriving at Nebraska City, on July 12, 1867, they found an ox-train fitting out for California, and they joined the party. Arriving in the Sacramento Valley in 1867, he wintered in Cache Creek, Yolo County, and in the spring of 1868 he came on through Colusa County, and continued on east to the White Pine mining region, by way of Honey Lake and Truckee. He remained there until September, 1869, and in October, 1870, returned to Colusa County, settling on the ranch where he now lives, four and one-half miles east of Germantown, where he cultivates five thousand acres of good grain-land.
Mr. Mudd is one of the pioneer farmers on what is called the “Colusa Plains.” He is a wide-awake and practical business man, thoroughly alive to all the advanced ideas of farming, and was the first man in the Great Sacramento Valley to apply steam to the plow, harrow and harvester, which he is now successfully operating. He is a leading Republican of the county, takes a deep interest in public affairs and is a pleasant, enterprising citizen.
On the 23d of March, 1875, he was married to Miss Mattie A. L. Mitchell, a native of Downieville, Sierra County, a refined and estimable lady. Mr. Mudd and wife have four children, two boys and two girls.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 416-417
MICHAEL O’HAIR
Michael O’Hair was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in October, 1845, and lived there until 1848, when his father, John O’Hair, moved to New York, and engaged in the mercantile business, and remained there until 1852, when the entire family again moved to Michigan. Here they resided two years, going from there to Illinois, where they engaged in farming, remaining there two years. They afterwards emigrated to the then new State of Iowa, located in Floyd County, and engaged in farming.
At the breaking out of the Civil War, young O’Hair, who was then only sixteen years of age, enlisted in the Union Army in Company K of the Seventh Iowa Cavalry, under Captain F. H. Cooper, and served three years, being in several noted battles, among them the battle of Deer Hill. He also accompanied General Sulley, in 1863, in his famous trip through what is known as the “Bad Lands” of Montana, they being the first party of whites to cross that country. He also accompanied Colonel Pattee at the laying out of forts Firesteel and Du Rosh, in Dakota Territory, and was a member of the relief corps sent out to rescue Captain Fisk and his emigrant train when they were surrounded by Indians in the “Bad Lands” of Montana. After these adventures and experiences, he returned to Sioux City, Iowa, and was there honorably discharged. After years of war and frontier perils, O’Hair, now a young man, longed for the old home in Floyd County, Iowa, and so hastened to return there, where he farmed till 1868, when he went out on the frontier and engaged in railroading on the Union Pacific Railroad, which was then pushing its way toward Ogden. He was present at the driving of the “golden spike,” in Ogden, in 1869, after which he came west to California, and continued north to Puget Sound, following lumbering for several months, when he again returned to California and began farming near Princeton, Colusa County. In 1874 he moved north near Stony Creek, and, in company with his brother William, purchased a large tract of land five and one-half miles northeast of Orland, where he now lives, and, although he has met with some severe losses by fire, he now has one of the most comfortable homes in Colusa County.
In 1886 Mr. O’Hair was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors from the Fifth District of Colusa County, of which body he is chairman. In 1887 Mr. O’Hair assisted in organizing the Kraft Irrigation District. In 1889 he was married to Miss Hattie Hunter, of Colusa, a talented and accomplished young lady, by whom he has one child, William Hunter by name.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 417-418
PETER SOREN PETERSON
Peter Soren Peterson, an honored pioneer of the State and one of Colusa County’s best citizens, was born in Bornholm, Denmark, on December 23, 1820. His father was a school-master and hence aided young Peterson in obtaining a practical education. At eighteen years of age he went out to the Danish West Indies and secured employment as overseer on a sugar plantation, remaining there and working in this capacity eleven years, on the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John. Hearing of the discovery of gold in California, he left St. Thomas in April, 1850, on the packet ship “Shakespeare,” arriving at San Francisco after a nine months’ voyage. After working there a few months at any odd job that presented itself, he set out for the mines, working with success at Bartons Bar, on Yuba River, and subsequently at Long Bar and Parks Bar. In 1856 he bought an interest in the Blue Cement mine, on Suckers Flat, Yuba County, afterwards being associated in the same with Lot M. Rust, whose sister Mr. Peterson married later on. He disposed of his interest in this mine for a comfortable sum and then set about realizing the dream of his life, which was to be an independent farmer. In August, 1868, he purchased a livery stable in Colusa from John Culp, but ill health compelled him to sell out to Mr. Rust.
On July 13, 1869, he bought the Salt Lake ranch in company with John Boggs and C. C. Crommer. This ranch is located on Funk Slough, in Antelope Valley, just in the foot-hills some eleven miles west of Maxwell. This ranch embraced nearly six thousand acres, and four thousand sheep and other stock were grazing on it. Mr. Peterson took immediate possession and has ever since made it his cozy, hospitable home. From time to time he added to his land acquisition, and on March 2, 1874, he purchased W. H. Fountain’s ranch, containing nine hundred and twenty acres, just north of the home place. On February 14, 1877, he purchased the interest of John Boggs in the original Salt Lake ranch, so that his landed possessions now embrace nine thousand one hundred and seventy acres.
Mr. Peterson was married, February 1, 1870, to Miss Lida M. Rust, of Palermo, Waldo County, Maine, by whom he has been blessed with four children.
Mr. Peterson is one of those energetic and progressive gentlemen whose residence in a community always leaves an impression and gives an impetus to its welfare. He was among the first to introduce Durham cattle in the county, of which he has now a large band. He was an early advocate of railroads in the county and is a large stockholder in the Colusa and Lake Road. In politics he is an ardent Republican.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 418-419
WILEY E. BRASFIELD
Wiley E. Brasfield, a son of Leonard Brasfield, was born in Clay County, Missouri, November 19, 1837. He was brought up to farming on the paternal acres and managed to secure such an education as the times offered. It, however, laid the basis for the acquirement of a practical kind of knowledge, which Mr. Brasfield has gained by assiduous reading. He followed farming till 1863, when he pushed across the plains with a mule-team by way of Salt Lake. He stopped over on his journey a few months in Nevada and arrived in Colusa County January 31, 1864. He located on Grand Island and resumed his former calling of a farmer, which he continued up to the year 1882, when he moved to College City in order to afford his children an opportunity to attend the college at that place. Mr. Brasfield was married, at Woodland, October 9, 1865, to Miss Fannie J. Barnett, daughter of Elder G. O. Barnett. His wife died December 5, 1889, leaving his five children.
In May, 1883, Mr. Brasfield was appointed County Surveyor for an unexpired term, and in 1884, 1886 and 1888 was re-elected to that office. As a public officer he has been accommodating and efficient, as is testified by his long occupancy of office.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 419