Colusa County
Biographies
S. R. MURDOCK
Samuel Robinson Murdock was born in Knox County, Ohio, November 22, 1832, where he resided for five years, his father dying in the interim. On his mother removing to Marion County, young Murdock lived with her till he had reached his eleventh year, when he was sent to live with his uncle on a farm. After spending three years here, attending the public schools during the winter, he returned to Marion County and was apprenticed to the trade of a printer. Having acquired a fair knowledge of the “art of preservative,” he, completing his apprenticeship, worked for a year at the case in Columbus, of the same State. The year 1853 was an almost unprecedented one for emigration to California from the Eastern States. Young Murdock catching the infection of travel and fortune-seeking, he started for this State in February of that year, accompanied by his mother. Arriving at Council Bluffs, the latter’s mind rapidly underwent a change of purpose. Missing the company they intended going with, she abandoned her trip to California and returned to her former home, while young Murdock continued the journey, driving cattle across the plains. On September 5 following, he arrived at Park’s Bar, Yuba County, and, finding ready work in the mines, he continued there during the winter. In the spring he went to Forest City and engaged in selling goods at that place for one year and a half. In the summer of 1856, his mother, concluding to rejoin him, met him at Marysville, and, accompanied by her, he engaged in framing on the Sacramento River on the opposite side of Eddy’s Landing. Bent on a more active and business-like pursuit, Mr. Murdock, after four years of a farmer’s life, came to Colusa County, near Sulphur Springs, raised cattle and drove them into the mining camps and towns of Nevada. He at one time took up his residence in that State, remaining there from 1864 till 1867, following various pursuits, such as mining, farming and teaming. He longed, however, for a home in Colusa County, whose soil and climate and possibilities he had seen nowhere approached, and hence he returned and purchased the old Lane place, in Antelope Valley, where he conducted a hotel for some time. He arrived here just as the oil excitement was subsiding, and the copper discoveries were beginning to attract swarms of prospectors. In 1869 Mr. Murdock was engaged as a store clerk in Colusa, at the same time paying much attention to a sheep ranch he had purchased on Stony Creek. In 1871, seeing an opportunity for a bargain, he disposed of his sheep ranch and started with his sheep for Nevada, where he sold them. Since this time Mr. Murdock has resided continuously in Colusa County, with the exception of a pleasure-trip back to his old Buckeye home, made in 1888. He resides at the county seat and is largely engaged in the stock-purchasing business. In 1870 he took the census of Colusa County, doing all the work of enumeration by himself, and for this purpose visiting personally every house in the county. He has likewise served as city trustee of Colusa two terms.
Mr. Murdock was married, in 1872, to Miss Carrie Sedgwick, of Ohio, and is the father or two children, one of whom is dead, the surviving one, Bessie, being thirteen years of age.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 397-398
H. B. JULIAN
This public-spirited gentleman and model farmer, who resides about six miles northeast of Elk Creek, was born in Tennessee in the year 1830. He was raised on the farm and received the benefits of a common-school education. He came to California in 1853, making the journey by the Isthmus of Panama. He first occupied himself in this State in working in nearly all the mining camps in Tuolumne County. He came to Colusa County in 1858, but settled permanently on his present home place, where he owns nine thousand acres of excellent land. This land is devoted to grain and stock-raising. Besides, he takes just pride in his extensive orchard, where flourish in abundance the best varieties of peaches, apricots, nectarines, almonds, apples, plums, and grapes. So productive is his land in grain that it is no uncommon thing for him to raise more than fifty bushels of wheat to an acre. But Mr. Julian believes that the future industry in this region will be fruit culture, and that, by degrees, it is now steadily supplanting the cultivation of wheat. He thinks that in a few years the large ranches of this valley will be divided up into twenty and forty-acre fruit farms, on which colonists will acquire comfortable homes and lay up large annual savings.
Mr. Julian was married, in 1866, to Miss Susan A. Small, of Colusa County, and five children bless their union.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 398-399