Colusa County
Biographies
HON. A. H. ROSE
Albert H. Rose, who has for many years occupied a large space in the public eye of California, was born in Delaware County, Ohio, July 26, 1827. His father, Henry M., was a farmer and bred his son to the same manly occupation, allowing young Albert the opportunity, when obtainable, of acquiring a common-school education, which was the best the period and the locality could impart. Albert continued to work on the paternal acres, cultivating his mind with solid and wholesome reading, till he had reached his twenty-second year, when he commenced working for himself.
The year 1851 was a remarkable one in the annals of California immigration. Thousands upon thousands at the East severed their old home or local associations and pressed eagerly forward by land and by sea to the strange romantic land of gold and adventure. There was no discouraging, no delaying of these daring spirits. Among those who caught the contagion was young Rose, who left his home in Ohio, January 25, 1851, on his way to California by the Isthmus route. He arrived in San Francisco March 21 following. Here he wasted no time in taking useless observations, but pushed on to Fine Gold Gulch, in Fresno County, where he at once tried his inexperienced hand at gold seeking. He remained here till July 15 of the same year, when he started for the placer mines on the American River. Here he continued to work for nearly six months, when glowing reports of the rich finds in Indian Canon lured him to set out and try his luck there. He remained in these mines till March 15, 1852, leaving them for Amador, Amador County, at which place he took up his abode, residing in that county for seventeen years, being extensively engaged in the business of quartz mining most of his time and meeting with considerable success.
In December, 1869, Mr. Rose moved to San Francisco, and while engaged in business, made his home there for a brief period, though he subsequently resided in Oakland and Menlo Park. In 1869-70 he became much interested in the reclamation of lands in Colusa and Yolo Counties, which led to his purchasing a large tract on Grand Island, on which he made his home and whereon he has continued ever since 1877. Here he directs the operations of his farm of six thousand acres and at his large and comfortable ranch residence dispenses that warm hospitality proverbial on the great farms of the State.
Mr. Rose was first married, January 1, 1863, in Amador County, to Miss Katharine M. Barry, who died in 1868, leaving him a son and a daughter. January 1, 1870, he was married to Mrs. Sarah C. Boling, of San Francisco, his wife being a sister of Mrs. Judge S. S. Wright of that city. Mrs. Rose died May 22, 1872, by whom he had also a son and daughter. Mr. Rose, on March 14, 1877, was again married, his wife being Mrs. Caroline M. Brooks, by whom he has three children living, two girls and one boy.
As a public man Mr. Rose has been quite conspicuous. His executive ability and wisdom in counsel have won him cordial recognition both among legislators and his associates in the Democratic party, of which party he has always been an unswerving adherent.
In 1865 he was elected State Senator, representing the counties of Amador and Alpine. This was at a special election caused by the death of G. W. Seator shortly after the general elections. In this campaign the popularity of Mr. Rose was solidly attested by the fact that he, a Democrat, carried his district by two hundred and thirty-eight majority, which shortly before had given Mr. Lincoln for President over five hundred Republican majority. On taking his seat he evinced that fidelity to duty and that useful familiarity with public affairs as to render him most flatteringly conspicuous, so much so that during the session of 1867-68, when the election of a United States Senator was the absorbing question before the Legislature, he had a large and devoted following who pushed him forward for that exalted position. The choice, however, fell upon Eugene Casserly. Mr. Rose has been a member of almost every Democratic State Central Committee since the year 1856, and was a delegate to the National Convention which nominated Seymour and Blair. During the exciting gubernatorial campaigns of Haight and Irwin, he took a most active and prominent part, working with a vigor and zeal which told heavily in the successful aspirations of these candidates for the chief magistracy of the State.
As Mr. Rose has always deeply interested himself in the reclamation of lands and the unobstructed navigation of the rivers of the State, and is quite an authority on these subjects, his selection in being sent, in March, 1890, to Washington as a member of a delegation to secure legislation to restore and protect the navigation of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers and their tributaries, was a wise and appropriate one. He has also served at his own home as trustee of Reclamation District No. 108 since its first organization, and of which Board he was president till August, 1889.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 405-407.
HON. JOHN C. CAMPBELL
This gentleman was born in Ireland, August 6, 1833. At the age of seven years he came with his parents to the United States, settling in Amboy, Illinois, where he resided till 1854, when he came to California. After prospecting a short time in Calaveras County, he went to Amador County in 1855, where he lived for ten years, engaged in mining and operating a saw-mill. When the Washoe silver mining excitement broke out, he established a line of teams, leaving Sacramento City and crossing the Sierras, carrying supplies to the mines. After continuing with success in this line of business for several years, he went to Yolo County, purchased a large farm, and, having now turned agriculturist, he settled down here for six years, looking to the tillage of his acres.
Mr. Campbell came to Colusa County in 1877. Here he leased nearly ten thousand acres of land located west of the town of Maxwell, belonging to J. H. Glide.
In 1888 he was elected Assemblyman from Colusa County on the Republican ticket, overcoming a Democratic majority of over nine hundred and receiving a majority of one hundred and three votes. The question of county division entered largely into the canvass and party lines blended with local ambitions. In 1890 he was again nominated for the Assembly by the Republican party but was defeated by Hon. Henry Eakle, by a majority of twenty-three votes. Mr. Campbell is one of the popular men of the county, is a pleasant gentleman, and makes a vigorous fight for the accomplishment of whatever he undertakes to do.
Mr. Campbell was married, November 1, 1860, to Miss Eliza C. Brierly, and two sons and four daughters living are the results of this union.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 407.