Colusa County
Biographies
T. SULLIVAN
Timothy Sullivan is a native of Ireland, born in 1840. He came to America in 1860, sojourning for a year in Toronto, Canada. He next went to La Porte, Indiana, where he remained for eight years, coming to California in 1868. On arriving at Colusa he hired out for a month in the livery stable of Patterson & Rust, but worked there sixteen years. In 1883 he entered the livery stable business for himself, but met with a reverse in the destruction of his stables by fire in the fall of 1886. But “Tim,” as he is usually called, had friends and a fine run of custom, and, averse to leaving these, he immediately started in to rebuild a large fire-proof stable, and has continued therein ever since.
Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss B. Coily, and is the father of seven children.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 454-455
B. H. PETERS
Bernard H. Peters is a native of Schleswig, Germany, and born January 16, 1838. He emigrated from home and arrived in New York City in 1852, where he remained six years, learning the blacksmith trade and working at it after he had completed his apprenticeship. In 1859 he started for California, coming round the Horn in the “Polynesia,” a Boston clipper ship. Before coming to reside permanently in Colusa County in the spring of 1874, he had worked at his trade in San Francisco, Sacramento, Auburn, and other places, where his skill as a mechanic caused his work to be in much demand. On coming to Williams he was employed by Captain William Ashe on his ranch as a blacksmith. During this period he returned to visit the home and scenes of his childhood in Germany, and shortly after his return he opened up in the blacksmithing business for himself, at Williams, which he has ever since continued to conduct.
Mr. Peters was married to Miss Lina Kurtzstien, on September 18, 1878, by whom he has five children, one of whom is dead.
Among the benevolent orders Mr. Peters is highly esteemed, and has several times been the recipient of their respect. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, also of the I.O.U.W. He is a Past Grand of the Odd Fellows and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge in 1875.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 455
N. P. HARRISON
Nathaniel P. Harrison was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, December 31, 1831. He was sent to the public school of his locality, and early in life began learning the carpenter’s trade. In 1853 he went to Tippecanoe County, Indiana, where he resided for twelve years. He came to Marysville, California, in 1865, and to the town of Colusa in 1867, where he was engaged as a contractor and builder. He began making his permanent abode at Williams in 1882, where he always secured contracts in the erection of the largest buildings in the place. Prominent among these are Stovall’s large warehouse, Fouch’s drug store building, and Crutcher & Manor’s building. Mr. Harrison is a distant relative of President Harrison. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows’ organization, and about as vigorous and robust in personal appearance as even Virginia can produce or California preserve from looking old.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 455-456
WILLIAM G. HENNECKE
This prosperous farmer resides ten miles south of Smithville. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in 1843, and there received a good common-school education, as well as instruction in instrumental music, for which he had early exhibited a cultivated taste. Mr. Hennecke came to America in 1857, locating at Cincinnati, Ohio, where, becoming proficient in music, he was employed in a band. Almost at the beginning of the war, Mr. Hennecke showed his devotion to the land of his adoption by enlisting, in 1862, in the Second Artillery, United States Army, where he served three years, receiving an honorable discharge. In 1882 he located in his present home in Colusa County, where he cultivates and raises stock on one thousand five hundred and eighty acres of choice land. The cultivation of fruit finds in him a warm advocate, and his orchard of various fruits shows how profitable that industry can be made on these rich, rolling lands. Mr. Hennecke is married and the father of five children.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 456
N. K. SPECT
N. K. Spect was born in San Francisco, February 15, 1855. He is a son of Jonas Spect, who was among the earliest pioneers of the State. His early boyhood was spent in Sutter County, moving to Colusa in 1872. He received excellent educational advantages, having attended school in Circleville, Ohio, Lincoln Grammar School, of San Francisco, and the State University, in which latter place he completed his education. Returning to Colusa, he entered the store of J. Furth, where he remained six years, when he opened a grocery store under the firm name of Spect & Nathan. He conducted this business for two years, when he began operating in the grain commission business both at Colusa and Chico. In 1886 he came to Orland to engage in the real-estate business, where he now lives, and where he has made a number of large property sales.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 456
FREDRICK MUNSON
Among the sturdy farmers of Colusa County who have made fortunes in the growing of wheat is Fredrick Munson, a native of Germany, born in 1847. He came to the United States in 1865, landing at New York. Shortly after, he shipped as a sailor on a vessel bound for San Francisco via Cape Horn. In 1869 he settled on Grand Island and engaged in farming. In 1889, having laid by a competency, he rented this farm, of four hundred and eighty acres, and moved to Colusa. After he had become permanently located and was making more than a good living, he sent to Germany for his sweetheart, who came to this country, where they were married, in 1873.
“Colusa County” – by Justus H. Rogers – Orland, CA – 1891 – pp 456-457