Sutter County
Biographies
CHARLES G. BEST
To the men identified with the early history of Sutter County the gradual development into an agricultural and horticultural region has been a source of great satisfaction, and to none more so than to Charles G. Best, a native of this county. He was born on the Henry Best homestead in Sutter County, located two miles south of Yuba City, on January 22, 1864, the fifth in a family of ten children born to Henry and Luvina (McPherson) Best, natives of Ohio. Henry Best came West in 1862 and within two years was able to purchase 160 acres of land, which he improved. Gradually he acquired more land until he finally owned about 2000 acres; he divided this among his ten children, giving each 160 acres and retaining the balance, which he farmed until his death. He passed away April 26, 1921, his wife having died one year previously.
Charles G. Best attended the Grant district school adjacent to the home ranch and at an early age began ranching with his four brothers; they farmed 1400 acres to grain for many years and also engaged in contract harvesting and threshing with decided success. With his brother, Samuel E. , he owns 100 acres in the Grant district, forty acres of which is devoted to rice-growing, and thirty acres has been set to Thompson Seedless grapes. His home place consists of fourteen acres, which is in an orchard of almonds, peaches, apples, and apricots.
The marriage of Mr. Best united him with Miss Irene Keck, the third daughter of Robert and Sophia Alice (Bacon) Keck, natives of Ohio and England, respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Best are the parents of one son, Earl. He is married to Paula Mayer, and they have one daughter, Gladys. Earl Best resides in the Barry district and owns a ten-acre orchard; he is also associated with his father in the fruit business. Charles G. Best conducts a horseless ranch, using a tractor and modern implements. Since 1906 Mr. Best has been affiliated with the Woodmen of the World at Yuba City, and in politics supports the principles of the Republican platform.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 1327
LEE J. FARMER
The family represented by Lee J. Farmer, a resident of Tierra Buena, comes of Southern lineage, successive generations having lived and labored in Kentucky and Missouri. He was born on a sailing vessel as it entered the Golden Gate, San Francisco, Cal., October 19, 1865, a son of L. P. and Elizabeth (Bailey) Farmer, natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respectively. L. P. Farmer was born during the year 1834, and lived in Kentucky until 1856, when he removed to Missouri; and there he was married to Miss Bailey. In 1865 they started for California via Panama, and on arrival they settled in Sutter County. In 1880 they purchased 320 acres of land ten miles southwest of Yuba City, which was developed into a fine homestead. L. P. Farmer served as committeeman on the State Anti-Debris Committee, and also as supervisor of Supervisoral District No. 4, Sutter County, about sixteen years. He passed away August 2, 1910, and his wife survived him until July, 1911. Four daughters and the subject of this review survive the parents.
Lee J. Farmer received a good education in the public schools of Sutter County; later he attended Napa College and Howe’s Business College at Sacramento. In 1895 he entered the office of the subtreasury in San Francisco, working there for the ten years following, when he returned to Sutter County and engaged in ranching.
The marriage of Mr. Farmer, in San Francisco, October 9, 1898, united him with Miss Philena S. Proper, a daughter of Ed. E. and E. J. (Cilley) Proper, natives of New York and Maine, respectively. Ed. E. Proper left his native State in 1843 and removed to Chicago, where he resided about three years, meanwhile learning telegraphy. He next outfitted and traveled with a wholesale notion wagon for six years, going through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin; then he returned to New York and resided there for the following two years. He then removed to Ohio and spent two years in the employ of a railroad, and from there he came, via Cape Horn, to California. Locating at Sutter Buttes in 1858, he entered the sheep business and remained in Sutter County six years. Then he removed his sheep to Shasta County, and to Visalia, and two years later returned to Sutter County. In 1880 he had acquired 480 acres of land twelve miles southwest of Yuba City. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Proper: E. E., now a prosperous rancher in Sutter County; and Philena S., Mrs. Farmer. Ed. E. Proper was the man who first introduced the celebrated “Proper Wheat.” Mr. Proper is now deceased, and his widow, now nearly eighty, makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Farmer at Tierra Buena. Mr. Farmer managed the Proper home place until three years ago, when he settled on his own home place of ten acres at Tierra Buena, which he recently sold; he still makes his home at Tierra Buena. Since 1905 Mr. Farmer has been identified with the Woodmen of the World at Yuba City. In politics he is a Democrat.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 1327-1328