Sutter County
Biographies
GEORGE WASHINGTON CHRISTOPHERSON
A representative type of the pioneers of the early days is to be found in the person and career of George Washington Christopherson, now residing on his twenty-acre orchard, known as the Rose Cottage Farm, located six miles southwest of Yuba City. He was born in Illinois, March 11, 1860, a son of Thomas C. and Olena J. (Lewison) Christopherson, both natives of Christiana, Norway. Thomas C. Christopherson left his native land, accompanied by his wife, in 1855, and after their arrival in America engaged in farming in Illinois and Iowa until the spring of 1863, when he crossed the plains with an emigrant train of forty wagons drawn by oxen. He prospected in Idaho for about seven months, and then came on to California. Here he homesteaded 160 acres near Harkey’s Corners and purchased 320 acres, making 480 acres, which he farmed to grain until 1879, when he sold the ranch. Seven children were born to them: Anna L., Mrs. Sargent; Joachim, deceased; George Washington, our subject; Mrs. Josephine Jordan, deceased; Lena, Mrs. Cousins, deceased; Lewis B., in San Jose; and an infant, deceased. The mother passed away in 1877; the father survived until 1884.
George W. Christopherson attended the public school at Harkey’s Corners and Pierce Christian College at College City, Colusa County. On September 27, 1885, in Yuba City, he was married to Miss Laura Belle Percy, eldest daughter of A. J. Percy, pioneer of 1849. Mrs. Christopherson was born on the Percy ranch, fourteen miles southwest of Yuba City, which ranch contained 440 acres devoted to wheat-raising. She attended the local school, and completed her education at the University of the Pacific. Mr. Christopherson farmed the Percy ranch until 1912, when he sold it and invested the proceeds in his present home ranch of twenty acres, which he has set to cling peaches. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Christopherson: Elva Olena, the wife of George A. Murray, and the mother of one son, George J.; Trella, residing in Bakersfield; Oriana Vandelia, the wife of Roy Holmes, and the mother of two daughters, Georgia Belle and Geneva Elaine; Gladys Bela, deceased; and Mervin Jackson, deceased at the age of eighteen. There is also an adopted son, James Melvin, aged eleven years. Mr. Christopherson served as school trustee of the Murray district for three terms.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 496-497