Sutter County
Biographies
JOHN PATRICK COLFORD
Few of the residents of Sutter City have more familiarity with the early days of California than has John Patrick Colford. He was born in Marysville, January 18, 1870, a son of John and Anna (Daugherty) Colford, natives of Boston, Mass., and New Brunswick, Canada, respectively. John Colford, the father, came to California in 1868, settled in Marysville, and for many years worked in the Marysville Foundry, manufacturing mining machinery. He had served during the Civil War as a gunner in the United States Navy. For thirty-seven years he served in the Marysville police Department, and at one time was chief of the fire department of that city. He passed away at the age of sixty-seven years; and at the time of his death the city of Marysville was presented with a cannon (which had come into the possession of Mr. Colford through his military record and services during the war), in honor of his capable service to Marysville through so many years. This cannon now graces the park in Marysville. The mother of our subject died at the age of sixty-five years. Eight children were born to this worthy couple: Anna A. (deceased), John P., William Edward, Mamie F. (Mrs. L. Brown, now deceased), George A., Charles R., Lewis O., and Augusta (deceased).
John Patrick Colford was educated in the Marysville schools, and at an early age began to learn the machinists’ trade in the Marysville Foundry. He became assistant engineer in the Marysville water-works, and during the fire of 1887 was awarded a gold watch for his heroic work in remaining at his post and keeping the water mains filled with water. When the Spanish-American War broke out, he joined Company L, 8th California Volunteers, with the rank of first sergeant, and for one year was in active service along the coast of Washington, Oregon and California. Returning to civil life, he clerked in a grocery store for one year, and then became a member of the police force, where he remained for five years. After his father’s death he became a special officer in Chinatown. Since 1910 Mr. Colford has been custodian of the Sutter Union High School.
The marriage of Mr. Colford occurred at Sacramento, December 18, 1907, uniting him with Miss Eleanor Mae McVay, a native of California, and one of eight children born in the family of Thomas F. and Nancy (Vorst) McVay, the former a native of Missouri and the latter of Indiana. Thomas F. McVay first came to California in 1849, and engaged in farming. Mrs. McVay passed on in 1913. Mr. McVay is still living, aged eighty-eight. Fraternally, Mr. Colford is a member of the Moose Lodge of Marysville and the Woodmen of the World of Yuba City. Mrs. Colford is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood of Marysville.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 810
CHARLES HENRY STOHLMAN
An energetic, progressive and successful farmer of the vicinity of West Butte–another of the many Germans who have made good in California, finding here greater opportunity, and blessing the country of their adoption through their consecrated toil, is Charles Henry Stohlman, who was born near Hamburg, Germany, May 1, 1863. He is the son of Caspar Stohlman, a farmer, who had married Fraulein Louisa Foss; and both parents lived and died in the Fatherland, Mr. Stohlman reaching his seventy-first year, and his good wife attaining seventy-two years of age.
In 1880, Charles Henry Stohlman came into Sutter county and settled at West Butte. For five years he worked for Frederick Tarke, before starting to farm for himself. He then leased a section of the Tarke ranch and farmed to grain, in 1887; but two or three years later he settled about four and one-half miles north of West Butte, buying at first some 360 acres, some of which he later sold to the Gun Club for hunting grounds. Now he has 290 acres, which he farms to grain.
On May 1, 1892, Mr. Stohlman was married, where he now resides, to Miss Anna Gilpatrick, who was born in that vicinity, the daughter of Frank Gilpatrick, a native of Maine, and his good wife, who in maidenhood was Anna Cilley. After the death of her father, Anna Gilpatrick was reared by A. S. Noyes, of Noyesburg. Three children were born of this happy union: Alta, Mrs. W.W. Weller, of Yuba City; Allen, at Gridley; and Anna Lena. Mrs. Stohlman is clerk of the board of trustees of the Noyesburg district school. Mr. Stohlman is a member of the Elks at Marysville. In political affiliation, he is a Republican.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 816