Tehama County
Biographies
W. H. BAHNEY
W.H. BAHNEY was born in Missillon, Ohio, March 25, 1825. His remote ancestors, natives of Switzerland, settled in this country long before the Revolution. His father, J.J. Bahney , was born in Pennsylvania, in 1794, and emigrated to Ohio in 1812. He was a pioneer and highly esteemed citizen of that State.
The subject of this sketch engaged in the general merchandise business in his native town when he was twenty-two years of age, and conducted it with success from 1847 till 1851. In the latter year the wonderful stories of the piles of gold hidden in the mountains of California, allured him to this coast. He engaged in mining, having only moderate success. The same year he returned to his native State. From 1852 to 1857 he was the pioneer postal clerk on the Pittsburg, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. At that time he decided to make his permanent home in the Golden West, returned to this State with his family and located in Tehama County, on what he supposed was Government land. It proved, however, to be a grant, and, liking the property and not wishing to give it up, he purchased the place, built on it and farmed it for ten years. Meeting with an opportunity to make an advantageous sale, he disposed of the property, and in 1867 came to Red Bluff. Here he purchased the pioneer drug business of Dr. J.R. Bradway, and continued in that business with marked success for eighteen years. In 1885 he sold out and retired from business for two years. This was rest enough for one who had been an active businessman all his life; so he began to seek something that would give him employment, and in 1887 bought his present clothing store. The room he occupies is 50x70 feet, and is filled with gents’ fashionable clothing, furnishing goods, hats, caps, boots, and shoes; and here Mr. Bahney is doing a fine business, preferring to “wear out rather than to rust out.”
In 1847 he married Miss Elizabeth Haas, a native of Virginia. To them were born four children, three of whom are living, namely, E.W., Alice J. and Luther E. For thirty-one years Mr. and Mrs. Bahney lived happily together. In 1878 she was stricken with disease, which resulted in her death, and her husband and family were bereft of a loving wife and mother. For his second wife Mr.Bahney married Mrs. Mary W. Eaves, an estimable lady, a native of Buffalo, New York. Their union has been blessed with one child, a son, Charles. Mr. Bahney was a Douglas Democrat, and voted for the “Little Giant” for President, but since then he has given his vote and influence to the Republican Party. In 1868 he was appointed Postmaster of Red Bluff, and held that office until 1887. He has rendered efficient service to the public in many ways; twice held the office of Justice of the Peace; was superintendent of Schools, and has three times been a City Trustee. At present he is honored with the position of President of the Board of Trustees, a place he is filling with credit to himself and entire satisfaction to his constituents. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. in all its branches, and has been through all its chairs. He is a consistent and influential member of the Methodist Church, has for years held the office of trustee in that organization, and aided materially in building their house of worship in Red Bluff. He has built one good store in the town, owns the one he now occupies, and he also erected the commodious residence in which he resides with his family.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Pages 608-609
Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan
HENRY W. BROWN
Henry W. Brown came to California in 1851, and is one of the best known and most respectable citizens of Tehama County. He was born in Jackson County, Ohio, February 10, 1823, the son of Zephaniah and Elizabeth (Rawls) Brown, the former a native of New York State, and the latter of Kentucky. He was the youngest one of a family of ten children, five of whom are still living. When he was a child the family removed to Indiana and settled on a farm, where he was inured to the hard labors accompanying farm life and where he received but meager educational advantages. There he laid the foundation for his future useful life. In 1844, after having remained with his father until he was twenty-three years old, he removed to Illinois, which was at that time considered the far West. Four years later, he removed to Iowa. Hearing of the wonderful gold discoveries in California, he became filled with a desire to seek the new El Dorado of the West. In 1850, he crossed the plains with ox teams in company with a small party of emigrants, and arrived at Hangtown (now Placerville) in the middle of September of that year. Mr. Brown mined at Mud Springs during the fall, with moderate success. He then went to Forbestown and mined the following winter, spring and summer, with equally good success. In 1852, he engaged in the general merchandise business, selling supplies to the miners for about six months, also doing well at that. Then he built a large hotel, which he conducted successfully for a number of years. Again the infatuation to dig for gold returned to him and for a time he mined on Ohio Flat.
After mining off and on for about seven years, he removed to Newville, Colusa County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising, a business in which he was experienced and for which he was eminently qualified. His first purchase of land was 160 acres. To this he added until he had about 1200 acres, which he improved and on which he built. He remained on this ranch and prospered until 1872, when he sold out for $11,000. In that year he came to Tehama County, and in company with Mr. John Curtis, purchased a large tract of grazing land and several thousand sheep, the purchase price being $46,000. They held it only a short time, however, after which they sold it back to the same parties. From the Gooch Brothers they then bought 3,500 acres of land with all the stock running on the place, which included 7,000 sheep, for which they paid $75,000. Their able management of this property soon developed it into a large and remunerative business, and in 1874, Mr. Brown purchased his partner’s interest and became sole proprietor. At this time he turned his attention to breeding fine sheep, bought five pure-bred bucks and soon his flocks became the finest in the country. He was well repaid for his wisdom and his enterprise, both by the increased value of his stock and the quantity and quality of his wool. In 1877, Mr. Brown conceived the idea of finding a more profitable market for his sheep, and sent 10,000 very fine ones to Colorado, under the care of Mr. Reardon, an experienced sheep man, who found a ready and profitable market for them. This proved Mr. Brown’s judgment to be keen, and opened a new market for the immense flocks of Tehama County. In 1879, he sent over 6,200 sheep to the same place, with the same fortunate results. From time to time he made accessions to his landed estate until he became the owner of 11,000 acres. On it he built, and made many improvements, and it became one of the finest sheep ranches in the country, yielding Mr. Brown a handsome income. This property he sold for $100,000, and in 1882 moved into Red Bluff and bought a home at the corner of Main and Cedar streets, where he now resides. In partnership with Dr. West, he bought 3,800 acres of land, on which they are running 2,800 sheep. On this place they have the buildings and appliance necessary to conduct the business in a most successful manner. Mr. Brown also owns another farm of 320 acres, on which there is an orchard and fine buildings.
December 31, 1840, is the date of Mr. Brown’s marriage to Miss Juliette Parish, a native of Tippecanoe County, Indiana. He was only eighteen years old at that time, but his judgment was as unerring as it has been in later years and the union has proved a most happy one. Mrs. Brown has been a constant sharer of her husband’s joys and sorrows, and has ever been a faithful and loving wife and mother. When Mr. Brown came to California, in 1850, he wisely left his young wife in Iowa with their three little children. After mining nearly two years he returned to Iowa for his family. April 20, 1852, they turned their faces toward the setting sun and their new home. On this journey across the plains, they suffered the greatest calamity of their lives. The cholera, that fearful scourge, seized upon them and their two first-born sons found a resting place, with many others who were victims to that same dread disease, in that great wilderness near the Rocky Mountains. With sad and heavy hearts, the sorrowing family continued their way westward and arrived at Forbestown in September, 1852, after a weary journey of five months. Their daughter, Elizabeth, who was born in Iowa, is now the wife of A. F. Roberts, and resides in Forbestown, Butte County, California. Two sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Brown after their arrival in this State: Charles L., in Forbestown. He married Miss Amanda Boatman and is at present book-keeper in the Tehama County Bank at Red Bluff; Acil L. is the popular Treasurer of Tehama County. (See history of him on another page of this book).
All his life Mr. Brown has affiliated with the Democratic party. Twice he was elected Assessor of Colusa County. Since his residence in this county he has served two terms as Supervisor. For eight years, he has been Chairman of the Democratic County Committee, and his earnest work and sound judgment have been of great value to his party. He is a member of the Masonic Fraternity and for several years has been Master of his lodge. Since his residence in the Golden State, he has aided in the organization of a number of lodges.
This worthy couple, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, are nearing the anniversary of their golden wedding. Notwithstanding they have seen so many years of pioneer life, they are both well preserved. Long may they live in their beautiful California home to enjoy the fruits of a well-spent life.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Pages 657-658
Transcribed by: Christine Helmick
JOHN CLEMENTS
John Clements was born near New Orleans, Louisiana, June 21, 1844. His father, Henry Clements, was born in Bristol, England, and his mother, Rebecca (Rowland) Clements, was also a native of England. The ancestors of both were purely English. Mr. and Mrs. Clements arrived in Louisiana from their native land the day previous to the birth of their son John. They afterward removed to St. Louis, Missouri, but the father, being a strong Union man, found that place uncongenial to him during the agitation preceding the war, and he removed to Bloomington, Illinois. Later he returned to St. Louis and resided there for a number of years. At this writing (1890) he is a resident of Red Bluff, and is sixty-eight years of age.
The subject of this sketch was educated at St. Charles College, twenty miles west of St. Louis. In 1862, when eighteen years of age, he enlisted in the Union army, Company K, Eighty-second Illinois Infantry, and while engaged at the battle of Lookout Mountain, he received a wound in the shoulder. When he recovered he was placed in detached service, United States Military Railway, under General McColum, of Ohio, and continued in that service until the close of the war.
In 1865, he returned to Chicago and from there went to Omaha, Nebraska, where he engaged in the service of the Union Pacific Railway Company. The road was being built across the continent at that time, and he remained in the employ of the company until they reached Promontory. Then he came to California, first to Sacramento and then, June 21, 1868, to Red Bluff. When he arrived at this place he was in poor health and had only $42 in his pocket. With Mr. George Champlin he engaged in the sheep business. Being an engineer, the charge of the Red Bluff water works was offered him and he accepted the position, running them nearly four years. He was then appointed Postmaster of Red Bluff by President Hayes and was reappointed by President Garfield, holding the office for about eight years. After this he engaged in the grocery business. He began on the corner of Main and Oak streets, and had the misfortune to go through two fires, sustaining a loss of over $13,000. Since then, with remarkable courage and enterprise, he built one of the most substantial business blocks second only to one other fine building in the town. It is a large brick block with two stores below and offices above. Mr. Clements is now conducting his grocery business on Walnut Street and enjoys a good trade.
In 1876, he built a comfortable residence, and was married to Miss Augusta Lorn, a native of San Francisco. Her parents were natives of Germany and came from the extreme western border of that country. Mr. and Mrs. Clements are the parents of two daughters, Blanch and March, both born in Red Bluff. They are members of the Episcopal Church. For three years, Mr. Clements has been Past Master of the Masonic Lodge. He is Past High Priest, and has been for seven years a Royal Arch Mason. For two years he has served as Commander of the G.A. R. He is also a member of the A.O.U.W. Politically he is a Republican, and was nominated by that party for Assemblyman and ran far ahead of his ticket.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California
The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Pages 655-656
Transcribed by: Christine Helmick