Tehama County
Biographies
GEORGE WASHINGTON BALIS
one of the reliable and prominent old-timers of California, came to the State in 1851. He is a native of Westfield, New York, born October 17, 1825. His grandfather came from Germany and settled in New York in the early history of that county; and his father, Abiah Balis, was born in New York, and there married Maria Clow, also a native of New York and of German ancestry. The subject of this sketch was the second of a family of seven children, five of whom are living. He was reared on a farm, and received his education in New York and Pennsylvania. At the age of twenty-one years he removed to Wisconsin, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres, built a house and made other improvements, and lived there for five years. In 1851 he came to California, seeking a more congenial climate and finding what he sought. He returned East, sold out and came back to this coast to make it his future home. In Sacramento County he purchased 800 acres of land, and also built a hotel, the Balis House, made other improvements, and resided there for eighteen years. At the expiration of that time he went to Tehama County. Here he bought 2,320 acres of land, six miles southwest of Red Bluff, and to this he has added until he owned 5,500 acres. In the last three years he has sold off in small tracts 4,850 acres; has 650 acres remaining for his home. In 1877 he settled on the property, built a good residence and engaged in sheep-raising. Since that date he has been largely interested in farming and sheep-raising and has been very successful. He also has an average of 500 acres in wheat, and has harvested twenty-five bushels to the acre, which he sold at Red Bluff for $1.65 per hundred pounds.
Mr. Balis also had a successful mining experience during the early years of his residence in this State. For seven years he was a miner, had a fine claim, and kept a trading post and a boarding house near Placerville. He worked the claim for three years and employed from three to ten men in it. They took out over $60,000, taking out in a single pan from five cents to five dollars. Mr. Balis sold his interest in the claim for $1,000, after working it for three years.
He was united in marriage, in 1849, to Miss Adelia McGlashan, a native of the State of New York. To them have been born eleven children, seven of whom are now living, viz.: Marella, born in Rock County, Wisconsin, is now the wife of Aden Bullard, and resides near her father. The other children were born in Sacramento County. William married and lives at Oakland; Dora, at home; Edward, in San Francisco; Mary, Newton B. and Edmund, at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Balis are members of the Baptist Church at Red Bluff. Mr. Balis is a Master Mason in good standing with his lodge. He has been a life-long Republican. Having recovered his health in California Mr. Balis naturally thinks there is no place like this sunny clime for a home.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 584-585
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ANDREW JOHNSON
is one of the early settlers of California, one who has risen by his own exertions from a poor young man to a wealthy, prominent rancher and stock-raiser of Tehama County. He came to California in April, 1854, and has since made this his home. A brief sketch of Mr. Johnson is as follows:
He was born in Sweden, October 26, 1827, the eldest son of John and Katharine Johnson. His parents were strict adherents to the Lutheran faith. Andrew was reared on a farm and educated in his native land. He was early taught the valuable lessons of frugality, honesty and industry. Before coming to this country he learned the shoe-maker’s trade.
When Mr. Johnson landed in San Francisco he did not know a word of English. He secured a chance to work his passage from San Francisco to Red Bluff. He soon observed how to be an efficient deck hand. When they got to the end of the journey, the captain handed Mr. Johnson five dollars in gold, and he went his way rejoicing. After this he tried mining, but met with poor success. In traveling north on foot he stopped at Cottonwood one evening. The cook, with his apron on, was making an awkward attempt to chop some wood. An idea struck Mr. Johnson. He thought if he could get a hold of the ax and chop some wood he could get a supper and not need to break his five-dollar piece; accordingly he went to work. The landlord of the hotel was impressed by his industry, and at once offered him work. He remained there until he had saved from his earnings $500, which he had hidden away in a soda box. Sore luck for him, he was stricken of a fever and during the greater time of his sickness was delirious, and probably confided to those who chanced to be around the whereabouts of his money; for when he was well enough to look for his treasure, all that remained was the box! You can hardly imagine forlornness more graphically depicted than it was in Mr. Johnson as he beat his way back to Red Bluff in torn trousers, an almost crownless hat, and his sole possession a mule of impaired strength. Fortunately, just as his hopes were at lowest ebb, a teamster, whom he happened to meet, offered him a horse and twenty-five dollars to boot for the mule. The offer was quickly accepted. At Red Bluff the horse brought seventy-five dollars. With this he at once set up a shoe shop. Prospects brightened. At the end of three years he saved $3,000. Mr. Johnson now concluded to return to his native land. He found his mother in poor circumstances, made her a visit, and leaving her with plenty, returned to America, bringing with him two sisters and a brother to Chicago. He traveled through the northwestern States, but finding nothing to suit him resolved to try California again. In Red Bluff he reopened his shoe shop, and a year later purchased eighty acres of land nine miles west of Red Bluff. From time to time he has made additions to the property until he now has 7,000 acres of land good for general farming, while his ample ranges has pastured at times a flock of 8,000 sheep, besides a number of cattle and horses.
While in Chicago in 1859 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Augustine Petersen, a native of Sweden. Eight children have been born to them, viz.: John Amandus, Selma B., Elmer A., Anna A., Andrew L., Edith K., Arthur E. and Beatrice J. The eldest daughter, Selma B., was married in 1884 to Mr. Manfred Olinder, and lives in Santa Clara County. John Amandus, the eldest son, was married also in 1884, to Sylvia Irene Eby, and lives at Fall River, Shasta County.
Mr. Johnson has always been a Republican. He is a man of strong will power, full of energy and enterprise. With the aid of an excellent wife, his life in California has been a success.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 586-587
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler