Tehama County
Biographies
WILLIAM DUNCAN
came to Red Bluff in 1875, and is a prominent horticulturist of this place. He is one of the many intelligent and thrifty sons whom Scotland has furnished the United States to develop her resources and acquire wealth in this land of the free, where merit can win, unaided by title or wealth. Mr. Duncan’s parents, George and Christina Duncan, were natives of Scotland, and the father was a gardener. To this business William was reared, working at it first in Scotland and afterward in England.
Mr. Duncan emigrated to the United States in 1848, and located in Iowa, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres. This he improved by building, etc., and resided there until 1875, carrying on gardening, raising stock, and also keeping a dairy. Mr. Duncan had made a visit to Tehama County, California, in 1870, and was much pleased with the country and the climate. In 1875, as already stated at the beginning of this sketch, he came to Red Bluff, and has since made it his home. He purchased 300 acres of land adjoining the city, and for three years conducted a dairy. He planted sixty acres of the rich bottom land to fruit trees, peaches, pears, plums, apples, prunes, figs and almonds. He also set out a vineyard, principally raisin grapes. His shipment this year (1890) amounts to two tons of dried seedless Sultana grapes and ten tons of raisins. His peach crop brings $1,000 per year. He dried large quantities of prunes. Many of his trees are yet young. Before planting very extensively he experimented to see which would do well. While that was a safer way, it delayed large results. He has built a large residence, overlooking Red Bluff and affording a fine view of the Sacramento River.
In 1852 Mr. Duncan married Miss Margaret Brownlee, a native of Canada. Their union has been blessed with ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: Frank W., who is at present in the employ of the Rock Island Railway Company; Isabel, wife of W. R. Hall, the efficient County Clerk of Tehama County; Christiana M., wife of Thomas Hardie, resides in Iowa; Mary, who lived to be twenty-seven years of age and died at the home of her parents in Red Bluff; James Brownlee; Minnie; Will E., who resides in Sanger, California, and is superintendent of the sash and door department in the Sanger mill; George W., Florence E. and Maurice W. Mrs. Hall, before her marriage, was an accomplished school-teacher and held a life diploma. Miss Florence is the affable and obliging deputy at the Red Bluff postoffice. The family are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Duncan has been a life-ling Republican. He is one of the worthy and influential men of the county, and is demonstrating the wonderful adaptability of the soil and climate to horticulture.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 571-572
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ANDREW JOSEPH HAMMANS
was born in Davis County, Iowa, December 9, 1844. His father, Henry Hammans, and his grandfather, Johnson Hammans, were both natives of Virginia, and the latter was a soldier in the [war] of 1812. His father married Miss Elizabeth Brown, a native of Indiana, and emigrated to Davis County, Iowa, and was a pioneer of that county. Two sons were born to them, George W. and Andrew Joseph, the subject of this article. Both were reared there, and there the mother died. The father had made a trip to California in 1849, and in 1865 he moved to this State. His death occurred in 1876.
Mr. Hammans was educated in his native State, farmed there two years, and in 1865 came to California. For two years he engaged in agricultural pursuits in Shasta County. In 1867 he came to Tehama County and farmed the Cone ranch, then known as the Dye grant. He has since been in the business in different parts of the county. In 1880 he moved into Red Bluff, and has purchased a nice home on Jefferson street, between Pine and Hickory streets, where he resides with his family. Mr. Hammans is the agent and representative of the California Land Association and the West Coast Land Company. They have about 31,000 acres of choice lands, including the Oakwood Colony lands, the Mayhew Colony lands, the Clear Water Company lands, and also a large amount of stock lands. The settlement in their colonies is rapid.
Mr. Hammans was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Huffman, a native of Iowa, in 1863. They have five children. The oldest, Arnold S., was born in Iowa. The following are native sons and daughters of California: Dora, Harriet Belle, William B. and Alta J. Their preference in religious faith is given to the Christian Church. Mr. Hammans’ political views are Democratic. He is an Odd Fellow, and has filled all the chairs of the order.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
pp 573-574
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler