Yolo County
Biographies
Thomas J. Belshe
A native of California, his birth having occurred in Woodland, Yolo county, February 9, 1856, Mr. Belshe is widely know as a most practical and enterprising citizen, and by his well-directed efforts has contributed largely to the development of the community. His parents, William G. and Leah (Morris) Belshe, natives of Germany and Kentucky, respectively, crossed the plains from Missouri in 1849, and in Yolo county, Cal., they took up a ranch near Woodland. After five years Mr. Belshe took his family to Geyerville, Sonoma county, where he resumed farming, actively conducting his duties until his death in 1859. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Belshe, the latter of whom now makes her home in San Diego county, six children were born, as follows: John M. and Robert F., deceased; Thomas J.; William P., who resides in Orange county, and two daughters who died young.
In 1864 Mr. Belshe returned to Yolo county with his mother, who settled on a farm near Madison, where she purchased two hundred acres of land. Mr. Belshe was educated in the public schools there, after which he followed farming on his mother’s place until his marriage. For some time thereafter he followed horticulture, but is now engaged in viticulture at Cottonwood. Year by year his vineyard increases in both value and production, the record for the season of 1911 one hundred tons. The ranch is counted one of the leading properties of the county, none presenting a more highly cultivated or more beautiful appearance than the Belshe vineyard.
Thomas J. Belshe was united in marriage in 1876 to Miss Johanna Toelle, a native of Sacramento. The three children born to them are William A., Mary I. and Cora B. In the death of his wife in 1899 Mr. Belshe lost a devoted companion and the children a kind and affectionate mother. Politically he has always supported Democratic principles and has at all times maintained an active concern in public enterprises of merit, being especially interested in the cause of education.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County California with Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present” page 200 by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, 1913.
William Bray
One of Yolo county’s pioneers, now deceased, was William Bray, who was born in Monroe county, Ky., February 23, 1832, and passed away in Woodland March 25, 1894. When he was in his nineteenth year, in 1850, Mr. Bray left his home in the south for the great west and his journey across the plains with ox teams, in company with a number of other immigrants, was fraught great dangers from the savage red men, who more tan one attempted to overpower the travelers. However, they made the trip in safety, after which they separated, Mr. Bray mining a short time at Dutch Flats, after which he took up a quarter section of land in Yolo county, two miles south of Woodland, on which he located and built a cabin, and ever afterward he continued to make improvements. He carried on general farming, making a specialty of raising grain, alfalfa and stock. Here he made his home until his death. In front of the modest little home which he built years ago stands a modern residence, and the great cottonwood trees which he planted still surround the property which he labored so patiently to improve. His wife, formerly Harriet Eakle was born in Tennessee, and accompanied her mother and sisters westward in the early ‘50s. Her death occurred on the home place near Woodland in December 1907. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Bray: Alexander, deceased; John E., deceased; Sarah A. and Lucy Jane, who share the eighty acres left by their parents; James R., whose wife before her marriage was Ida Butterfield, and who has one son; William H., deceased; and Mary C., who is now Mrs. William Gould, of Woodland.
Mr. and Mrs. Bray were both devout members of the Christian Church in Woodland and were mourned by a large number of friends who knew them well.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County California with Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present” page 206-209 by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, 1913.
John Wohlfrom
The Yolo County Savings Bank under the presidency of John Wohlfrom has maintained the high position in financial circles it has won through the cautious, conservative policy adopted by its officers at the very beginning of its history. To a large degree the success of the institution may be attributed to the present head of the concern, who as one of the promoters and organizers of the bank, became a member of the original board of directors and served in the capacity of vice-president until promoted to his present post of honor and trust. It is said by many that no citizen of the city of Woodland exerts a greater influence upon its financial affairs than does Mr. Wohlfrom and certain it is that none displays more prudence in investments or greater tact in business dealings than he. Indeed, his gratifying success comes from the constant exercise of industry, prudence and tact, for he had none to aid him in getting a foothold in the world and when he came to America he was hampered not only by poverty, but also by a lack of knowledge of the English language.
Born in the vicinity of Strassburg and the Rhine river in Kircheim, Alsace (then a part of), France, November 9. 1832, John Wohlfrom was the youngest son among nine children, six of whom lived to maturity and three came to the new world. Educated in the schools of Alsace, he left home at the age of twenty years and took passage from Havre, France, for America in 1852, landing in New Orleans of New Year’s day of 1853 and proceeding direct to St. Louis, Mo., where were two older brothers, Joseph and Anton,
both of whom died in Colusa county, Cal. Hoping to secure employment in Illinois, he crossed the river from St. Louis on the ice and after tramping a considerable distance he was hired by a farmer near Centerville at $6 per month. Later his brother, Anton, found a place for him at $10 per month with George Lewis, and Englishman living at Boonville, Mo., and it was there that Mr. Wohlfrom learned to speak English. Upon the removal of his employer to St. Louis he accompanied him to the city and secured work as a drayman. In a short time he had a team of his own and engaged in business for himself.
It was during 1855 that Mr. Wohlfrom started for the west. Misfortune attended him from the first. The steamer on which he had taken passage burned and he escaped with difficulty. Then he boarded a second steamer, which soon sank, the passengers, however, being saved. Finally the third steamer conveyed him as far as Aspinwall. From Panama he sailed north on a vessel that cast anchor at San Francisco March 2, 1855. June of the same year found him in Yolo county, where he worked three months in the hay fields. Six weeks in Sierra county as a miner caused all of his earnings to vanish. From Downieville he returned to Yolo county, where he secured work as a farm hand at $1 per day. Later he and a cousin, Joseph Wohlfrom, who had accompanied him to California, purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land two miles east of what is now Blacks Station. The entire tract cost them $280. In 1856 their partnership was dissolved.
The old Weyant place of three hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns, was purchased in 1860 by John Wohlfrom. There he raised, bought and sold horses, cattle and sheep. At his house he accommodated travelers with board and rooms and he also carried a stock of merchandise and groceries, besides having the post office known as Prairie at his store. In 1868 he built a store on Colusa plains two miles north of College City and remained there until the building was burned in 1873. Besides the Weyant property he acquired three farms within twelve miles of Woodland, two of these being quarter-section farms, while the other contains two hundred acres. In addition he owns ten hundred and forty acres in one body in Colusa county and a well-improved farm of seven hundred and twenty acres two miles south of College City. With his brother he owned at Prize, Colusa county, a finely improved farm of two hundred and eighty acres and besides he owned four hundred acres one and a half miles west of Maxwell, Colusa county, which he has since sold. During the years of his greatest physical activity he was called the cattle king of Yolo and Colusa counties. Finally the demands upon his energy proved too much for his strength and he decided to enter upon activities less taxing physically. Coming to Woodland in 1891 he erected a valuable residence at No. 203 Court street and has since been interested in the banking business.
After he became a resident of the United States and had made a study of the political issues of the country, Mr. Wohlfrom embraced Republican principles and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. His first wife, whom he married in 1861, was Barbara Keller, a native of Switzerland, but a resident of Yolo county for a long time prior to her demise. In 1891 he was united with Miss Helene Wimmer, who was born in Baden, Germany, April 4, 1861, the daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Gras) Wimmer, likewise natives of Germany. She came to Yolo county in young womanhood and resided with her sister, Mrs. John Bemmerly, until her marriage. She passed away November 24, 1908, mourned by all who were privileged to know her. It is not fulsome praise to say that John Wohlfrom’s life has been one that might be taken as an example for young men just starting in life to follow. He began his career without means or backing of any kind, but he had implanted within him what was better than anything else, ¾an ambition and determination to succeed. At no time in his search for fortune did he lose sight of the Golden Rule, squaring all of his actions by this unfailing guide, and it is for this reason that as he nears life’s close and looks back over the past he can do so with satisfaction, knowing that he has willfully wronged no one. He has had no greater pleasure in life than giving a helping hand to young men who, like himself, have had their own way to make against great odds. His integrity and honor are unquestioned and of him it may truly be said that his word is as good as his bond.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County California with Biographical Sketches of The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present” page 209-211 by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, 1913.