Yolo County
Biographies
B. F. DUNCAN
B. F. Duncan, an extensive rancher of the Capay Valley, was born February 2, 1840, in Vigo County, Indiana, and the son of John I. and Margaret (Toler) Duncan, natives of Virginia. The senior Duncan followed agricultural pursuits all his life. At one time he was judge of this district. In 1842 he removed to Missouri, where he remained until his death, which occurred when he was seventy-four years old; his wife also died in that State, in 1849. Mr. B. F. Duncan, our subject, was raised on the farm in Missouri. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted in Company G., Captain Curry, Eighth Regiment, Colonel Mitchell, Parson’s Brigade, Cavalry, and was six months in the service. He was mustered out at Shreveport, Louisiana, after a service of three years and three months. Was wounded four times, twice in one engagement. Was taken prisoner at Cassville, Missouri, but a week afterward escaped, in company with others, crawling out under the floor. After the war he remained in Missouri until 1870, when he came to California and settled near Cottonwood, Yolo County, on land which he purchased. He remained there until 1878, when he sold out and purchased his present place two miles west of Capay, in the celebrated Capay Valley. This ranch consists of 737 acres of choice bottom land, on which Mr. Duncan carries on a general farming business, and is preparing to establish himself in the fruit industry next year (1891). He is a very practical man and enterprising. He has two brothers in this county, whose sketches will be found elsewhere in this volume.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WATSON BARNES
Watson Barnes, an agriculturist in the northwestern part of Yolo County, was born January 2, 1844, in Boston, Massachusetts. His father, Silas P. Barnes, a native of New Hampshire and a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, came to California in 1854. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising after 1851; previous to that he was engaged in the mercantile business in the city of Boston, Massachusetts, for some thirty years. The mother, whose maiden name was Olive Chapman, was a native of the State of Maine. Both parents were of English ancestry. Mr. Barnes, senior, arrived in Salt Lake City in July, 1851, and three years later came on to California, soon locating in Yolo County, where Black’s is now situated, and died April 11, 1888, leaving four children, and property worth about $100,000. Mr. Barnes, the subject of this notice, owns 525 acres of finely improved land about five and a half miles northwest of Black’s. He was married in Woodland, July 15, 1880, to Miss M. J. Houx, who was born in 1854, in California.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
J. L. DENNIS
J. L. Dennis, street sprinkler, was born in Yolo County, March 6, 1864. His parents, B. S. and Elizabeth (Smith) Dennis, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Missouri, have both died in Yolo County. Since the year 1887 Mr. Dennis has been running an engine on a dredging machine on the Sacramento River, building the levee; and for the last two years he has been engaged in his present occupation. He has a fine little cottage on Fourth street. In 1887, in Woodland, he was united in matrimony with Miss Nellie Powers, also a native daughter of this county. Her father is at present a night watch of Woodland; and her mother died when she was very young. Mr. and Mrs. Dennis have one son, born May 9, 1888, and named Ray W.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler