Yolo County
Biographies
MRS. BARBARA DURST
MRS. BARBARA DURST, manager of a farm near Madison, Yolo County, was born in Switzerland, in 1836, daughter of Boldsaer and Anna M. (Swerl) Schengler, natives of that country. Her father in Switzerland was engaged in the manufacture of woolens in several establishments for twenty-one years, and then he emigrated to the United States and settled in Wisconsin, where he followed farming until his death in 1870. Her mother died in 1876, near Cacheville, Yolo County. In 1859 the subject of this sketch was married in Wisconsin, to David Durst, also a native of Switzerland. In 1869 they came to California and located at once on Cache Creek, where Mr. Durst died January 13, 1884, leaving three children, namely: John J., who is now aged twenty-seven; Willie B., twenty-five and Annie M., twenty-two. In October, 1887, Mrs. Durst changed her residence to her present place, four miles from Madison, on the main road to Woodland. The ranch there contains 160 acres of land, and she also has another adjoining on the southeast, containing 240 acres. The principal product of these farms is grain.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson
H. B. JOHNSON
H. B. JOHSNON, a farmer of Yolo County, is the son of Keener and Grace (Jones) Johnson, natives of North Carolina, who moved from that State to Alabama in an early day, and died when the subject of this sketch, who was born there in 1840, was a small boy. He was brought up by Joseph Bullard, who kept him at hard work. At the age of sixteen years he came by way of the Isthmus of Panama to California, being thirty-five days on an ocean vessel, and landing in San Francisco in 1859. He at once went to Yolo County and was employed on different ranches until he purchased his present place of 300 acres August 3, 1878. It is now well improved, and he makes a specialty of wheat. He is a member of Madison Lodge, No. 253, F. & A.M. His wife, Martha C., was born in North Carolina in 1845, a daughter of James D. Butler, a farmer of that State. Mr. Johnson’s family now have raised five children,—James H., Sallie R., Mabel, Richard F. and Josephine C.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson
B. B. FRANKLIN
B. B. FRANKLIN, a rancher between Woodland and Madison, is a son of Willis and Mary H. (Hamilton) Franklin, both natives of Virginia. His father was born September 18, 1799, was a farmer by occupation and died October 16, 1836; and his mother, who was born March 18, 1802, died September 5, 1888, in Woodland. The subject of this sketch was born in Tennessee, in 1828; at the age of thirteen years he went to Barry County, Missouri, where he remained until 1850. He then came overland to this State, remained here two years, returned to Missouri, and on coming again to the Golden State he located in Yolo County, where he has ever since remained. He has a ranch of 130 acres, all fenced, and located three and a half miles east of Madison and eight and a half west of Woodland. His principal industry is the raising of grain; besides, he raises some live-stock and fruit. He is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 111, I.O.O.F.
His first marriage was to Elvira E. Ditht, a native of Kentucky. They have two children: John H. and Mary E.; the latter is now the wife of G. Duncan, a farmer of Yolo County. Mr. Franklin was married a second time, to Adeline H. Hertford, a native of Tennessee, and they have one son, Benjamin B. The family are all members of the Christian Church at Madison.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson
J. E. BAIRD
J. E. BAIRD, an agriculturalist near Woodland, is the son of Thomas and Mary (Hodgin) Baird, who were natives of England; the father by vocation was an engineer and mill-wright, and died in Woodland in 1878. The subject of this sketch was born in England in 1852, and was brought to America when only two years of age; after living in Missouri until 1859 he came to California and located in Woodland. He now has a fine farm of 400 acres a mile east of that place; and he is also a partner with three brothers in 320 acres near Knight’s Landing. Wheat is their principal product. Mr. Baird is not married.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Betty Wilson