Yolo County
Biographies
E. HARLEY
a farmer of Yolo County, was born in 1815 in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, about thirty miles north of Philadelphia, where his parents also were born. The name Harley is English, and the first emigration to this country was that of a Mr. Harley who was an Englishman, and his wife, who was a German woman; and it is said that their descendents in this country now number 300. The father of the subject of this sketch changed his residence several times in Pennsylvania, and in 1827, probably, he moved to Stark County, Ohio, and several years afterward to Montgomery County, same State, and in 1840 to McLean County, Illinois, at which time he had six sons. In 1850 the youngest son, Aaron, and the subject of this sketch, in company with others, crossed the plains to California, with a mule team, stopping first at Diamond Spring, near Hangtown (now Placerville), August 9. Until the fall of 1851 Mr. Harley, our subject, was in the mines, and then with others settled in Yolo County, engaging in agricultural pursuits. At that time there were very few settlers in this region, and there was neither town nor village west of the Sacramento River in that county except Fremont, merely an initial point at the mouth of Feather River.
Mr. Harley’s first wife passed away in 1847. In 1877 Mr. Harley, for his second wife, married Miss Powell, also a native of Pennsylvania, and they have one son, nearly twelve years old. Their home is in a very fine part of Yolo County, probably as good a section as any in the State.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WATERMAN COLMAN
a fruit-raiser of Yolo County, is a son of Amiel and Elizabeth D. Colman, natives of Scituate, Massachusetts. He was born and educated in that town, and in 1876 came to California by rail, first locating in Woodland. He was soon employed by the United States Government as postal clerk, as one of the first on the road. After operating in that capacity nine years and a half, he purchased the lot of ten acres where he now resides and raises some of the finest fruit in the county.
He married Miss Loring, who was born in the State of Maine, February 12, 1824, and they have one son, Edwin W.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
FRED. SCHLIEMAN
a well-known farmer of Yolo County, was born in Germany, December 15, 1825, a son of Fred and Helen Schlieman, natives of that county. At the age of twenty-one years he emigrated to Texas, landing at the port of Galveston, and served in the Mexican war. In 1850 he started with a mule team and came through Mexico and Arizona to California, arriving at San Diego September 17, 1850. Four months afterward he went to San Francisco and in a short time to the mines at Park’s Bar, on the Yuba River; next to Doty’s Flat in Placer County, where he was engaged in mining until 1856. He then spent a year at his native place in the East, and on returning settled in Yolo County at the place which he now occupies, containing three quarter-section of land. He is a prosperous farmer, and takes great interest in the welfare of his community and in the county. He was elected Assessor in 1879, served till 1884, was elected County Clerk in 1885 for two years; was also Justice of the Peace in earlier days.
He was married, in 1857, to Caroline Kuntze, a native of Germany, and they have two daughters and four sons, namely: William A., Harry F., Ernest E., Adolph F., Louis F., Helen L. and Minnie C.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
Schlieman Brothers
From the era of frontier history up to the present time of progressive development the name of Schlieman has been identified honorably and intimately with the agricultural activities of Yolo county, whither in an early day came a rugged and stalward (sic) young German, Ferdinand Schlieman, the descendent of a long line of Teutonic ancestors and the possessor in his own sturdy mentality of qualities inherited from worthy progenitors. While he had not been endowed with wealth nor had destiny bestowed upon him the qualities that bring a swift success, he had a large fund of energy and industry and was not easily disheartened by obstacles. Hence he was in a position to appreciate the advantages offered by Yolo county and to foresee the possibilities of the region as the result of careful cultivation.
The pre-emption of a claim of one hundred and sixty acres gave the industrious young German his start in the new world and established him among the ranchers of Yolo county, where as a subsequent prosperity gave him financial standing and credit he was enabled to buy one-half section, thus giving him the title to four hundred and eighty acres in one body, situated near Blacks Station. Favorably impressed with the opportunities here presented to industry and thrift he resolved to establish a permanent home on his land and with that object in view he returned to Germany for the young lady, Miss Caroline Kuntze, to whom he had plighted his troth. A quiet wedding ceremony was followed by farewells to their friends and they then set sail for the new world, coming direct to California and beginning their married life upon the farm that is now owned by their children. Here they passed many busy and happy years and here their last days were passed. The only exception to their continuous residence upon the farm was during the period of his official service, when they made their home at the county seat. For one term he served as county assessor, for one term he filled the office of county clerk and for one term he held the position of county recorder. In each position he gave satisfaction to the people of the county.
Since the death of this pioneer rancher and his devoted wife the old homestead has been occupied by Ernest E., and the daughter, Miss Helen. Adolph and Louis have built neat residences on other portions of the estate. The three brothers work in partnership and by wise and harmonious dealings they have gained prominence as farmers and stockraisers. The productiveness of the land proves their skilled cultivation. Alfalfa and grain raising are carried on extensively and they merit their splendid financial returns. Conservative and careful, energetic and enthusiastic, they possess the traits indispensable to successful agricultural operations and are wisely developing the interests inherited from their father. The oldest of the three brothers, Ernest E., is a member of Grafton Lodge No. 293, I.O.O.F., to which the youngest brother, Louis, also belongs. All have the sturdy traits characteristic of the Teutonic race, supplemented by the enterprise that is associated with the American race, and their high principles of honor have gained for them the respect of a large circle of acquaintances.
Transcribed by Peggy B. Perazzo
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 515-519, by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, 1913.