Yolo County
Biographies
J. B. RUMSEY, JR.
J. B. RUMSEY, JR., a farmer near Woodland, is a son of J. B. and Mary Rumsey. His father, a native of Vermont, died when the son was a small boy, in Miami County, Ohio; and his mother, a native of Pennsylvania, died in Yolo County, in 1886, leaving four children. The subject of this sketch was born in Miami County, Ohio, in 1884, and came to California in 1857, stopping first in Santa Clara County. Six months afterward he went to the Southern mines, followed mining there a year, and then was in various localities until 1865, when he settled upon his present place of 120 acres two and one-half miles directly west of Woodland, where he raised wheat mostly, but has forty acres in vineyard. For his wife he married Margaret Ogden, who was born in Illinois, and their children are Jennie M., Lewis W., and Elmer and Alvin, twins.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Wendy Sandino
JOHN DINSDALE
JOHN DINSDALE, a general farmer near Woodland, was born December 26, 1852, in Woodland, California, a son of Owen and Sarah (Middleton) Dinsdale. Owen was a native of England who came to New Orleans about 1846, went to St. Louis and finally in 1860 crossed the plains to California, locating two miles east of Woodland. He was a farmer all his life, his death occurring July 12, 1889, when he was seventy-four years of age; his wife died in California, October 1, 1873, at the age of fifty-four years. Of their eight children John was the fourth. He was brought up on a farm, and now occupies the ranch east of Woodland consisting of 320 acres of choice farming land, whereon he is a producer of grain and also rears live-stock. He is a practical man, a representative of his class and is well and favorably known from his long residence here and the high order of his conduct as a citizen. I 1884 he married Sophronia Wallace, a native of Indiana, and they have one son, Ralph J., and two daughters, twins, Nora and Nina.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Wendy Sandino
JOHN D. CHEETHAM
JOHN D. CHEETHAM, a farmer of Yolo County, between Woodland and Madison, was born in that County, December 9, 1861, a son of Samuel and Martha (Francisco) Cheetham. The father was a native of England, came to California in 1850, and died when John was very young. His mother was a native of Illinois. Mr. Cheetham is an industrious young man, well known in the county for his integrity and good judgment. He rents 400 acres, on which he raises principally grain, situated four miles east of Madison and seven miles west of Woodland. For his wife he married Florence Palmer, a native of this State, born in Solano County, May 22, 1870, and they have one daughter, who was born December 31, 1888, and named Eva A.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Wendy Sandino
LORENZO DEXTER
LORENZO DEXTER, deceased, formerly a farmer near Winters, Yolo County, was one of the old and respected farmers of that locality. He was born April 1, 1813, in Herkimer County, New York, the son of Samuel and Anna (Fargo) Dexter. Samuel, a farmer, moved to Michigan in 1833, where he lived until his death. Being one of the earliest settlers in that State, he found the country an unbroken forest, through which he had to cut fifteen miles to find his claim. Lorenzo, the subject of this notice, was brought up on a farm in such a county, and when he was twenty years of age he struck out for himself, continuing as a farm hand. In 1850 he came to California, with horse teams, being four months on the route. His first stop in the Golden State was at Hangtown, where he was engaged in mining for six years, being moderately successful. During the last two years of that period he was superintendent of water ditches and reservoirs for mining companies. In 1856 he went into Yolo County, purchased a squatter’s title to a tract two miles northeast of Winter’s and settled upon it, thus becoming one of the first settlers in that part of Yolo County. At length he increased his land possessions to 440 acres, which he improved from barren plains to a comfortable home, which he enjoyed in the evening of life. He was married June 20, 1837, to Miss Sarah M. Phelps, a native of Ohio, who still survives him. Of their four children two are now living, namely: Mason S., of Monterey county, and Ida L., wife of J. P. Trumbull. Mr. Dexter was a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity at Woodland. He died in 1881, on the sixty-eighth anniversary of his birth-day, suddenly falling prostrate in the front yard at his home.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by: Wendy Sandino