Yolo County
Biographies
CHRIS SIEBER
Chris Sieber, proprietor of the Pacific House at Woodland, is an example of those who came from a foreign land to young America and have attained affluence under our benign institutions. He was born January 29, 1847, in Germany, in the Kingdom of Wirtemberg, a son of Ludwick and Rosa (Linck) Sieber. His father, a farmer, came to America and to California in 1886, and died the next year, in Woodland, at the age of sixty-seven years. The subject of this biographical mention remained at home on the farm until he was fifteen years of age, when he commenced to learn the tin-smith trade. After completing that he sailed from Liverpool to New York city, where he remained a year working at his trade. In 1866 he came by the Nicaragua route to California, worked a year in his vocation at Sacramento, and then two years at the same in Woodland, when he engaged in a bakery and saloon, which he ran successfully for three years. He then disposed of his bakery and continued the saloon until 1881, when he purchased the Tackney House. He afterward changed its name to the Pacific House, under which name he is now running it, with magnificent success. He is also interested in the Woodland brewery, the electric light system of the city, the Woodland street railway and various other enterprises. He was elected in 1878 a member of the City Council, and he served also as City Treasurer two years. He is a member of Woodland Lodge, No. 111, I.O.O.F., and also of the O.C.F.
He was married in 1874 to Miss Frederica Buod, a native of Germany, and their children are Frieda, Christ, Louie, Elsie and Bertha.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN D. LAWSON
John D. Lawson, a real-estate dealer of Woodland, was born in Jackson County, Tennessee, July 15, 1832, and he was eight years of age when the family moved with him to Chariton County, Missouri. In 1852 he came by the overland route to California, settling in Sierra County, where he resided one year. He then came to Yolo County, where he has continued to reside until the present time. For a number of years he was engaged in farming, a few miles southwest of Woodland; but in 1860 he moved to Woodland, and built a residence on Lincoln avenue. In 1861-’62, together with his only daughter, now Mrs. W. R. Pond, of Woodland, he attended Hesperian College. He built the first livery-stable in that city in 1862. In 1869 he entered mercantile business where now is the grocery of Eaton & Son; at the end of two years he sold out to Mr. Eaton, and was appointed Deputy Sheriff and Jailer by Sheriff J. P. Bullock for four years. Just before his term expired he was elected County Recorder, and he left his former situation and assumed the duties of the latter for a two years’ tem, commencing March 4, 1874. The next two years he was engaged in the real-estate business, and then, in partnership with H. L. Marders, he kept the Fashion Stable: this was in 1878. In 1883 he was again appointed Deputy Sheriff and Jailer, by Sheriff Jason Watkins, and held the position two years. In 1871, while serving under Sheriff Bullock, he was elected the first Marshal of the town of Woodland, and served from March until May, under a temporary government until the charter for the incorporation was obtained. After that he was elected a member of the Board of City Trustees for two terms. His present business as real-estate agent was established in 1885. In 1887 he admitted a partner, the firm name becoming Lawson & Maxwell, the latter retiring a year later. Mr. Lawson continued the business alone until March, 1889, when he formed a copartnership with Louis Walker. The firm name is now Lawson & Walker. Politically, Mr. Lawson is a Democrat.
He was married to Miss Jane Browning, in Yolo County, September 13, 1855, Elder J. N. Pendegast performing the ceremony. The result of this marriage has been a large family of children, all of whom are living at Woodland. Their names are, respectively: Genoa, Wm. H., James B., Robert G. and Edward.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOSHUA LAWSON
Joshua Lawson, deceased, was born April 4, 1804, in Jackson County, Tennessee, and in November, 1829, he married Mary Chaffin, also a native of Tennessee. The family made two trips to Missouri, -- first in 1838, spending one year there and returning in 1839. In 1840 they made their second trip, locating in Chariton County, and remained there until 1848, removing thence to Macon County, where they resided four years, when he came to California, with ox teams. Leaving Bloomington, the county seat of Macon County, April 13, 1852, they arrived at Gold Hill, Sierra County, September 6. The whole family followed mining about a year. In September, 1853, they came into Sacramento, where they sojourned about two or three months in an old hut on K street, between Eighth and Ninth, and on December 14, came into Yolo County and located permanently on a farm four miles southwest of Woodland, now owned by Dr. Strong. The Lawson family all located land in the same neighborhood. Joshua Lawson died in Woodland, December 21, 1862, and the widow is still living, at the age of eighty-three years. In their family were seven daughters and two sons, of whom several died when young; four died in Woodland, and only two are now living, namely: Mrs. Shellhammer and J. D. Joshua Lawson was a fine mechanic, and followed mechanical pursuits for over thirty years prior to coming to California. He was a preacher of the Christian Church from 1835 to the time of his death. He was the prime mover in the organization of the Christian Church at Woodland, the first pastor of the Church worshiping there, and, unlike most pastors, he preached on Sunday without pecuniary reward, and attended to his mechanical pursuits during the week, -- wagon and carriage-making, blacksmithing, gunsmithing, etc. He was also one of the originators and founders of the Hesperian College at Woodland.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
W. G. BULLARD
W. G. Bullard, merchant and Postmaster at Davisville, dates his birth June 20, 1831, in Monroe County, New York. His parents, Benjamin and Eleanor (Weaver) Bullard, were natives respectively of Vermont and New York. The father, a shoemaker by trade, but chiefly a farmer by occupation through life, moved in 1836 to Oakland County, Michigan, settling near Walled Lake, upon land which he purchased there. In 1849 he sold out and moved to Fredonia, Calhoun County, same State, where he remained until 1853, and then he came to California with his family, overland, being five months and two days on the route, ending at Sacramento. He was interested in a hotel there until 1870 and then he was a resident of Davisville until he died, in December, 1884, at the age of seventy-nine years. In his family were three sons and five daughters.
The subject of this sketch was brought up on a farm and was with his parents when they came to California. The first work which he did for his own interest was at mining, principally at Timbuctoo, above Marysville <Yuba County>, and in this business he continued about nine years, in company with a brother and a brother-in-law. He closed his mining experience with $2,200, to be divided between the three. Then for about four years he was in the transfer business in Sacramento; next he was book-keeper for a canal company and a general merchandise house at Michigan Bar for three years; and then, in 1870 he removed to Davisville and was book-keeper for Drisback & Company until that firm failed; then he started out for himself in the grain and mercantile business, but, not having the courage to deny credit, he failed in this enterprise. His general character and uprightness was too well known for him to be long waiting for an opportunity, and in 1886 he was appointed Postmaster at Davisville, in which position he has served the people to the present time. In connection with the office, he runs a very neat store of groceries and general merchandise. He is a member of Dixon Chapter and Woodland Commandery of the Masonic order.
Mr. Bullard was married October 20, 1868, to Mary A. T. Farrell, a native of Ireland, and they have two daughters and three sons, whose names are Mary E., Walter W., Edward F., William G. and Nettie B.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler