Yolo County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. WELCH
William H. Welch, Superintendent of the County Hospital of Yolo County, is a son of Robert and Jane (Crawford) Welch, natives of Kentucky. His father, a farmer by occupation, raised the first barley on the plains of Yolo County and died in 1854, at the age of fifty-four years, within three miles of Woodland. His mother died about 1871, at the age of sixty-eight years, in Yolo County. The subject of this sketch was born in Tennessee, December 11, 1833; in 1854 he came to California across the plains, stopping first in this county, within three miles of Woodland, where for some time he followed farming and ran a trading store at Buckeye for four years, and also a store in Woodland two years. For an exception, it can be said of him that he never struck a pick in the mines. He was elected to position in February, 1888, and is well known as an industrious man who deserves all he receives and even more. He is well liked at the hospital and by the people generally. The average number of inmates at this institution is about twenty-five; and among them there is at present a lady, named Ellen Smith, who is aged 103 years, being born in Dublin, Ireland; and she is remarkably active. The hospital stands on forty acres of well improved land, where Mr. Welch raises some fine hogs, as well as fruit and other farm produce.
He was married in Tennessee, to Susan Pinkley, a native of Macon County, that State, who died in 1861, in Yolo County, leaving three children: Mattie, now the wife of A. G. Reed, and living in Woodland; W. F., a resident of Woodland, and R. L., a resident of Colusa, this State.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
FRED CRAIG
Fred Craig, a prosperous farmer residing on his fine farm five miles southeast of Davisville, was born in the State of New York; his parents having died when he was quite young he went to Ohio, where he made his home with an uncle, Mr. Craig, a farmer of that State. Here he received a limited education in the common schools. In 1852 he started for California, taking passage on a steamboat at Wheeling, Virginia, and traveled down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans. From there he took a vessel for Havana to inspect a steamer from New York to Chagres. The voyage was tedious and uneventful. Having crossed the Isthmus of Panama, he was obliged to wait fifteen days for a vessel to San Francisco. He finally secured a passage on a sail vessel, which proved to be unseaworthy and scantily provisioned. After a few weeks of stormy weather, which drove the ship out of her course, they landed at San Blas for provisions. From here they again started for San Francisco and again encountered severe storms, which drove them to the Sandwich Islands, where they landed for a fresh supply of provisions. They finally landed in San Francisco, in September, 142 days from the date of leaving Panama. Mr. Craig worked for a short time near San Francisco, then went to Nevada City, California, and engaged in mining for two years and a half. From Nevada City he went to Coloma and worked in the mines of that camp about the same length of time. In April, 1857, he came to Yolo County, and worked as a farm laborer for three years. In 1860 he commenced farming on his own account, on rented land; and in 1862 bought the farm where he now lives. His home farm contains 160 acres and he also owns 160 acres in Solano County, adjoining the home place. He devotes his attention entirely to grain and stock-raising.
He was married April 2, 1868 to Miss Juliett A. Royce, a daughter of Alphens Waldo and Jane (Olmstead) Royce. Mr. Royce was a native of Connecticut, and his wife a native of Vermont. Mrs. Craig has one brother who resides in San Diego, California.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JACKSON BROWN
Jackson Brown, a farmer of Yolo County, was born in Otsego County, New York, August 8, 1828. His parents, Amos and Eliza (Tubbs) Brown, were natives of the same county. His father died in New York, after which his mother moved to Minnesota, where she died at an advanced age. Jackson Brown came to California in 1854 via the Nicaragua route and landed in San Francisco May 4. From there he came directly to Yolo County, where he engaged in farming; he owns 480 acres of land, all under cultivation. He devotes his attention exclusively to grain and stock raising.
He was married, April 12, 1852, to Miss Anna Eliza Hubbard, a native of Otsego County, New York. She came to California in 1856, having remained in New York the first two years that he husband was in California. She died in 1858, leaving two children, a son and a daughter. Robert S., the eldest, is married and lives on his father’s farm, with whom his father makes his home. Anna Eliza, the daughter, was married to Edward Broad. They reside in Sacramento.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ELI SNIDER
Eli Snider, proprietor of Putah Nursery and a fruit-raiser, Yolo County, is a native of Ohio, born in Springfield, Clark County, March 1, 1853. He received his education in the public schools of his native place. At the age of seventeen years he engaged as an apprentice in one of the excellent machine shops of Ohio, where he served three years, thoroughly learning the machinist’s trade. In the fall of 1875 he came to Yolo County, California, where he worked for five years, most of the time either as engineer for steam thresher or steam pump. In 1880 he engaged in farming, on rented land, giving a portion of the crop in payment for rent; he continued farming on rented land for four years. In 1885 he bought the farm on which he now resides. He has ten acres of nursery stock, which consists of all kinds of fruit and ornamental trees and vines. On his fruit farm he has seventy acres planted to apricots, prunes, peaches and pears, twenty acres of which are bearing.
He was married, November 17, 1880, to Miss Minnie Montgomery, a daughter of Alexander and Susan (Martin) Montgomery. Her father was a native of Kentucky and her mother of Virginia; they crossed the plains to California in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. Snider have one child, a son, Alexander, aged eight years. Mr. Snider is a member of Yolo Lodge, No. 169, I.O.O.F., and Athens Lodge, No. 228, F. & A. M., both located in Davisville. He is also a member of Pythias Lodge, No. 43, Knights of Pythias, located in Woodland. He has a fine two-story house on his farm, is energetic and thorough in all he undertakes, and therefore is deservedly prosperous.
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California, The Lewis Publishing Co., 1891
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler