Yolo County
Biographies
Otis B. Wilber
There are thousands of men, not the least influential among whom is Mr. Wilber, to whom California has been the land of opportunity, whose modest ambitions have here attained fruition and whose industrious efforts have brought their own merited measure of prosperity. In an exceptional sense Yolo county has presented favorable openings to men of energy and intelligence, for, while great cities do not here rear their lofty structures toward the sky and mines of vast riches do not present their alluring fascinations to the prospector, the rich soil and the genial climate unite to attract the man whose aim is the acquisition of financial independence through the cultivation of the soil. Prosperous farmers are the rule and not the exception in this county and their success has given the region a high standing among agricultural communities.
An investigation of various locations in the west, followed by settlement in Yolo county, convinced Mr. Wilber of the superior advantages offered by this part of the state and he has had no reason to regret the decision that made him a permanent resident of the vicinity of Davis. Of eastern family and lineage, he was born in Albany county, N. Y., in 1865, and grew to manhood in the same locality, receiving his education in the public schools. Upon starting out to earn his own livelihood he followed the tide of migration toward the west and at the age of twenty-one years became a settler of Minnesota. However, after nine months he decided to push on further toward the setting sun. On the 26th of November, 1886, he arrived in San Diego, Cal., a stranger and wholly without means. However, he was able to secure employment without delay and for two and one-half years he continued in the same neighborhood, going thence to Elko, Nev. On his return to California he settled at Truckee, but did not find conditions satisfactory, so he once again took up the search for a permanent location. This move in 1889 brought him to Yolo county and he was so well pleased with prospects that he became a permanent citizen and industrious farmer.
The marriage of Mr. Wilber in 1899 united him with Miss Annette Marden, by whom he has one son, Harrison Marden. The family are earnestly identified with the Presbyterian Church and contribute to its maintenance. Ever since 1887 Mr. Wilber has been associated with the Odd Fellows, but he belongs to no other order, his time and attention being fully taken up with the duties of his agricultural affairs. Shortly after his arrival in the county he was engaged as foreman of the ranch of W. H. Marden and in 1900 he was given entire charge of the property. Since the beginning of his superintendency he has made many valuable improvements and has greatly enhanced the financial value of the estate, as well as the annual returns from its cultivation. At this writing the ranch contains five hundred and sixty-seven acres, forty-two acres having been purchased since the death of Mr. Marden. More than one-half of the almond orchard has been planted under the direct oversight of the superintendent and there are now sixty acres of the Hatch variety of that product. Some unusually large crops of almonds have been harvested and as the quality is the best they command the highest market price.
The sagacious management of the almond orchard represents only a small item in Mr. Wilber’s work as superintendent. A vineyard of Muscat grapes embraces twenty-seven acres and demands the most painstaking supervision. One hundred acres are under cultivation to barley and there are thirty-five acres in alfalfa, of which several crops are harvested during the season. The land has been brought to a high state of cultivation and ranks among the finest farms of the county. In addition to the production of grain and the care of orchard and vineyard, Mr. Wilber devotes considerable time to the raising of stock. His judgment of stock is accurate and seldom at fault. One hundred head of high-grade cattle may be seen in the pastures, including twenty-five milch cows of the Durham breed. The dairy forms an important part of the ranch activities and the entire output of milk is sold to the state farm at Davis. At present there are about two hundred head of Poland-China hogs on the ranch and the superintendent is such a firm believer in pure-bred stock that he has paid as high as $50 for a stock hog, it being his theory, not only with swine but with all kinds of stock, that often the best is the cheapest and that the stock-raiser must consider quality as of vastly more importance than price.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County, California” by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 557 – 558.
Francis Lafayette Bourland
Driving an ox-team across the plains for his board, or herding cattle along that same route, has been the method by which many a young man has come to California, especially in the early days, and this was the way Francis L. Bourland got here. He was born during the year 1833 in the old “Chickasaw Purchase,” Mississippi, and lived there with his parents until 1853, when they moved to Fort Smith, Ark. His father had a mail-carrying contract between Fort Smith and other points in the state, and young Bourland on his mule, conveying the letter bags through the wilds, often had exciting adventures. When his mail route was discontinued the young man worked at carpentering and wagonmaking until he had a chance to start for the golden west. He provided his own pony and played the part of cowboy all the way across in Capt. Boliver Bennett’s train, getting his board for the service; his lodging he got in his saddle generally. There were twenty wagons in the train, and a portion of the herder’s work was to hunt for the travelers. One day he shot a buffalo cow, and her calf followed him to camp. The youngster thrived in its orphanage, grew quite tame, and Bourland sold it for $20.
At Carson City, Mr. Bourland left the train, and when he had earned enough money he sent it back to the “old folks at home.” By his direction his mother sold out her small belongings and started for California. When their train was approaching the state line he hired a mule and rode to meet it¾several days’ journey away. There he was met with the sad intelligence that his mother was dead. She had died just before the beginning of the trip, but the children had been sent on, and he found them safe in the train. He settled down with his brothers and sisters in Stockton, teaming at good wages and providing a good and comfortable home for his young charges. He afterwards located on a ranch about eight miles east from the Slough City.
Mr. Bourland married Miss Mary Jane Squires, and their five children are Rolla, George, Arthur, Lemuel and Abbie. Lemuel married Etta Mercer and they live on their farm in Yolo county; Abbie became the wife of E. A. Brown of Merced county. Mr. Bourland’s second marriage occurred in Collegeville, Cal., uniting him with Miss Emily Block, who was born in Gordon county, Ga., and the two children born of this marriage are Mary, who married F. G. Perrott and lives at Woodbridge, Cal., and William, who married Eva Tadlock and makes his home in Yolo county.
F. L. Bourland formerly owned about four hundred and eighty acres of land, but he has sold off all but one hundred and sixty acres, and this he has deeded to Mrs. Bourland. Besides the fine ranch near Madison, which has been their home for years, they also have a residence at Cottonwood, also near Madison. They take great comfort and pleasure in their children, to whom they have given educations and have so reared them that they are now industrious and honorable citizens of the county.
After a long life of hard work, coupled with thrift and other economical features, the subject of this sketch has settled down to a well-earned rest. In religion he and his wife are Presbyterian, in politics he is Democratic, and all in all he is a good citizen and an honor to his home town and county.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County, California” by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 559 – 560.