Yuba County
Biographies
WILLIAM BEIK
Thirty-six years of the active career of William Beik have been spent in the mines of Yuba and Butte Counties, and he has become a well-known authority on the mineral deposits in this section of California. He was born at Forbestown, August 16, 1870, a son of Frederick and Mary Ann (Schmidt) Beik. Frederick Beik was born in Germany, and came to America in 1846, locating in Iowa, where he remained until 1850. He then crossed the plains to California with an ox-team and engaged in mining and ranching in Forbestown and vicinity, Butte County; and at Forbestown he met and married Miss Mary Ann Schmidt. The Schmidt family were early settlers in San Francisco. Frederick Beik passes away at Forbestown, aged sixty-one, survived by his wife and family; the mother lived to be seventy-eight years old, passing away in the old home at Forbestown.
William Beik was the fifth child in a family of twelve boys and one girl. He received his education in the public school of Forbestown, and then entered the quartz mills, working there and at mining for thirty years. His first experience at mining was in the mine Golden Queen, where he remained until he had thoroughly mastered every department, even to the construction of quartz and stamp-mills. Since 1919 Mr. Beik has held the important position of superintendent of Horseshoe Mine. With Joseph Supple of Portland, he owns the Mt. de Oro Mine near Woodleaf, comprising eighty acres of deeded land, where there are three different veins of gold-bearing quartz.
Mr. Beik has had some very narrow escapes. While hunting, he was accidentally shot on two different occasions. Once he came near being drowned, and at another time, in a snow-slide from the roof, he was covered over with snow, but fortunately was rescued in time to prevent suffocation.
The marriage of Mr. Beik occurred on April 29, 1904, in Oroville, united him with Miss Emma Arbucco, a native daughter of California, born in Browns Valley. She was a daughter of Antonio and Mary Arbucco, both natives of Italy. Mrs. Beik received her early education in the school at Challenge. Mr. Beik has served as juryman in both Butte and Yuba Counties, and has also been on election boards in Butte County. His real-estate holdings in Butte and Yuba Counties are of considerable value.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 526
JOHN RUSSELL
For more than forty years John Russell successfully followed the blacksmith’s trade in Marysville, becoming widely known through his activities in that connection; and owing to his unabating industry and capable management of his business interests, he is able to spend the evening of his life in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. He is a native of England and early became familiar with the blacksmith’s trade, serving an apprenticeship under his father, with whom he became associated in business.
Believing that better opportunities for advancement could be obtained in the New World, Mr. Russell came to the United States in 1871, locating in Cleveland, Ohio, where he obtained work at his trade. He arrived in Marysville in 1875, and first entered the blacksmith shop of Paul Weber. Michael Katzner and Tom Chase were also employed there, and on November 26, 1878, the three men established a business of their own, forming the firm of Katzner, Russell & Chase. They secured a location at the corner of Sixth and B Streets, the present site of the Plaza Blacksmith Shop, of which W. G. Atherton is the proprietor. Their work in the early days consisted of the shoeing of horses and oxen and the repairing of the old prairie schooners in which the pioneers made the long journey across the plains. They also made wheels and stage coaches and repaired the eight- and ten-horse wagons which carried freight to the mines. A well-deserved reputation for skill and efficiency drew to them an ever increasing patronage, and in later years they did a large amount of work at Colgate for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company. They were the pioneer blacksmiths of Marysville, and Mr. Russell is the only surviving member of the firm. Having accumulated a substantial competence, he sold the business about three years ago and is now living retired in Marysville.
Mr. Russell married Miss Katie Hunt, who was born in Marysville, a daughter of Christopher and Theresa (Reila) Hunt, both natives of Germany. The father was born in Baden-Baden, and came to Marysville in the early days, opening a bowling-alley back of the old flour mill. For many years he engaged in the hotel business, operating the Spring House on Third Street, where the Gates Hardware Store is now located, and What Cheer House on Second Street. The old home which he built on Fourth Street, between B and C, in 1860, is still standing, having withstood the ravages of two floods. He belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge, and his name is inseparably associated with Marysville’s pioneer development. He became the father of six children, two of whom are now living, Katie and Charles, both of Marysville. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have two children: William C., whose home is in Chico; and Mrs. M. A. Eckart, who resides in Oroville, Cal., and has two children.
For forty-eight years Mr. Russell has been a resident of Marysville, and has lived to witness a marked transformation in its appearance, as pioneer conditions have been replaced by the improvements and advantages of civilization. He has ever recognized the duties and obligations of life, discharging the former to the best of his ability and meeting the latter to the fullest degree; and no resident of Marysville stands higher in the esteem of his fellow-men.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 526-527