Yuba County
Biographies
CHESTER R. BEILBY
Prominent among the successful fruit growers of Yuba County is Chester R. Beilby, who was born September 24, 1884, a son of Charles W. and Elizabeth (Woodworth) Beilby. This worthy couple were blessed with nine children: George, at Sacramento; Joseph, at Watsonville; Brother, Mary and Ralph, deceased; Ocy, at Watsonville; Mattie and Fred, at Wheatland; and Chester R., the subject of this sketch. Chester R. was reared and educated in Sutter County, and also attended a business college at Sacramento. When he was eighteen years old he obtained a position in the Wheatland Rochdale store, where he was employed for two years. Then with his brother, Fred Beilby, he bought a dry goods and gents’ furnishing store; and eighteen months later he bought out his brother, and then conducted the business alone for thirteen years. The last five years of that time he also conducted a general grocery business. After selling his place of business he went to Oakland, during the World War, and for one and one-half years operated the moving picture theater at Forty-first Street and Telegraph Avenue. In 1919 he came to the old Oakley tract, one mile north of Wheatland, and purchased twenty acres, and in 1923 he purchased an additional ten acres. The entire thirty acres has been devoted to peaches. He has installed a three-inch pump, operated by electricity, which is used for irrigation purposes.
On December 7, 1904, Chester R. Beilby was united in marriage with Miss Mary L. Armstead, who was born at Wheatland, the daughter of W. O. and Mary (Noe) Armstead. Her father came to California in 1849, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and for several years he mined in Placerville, Eldorado County, and in the State of Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. W. O. Armstead were the parents of four children: George, Albert, Asa and Mary L., Mrs. Beilby. Mr. and Mrs. Beilby have two children: Melvin and Ilene. Mr. Beilby is independent in his political views, casting his ballot in favor of the candidate whom he deems best fitted for office, regardless of party lines. He is a member of Sutter Lodge, No. 100, I.O.O.F., of Wheatland, and of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has served as chairman of the town trustees of Wheatland.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1323
CLAUDE W. ALEXANDER
A successful rancher of the kind invaluable to a country still awaiting a deal of scientific development, is Claude W. Alexander, who divides his time, attention and energies between the supervision of another’s estate and the management of his own more modest possessions; being foreman on the famous Horst ranch about two miles east of Wheatland, at the same time that he operates a small ranch to which he holds title. He is a native son, born at Wheatland on May 22, 1892. His parents were William A. and Mary J. (Melton) Alexander; and his father, who is still living at Wheatland, came out to California about forty years ago, and as a farmer located near that town. Miss Mary Melton was the daughter of Dr. Lewis Melton, a physician who established an excellent practice and made for himself an enviable reputation, coming to Wheatland many years ago, and ministering to the sick and the afflicted as a faithful family doctor. It thus happened that Claude attended the grammar and high schools of Wheatland, and was well prepared when he pushed out for himself into the world at the age of twenty-one. He has leased ranches in both Yuba and Sutter Counties, and has been very successful in the raising of grain, beans and stock. He has been a foreman on the Horst ranch for several years, and he owns six choice acres at Wheatland, where his father lives. In national political affairs, he prefers the platforms of the Democratic party.
He was married at Wheatland on May 17, 1913, to Miss Rose C. Gallagher, a native daughter who was born near Nicolaus, in Sutter County, where she entered the family of Anthony and Minnie (Dwyer) Gallagher. Her grandfather, Thomas Dwyer, an early pioneer farmer in California, settled near Nicolaus, and for years followed farming; he passed away in November, 1923, aged over ninety years. Anthony Gallagher is living in Sutter County, where as a farmer he operates a large acreage. There were seven children in the Gallagher family; and all but one are still living. Anthony J. is the eldest; Mary E. passed away in July, 1921; Rose became Mrs. Claude Alexander; and the younger children are Cathryn, Edward, Agnes and Charles. Rose attended the Sutter County grammar schools, and then finished her education at the College of Notre Dame at Marysville. Mr. and Mrs. Alexander have two children: William and Loraine. Mr. Alexander is an Odd Fellow, being a member of Sutter Lodge No. 100, at Wheatland, in which he is a Past Grand. Mrs. Alexander is a member of Camp Far West Parlor No. 218, N.D.G.W.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1324