Yuba County
Biographies
MILTON EUGENE BLANCHARD
The planing mill has long played an important and indispensable part in the development of California’s resources; and such a plant as that popularly known as the Marysville Planing Mill, the property of the genial proprietor, Milton Eugene Blanchard, is still doing a good share of the day’s work in that part of the busy world. Mr. Blanchard is a native of Maine, born at Gardner, Kennebec County, on June 18, 1859, the son of Daniel M. and Abbie (Spear) Blanchard, who reached California on October 25, 1870. Locating in Yuba County, they farmed for the greater part of their lives; and they are both now among the vast silent majority, their works living after them.
Milton Blanchard, now the only living child in their family, came to California with his parents when eleven years old. He attended the rural schools of Yuba County, and then helped his father on the home farm until he was twenty-one. Starting out as a young man, he engaged in the lumber business and worked in planing mills, and since his father and grandfather had been carpenters before him, he took naturally to the work and made rapid progress. He also learned the carpenter’s trade and at one time he had a mill, with Ed Kennison, at Oroville. He has been at his present location for the past eight years, gets his full share of the work hereabouts, and his work requires the help of three men all the time. He belongs to the Builders’ Association, in which he is a moving spirit.
At Enterprise, Butte County, in 1887, Mr. Blanchard was married to Miss Alice Tobin, a popular native daughter of Butte County; and their union has been blessed in the birth of three children, Elmer Eugene, Dewey, and Margaret, now Mrs. Alfred Rose, all of Marysville. There are now two granddaughters, Alice and Margaret, to gladden Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard’s family circle. Elmer served in the World War and was sent over seas in June, 1918, in the 40th Division. In France he was transferred to the 27th Division, from New York State. Returning home, he was mustered out at the Presidio on April 10, 1919, and is now assisting his father in business. Mr. Blanchard supports the platforms of the Democratic party.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1116
PAUL A. RACKERBY
An all-round progressive citizen, Paul A. Rackerby has made a success of ranching and mining and for the past eight years has served as deputy sheriff of Yuba County. Born in Sutter County near Knight’s Landing, October 12, 1879, he is the eldest son of William Martin and Ruth (Adams) Rackerby, both natives of Missouri. William Martin Rackerby arrived in California in 1849, having crossed the plains with his parents, Joseph and Cynthia A. Rackerby, when nineteen years old. He engaged in mining at Georgetown for one year, and then tried farming on Cache Creek in Yolo County. In the early fifties he was interested in the first quartz mine in Browns Valley. In Marysville, William Martin Rackerby and Miss Ruth Adams were married; and five children were born to them: Undine, the wife of G. L. Alberts; Vesta, the wife of A. E. Clark; Paul A., of this sketch; Wirt, deceased; and G. C. Rackerby. The family removed to Marysville in 1881. There the father was engaged in the real-estate business for the following three years, after which the family removed, in 1884, to Hansonville, where he was a merchant and rancher and was the postmaster. In 1892 Mr. Rackerby petitioned to change the name of the post-office to Rackerby, the present official name. The mother died on December 25, 1901, and the father passed away in Marysville in 1909.
Paul A. Rackerby began his education in the schools of Hansonville; and later he attended school in Chico. Mr. Rackerby has spent many successful years in placer mining in the Yuba foot-hills. In 1913 he purchased property at Rackerby, where he has since built a comfortable home. For the past seventeen years he has been affiliated with Brownsville Lodge, No. 283, I.O.O.F., of which he is a Past Noble Grand; and he is also a member of Pine Forest Rebekah Lodge, No. 222, Brownsville. For the past eight years he has served as deputy sheriff of Yuba County; and on April 6, 1923, he was appointed a trustee of the Hansonville school district, and is serving as clerk of the board.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1120