Yuba County
Biographies
HOMER L. DOBBINS
Yuba County has cause to be proud of the constructive work of Homer L. Dobbins, who has for years been prominently connected with the horticultural and viticultural development of this section of the State. He was born in White County, Ind., April 26, 1887, a son of Simon and Mary (Pefly) Dobbins, both natives of Indiana, and is the eleventh in a family of thirteen children born to his parents, both of whom are now deceased.
Homer L. Dobbins attended Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., and then entered Purdue University at Lafayette, Ind., and was graduated in the agricultural department with the class of 1908. He came to California in 1909 and homesteaded a quarter-section of land in Lassen County, where he lived until 1914. He then came to Yuba County and was here associated with development work in the olive orchards of the Erle district. In 1917 he organized the Yuba Vineyards Company, and its first purchase was a tract of 880 acres, known as the Toland property, which the company began to develop to vineyard. Next, 550 acres were purchased from C. F. Boardman; and then an additional acreage of 880 acres was acquired from Ernest Hutchinson; and the last tract secured was 160 acres purchased from William L. Vance. Of this land, 670 acres have been planted to Thompson Seedless grapes and Kadota figs; and about 500 acres have been sold to individuals who intend to locate on their property within the next few years. In order to get sufficient water to irrigate this extensive tract of land, Mr. Dobbins has brought water through the Bushby ditch for four and a half miles. Mr. Dobbins is the president and manager of this company, and through his efficient direction of its constructive program the growth and development of Yuba County have been carried forward in a most substantial manner.
The marriage of Mr. Dobbins occurred at Reno, Nev., in April, 1912, and united him with Claudine Wright, a native of San Francisco, and a daughter of Harry and Ethel C. Wright. Harry Wright is a tea importer, with headquarters in San Francisco. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins: Homer, Jr., Jean Elizabeth, and James Morton. Mr. Dobbins is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Sciots of Marysville, and the Scottish Rite body of Sacramento. In politics he is a Republican.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 834
THOMAS W. PECKHAM
For more than a half century Thomas W. Peckham has made his home in the vicinity of Smartsville. He started out in life empty-handed and has steadily advanced toward the goal of prosperity, winning recognition as one of the leading stockmen in the Lone Tree school district of Yuba County. He is a native son of California, born in San Francisco, on April 16, 1856, his parents being Henry and Marian Elizabeth (Atkinson) Peckham, both natives of England. The father was born in London and in that city his marriage occurred. Following that event Mr. and Mrs. Peckham emigrated to the United States, reaching Wisconsin in the forties. In 1850 they started for California, coming across the plains with ox-team and wagon and settling in Grass Valley, where the father built a hotel, which he conducted for two years. On selling the property he went to San Francisco and after living in that city for a few years returned to Nevada County, locating in You Bet, where he passed away at the age of sixty-three. While living in Wisconsin he conducted a grocery store, and after settling in California he re-entered that business. In the fall of 1864 he came to Smartsville, and it was here that the mother’s death occurred when she was seventy-nine years of age. Of the five children born to them, the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. The others were Henry, George W., Florence and Charles.
Thomas W. Peckham had but few opportunities to acquire an education, becoming a wage earner at the early age of ten, and for nine years he remained with the same employer. In the meantime he had carefully saved his earnings and wisely invested his capital in land, increasing his holdings from time to time until he now owns 1500 acres on the Smartsville-Wheatland road in the Lone Tree district; he also rents 2000 acres on which he graves his stock, running 200 head of cattle and 1300 head of sheep. He is interested in all modern developments along agricultural lines, and his practical, intelligent and systematic methods have been attended by gratifying returns.
On January 11, 1880, Mr. Peckham was married at Marysville to Miss Sophronia Wallace, who was born in Sutter County in 1861. Her parents, John L. and Mary (Striplin) Wallace, made the journey from Illinois to California in 1859 and settled in Sutter County, where the father acquired a ranch, specializing in the growing of grain. Mrs. Peckham was educated at the Nicolaus School in her native county and is one of a family of seven children, the others being William, Elroy, Frank, Edward, Belle and Ula. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peckham: Mrs. Cora Elizabeth Hacker, Mable Florence, Mrs. Pearl Irma McCormack, Mrs. Bertha Olson, William, Walter, Myrtle, and Mrs. Anita Harvey.
Mr. Peckham is a Republican and has ably filled various public offices of trust and responsibility; in 1890 he was made roadmaster in his district, and for a quarter of a century he served as a school trustee, acting as clerk of the board during a portion of that time. He is also prominent in local fraternal circles, being a Past Master of the Smartsville Lodge of Masons, and a Past Grand of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He is a self-made man who commands respect of all with whom he comes in contact.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 838