Yuba County
Biographies
PAUL GEORGE ESENMAN
A musical establishment that has deserved its growing popularity and prosperity is that of Messrs. Hall & Esenman, of Marysville, who have done much to elevate, in their handling of musical instruments, the standards of musical study in Northern California. The firm is ably represented by its junior member, Paul George Esenman, who was born at Yuba City, Cal., on October 30, 1895, the son of John and Salome (Gangloff) Esenman, who came to California in 1889 and took up ranching, in which pleasant field of useful activity they are still engaged. They live in Yuba City and enjoy the esteem of all who know them.
Paul Esenman attended the grammar schools, and then was graduated with honors from the Marysville High School, being a member of the class of 1916. After his graduation, he accepted a clerkship in Moors’ Boot Shop for a couple of years. He next joined the H. A. Seller Company in the automobile business, and was with their Marysville branch for seven months. After that, he enlisted in the United States Signal Corps, and had two months of training in the Polytechnic School at Los Angeles; and then he went to Leavenworth, Kans., in the Signal Corps. He was ordered over seas to France and was two days out at sea, on his way to the battle-fields, when he was called back on account of the signing of the armistice, November 11, 1918. He was top sergeant of the 222nd Field Signal Battalion.
On his return to California, Mr. Esenman bought an interest in the Van Arsdale Grocery Company of Yuba City; but in April, 1922, he sold his holding, and on May 1, of the same year, helped to form the company with which he is at present associated, in which enterprise both of his partners have been more than successful. They handle the entire line of Sherman, Clay & Company pianos and Victor phonographs and records, and also a line of musical instruments and small goods; and since Mr. Esenman has always taken a live interest in music, and even conducted an orchestra himself for a while, he is able to guide others in the proper selection and study of music, and so to help form public taste in musical art.
On June 4, 1921, at Marysville, Mr. Esenman was married to Miss Lillian Becker, a daughter of the well-known pioneer, C. J. Becker. Both Mr. and Mrs. Esenman are social favorites in the circles of the Masons and Elks, of which he is a member. He is a member of Yuba-Sutter Post, American Legion, and belongs to the Phi Delta Kappa fraternity.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 738
JAMES CLARENCE GRAY
The life record of James Clarence Gray presents an excellent illustration of what constitutes good citizenship, for he represents that class of men to whom personal gain is but one aim in many, secondary in importance to public growth and development and lower in value than many other elements which go to make up the sum total of human existence. For nine years he has filled the office of justice of the peace at Hammonton and his ability as a business man has won for him the position of manager of the ice plant operated by the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields.
Mr. Gray is one of California’s native sons and was born at Yuba City, March 23, 1871. His parents were James C. and Ellen A. (Plumb) Gray, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Massachusetts. The mother came to California in 1859, when seven years of age, in company with her parents, who chose the Isthmus route, and the father crossed the plains with ox teams in 1850. They were married at Yuba City and Mr. Gray became the owner of a productive farm of 160 acres, specializing largely in the raising of choice varieties of fruit. He died at the age of seventy-five years and is survived by the mother, who resides near Yuba City. Since their father’s death the sons have set out a new orchard and the property is now one of the most desirable in that section of the State. To Mr. and Mrs. Gray were born ten children, but Clara, the eldest, died in infancy. James Clarence was the second in order of birth. Rosabel is also deceased. Etta is the widow of Dr. Stocking, who followed the profession of dentistry. She lives with her mother on the home ranch and has two daughters, Blanche and Marian. Walter S. is a well known dentist of Marysville. Alexander and Harry are both deceased, the latter dying in infancy. Blanche is the wife of Dr. J. W. Barnes, of Stockton. Allen is a successful physician and surgeon of Marysville. Florence married Louis Worden, by whom she had a son, Eldrid. She is deceased, and her death resulted from influenza.
In the pursuit of an education James C. Gray attended Sutter College and the Stockton Business College, conducted by Messrs. Trask & Ramsey. He completed his training under Mr. Ellis of the San Francisco Business College and remained on the home farm until 1897. He then entered the business world, becoming associated with the Old Sutter Canning & Packing Company, and at the time it was sold to the California Fruit Canners’ Association he was assistant superintendent of the plant, being also a stockholder and director of the concern. Mr. Gary next opened the Royal Bakery at Marysville, but sold the business fourteen months later and entered the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company at that place. Later being transferred to Sacramento, he was connected with the maintenance of way department. On severing his connection with that corporation he came to Hammonton and associated himself with the Yuba Consolidated Gold Fields, with which he has since been identified. He now acts as manager of their ice plant, which he operates with marked efficiency, leaving nothing undone that will tend to advance the interests of those whom he serves. He also has fifteen acres of orchard, devoted to the growing of peaches, this tract being his share in the old homestead.
At Woodland, Yolo County, on May 12, 1897, Mr. Gray was married to Miss Edith M. Claggett, who was born in Missouri and as a child came to California to live with her sister, the wife of T. J. Flint, a well known druggist of Marysville, where she attended school. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gray: Norine, the eldest, was graduated from the Palo Alto High School and the Mount Zion Hospital of San Francisco and is now following the profession of nursing in Hawaii; Eleanor, the second daughter, is deceased; Clara completed a course in the Marysville High School and is also a graduate nurse, finishing her training at Mount Zion Hospital in 1923; and Paul Clinton, the only son in the family, is a student at the Marysville High School.
Mr. Gray is a stanch Republican in his political views, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, have called him to public office. In 1914 he was elected justice of the peace of Linda Township and on January 1, 1923, he entered upon his fourth term, his long retention in the office being proof of his efficiency and integrity as a public servant. Both Mr. and Mrs. Gray are affiliated with Marysville Chapter, No. 55, O.E.S., and he is also a member of the Hammonton Lodge of Masons, the Marysville Lodge of Elks, and Shamrock Camp, No. 360, W.O.W., at Yuba City. He is likewise a member and past president of Marysville Parlor, No. 6, N.S.G.W., and has passed through its chairs three times, while on several occasions he has been chosen a delegate to the Grand Parlor. The cause of education finds in Mr. Gray a strong advocate and he has served for many years on the board of trustees and also as clerk of the Gold Field School District. He has lent the weight of his influence to every worthy and progressive public project and has won as his reward the high regard and complete confidence of his fellow citizens.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 747-748