Yuba County
Biographies
CHARLES NICHOLAU
A native of far-away Greece, Charles Nicholau was born in Calamata, in January, 1886, and was reared in his native country. When twenty years of age he came to the United States, in 1906, and for a time located in Savannah, Ga., where he worked for wages and started to learn the ways of a new country.
Coming to Marysville, Yuba County, in 1907, his first work was in a restaurant. Later he was in the San Francisco Restaurant; and still later, with his brothers, George and Edward, he opened and conducted the Columbia Café, at 217 D Street. The business was very successful, and Mr. Nicholau bought and still owns the building at that address. In 1921, with his brothers, he opened the meat market at 328 Second Street, under the firm name of Nicholau Bros. Company, and they have built up a fine business, gaining the confidence of the people and maintaining a first-class establishment which caters to particular customers, with all modern equipment and facilities.
In 1912 Mr. Nicholau returned to Greece and served in the army during the Balkan War, in the 6th Regiment, Mounted Artillery, being discharged as corporal at the close of the war. He was married on January 26, 1914, to Stavroula Rousikis; and soon afterwards he returned to Marysville. They have one child, a son, Nicholas, born in Marysville.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1321
WILLIAM J. DEMPSEY
Throughout his life, William J. Dempsey has been an indefatigable worker; and in consequence, as the years have passed he has steadily progressed. He is now at the head of a thriving business, and Marysville numbers him among her valued citizens. His entire life has been spent in the Golden State. He was born at French Corral, in Nevada County, November 8, 1869,a son of John and Mary (Breslin) Dempsey, both natives of Ireland. The father came to California in 1852, making his way to the mines of Nevada County, and in 1872 he located at Smartsville, Yuba County, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising. He died in 1916, at the age of seventy-six.
William J. Dempsey was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools of Smartsville, becoming familiar with agricultural pursuits at an early age. For a time he worked as a ranch hand and later ran a hay press throughout the valley. He was thus occupied for fifteen years, and during two years of that period operated his own outfit. The life was not an easy one; for his working hours were from 4 a.m. to 9 p.m., and then the horses had to be taken care of, so that it was eleven o’clock before he was through with the day’s tasks. In 1901 he came to Marysville and embarked in the livery business in partnership with Amos Lane, but withdrew at the end of a year, owing to ill health. On June 16, 1902, he bought the liquor store of John Dobler, at No. 331 C Street, and has been in business on this corner ever since. In 1904 he purchased the building, which is one of the old landmarks of the city. It was erected in 1856, and the brick used in its construction was brought around Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. The structure is L-shaped, being 80 feet wide in the rear and 160 feet in depth, and having a frontage of 40 feet on C Street. Here he conducts a soft-drink emporium and has won a large share of the public patronage in this line, owing to his high standards of service and the earnest desire to please his patrons.
Mr. Dempsey married Miss Catherine L. Meade, a native of Smartsville and a member of a pioneer member of the State. She passed away on August 7, 1914, leaving a son, Kenneth Meade, now sixteen years of age. Mr. Dempsey was trained in the practical school which develops aggressive, self-reliant manhood and all the hardy virtues so necessary to success in the West; and his present prosperity has been well earned.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1321-1322