Yuba County
Biographies
MRS. MARY WRIGHT
A highly esteemed resident of whom Yuba County will ever be proud is Mrs. Mary Wright, who was born at Gaither Corners, in Sutter County (Mr. Gaither, the early pioneer, being a cousin of her mother), the daughter R. E. and Serena Jane (Bast) Welch, the former a native of Missouri, and the latter a native of Kentucky. In 1852, R. E. Welch came to California, traveling across the plains and mountains with ox-terms and a prairie schooner. He first settled at Coloma, where he mined for a few years; but later, he moved to Sutter County and bought 160 acres of land near Gaither Corners, and there farmed. He next moved to a place eight miles out of Colusa, and embarked in the sheep business; and some years later he joined a Mr. Walter and a Mr. Smith in the same undertaking, along the Yuba River, where Marigold is now located, in Yuba County. He lived the balance of his life in Yuba County, and died at the age of sixty-four years; his devoted wife passed away at the age of sixty-two. The worthy couple had a family of five children: Thomas H., W. G., and James are deceased; Mary is the subject of our review; and Joseph B. lives at Los Molinos, Cal.
Mary Welch attended the schools of Colusa County; and at their own home in Yuba County, on December 20, 1877, she was married to Aden Wright, who was born in Hart County, Ky., the son of Henry Winfield and Mary Wright. Aden Wright came to California in 1857, at the age of fifteen, accompanying his father and mother in a covered wagon in an immigrant train of about forty families (the family of Mr. Hamilton, now of the Cabbage Patch district, being in the same train); and his father first settled near Yolo, and farmed. In 1862, the family moved to Yuba County; and Aden Wright and Mr. Adkins mined in the Albion Flat country for a number of years.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Wright lived at the old Scott place for a while, and then they moved to the “Round Tent” ranch seven miles south of Smartsville, where they lived for a number of years. They also lived for a while on the old Harris place. Later, Mr. Wright purchased a small home-ranch of fourteen acres on Dry Creek at Waldo Corners, and there he lived the balance of his days, passing on January 23, 1921, survived by his devoted widow, who continues to reside there.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wright were born eight children: Mary is Mrs. M. E. Ramsey, of Marysville; Minnie is Mrs. E. C. Garry; Nellie is Mrs. W. L. Newbert, of Smartsville; Ida is Mrs. J. J. Murphy, of the Waldo district; Edith [Edythe] is Mrs. McKinsey, of the Oregon House district; Aden J., born on March 16, 1896, until recently was with his mother on the home ranch; Belle became Mrs. Mitchell, and is deceased; and Alice is Mrs. J. E. Beck.
Aden J. Wright married Miss May Boswell in 1920, and they have a daughter, Virginia. Mr. Wright served two years in the United States Army. Entering the service on September 23, 1917, he was sent to Camp Lewis to train, and was later transferred to Camp Kearney. In July, 1918, he went to France as a replacement casual, and was placed in the 3rd Division in the 30th Infantry Supply Company, and served with the regiment through the war as a wagoner. He was in the engagements at Aisne-Marne, Vesle, St. Mihiel, and Meuse-Argonne, and in defensive engagement. He was returned to the United States with his company, and on September 2, 1919, was honorably discharged. He then returned home, and in October 1923, he entered the employ of the Coast Valley Electric Company at Monterey. He now lives with his family at Pacific Grove, Cal.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 895
CHESTER L. BOWEN
Born and reared in Marysville, Chester L. Bowen has been a prominent figure in the business life of that city for the past twenty years and more, and in that time has built up a reputation for progressive business methods and public-spirited interest in civic affairs. His birth took place on February 8, 1882. He is the son of Joseph and Agnes (Baird) Bowen, the father a pioneer who came around the Horn in a sailing vessel in the early fifties, locating in Marysville, and followed the shoemaker’s trade there the rest of his life, making custom shoes and boots to measure. A pair of boots of his fashioning are still being worn (in 1923) by one of his customers, a resident of Marysville. Ten children were born to the pioneer couple, seven of them now living. The parents have passed to their reward, the father in 1900, and his good wife in 1910.
Chester L. Bowen received his education in the Marysville schools, and graduated from the high school there with the class of 1899. On January 2, 1901, he opened his present grocery store, at the corner of E and Fifth Streets, where he has been located in business since that date, being now the oldest grocer in point of service in Marysville, and one who has gained the confidence of the people through the years. He is a member of the State Grocers’ Association, and a charter member of the Rotary Club, at which he never misses a meeting. As a delegate, he attended the International Convention of Rotary Clubs in Los Angeles in 1922, and in 1923 the one held in St. Louis, Mo. He belongs to Corinthian Lodge No. 9, F. & A.M.; Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E.; and the Woodmen of the World; and with his wife he is a member of the Eastern Star. He served one term as levee commissioner.
The marriage of Mr. Bowen, which occurred on July 5, 1905, at Redwood City, Cal., united him with Rhetta Josephine Parker, a native of Butte County. Nine children have blessed their union: Betha Agnes, Charles Richard, Lucille Adele, Barbara, Robert Everett, Billy Bernard, Jeanine, Jack, and Wendell.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 896