YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
J. W. BELL
Marysville has long enjoyed, and well deserved, the enviable tradition of leadership in various fields of industrial activity; and among its enterprising firms is that of Messrs. Hemstreet & Bell, energetically represented by the wide-awake citizen, J. W. Bell, and engaging in extensive operations as contractors. From the beginning of their organization, these enterprising men of affairs decided to set up a standard of absolute dependability; and this goal they have kept steadily before them, with the result that anyone engaging them to excavate, haul, sand, or transport other building material has never had cause to regret.
Mr. Bell, like several other men of mark of the same name in the history of California, was born in Texas, where in 1891 he entered the family circle of C. E. and Frances (Miller) Bell. Under the excellent educational system of the Lone Star State, he enjoyed the advantages of the ordinary grammar and high schools, and also a thorough commercial course in the Metropolitan Business College at Dallas. He kept books for various firms in Texas for a number of years, and then, in 1912, decided to come to the Golden State. A kindly fate directed him to Marysville, and for about eight years he was yard foreman for the Shasta Lumber Company. Then he engaged for himself in contract trucking; and on January 15, 1923, the company, which now bears their names, was formed by Mr. Bell and D. A. Hemstreet, their object being to furnish the best of building materials, at the lowest rate and in the shortest possible time for prompt and reliable service. How well they have succeeded in commanding the confidence and patronage of the building public, may be judged from the fact that it requires a fleet of from five to eighteen trucks to carry on their business. They operate both a gravel pit and a sand pit, and have the most up-to-date equipment, using two cranes and a drag-line bucket. They ship sand and gravel to different parts of the Sacramento Valley, and also into the upper portion of the San Joaquin Valley, having spurs from the railroads to their pits. However, they specialize in road contracting, building county roads.
Mr. Bell is married, and has three children in his family. Since coming to California, he has taken a live interest in the affairs of his community. An enthusiastic optimist, he prophesies a splendid future for Yuba and Sutter Counties, and for Northern California in general.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 759
JOHN E. CRAMSIE
As a member of a family which for more than seventy years has been actively and prominently connected with the development of Yuba County, John E. Cramsie is favorably known to the residents of Smartsville, and in addition to discharging the duties of justice of the peace, he is the owner of a productive and well improved ranch. He is a native son of California and was born in Smartsville, November 7, 1872, his parents being William and Elizabeth (Havey) Cramsie, the former born in County Antrim, Ireland, and the latter of Newark, N. J. The father came to California in 1852, making the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and he at once proceeded to the rich mining section on the Yuba river, settling at Smartsville. For a few years he engaged in prospecting and later acted as water agent for the Excelsior Water & Mining Company. Subsequently he turned his attention to ranching, purchasing a tract of ninety acres. He also filled the office of justice of the peace for many years. He died at the age of seventy-three, but the mother is yet living and has reached the seventy-seventh milestone on life’s journey. In their family were five children: John E.; William P., who formerly served as superintendent of schools of Yuba County and is now principal of the Longfellow School at San Jose; Joseph, deceased; Frank, who is connected with the J. R. Garrett Company at Marysville; and Sarah, the wife of R. J. Van Tiger, of Sutter.
John E. Cramsie attended the grammar school at Smartsville and early became familiar with farm labor through assisting his father in operating the home ranch. After his marriage he entered the service of the Excelsior Water & Mining Company, working in their store for about seven years, and on severing his connection with that firm he resumed his agricultural operations. He has since concentrated his attention upon ranching and is now the owner of a desirable farm of 410 acres, a portion of which his used as grazing land for his stock. He engages in general farming, raising the crops best adapted to soil and climatic conditions here, and his place presents a neat and well kept appearance as a result of the care and labor which he bestows upon it.
At Marysville, on June 18, 1906, Mr. Cramsie was married to Miss Anna McGanney, who was born at Sucker Flat, Cal., a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Donnelly) McGanney, the former a native of County Derry and the latter of County Tyrone, Ireland. Mr. McGanney came to California in company with William Cramsie, father of our subject, and also located at Smartsville. He likewise followed mining and became associated with J. P. Pierce, at one time owner of the properties now controlled by the Excelsior Water & Power Company. Mr. McGanney’s death occurred when he had reached the age of sixty-six and his wife passed away at the age of sixty-seven years. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three are deceased. Those who survive are E. J., who is engaged in the practice of law in New York City; Daniel C., who is connected with the district court of appeals at San Francisco; Frank, agent for the Hercules Powder Company at Salt Lake City, Utah; Anna; and Mary B., with wife of O. J. McLeod, of San Francisco. Mrs. Cramsie completed her education in Notre Dame Convent at San Francisco. She and her husband reside in the old home which was built by her father about forty-five years ago. Mr. Cramsie is a Republican and since 1914 has served as justice of the peace at Smartsville, making a highly creditable record in that office. He has ever fully recognized the duties and obligations of life, discharging the former promptly and efficiently and meeting the latter to the fullest degree, and measures up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 759-760
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