YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
GEORGE BIHLMAN
A prominent pioneer rancher in Sutter County, George Bihlman is remembered throughout this section and justly classed among its representative citizens of the past. He was born June 24, 1826, in Baden, Germany, where his youth was spent, and where he learned the tanner’s trade. In 1848 he came to Pennsylvania, and ten months later removed to St. Louis, Mo., where he worked until 1852. In 1852 he entered the employ of the government and drove an ox team across the plains to California. After his arrival he worked for a time in the mines at Dutch Flat. Not meeting with the success he expected, he came to Sutter County in 1855, and near Live Oak worked for a time on a ranch, after which he purchased a squatter’s right to 280 acres of unimproved land three miles west of Live Oak, upon which property he resided until 1875, when he purchased 480 acres lying one mile south of Live Oak. Later he added eighty acres to the original purchase, making a place of 560 acres, upon which he erected good buildings, and upon which he made his home until his death, which occurred November 12, 1894.
Mr. Bihlman was married here on October 24, 1864, to Mrs. Sophia (Eberman) Plattner, who was born in Germany, and came to the United States with her parents when thirteen years of age. For a time the Eberman family resided in St. Louis, Mo., afterwards removing to Fort Madison, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. George Bihlman were the parents of six children, four of whom are deceased, three having died in childhood, and a daughter, Dora B., at the age of twenty-three years. Those living are Anthony William, and Mrs. Christina Rothney, both ranchers on the old Bihlman ranch at Live Oak. Mrs. Bihlman survived her husband until May 8, 1914.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 316
ANNIE B. MURRAY
For more than half a century Mrs. Annie B. Murray has resided in Sutter County, where, in the early days, she endured many hardships of the pioneer’s life. She was born in Chicago, Ill, January 7, 1845, a daughter of John and Anna (Robertson) Burnett, both natives of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who came to America as a newly married couple and located twelve miles out of Chicago. There they farmed, in the days when Indians were still numerous in the forests and on the plains; and later Mr. Burnett engaged in the draying and coach business in Chicago. He died in 1863, at the age of fifty-six years, after a fairly successful business career; his wife died at the age of forty-nine years. When Mrs. Murray was about eight years old, with two younger sisters, she returned to her grandfather’s home in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and there, three miles from Fraserburgh, she was reared to young womanhood. In 1864 she made a visit to Chicago, but again returned to Scotland, and there lived until 1868, when she came to San Francisco via the Panama route.
In San Francisco, on May 29, 1868, Miss Burnett was united in marriage with James Murray, also a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, where he was born on August 3, 1841, and was reared to manhood on his father’s farm. He remained in his native land until 1864, when he came to California. He soon found employment on the ranch of 320 acres, in Sutter County, which two and a half years later he made his own by purchase. In 1883 he added by purchase 160 acres and seven years later a like amount, making in all a ranch of 660 acres. He was one of the organizers of Murray school district, named in his honor; and he gave the site for the schoolhouse and served as trustee for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Murray were the parents of three sons. William R. is married and has one daughter; and he and his family reside at San Bernardino, where he has been employed with the Santa Fe shops for nineteen years. George A. is married and has one son; he is an orchardist in Sutter County. James R. is married and has four children, and is also an orchardist in Sutter County. In 1910, Mr. Murray purchased a home at Tierra Buena, where he resided until his death, on March 25, 1922. This property has since been sold, and Mrs. Murray now divides her time and place of residence, visiting her sons and their families. Mr. Murray was an elder in the Presbyterian Church at Marysville, and was a highly esteemed pioneer citizen in Sutter County. Mrs. Murray is also a member of the Presbyterian Church, and active in its benevolences. She is now among the few remaining pioneers of this region, whither she came as a bride fifty-six years ago. Of a pleasing personality, she has a host of warm friends, who appreciate her for her integrity of character and her sterling worth.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 319
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