YUBA COUNTY Biographies
JAMES BROWN
Born in Humboldt county, Nevada, on March 19, 1875, James Brown is the son of Joseph Brown, whose death, in 1916, was widely lamented. He was a real Argonaut, and came across the great plains and mountains with his parents in 1849, as one of an ox-team wagon train of 500 men, women and children. Grandfather and Grandmother Brown, themselves, had six children in their family. They set out on May 15, and camped for the first time in California on October 25, at the base of Table Mountain. There were 110 wagons, and there were also horse and mule-teams. The train traveled from fifteen to twenty miles a day, and the emigrants saw large herds of buffalo, and narrowly escaped trouble with the Indians who had attacked the train just ahead of them, at which time eighteen of the redmen were killed.
Joseph Brown’s first mining experience was on the Feather River, when his first day’s work netted him thirty dollars. There he met General Bidwell, and Mr. Brown and his family spent the winter there. At that time, he paid $1.50 per pound for flour, $7.50 for a paper of needles and two spools of thread, $28.00 per pair of rubber boots. From $100 to $150 per day was made in washing pan-gold, every day except Sunday. The next camp was at Forbestown; and there he mined for James Forbes, and remained until the spring of 1852. Then he removed to Sutter County and located near Captain Sutter’s place, now Hock Farm. In the winter of 1852, he removed to Yuba City, a lively camp with two stores and two saloons; two ferry-boats in the river carried passengers from Yuba City to Marysville for $1.00 for the round trip. Marysville was then the best business town on the Coast; from ten to fifteen big freight teams left daily with supplies for the miners, and there were from six to eight horse-stages. Most of the freight came to Marysville by water, from five to six boats making regular trips. Marysville had the first State Fair which was held in 1853; and Captain Sutter, Major Bidwell, Peter Lassen and Kit Carson attended.
In 1854, the family moved to West Butte, and there “Joe” Brown remained for a number of years, working on the stock range for Esquire Hamlin, who had large herds of cattle in the hills. In 1862, he went to Nevada, on account of the silver excitement. Later still he engaged in the cattle industry for himself, and he was also in the butcher business in Battle Mountain. In the autumn of 1880, he closed out his cattle and sheep business and returned to Yuba County, where he bought the Fort Hawley place, near Olive Hill, and remained there until the Fall of 1888, when he sold out and came to Marysville. Joseph Brown had married Melissa Sadorus, a native of San Diego, Cal., born November 26, 1850. Her parents had come from Champaign County, Ill., across the plains in 1849, by the Southern route to San Diego. Two years later they came on to Butte County, where they settled on Rock Creek. In 1882 Mr. Sadorus returned to Illinois and there he passed away October 13, 1915. Joseph Brown died in Marysville in the fall of 1916, in his seventy-second year; while his widow still makes her home in this city. Eleven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Brown, nine of whom are still living: Minnie is Mrs. Lynch of Seattle; Frank lives in Yuba County; Edward is in Sutter County; James, of whom we write; Miss May Brown lives in Marysville; Dora is the wife of Capt. Jack Dooley of Marysville; Walter is a resident of San Francisco; Mrs. Hazel McRae and William reside in Marysville. James attended the public school in Yuba County. He assisted his father on the home ranch near Browns Valley until he established himself as a sheep and cattle raiser on 900 acres adjoining his father, 400 acres being under irrigation. He is a member of the California Wool Growers’ Association.
In Sacramento, on January 31, 1907, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Grace L. Haling, born near Browns Valley, Yuba County, the daughter of George Haling, the pioneer of that district, who was born in Connecticut and crossed the plains to Yuba County in the early days. He married Alice Sivils, who was born near Honcut, Butte County. Mr. Haling has passed on, being survived by his widow and four children, Grace being the youngest child. One daughter has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Brown, and she is named Geraldine Lucile. Mr. Brown belongs to Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E., and to the Modern Woodmen of America. Mrs. Brown is a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1175-1176
PAUL ERICKSON
Among the progressive men of the Arboga district is Paul Erickson, who was born January 28, 1885, at Maple Ridge, Isanti County, Minn., a son of August and Matilda (Shogren) Erickson, natives of Sweden. The father, who was a farmer, came to the United States in 1871 and stopped for two years in Chicago. He then went to Maple Ridge, Isanti County, Minn., where he farmed. They were the parents of eight children: Abraham, Jessie, Sarah, Minnie, Isaac, Paul, Phoebe, and Alvin. Mr. Erickson and his family lived in Idaho Falls, Idaho, for eight years, and in 1901 they came to Turlock, Cal., and settled in Stanislaus County between Turlock and Hilmar, where Mr. Erickson had two ranches, one of eighty acres and one of 120 acres; he also had a dairy of eighty cows at Hilmar.
Paul Erickson was reared in Minnesota until he was eight years of age, then accompanied his parents to Idaho Falls, Idaho, where he attended the public schools until he was sixteen, when he came to Hilmar, Cal., and assisted his father on the home ranch. He also learned the trade of carpenter under his brother Isaac Erickson, and they spent considerable time contracting and building in Mill Valley. In 1912 Paul Erickson purchased forty acres two and three-quarter miles southwest of the Arboga store in Yuba County, which he has developed into a fine orchard and ranch devoted to peaches, alfalfa and general farming. He built a fine residence on this ranch, doing practically all the work himself. He still works at the carpenter’s trade and does some contracting and building in this district.
On February 22, 1910, Paul Erickson married Dora Snygg at Turlock, Cal. She was born in Nebraska, but was reared and educated in Turlock, Cal. Her parents are represented on another page of this history. Mr. and Mrs. Paul Erickson are the parents of four children: Lloyd, Dorothy, Gordon and Florence. Mr. Erickson endorses the platform of the Republican party; in 1922 he was elected justice of the peace of West Bear River Township. He has been a school trustee since the organization of the Arboge Union School and was clerk of the board. Mr. Erickson is president of the Arboga Farm Center, and a director of the Yuba County Farm Bureau, and is a director of the Yuba County Chamber of Commerce and of the Yuba-Sutter Farm Loan Association and an ex-officio member of the appraisal committee. He was active in organizing the Arboga Rural Telephone Company and is chairman of its board of directors. Mr. Erickson is musically inclined; he was a member of and clarinetist in the Hilmar Band. Since coming to Yuba County, with his brother Alvin, he organized the Arboga Farm Center Band, which now has eighteen musicians and in which Paul Erickson plays the baritone. He was active in the organization of the Arboga Rural Telephone Company, being chairman of its board of directors.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1179-1180
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