YUBA COUNTY Biographies

M. G. CALVIN

A worthy representative of one of the early and prominent pioneer families of Yuba County is M. G. Calvin, a native of this county, where his entire life has been passed. He was born at Camptonville, August 23, 1866, the sixth of nine children born to David and Kate (Budden) Calvin. David Calvin was born in Missouri and crossed the plains to California in 1850, engaging in mining at Horseshoe Bar on the American River. Later he settled in Camptonville, where he married Miss Kate Budden, born in Illinois, who accompanied her parents to California when six years old. Her father was Dr. James Budden, pioneer physician, who owned and conducted a drug store in Camptonville in the early fifties. David Calvin was successful in his mining operations in Yuba County for many years; later he bought the Camptonville Water Works, which he carried on until his death, when the business was continued by his sons. He was a Mason, a member of Gravel Lodge, No. 52. He passed away at the age of sixty-five years, his widow surviving him until 1910, when she passed away at the age of seventy-two.

In pursuit of an education, M. G. Calvin attended the Camptonville public school. At the age of sixteen he began to drive a freight wagon through the mountains; and afterward for five years he worked for the Meek Mercantile Company, driving a team from Marysville to the mountains. He is well known for his expert handling of horses, over the rough mountain roads of Yuba County. Mr. Calvin conducted a stage line from Camptonville to Downieville for four years, making trips in midwinter through snow and over ice on the mountain grades, encountering dangers and hardships unknown to the present generation. During the winter of 1890 the snow reached a depth of twenty feet. Later he was associated with his brother in the operation of the Camptonville Water Works, which they continued until 1919, when the business was sold.

The marriage of Mr. Calvin united him with Miss Sarah Halkyard, daughter of Uriah and Martha Halkyard. Uriah Halkyard is now deceased; his widow survives him and makes her home at Camptonville, aged eighty years. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Calvin: Irene, now the wife of Leonard Bishop; and Olive, now Mrs. Eugene Hays and the mother of one daughter, Dorothy. For eight years Mr. Calvin served as constable and deputy sheriff of Camptonville, and he has also served as school trustee of his district.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

Yuba City has always been foremost, for a town of its size, in its first-class industrial establishments, such as the plumbing and sheet-metal works of Dan F. Brown, on Plumas Street. He is a native of the Golden State, and was born at Marysville, in Yuba County, on December 5, 1887, the son of J. H. Brown, a rancher who came when a boy to California, helping to construct the telephone line across the continent., J. H. Brown is now deceased, having rounded out a career of real usefulness as a successful agriculturist. He had married Miss Alice Hogan, born in Nevada; she has survived and is still the center of a circle of devoted friends.

Dan Brown pursued his studies under the public-school teachers in Yuba City, and then took up the plumber’s trade, serving his apprenticeship under George Schumacher, and working at his trade as a young man. In January, 1922, he engaged in business for himself. From the start he carried a full line of plumbing supplies, and also a good stock of sheet metal, that he might do any work required in that line. He employs three men, and is kept busy equipping houses and flats. In politics a Democrat, he has never allowed narrow partisanship to interfere with his hearty support of whatever seemed best, in men or measures, for the community.

When Mr. Brown married, he chose for his life-mate Miss Margaret Clyma, a native of Sutter County, a daughter of Frank and Mae (Haddick) Clyma, natives of Sutter and Colusa Counties, respectively. The father is dead, but the mother is still living in Yuba City. Mrs. Brown is a graduate of the business college in Marysville. She assists Mr. Brown in the office, and is his bookkeeper. Mr. Brown is a member of the Builders’ Exchange and the Yuba City Merchants’ Association. He and his wife have witnessed many changes and improvements in Yuba City, and have the satisfaction of knowing that some of the desirable things effected there have been due in part to their own efforts.

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