YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
SAMUEL J. FRASER
Conspicuous among the best-known citizens of Camptonville, is Samuel J. Fraser, justice of the peace of Slate Range Township, a position he has filled since 1907. He was born on January 27, 1858, in Quebec, Canada, the third of seven children of Barnett and Annie (MacClane) Fraser, both natives of the same place, where they engaged in farming pursuits throughout a lifetime; they spent their declining years on a farm near Danville, Canada.
Samuel J. Fraser attended public school in Quebec, and was reared to farm work until he was sixteen years of age, when he left home and went to Vermont. There he found employment in the copper mines of the Green Mountains, and his knowledge of mineral deposits has been gained by years of experience. In 1991 he drifted west to Colorado, where he spent two years in the silver and lead mines at Leadville; then he returned to Vermont and spent one year there. In 1884 he came to California, coming direct to Marysville. He found employment in a sawmill located between Brownsville and Strawberry Valley operated by A. M. Leech, where he spent two years; then he went to the mines at Scales, Sierra County, and worked at the Cleveland mine. About twenty years ago he settled in Camptonville, where he has valuable residence property, including four acres within the city limits; and he also is interested in good mining property.
The marriage of Mr. Fraser united him with Miss Lizzie E. Price, the third of six children of the late Edward Price, a California pioneer. Mrs. Fraser was born in Camptonville and received her education in the public schools. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fraser: Georgia, now the wife of C. A. Jones, residing in San Francisco; and Norval C., at home. Mr. Fraser is serving as road-overseer in the Camptonville district in Yuba County; and for many years he served as school trustee of Slate Range District. He is now entering his fourth term as justice of the peace. Politically, he is a Republican of liberal views; and fraternally he is identified with Camptonville Lodge No. 307, I.O.O.F. He has served many terms as Noble Grand and has been secretary for the last sixteen years. He has been an Odd Fellow since 1880, when he joined Crystal Lake Lodge No. 34, at Post Mills, Vt.; and he was a member of Camptonville Encampment, and a Past Chief Patriarch, until it gave up its charter. He is also a Past District Deputy Grand Master and Past District Deputy Chief Patriarch of the order.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 428-431
PRICE BLACKFORD
A prominent rancher who worthily represents both the spirit and the attainment of Yuba County, an ideal section for the progressive farmer, is Price Blackford, who was born at Grass Valley, July 11, 1855, a son of John and Mariah (Barrie) Blackford, natives of Pennsylvania and Illinois, respectively. John Blackford first came to California across the plains in 1849. He went back East, and returned the second time in 1852 and settled in Grass Valley, where he conducted a hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Blackford were blessed with four children: John, who died in the East; Price, the subject of this sketch; Susie; and Minnie, deceased. John Blackford, Sr., passed away when he was sixty-eight years old and his wife when she was sixty-seven years of age.
Price Blackford was educated in the Grass Valley school. He started out to work when he was fifteen years old, and was employed on dairy farms at ranching and cattle-raising. About 1875 he came to Yuba County and went into sheep-raising and stock-farming. He first bought 480 acres, and then purchased the Frazier ranch, consisting of 1072 acres; and later he purchased a tract of about ninety-three acres, which makes his entire holdings about 1645 acres, all located in the vicinity of Wheatland. For nine years he was in the sheep business by himself, and for twenty years was a partner with his brother-in-law, Joseph Hartley. They leased the old Webster ranch and ran their sheep on it. Today, he has bout 1600 head of sheep on his ranch. Mr. Blackford is a member of the California Wool Growers’ Association.
At Indian Springs, Nevada County, Cal., Price Blackford was united in marriage with Martha M. Hartley, who was born on Deer Creek, in Nevada County, the daughter of William and Mary Hartley. Martha Hartley was reared and educated in Nevada County. Their union has been blessed with three children: Helen, Mrs. Waltz of Wheatland; Robert, in Wheatland; and Harold, who resides at home. Mr. Blackford is a stanch Republican. He is a member of Nicolaus Lodge NO. 129, F.& A.M., at Wheatland; and Mrs. Blackford is a Past Worthy Matron of the Eastern Star at Wheatland.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 433-434
WILLIAM H. JOY
A progressive business man of Challenge is William H. Joy, who owns and operates a general merchandise store in this wide-awake town, and also owns a four-acre camp site and the Challenge Hotel. He is a native of Mendocino Count, born at Albion on May 2, 1867, a son of Oliver H. and Mary Jane (Counts) Joy. Oliver H. Joy came around Cape Horn to California in 1849; and the mother, a native of Arkansas, crossed the plains in 1854. Grandfather George Counts became county treasurer of Mariposa County and held the office for twenty-seven years, being then succeeded by his son, S.P.O. Counts, who has held the office for twenty-eight years, and is still discharging its duties. There were four children born to Mr. and Mrs. Oliver H. Joy: George, who is chief fire warden at Seattle, Wash.; Oliver H., residing in Vancouver, B.C.; Benjamin E., district deputy fire warden in Seattle, Wash.; and William H., of this review. In 1878 Oliver H. Joy removed with his family to the State of Washington, where he became prominent in Republican politics, and as a member of the State constitutional convention signed the papers that made the territory a part of the Union. He also became an extensive cattleman and lumberman.
William H. Joy received a good public-school education, and in 1887 was graduated from the Portland Business College. After finishing school he studied civil engineering, which he followed for twenty years in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California, his last engineering work being with the Northern Pacific Railroad at South Bend, Wash. In 1908 Mr. Joy located in Gridley, Cal., where he conducted a general merchandise business for two years. Then selling out, he removed to Brownsville and there engaged in the same business for eight years, after which he removed to Challenge and opened his present store. Mr. Joy owns valuable real estate in Oakland and Berkeley, Cal.
Three children were born to Mr. Joy by his first marriage; Emil, who is manager for the Fuller Brush Company in Ontario, Canada; Alvin; and Mrs. Lulu Black, of San Francisco. In 1913 Mr. Joy was united in marriage with Mrs. Mertie Plecher, a native of Missouri. Mr. Joy is a member of Nevada City Lodge, B.P.O.E.; and active member of the Owls Lodge at Challenge; a prominent member of Stony Creek Lodge, No. 218, I.O.O.F., Orland. He has served seven times as delegate to the Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows. He is Past Grand and also a Past District Deputy of the Subordinate Lodge, and is also a member of the Encampment, in which he is a Past Chief Patriarch and Past District Deputy Chief Patriarch.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 434
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