YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
HOWARD GRANT LITTLEJOHN
The name of Howard Grant Littlejohn is closely connected with the horticultural development of Sutter County, where since 1901 he has been engaged in the cultivation and improvement of his forty-acre ranch, located in the Barry district of the county. His birth occurred in what was then the Grant district of Sutter County, September 29, 1871, and he is the fourth of nine children born to the late James Littlejohn, a California pioneer, represented on another page in this history.
Grant Littlejohn, as he is familiarly known, began his education in the Grant district school, finishing with a course in the San Francisco Business College. After graduating from that college, in 1895, he was occupied in clerical work with the J. R. Garrett Company of Marysville for four years. He then gave up inside work and located on his present ranch property.
Mr. Littlejohn was married at Independence, Jackson County, Mo., October 23, 1912, to Miss Bessie Wernex, a native of Napoleon, Lafayette County, Mo. She is a daughter of William and Margaret (Vermillion) Wernex, natives of Missouri, where they were farmers. The mother has passed on, but the father is still living. Of their family of nine children, Mrs. Littlejohn is the fifth. Mrs. Littlejohn is active in civic and social affairs in the community, being a member of the Eastern Star, and of the Bogue Wednesday Club, of which she has served both as treasurer and as president, and is now chairman of the board of trustees. She has been delegate several times to the convention of Northern California Federation of Women’s Clubs, as well as a delegate to the State convention of Federated Clubs. Immediately after his marriage, Grant Littlejohn brought his bride to California, and the same year completed a modern bungalow, where they have since resided. Their home is a center of genial welcome and generous hospitality. Mr. Littlejohn has set out his ranch to peaches and developed a first-class orchard, of which he may well be proud and to which he gives most excellent care. A believer in cooperation, he is a member of the California Canning Peach Growers’ Association, and also a member of the Barry Center of the Yuba County Farm Bureau. Politically, Mr. Littlejohn is a Republican; and fraternally, he belongs to Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A.M., Yuba City, Washington Chapter No. 13, R.A.M., Marysville; Marysville Pyramid No. 23, Ancient and Egyptian Order of Sciots; and Fidelia Chapter No. 56, O.E.S., in Yuba City. His enterprise and public spirit can always be depended upon to assist worthy objects that have for their aim the development and improvement of his native county.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 387
CHARLES E. McQUAID
Holding a position of importance among the public officials of Sutter County, Charles E. McQuaid is serving with credit to himself and with advantage to his constituents as county assessor of Sutter County. A man of marked ability, good judgment and upright principles, he enjoys to a high degree the respect and esteem of the community. Of honored pioneer stock, he was born November 29, 1861, in Yuba City, Sutter County, a son of Isaac Clark and Amanda L. (Roberts) McQuaid, both natives of Ohio.
Born and reared in Ohio, Isaac Clark McQuaid came to California with the gold-seekers in 1849, crossing the plains with a party of venturesome gold-hunters, and riding a mule all the way, with the exception of times when he walked to relieve the monotony of riding. In later years, while practicing law in Marysville, he always joined the processions that were invariably in evidence on holidays or days of celebration; and on such occasions he rode a mule, in memory of the manner in which he first entered the Golden State. For two or three years after coming to the State he was employed in mining, first in Placer County and then on the Yuba River. Returning East in 1853, he came back across the plains with his wife and located at Parks Bar, in Yuba County, as a miner. Before leaving Ohio he had studied law and been admitted to the bar. He subsequently began the practice of his profession in Marysville, but built a house and settled his family in Yuba City. Forming a partnership with Colonel Whiteside, he built up a fine law practice in Yuba and Sutter Counties, becoming one of the best-known lawyers of this part of the State, and continued in active practice until his death, in September, 1874, at the age of fifty years. He was very highly esteemed in professional, social and fraternal circles, and was a valued member of the Masonic order, and of the Odd Fellows. He married Miss Amanda L. Roberts, who was born in Ohio, and passed away in Yuba City in 1875, aged forty-five years. They were the parents of five children, namely: Mrs. Celora Davis; Mrs. Frankie Sullivan; John W., Charles E., the subject of this narrative; and Mrs. Della Livingston, deceased.
Charles E. McQuaid received his education in the public schools of Yuba City, and at the age of eleven years entered the old printing office of the Yuba City Banner, where he became familiar with the printing business. He afterward continued in journalistic work; and in 1888, with George Magruder as a partner, he established the Yuba City Independent, which he conducted for about three years. Selling out, he again resumed journalistic work in Marysville, where for a number of years he was actively identified with local affairs as city editor of the Marysville Democrat. In 1902 Mr. McQuaid was elected on the Democratic ticket as assessor of Sutter County, a position he has since filled with entire satisfaction to the public, having been reelected for each succeeding term of four years.
In Yuba City, Mr. McQuaid was married to Miss Emma C. Wilcoxon, who was born in this city, the daughter of Caleb E. Wilcoxon; and they have one son, C. C. McQuaid, a graduate of the University of California and now a practicing dentist in San Francisco. Mr. McQuaid takes great interest in fraternal organizations. He is a member and a Past Master of Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F.& A.M., Yuba City; Past Patron of the Eastern Star, of which lodge Mrs. McQuaid is also a member; Past Council Commander of the Woodmen of the World; and an active member of Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 395-396
Copyright ©2003, 2004, 2005 Kathy Sedler ALL RIGHTS RESERVED These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor. The contributor has given permission to the Yuba Roots website to store the file permanently for free access, but retain the rights to their work.