YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
GEORGE HENRY MAGRUDER
Widely known among the successful industrial enterprises of Sutter County rendering the public an important service, the Yuba City Milling Company has gained in popularity under the able management of its proprietor, George Henry Magruder. Mr. Magruder was born on a farm at Clermont, Bullitt County, Ky., on April 3, 1858, the son of George W. and Julia M. (Coombs) Magruder, the former a plantation owner known for miles around on account of his progressive methods and his substantial results, and also for his high sense of honor and public-spiritedness. Mrs. Magruder shared the broad views and sympathies of her husband, and the death of both was widely lamented.
George H. Magruder attended the public schools of Kentucky and Lynland College in Hardin County, where he made a good showing. Later he was clerk for a couple of years in a grocery store at Bardstown Junction, Ky. In 1879 he came as far west as Colorado, where for two years he assisted in building the Denver & Rio Grande Railway from south Arkansas on the Arkansas River, through to Salt Lake City. On January 10, 1882, he set out for the Pacific Coast; and on February 14 he had the good fortune to come direct to Yuba City. He worked in the grain fields for a couple of seasons, and then found employment in the old flouring mill conducted by T. B. Hull, where he remained for eight years. This mill was located on the present site of Hotel Sutter. After some years Mr. Magruder and J. W. Greely leased the mill, and together managed it for about two years. In 1903 it was burned to the ground, causing a loss of $35,000 over and above the insurance. When Mr. Greely died, in 1912, Mr. Magruder purchased his widow’s interest, and as sole owner and manager he has been very successful. After the fire the partners bought the present site on the Southern Pacific Railroad and at once began the erection of a new mill, which was modern in every respect and was ready for business in eleven months’ time. It is a four-story, concrete, fire-proof structure and is a decided asset to the city. The capacity of the mill is 200 barrels per day; there is a feed mill in connection with it, and all machinery is electrically driven. They make three brands of flour, “Minnesota,” “Yuba City Patent” and “Our Own.” Spur tracks run from the Southern Pacific Railroad, and also from the Northern Electric, to their plant. Their trade extends throughout northern California and into southern Oregon. Mr. Magruder is also the owner of a peach orchard and an alfalfa ranch three miles south of Yuba City. He is a lover of fine horses and has bred fancy stock. He raised Peter Klyo, by Peter the Great. This horse won four grand circuit races and made a 2:051/2 mark; another of his horses won a pacing record of 2:10; and still another trotter, which he sold, is now one of the speediest horses in the West.
In 1889, Mr. Magruder was married at Yuba City to Miss Josephine Cannon, born at Peoria House, Yuba County, a native daughter, whose gifts include the art of making herself both agreeable and popular. Her father, Dr. J. G. Cannon, a native of Delaware, came to California before 1856 and practiced medicine at Peoria House; and there in 1856 he married Mrs. Eliza (Phillips) Harkness, whose first husband had died in the East. She came to Peoria House in 1854, a place her father, Capt. Thomas Phillips, had built and named after coming across the plains from Peoria, Ill., in 1849. In 1872 Dr. Cannon located in Yuba City, where he followed his profession until his death, on March 17, 1904. His widow survived him until 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Magruder have one child, a son named George Harold Magruder. Mr. Magruder is a Mason, a member of Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A.M., of Yuba City; Washington Chapter No. 13, R.A.M., of Marysville; and Marysville Commandery No. 7, K.T. Mrs. Magruder is a member of the Eastern Star and of the Woman’s Improvement Club. In civic as well as in fraternal circles, Mr. and Mrs. Magruder are among those who may be depended upon when unselfish work for the community is called for, even though at some sacrifice to the worker.
(Since the above was written, Mr. Magruder passed away, on February 21, 1924. He was a man most highly esteemed, and took a deep interest in the affairs of the community, being always ready to give of his means to assist any worthy project for its upbuilding. He was buried with Masonic honors.)
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 514-515
MRS. ELIZABETH A. SIMPSON
Among the successful orchardists of the Live Oak section of Sutter County is Mrs. Elizabeth A. Simpson, who, since the death of her husband, has capably assumed the management of her property, with the assistance of her sons. She was born at Pleasant Grove, September 3, 1880, the third of six children of the late W. H. and Mary Ann (Algeo) Pierce, natives of Wisconsin and of Sutter County, Cal., respectively. W. H. Pierce came with his parents to California in the early fifties and located near Nicolaus, Sutter County, where he grew to manhood. His wife was Mary Ann Algeo, one of twelve children born to John and Amy (Vestal) Algeo, well-known residents at Pleasant Grove.
In 1899 Miss Pierce was married to Lewis W. Simpson, born at Yuba City, November 11, 1866, a son of Andrew J. and Canzetta (Dennis) Simpson, natives of Missouri and Tennessee, respectively. Leaving the home farm when about eighteen years of age, Andrew J. Simpson went to Greene County, Mo., where he worked as a farm laborer for nearly three years. In 1855 he married Miss Canzetta Dennis, and the following spring started across the plains, working his own and his bride’s passage by driving an ox team. Coming to Sutter County in December, 1857, he located on the Simpson homestead, taking up school land, which he purchased when it came onto the market. As a stockman and grain-raiser he was very successful. The money he thus accumulated he invested in other land, becoming owner of 900 acres in one body, of 3030 acres near Live Oak, and of 960 acres in Colusa County. Mr. and Mrs. Simpson were the parents of fourteen children, of whom Lewis W. was the eighth. Andrew J. Simpson passed away on the home ranch, September 13, 1899. He was a steadfast Democrat in his political affiliations; and fraternally he belonged to Yuba Lodge No. 185, I.O.O.F.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis W. Simpson. Lillian P. is now the wife of Bertram Petrie; and they reside in Yuba City. Sadie is a graduate of the Marysville High School and Heald’s Business College, and for the past two years has been stenographer for the Pacific Gas & Electric Company in Marysville; she owns a twenty-acre vineyard at Live Oak, and makes her home with her mother. Delbert ranches at home; he married Elsie Terry, and they have one child, Helen. Jack is a rancher on the home place. Marion and Alice are still in school. The Simpson family located on their present home place in 1912. The place consists of 182 acres, forty acres of which are in Thompson Seedless grapes. There are eighty-six varieties of fruit grown on this ranch besides cattle, horses and hogs. On April 7, 1923, the Simpson home was saddened by the death of the husband and father, Lewis W. Simpson. He was a man respected and beloved by all who knew him, and his passing was a distinct loss to his community.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 515-516
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.