YUBA COUNTY Biographies

CHARLES W. MERZ

What science has done, or is every day doing in one way or another, to aid the California automobilist, is well illustrated in the busy life and accomplishments of Charles W. Merz, the proficient and very popular “tire doctor” of 507½ Fifth Street, Marysville. He is a native son, born in Browns Valley, Yuba County, on February 2, 1898. Grandfather Merz was a pioneer of San Francisco, where he was engaged in the wholesale grocery business. The father, George Merz, was a native of California, and married Miss Minnie Walker, a native daughter of the State, also of an old pioneer family.

Coming of old pioneer stock, and having inherited native impulses making for greater individual independence and initiative, Charles Merz began to shift for himself and make his own way at an early age. He was educated in the schools of San Francisco and Oakland and the Marysville High School. As a boy he sold papers on the streets of San Francisco and Oakland, finally returning to Marysville in 1912. For a while, he attended school by day and worked in the Marysville Theater in the evenings; and seven years ago he started to work in the automobile industry, securing employment with Dunning Bros. Later, he joined the Goodyear Company at Sacramento. Again coming to Marysville, he opened a business for himself, and has since gone ahead rapidly. He will fix an old tire, or sell a new one; does his work well, and is happy in the patronage of a large number of satisfied customers. He is agent for the India Cord Tires, and also represents the Kelly Kat or Kelly solid rubber tires, and the Firestone solid tires. His business having grown to such proportions that he found it necessary to enlarge his quarters, he is now maintaining a place for pressing solid tires on trucks. This place is located at 717 E Street, and is completely equipped with the necessary machinery and appliances, including a hydraulic press for pressing on truck tires.

Mr. Merz also owns twenty acres devoted to the growing of peaches and prunes at Live Oak, in the Sunset Colony in Sutter County; and between his regular tire business and his horticulture ventures, he is one of the busiest of men hereabouts. At the same time he is a live wire in matters affecting public interests, and one of the most enthusiastic and loyal of boosters for the community at large.

When Mr. Merz married, at San Francisco, on November 15, 1920, he took for his bride Miss Thelma Fortna, a native of Sutter, an accomplished lady who also has many friends. Mr. Merz is president of the Marysville Achaean Club, and a director of the Lions Club; and he belongs to Marysville Lodge, No. 873 B.P.O.E., and to Corinthian Lodge, No. 9, F. & A.M. He also belongs to the Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity in Marysville.

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

p 837

THOMAS W. PECKHAM

For more than a half century Thomas W. Peckham has made his home in the vicinity of Smartsville. He started out in life empty-handed and has steadily advanced toward the goal of prosperity, winning recognition as one of the leading stockmen in the Lone Tree school district of Yuba County. He is a native son of California, born in San Francisco, on April 16, 1856, his parents being Henry and Marian Elizabeth (Atkinson) Peckham, both natives of England. The father was born in London and in that city his marriage occurred. Following that event Mr. and Mrs. Peckham emigrated to the United States, reaching Wisconsin in the forties. In 1850 they started for California, coming across the plains with ox-team and wagon and settling in Grass Valley, where the father built a hotel, which he conducted for two years. On selling the property he went to San Francisco and after living in that city for a few years returned to Nevada County, locating in You Bet, where he passed away at the age of sixty-three. While living in Wisconsin he conducted a grocery store, and after settling in California he re-entered that business. In the fall of 1864 he came to Smartsville, and it was here that the mother’s death occurred when she was seventy-nine years of age. Of the five children born to them, the subject of this sketch is the only one now living. The others were Henry, George W., Florence and Charles.

Thomas W. Peckham had but few opportunities to acquire an education, becoming a wage earner at the early age of ten, and for nine years he remained with the same employer. In the meantime he had carefully saved his earnings and wisely invested his capital in land, increasing his holdings from time to time until he now owns 1500 acres on the Smartsville-Wheatland road in the Lone Tree district; he also rents 2000 acres on which he graves his stock, running 200 head of cattle and 1300 head of sheep. He is interested in all modern developments along agricultural lines, and his practical, intelligent and systematic methods have been attended by gratifying returns.

On January 11, 1880, Mr. Peckham was married at Marysville to Miss Sophronia Wallace, who was born in Sutter County in 1861. Her parents, John L. and Mary (Striplin) Wallace, made the journey from Illinois to California in 1859 and settled in Sutter County, where the father acquired a ranch, specializing in the growing of grain. Mrs. Peckham was educated at the Nicolaus School in her native county and is one of a family of seven children, the others being William, Elroy, Frank, Edward, Belle and Ula. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Peckham: Mrs. Cora Elizabeth Hacker, Mable Florence, Mrs. Pearl Irma McCormack, Mrs. Bertha Olson, William, Walter, Myrtle, and Mrs. Anita Harvey.

Mr. Peckham is a Republican and has ably filled various public offices of trust and responsibility; in 1890 he was made roadmaster in his district, and for a quarter of a century he served as a school trustee, acting as clerk of the board during a portion of that time. He is also prominent in local fraternal circles, being a Past Master of the Smartsville Lodge of Masons, and a Past Grand of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He is a self-made man who commands respect of all with whom he comes in contact.

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