YUBA COUNTY Biographies
CARL RAY SPENCER
A wide-awake manager, thoroughly familiar with motordom and the needs of the touring public, is Carl Ray Spencer, who is in charge of the well-appointed, well-equipped and popular Dunning Bros. Garage at Wheatland, Yuba County. He was born on a farm near Springville, Erie County, N. Y., on December 22, 1871, and was there reared; and there he followed farming on 190 acres, and also ran a sawmill. In 1914, he removed to Ontario, Canada, and for two and one-half years ran a locomotive for a contractor, who was widening and deepening the Welland Canal. He returned to New York, and to farming, for two years, and then came west to Hot Springs, Ark., where for four years he was night foreman for a power plant.
On July 15, 1919, Mr. Spencer arrived in Wheatland; and ever since he has been closely identified with the fast-expanding town. He has sought to give the community the best of efficient and honest service in his line, and in a public-spirited manner he has sought to advance, on broad and permanent lines, the best interests of the community.
The marriage of Mr. Spencer occurred in Sardinia, N. Y., and united him with Miss Rosie Johnson, a native of New York State, by whom he has had three sons: Arthur E., a ditch-tender for the water company at Smartsville; Lloyd L., who is with his father in the garage; and Frank V.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 925
JASON RUSSELL MEEK
An exceptionally fine record as a public official stands to the credit of Jason Russell Meek, who for many years has served as county surveyor of Yuba County, the worth of his work being widely acknowledged. He is a member of one of the old pioneer families of California, and was born in Marysville on July 5, 1854, his parents being John R. and Caroline (Bull) Meek, the former a native of Canada and the latter of the State of Connecticut. The father came to California in a sailing vessel, making the voyage around Cape Horn about 1851. In Downieville he embarked in merchandising; but later he opened a store at Camptonville, where he spent the remainder of his life, passing away in 1906, aged eighty-three years. In Marysville he had married Miss Caroline Bull, and in 1895 she was called to her final rest.
In the public schools of Indian Valley, Jason R. Meek acquired his early education. Later he took a course in civil engineering at McGill University in Montreal, Canada; and for two and a half years he followed his profession in that country, returning to California in 1876. In the following year, 1877, he was chosen county surveyor of Yuba County; and for many terms he has filled that office, to which he was again elected in 1922. His thorough technical training enables him to perform his work with marked efficiency, and his long retention in the position indicates the confidence reposed in his ability.
Mr. Meek married Miss Christine E. Freese, a native daughter of California, and they became the parents of five children: William M., chief of the Marysville fire department; Alice M., the wife of O. L. Gray, dredgemaster at Oakland; Donald, of Stockton; Caroline, a trained nurse; and Jason R., Jr., who went to France with the American Expeditionary Force during the World War and is now residing in Sacramento. There are four grandchildren in the family.
Fraternally, Mr. Meek is identified with the Woodmen of the World. His political support is given to the Republican party. He is an able exponent of his profession, and has used his powers and talents for the benefit of his native county, whose welfare and progress are to him matters of deep concern. He stands high in the regard of his fellow-men, and Marysville counts him among its most useful and valued citizens.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 925-926
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.