YUBA COUNTY Biographies
CHARLES H. THARP
Notwithstanding reverses neither few nor small, Charles H. Tharp has been amply rewarded for his labor; for his fine home ranch of sixty-six acres is now highly developed to cling peaches, most of which were set out eleven years ago, among the first in the Tierra Buena district of Sutter County. He is a native son, born near Kirksville, Sutter County, June 27, 1871, a son of Robert W. and Elizabeth Minerva (Hiatt) Tharp. Robert W. Tharp was born in Callaway County, Mo., in 1838; his parents had moved to Missouri in 1822, where they engaged in farming. The Hiatts came from Virginia to Kentucky, where the daughter Minerva was born; and they afterwards moved to Missouri. Robert W. Tharp was also a farmer and stock-raiser before coming West. He emigrated to California in 1869, and on his arrival settled in Sutter County about a mile above Kirksville on the Sacramento River, where he farmed a few years. Selling out, he moved into Kirksville, where he resided for a time, and then went to O’Banion Corners, and later still to the Stabler ranch, remaining there until he located near Sutter City, where he farmed. He was elected constable and served in that capacity for several years. He passed away in 1917; his wife lived until 1922, passing away in Oakland.
Charles H. Tharp attended public school in Sutter County and assisted his father on the home farm until he was twenty-five years old, when he went to San Francisco and secured employment with the Market Street Railway, continuing with them for a period of four years. He then returned to Sutter County and in partnership with his brother George engaged in diversified farming near Kirksville. They leased 1100 acres and for seventeen years raised large quantities of buckwheat, beans, broom-corn and potatoes, which they shipped by river boats to the San Francisco and Sacramento markets, principally to the former. Six years ago the partnership was dissolved and C. H. Tharp purchased thirty-six acres of land at Tierra Buena, which he developed to cling peaches. In 1919 he bought thirty acres more, and this tract has also been set to cling peaches. He has three pumping plants on his ranch, using electric power, and also has laid the underground concrete irrigating system. His peach orchard contains the following varieties: Phillips, Hauss, and Tuscan. In his home he has every convenience of the metropolitan city, such as electric range, instantaneous heaters, etc.
The second marriage of Mr. Tharp united him with Miss Blanche Loveless, a native of Yolo County, Cal., and a daughter of I. S. and Philissa (Poplin) Loveless, pioneers who are now residents of Marysville. Mr. Tharp has two children by his first wife: Charles Harden, Jr., and Minerva, now the wife of Perry Gage and the mother of two children. There are four children of the present union: Ethel, deceased, Dale, George, and Jane. Mrs. Tharp is a graduate of the Wilkins Normal School at Marysville and taught in the public schools of Yuba, Napa, and Sutter Counties before her marriage. She still takes a live interest in educational matters, serving as trustee of the Tierra Buena school district, and is active in club work, being a member of the Tierra Buena Woman’s Club and Marysville Art Club. Since 1907 Mr. Tharp has been a member of the Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E.; and he is also a member of the California Canning Peach Growers’ Association, and holds membership in the Marysville Golf Club, and the White Mallard Outing Club.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 1135
MRS. ANNA MARGRETHA KRIEG MICHEL
Among the pioneer women of Sutter County is Mrs. Anna Margretha Michel who has many admirable and commendable qualities and who enjoys the high regard and warm friendship of the people of the community where she has so long made her home. Her birth occurred in Hessen Nassau, Germany, March 28, 1841, the ninth in a family of ten children born to John Joseph and Maria Eva (Sauerbier) Krieg. She is now the only one living of the family.
The marriage of Miss Krieg occurred in Germany and united her with John Adam Michel, also a native of that country, born January 11, 1840. Mrs. Michel was a schoolmate of her husband’s. John Adam Michel left his native shores in 1861 for America, remaining in Rochester, N. Y., until 1863, when he came to California via Panama. He located near Nicolaus, where he purchased land, which has been the home place of our subject since her arrival in California. Mrs. Michel came to California with her sister, Maria Teresa, via Panama, the journey taking twenty-one days from New York. Mrs. Michel arrived on the home place near Nicolaus in 1869, where she has reared her family and has resided ever since. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Michel: Frank J. is represented in this history; Mary Eva is now the wife of Otto Abel and resides in San Jose; Casper J. is also represented in this volume; John J. lives near San Jose; Folka Margretha is now the wife of George Howsley and they reside at Pleasant Grove; Elizabeth C. is the wife of E. C. Waters and they reside at Redding, Cal.; Regina presides over her mother’s home. Mrs. Michel has sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Michel passed away at Red Bluff, June 9, 1906. Mrs. Michel is a devoted member of St. Boniface Catholic Church at Nicolaus and has given her aid towards the erection of two churches.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 1135-1136
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