YUBA COUNTY Biographies
ARTHUR M. WOOD
A man who has made his way through efficient management and energy is Arthur M. Wood, who was born at Meridian, Cal., November 17, 1889. His parents were George William and Lettie B. (Wheeler) Wood, also natives of the Golden State. Arthur M. Wood’s grandparents on both sides of the family were early Californians, Grandfather Wood being a native of Illinois and Grandfather Wheeler, a native of New York. G. W. Wood was born in Sutter County, near the town of Sutter, on April 14, 1858. His boyhood was spent on the paternal farm and he received his education in the public schools of that district. When he was nineteen years old he took charge of one of his father’s ranches across the river in Colusa County, and at the same time assisted his father in the management of the entire property. After his father’s death the land was divided, the mother being assigned one-half, while the remainder was divided among the four children. George William Wood fell heir to fifty-six acres on which he made his home, building good barns and outbuildings and improving the place by intensive cultivation. He also acquired 360 acres just across the river in Colusa County, all of which he farmed up to a few years ago, now, however, renting his lands and enjoying a period of relaxation after his busy years. George William Wood married Lettie B. Wheeler on November 10, 1881, and they were blessed with two sons, Frank D., who died at the age of seventeen years, and Arthur M., the subject of this review.
Arthur M. Wood attended the Meridian school. He has always been associated with his father in farming operations. On November 8, 1913, at Sacramento, he married Ruby F. Seibert, a daughter of William and Kate Seibert. She was born at Columbia, Tuolumne County, where she was also reared and educated. She also attended the Notre Dame Conservatory of Music, at San Jose, from which she graduated from two branches, piano and voice, and she is consecrating her life to music. She is foremost at Meridian in all musical events, is a teacher of music at the Meridian Grammar School, and has many pupils under private instruction in both piano and voice. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have been blessed with two children, Rose Laverne and George Junior. Politically, Mr. Wood is a Republican. Fraternally, he is a member of the Elks, of Marysville; the Odd Fellows, of Meridian; and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs, of Meridian. In 1914, Mr. Wood built a commodious and comfortable home on his land. Mrs. Wood has been a devoted wife and mother, presiding graciously over her splendid household. Alert, broad-visioned and consecrated, she utilizes her time in contributing the greater part of her energy and devotion to the happiness of her husband and children.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1185-1186
MARY OLIVE SRITE
To the women of California no less than to the men is due the rapid advancement of the State’s resources and the furthering of the educational and sociological work in the different communities; much of this work is materially helped along by the libraries and their branches which are established in the different smaller agricultural centers, bringing them in touch with both modern literature and historical reading matter, as well as that pertaining to the various sciences, and any member of these communities can really become self-educated through the medium of the “branch library.”
Mary Olive Srite was born in Andrew County, Mo., a daughter of Marshall and Acsah (Vestal) Srite, the father a native of Tennessee, but reared in Kentucky, while the mother was born in North Carolina. The Vestal family came from England to North Carolina and were Quakers. Marshall Srite was a farmer in the Eastern State. In 1882 he brought his family to California, settling in Auburn, Placer County, where he engaged in ranching and lived out his life, his death occurring at the age of sixty-five, while his good wife lived to be sixty-seven years old. The third and last child born to them, Miss Srite received her education at the Auburn Grammar and High School, where she was graduated. About fifteen years ago, with her brother Luther, she moved to Pleasant Grove, Sutter County. In January, 1913, she was appointed postmaster of Pleasant Grove under Taft’s administration and has held the position ever since. In conjunction with the postoffice she conducts a grocery store, while a portion of the premises is taken up with the branch of the Sutter County Library, which she presides over most ably and with an interest which shows her appreciation of the value of good reading in a growing community. Miss Srite owns her own home at Pleasant Grove, and votes the Republican ticket in general politics, taking time to study civic affairs and their impress on her particular section of the county and State. She is a member of the Rebekahs of Pleasant Grove, and is active in their affairs, being a Past Grand.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1186-1187
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