PLEASANT MARION GUYNN

Butte County

Biographies

PLEASANT MARION GUYNN

PLEASANT MARION GUYNN.—One of the oldest settlers in the vicinity of Chico is Pleasant Marion Guynn. He has been ranching on a large scale for a number of years; is well known and held in high esteem not only by the public generally, but by his many employees as well, some of whom have been in his employ for many years. He was born in Green County, Mo., October 6, 1837. His father, John Rose Guynn, was born in Tennessee, afterwards settling on a farm in Missouri. In 1872 he came to Butte County and he died at the home of our subject. His mother, Mahala (Beatty) Guynn, was born in Tennessee. She died in Missouri in 1845. They had seven children, only two of whom are now living, Pleasant Marion and his brother Beatty, living in Texas. His brother, Andrew Bailey Guynn, came to California in 1859 and lived with P. M. Guynn until 1872, when he returned to Missouri, going from there to Texas, where he died. A sister, Mrs. Sarah Poynor, came to California about 1870. While out driving with her daughter, in crossing the railway track near Stockton, both were killed by a train.

Mr. Guynn was brought up on a farm in Missouri, where he attended the public schools. In April, 1857, a train of seventy wagons was formed to cross the plains with ox teams. He drove one of these teams for John Thrower, in exchange for his board on the way. The party arrived safely in Butte County, Cal., the September following. He worked at mining for a man at Diamondville for two months, but receiving no pay stopped and worked two months for Mr. King in a saw mill at Cohasset, then entered the service of Sadorus Brothers, stock-raisers, riding the range for them four years. During this time he bought a few cows and began stock-raising on a small scale for himself. In 1862 he located a government claim of one hundred sixty acres, receiving in due time a deed on sheepskin from the government. This land is a part of his present holdings. He built a cabin, made other improvements, leased adjoining land and began raising wheat, afterward buying more land as well as selling some. During the dry year of 1864 his crop was almost a complete failure. Later on he leased one thousand acres of the Bidwell ranch and two thousand acres at Nelson, upon which he raised grain for about twenty years or until it was subdivided for orchard purposes; also for some years he leased a portion of the Stanford ranch at Nelson, and the Wilson ranch between Nord and Cana, at times having five thousand acres under his control, raising cattle, horses and mules, as well as grain and hay, frequently using sixty to eighty head of work mules on the ranch, and in addition the most modern and up-to-date machinery. He has a fifty-horse-power Best tractor, which he uses in plowing and in connection with his combined harvester and thresher, doing work for himself and for others.

Mr. Guynn was living here at the time the Indians killed the Hickok children and was with the company that hunted for the little boy’s body, which they found later on the bank of Mill Creek, covered with stones. He was with the party of settlers under Koon Garner which had a running fight with the Red Men; also was with Bob Anderson when he went after the Mill Creek and Deer Creek Indians in 1863 or 1864. Thus it will be seen that Mr. Guynn has seen a great real (sic) of frontier life.

He was married at Cottonwood, Shasta County, January 18, 1877, to Miss Jennie Howard, who was born in Marshalltown, Iowa, and crossed the plains with her parents in 1864, going to Oregon and from there to California, spending the first winter in Vacaville, afterward settling at Cottonwood, Shasta County. Mrs. Guynn’s great-great-grandfather, James Wilson, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her father, Reverend William H. Howard, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, preaching in California and also Oregon, and was active in the ministry until he died. He was in the Pacific Conference, later transferred to the East Columbia Conference. He had two sons who were also ministers. One is dead. Her mother, in maidenhood, Margaret Wilson, was born in Tennessee and removed to Iowa, and later to Oregon, where she died.

Seven children were born to Mr. And Mrs. Guynn: William Rose, in the auto business at Chico; Lee Wilson, who died at five years; Lewis Marion, who died at the age of seventeen; Creed Ashley, in business with his brother William R.; Bruce Beatty, with his father; Wade Henry, who died at eight years; Park Henderson, a graduate of the Chico high school. Mr. Guynn’s home place consists of two hundred fifty acres upon which, in 1891, he built his present large residence. He also owns two hundred acres two miles west of the home place, and in addition leases about four hundred acres more. He has about five hundred acres in grain each year.

In 1866 Mr. Guynn was made a Mason in Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. and A. M. He is also a member of Chico Chapter, No. 42, R. A. M., and a charter member of Chico Commandery, No. 12, K. T. He was one of the charter members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in Chico and was Sunday school superintendent for many years, also trustee for about forty years; he was school trustee of Meridian district for many years. His wife is a member of the same church. He has been active in Democratic politics and has served on the county grand jury.

Transcribed 11-30-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 536-539, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

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