Butte County
Biographies
PHILIP HEFNER
PHILIP HEFNER.--The late Philip Hefner, who died in Butte County, in 1891, was one of the pioneers of 1850 who made their influence felt in California. He was born in Licking County, Ohio, in 1823; and after he had reached manhood and struck out for himself, he decided that the West held better opportunities for one of his ambitious nature, and hence started thither at the first opportunity. He took passage on the steamer Georgia, on the Atlantic side, crossed the Isthmus, and embarked in the sailing vessel Suisun, for San Francisco. On the latter vessel, when six days out from Panama, the captain killed himself. The vessel was then taken back to Panama by Mr. Hefner and others. They outfitted and renamed the ship, and in sixty days she landed them all safely in San Francisco, on August 14, 1850. Upon his arrival in that city, he outfitted and went at once to the mines on American River. Later, he went to the North Fork of the Feather River, where he mined with fair success. He also mined at Parks Bar, on the Yuba River. The precious metal did not flow into his sluice boxes as fast as he would have liked to have it; so he went to Marysville, opened a hay and feed yard, and did teaming until 1853. As he prospered, he decided to invest in land, and soon became owner of a section on Feather River, four miles east of Gridley, to which he added twelve hundred acres in due time. He raised grain and fruit with considerable success, and was busily engaged in that occupation until his death.
Philip Hefner was the youngest son of Frederick and Rachel (Peck) Hefner, both born in Virginia. The father died in Huntington County, Ind., in 1854; and the mother passed her last days in Ohio. Philip Hefner was united in marriage in Butte County, December 28, 1854, to Miss Catherine A. Chester, the ceremony being performed at the home of her father, John D. Chester, by Rev. Jesse Cole. Nine children came to bless this marriage, five of whom grew up: Frank S., now deceased; Charles P., of Gridley; Kate E., deceased; George U., of Durham; and Nettie M., who married H. Frishholz and resides on the old home place. The parents of Mrs. Hefner were John D. and Anna (Korchaner) Chester, the former born in Chester County, Pa., and the latter in Berks County. Mrs. Hefner, herself, was born in Clinton County, Pa., in 1834, and came to California in 1852. She was a member of the Christian Church, and Mr. Hefner was a member of the United Brethren of Christ.
Charles
P. Hefner, the fifth child in his father’s family, was born on the home ranch,
east of Gridley, Butte County, April 21, 1860. His
education was received in the public schools at Central House, and in Oroville.
In 1882 he began ranching for himself, purchasing the James Heninger ranch,
east of Gridley; and for eighteen years he operated the ranch, raising grain,
hay and stock, and meeting with deserved success. In 1900 he sold out and
returned to the old home ranch of his father; and he has since lived on the
place where he was born. He has met with good success in his farming
operations, has been a supporter of all public movements, and is looked upon as
one of the prominent men of the county. There are four children in his family:
Charles E., a farmer in the Central House district; Francis Homer, of Gridley;
Robert Emmet, a farmer near Gridley; and Katherine Genevieve, a bookkeeper. Mr.
Hefner is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 1/17/08.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 631-632, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Vicky
Walker.
Golden Nugget Library's Butte County Biographies