Butte County
Biographies
GEORGE A. KESSELRING
GEORGE A. KESSELRING.—The subject of this sketch was born on June 7, 1850, in Hillsdale
County, Mich., the second son
of Jacob and Emily Jane (Smith) Kesselring. The father was a native of Germany,
while the mother was born in Ohio. Jacob
Kesselring made three trips to California before he
permanently settled in the Golden State. In
1851, with a brother, he made his first trip across the plains, and after
arriving in California engaged in mining at Bidwell’s
Bar, on the Feather River. Three years later, he
returned to the East; but like thousands of others who had once enjoyed the
interesting life of the far West, the desire to return was so strong and
insistent that in 1856, accompanied by his wife, he returned to California via
the Isthmus of Panama, this time locating in Granite Basin, a mining camp in
Butte County. Here he built a hotel, which he conducted for a time, and he
also engaged in teaming in the mountain district. Later
on he removed to the Newville district, in Colusa (now Glenn) County, where he
farmed; and afterwards he lived at Stony Creek, where he leased land from the St.
John family and raised wheat. The productiveness
of the virgin soil here was pleasingly demonstrated by the bountiful yield of
sixty bushels to the acre. He was assisted in harvesting his crop by the
friendly Indians of that section; but the methods were so primitive that much
of the grain was lost in the process. In 1863 Mr. Kesselring decided to
make a third trip East. This trip was for the
especial purpose of bringing back with him his two sons, Emanuel B. and George
A. With their father, they crossed the plains in a wagon, unmolested by
Indians who infested the country at that time.
In
1871 Jacob Kesselring took up government and railroad land, on the Colusa
plains, eight miles southwest of St. John. After
clearing forty acres he seeded it to wheat, although strongly advised by others
not to do so. He was successful in raising a crop, and has the distinction
of being the first man to grow grain in that section of the state. His
venture proved to be the successful opening up of this district, for soon
afterwards settlers began to build their cabins and the land was taken up and
improved. With his characteristic progressive spirit, Mr. Kesselring
hauled lumber from the mountains, built a house, and fenced forty
acres. Later he purchased three hundred twenty acres in Modoc
County, where he engaged in farming and
stock-raising; and here he passed away, survived by three sons: Emanuel B., living
at Oakland; George A.; and Francis Marian, of Stonyford; and one daughter, Orry,
Mrs. Craigie Sharp, of Oakland.
George
A. Kesselring assisted his father on the Stony Creek Ranch until he reached his
majority. Then he preempted one hundred sixty acres and purchased another
ranch of the same acreage; and on these three hundred twenty acres, on Stony
Creek, he engaged in farming for six years. Afterwards, in partnership
with his brother, Emanuel B., he was for twelve years in the stock-raising business
in Modoc County. Then
for a time he conducted a ranch at Buzzards’s Roost, Shasta
County. In 1891 he located in Chico,
where he is engaged in the storage and dray business.
Mr.
Kesselring was united in marriage October 2, 1878, with Mattie Ash, a native of
Sacramento County,
and a daughter of Alexander and Jane E. (Bemus) Ash, highly respected California
pioneers, who crossed the plains (the former about 1852). The father
engaged in mining, but afterwards operated a saw-mill at Carson
City, Nev. Later he farmed
and raised stock on Stony Creek, Colusa
County. His last days were
spent in Chico, where he passed
away June 9, 1914, aged eighty-five. Mr. and Mrs. Kesselring’s three
children are all married, and reside at Oakland:
Allie, who is the father of two children; Lester G., who has one son; and Ethel
Harriet, who is the wife of George A. Posey, and they are the parents of one
child.
Fraternally,
Mr. Kesselring is affiliated with the Independent Order of Foresters, while his
wife is an active member of Annie K. Bidwell Parlor, Native Daughters of the
Golden West, in which she has passed all the chairs. She served one year
(1917-18) as Grand District Deputy and Installing Officer for Marysville,
Oroville and Chico Parlors. She has also passed through the higher offices
of the Ladies of the Maccabees, at Chico.
Transcribed 2-6-08
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 697-698, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
©
2008 Marilyn R. Pankey.
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