WILLIAM B. VENABLE

Butte County

Biographies

WILLIAM B. VENABLE

WILLIAM B. VENABLE.—One of the earliest settlers in the vicinity of Chico, and a man well posted on local history, William B. Venable, was born February 4, 1853, near Kingston, Caldwell County, Mo. His father, George A. Venable, was born in Kentucky, where he was for a time engaged in the grocery business, later moving to Caldwell County, Mo., where he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1857, he came across the plains with his wife and five children, making the journey in wagons drawn by ox teams, bringing with him a band of full-blooded Durham cattle. The train was in charge of his brother, Capt. H. C. Venable, and was five months on the way. George A. Settled on the Boone-Jones place near the present city of Chico, where he farmed until the fall of 1858, when he bought a squatter’s interest in one hundred sixty acres in the same section, a part of which is now owned by our subject, and which he later sold. The father died in Chico, aged fifty-seven years. The mother, Rebecca (Bullock) Venable, was born in Kentucky, and died in Imperial Valley, Cal., at the age of eighty-one. Thirteen children were the result of this marriage, three of whom are living, William B. Venable being the third child.

William B. remained with his parents, assisting his father with the ranch work as he grew older and attending the public school. Later he engaged with his father in general ranching, until he began working for himself at teaming in Chico, doing street work, road work, etc. Later on he purchased a ranch on Clear Creek, half way between Chico and Oroville, where he remained for five years, after which he returned to Chico and began working for Pleasant Guynn, being in his employ off and on, for twenty-two years, at one time in continuous service for nine years. He became seriously ill and did not regain his health for ten years, during this time employing ten different physicians. At last, under Dr. Hamilton’s skilful (sic) treatment, he measurably regained his health and upon the Doctor’s advice went to Richardson Springs, where he drove stage for five years, afterwards returning to Chico, where he built a house, and began working for George Tinney in the livery business, remaining with him for three years. He afterwards was in the employ of the county, driving the sprinkler wagon in Chico Vecino during the summers and hauling gravel in winter, continuing two years. In 1912, he bought forty acres, which was a part of the original one hundred sixty purchased by his father, in 1858. Twenty acres of this he planted to alfalfa and engaged in raising Poland-China hogs, dairying with fourteen cows and raising hay and grain.

Mr. Venable was married, in Willows, to Miss Laura A. Roberts, who was born near Nord, and was a daughter of Z. B. Roberts, one of the pioneers who crossed the plains in 1861. Her father was born in Nashville, Tenn., where he married Miss Rebecca Herbert Hancock, after which they removed to Marshfield, Mo. In 1861, they crossed the plains with ox teams, and which en route their fourth child, a daughter Ida, now Mrs. D. R. Jones, of Chico, was born. Mr. Roberts settled on Butte Creek and later had a farm near Nord. He died in Chico, in 1885, aged eighty-four years. He was survived by his widow, who died in Chico, in 1917, aged eighty-four years. Grandma Roberts, as she was called, was much loved and esteemed by all who knew her. She was the mother of twelve children, eight of whom are now living, Mrs. Venable being the fourth youngest. Mr. and Mrs. Venable have had but one child, William Chrisman, who died aged nine months. Mr. Venable and his wife are members of the Christian Church and are highly respected.

Transcribed 5-2-08 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 923-924, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

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