Butte County
Biographies
CALVIN URIAH WASHBURN
CALVIN URIAH WASHBURN.--A self-made man
and a native son of California,
Calvin U. Washburn is a splendid illustration of one who is systematic and
efficient in the management of large tracts of land, thus getting the maximum
of returns for the labor expended. A son of O. A. Washburn, merchant and
postmaster at Nelson, he was born at Linden, San
Joaquin County, June 6, 1880. When he was two years old he was brought to Butte
County by his parents, who located
at Biggs for a time and later moved to Nelson, where he grew to young manhood
and attended the public school. At an early age his ambition was very
pronounced, for, at the age of twelve, he went out to work on ranches in the
neighborhood, and worked at haying and other kinds of employment during his
vacations. One of his first places of employment was on the ranch of Oscar
Nelson, son of A. D. Nelson, for whom the town was named. During the
construction of the Western Pacific Railway and the Great Western Power Company's
plant he conducted a feed yard at Oroville for four years. From there he came
back to Nelson and farmed two years on the Richvale
Company's land, then moved into the town, from which place he farmed on the
Stanford Grant two years; the first year he leased five hundred acres and used
two two-mule teams to put in and harvest his crop of grain; he second year he
extended his operations and leased seventeen hundred acres, bought an engine
and put in his crops. By this time the buildings had been erected on the grant
and he moved there and has since made that place his home.
During
his tenancy on the grant he has met with more than the usual success that
attends a man of his years. His operations were conducted in a systematic
manner as he alternated the grain-raising with pasturing the land,
and at the same time summer-fallowed in order to maintain the fertility of the
soil. He owns sixteen head of fine mules and horses, a seventy-five horsepower
caterpillar tractor and a Harris harvester, as well as all other modern
equipment found on ranches that are up-to-date. In 1917 he cut five hundred
thirty tons of hay, and from the eight hundred acres planted to wheat he
harvested ninety-five hundred sacks, which brought him a good price. In 1918 he
embarked in raising hogs on the large scale, having some seven hundred head on
his place. The Stanford University kept cattle and sheep on some three thousand
acres of the grant and had erected some very suitable ranch buildings on the
place for the use of Mr. Washburn; these latter he has kept in good repair and
the place reflects the neatness and care of the occupant. In 1918 the Stanford
properties in Butte County
were subdivided and the stock on the various ranches was sold off, as well as
considerable of the land. The balance of the land over which Mr. Washburn had
supervision is now owned by the Oroville Realty Company. In the spring of 1918,
when these properties were being sold off, Mr. Washburn bought thirteen hundred
twenty-three acres of fine land, known as Clark Field No. 1, and this he
intends improving for a home place. Besides this property he also owns a ranch
of one hundred sixty acres, part of the Parks place, upon which a set of ranch
buildings had been built and where he intends making his home until he has the
other place completed.
In
Oroville, December 6, 1906, Mr. Washburn was united in marriage with Miss Eva
Leigh Delavan, daughter of Leander and Emma (Ruggles)
Delavan, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work. Of this
happy union four children have been born: Cecil, who died in infancy; Emma
Rose; Oliver Delavan; and Calvin Fritts. Mr. Washburn
was elected a trustee of the Nelson school district in 1916 for a term of three
years; he is also assistant postmaster of Nelson. Fraternally he is a Mason,
belonging to Emanuel Lodge, No. 318, F. & A. M., at Biggs; to Durham Lodge,
No. 311, I. O. O. F., and to the Encampment and Canton at Chico.
Mr. Washburn is known by his intimate friends as "Calley"
and with his able wife dispenses a real hospitality to their many friends.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: "History of
Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 807-808, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
© 2008 Sande Beach.
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