Sacramento County
Biographies
William A. Birch, farmer, San Joaquin Township, was born June 13, 1836, and was a son of George and Frances L. (Wright) Birch, father a native of Scotland and mother of Long Island. His father, a farmer, cane to this country about 1820, landing at New York, was married about 1830, on Long Island, and in 1835 settled in Livingston County Michigan. They had two children: Jane E., who is the wife of John McCullough and lives in Amador County, this State; and William A. The parents came to California in 1854, with ox teams, and located near Diamond Spring, where the father followed mining for some time. They are both now deceased, the father dying in July, 1870, and the mother June 4, 1864. The subject of this sketch came with his parents to the State in 1854. In 1864 he married Miss Razelo Jane Campbell, who afterward died, March 9, 1881. By the first marriage there were three daughters and one son: Frances R. born July 25, 1870; Polly J., June 13, 1873; Augusta, November 28, 1874; and William G., August 8, 1877. The second time Mr. Birch married Mrs. Fanny Jones, who was born in Brockton, Massachusetts, and by this marriage there were two children: Frank, born June 24, 1886, and died June 26, 1888; and Martin, born May 4, 1888. After arriving in California, Mr. Birch followed mining, both here and in Idaho, with varying success; and since 1857 he has been farming in San Joaquin Township, fifteen mile from Sacramento and eight miles from Elk Grove. There he has 480 acres of land and devotes special attention to the rearing of horses. He commenced his struggles in this county without any means, and all in possession he has made by his own unaided efforts. His ranch is well improved. Is a kind and generous-hearted man. His first vote was cast for Douglas; but he has long been a stanch Republican. He still carefully preserves in a scrap-book a specimen of the ticket which he first voted.
Transcribed by Karen Pratt.
Davis, Hon. Win. J., An Illustrated History of Sacramento County, California. Pages 493-494. Lewis Publishing Company. 1890.
© 2005 Karen Pratt.