Sacramento County
Biographies
REXFORD G.
COLBY
REXFORD G. COLBY.--Favorably mentioned as a contracting truckman, a native son and a representative citizen of Sacramento County, Rexford G. Colby is making a name and place for himself among the worth-while citizens of this great commonwealth. He was born at Clarksburg, Cal., August 30, 1896, the oldest son and child of Walter B. and Anna (Berkenkamp) Colby. The former is also a native son of California, born in Sacramento County, into the family circle of Jerry and Mary Colby, who came to this state in a very early period of its history. Jerry Colby followed his trade as a stone mason in Sacramento for many years. He and his good wife had seven children to brighten their humble home, of whom only three are now living: Walter B., George and Julia. Walter Colby owns forty-five acres of fine ranch land on Merritt Island which he devotes to general farming. Mrs. Anna Colby was born at Clarksburg, a daughter of Henry and Martha Berkenkamp, natives of Germany and Missouri respectively, and they were also early settlers in this state, locating near Clarksburg, where Mr. Berkenkamp acquired ninety acres of land. He reared his little family on his ranch and educated them in the public school near by.
Rexford Colby attended the Clarksburg school and worked on the home ranch with his father during vacations and until he was twenty-one; then he struck out for himself, gaining a broad and varied experience which has been of inestimable value to him in later years. Since 1920 he has engaged in trucking, doing local and long-distance hauling, and with his brother John owns two trucks of one and a half tons capacity each, and they have built up a profitable business. He makes his home on Randall Island, about one and one-half miles north of Courtland.
On December 3, 1917, occurred the marriage that united Mr. Colby with Miss Marion Brill, a native daughter born at Crockett into the family of John and Frances Brill. They have one son, Warren Colby, and twin daughters, Peggy June and Betty Jane. Mr. Colby is a Democrat in national politics and fraternally is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With
Biographical Sketches, Page 911.
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Jeanne Taylor.