Sacramento County
Biographies
RICHARD SHERBURN
Upon one of the finest farms of central California there resides
an honorable and venerable man who has passed the eighty-fifth milestone on
life's journey, and in the evening of life is accorded that respect and
deference which should ever be shown old age. Though his years are many,
his vigor is that of a man much younger, and his interest in the affairs of
life is still active. His pleasant home is celebrated for its
hospitality, and the courtesy of the old-time school always meets those who are
guests beneath his roof. The qualities that constitute the true gentleman
have made Mr. Sherburn one of the leading and
representative citizens of Sacramento county, and it
is therefore with pleasure that we present the record of his life to the
readers of this volume.
A native of Yorkshire, England, he was born on the 14th of
November, 1814, and is a son of William and Margaret Sherburn,
who spent their entire lives in that land, where the father engaged in
gardening. He was more than eighty years of age at the time of his death,
and his wife was about eighty when called to the home beyond. Richard Sherburn was reared upon the home farm and acquired a good
practical English education. Having arrived at years of maturity, he was
married, on the 11th of April, 1848 to Miss Ann Brookville, who was born in
Derbyshire, England, March 3, 1817, a daughter of John and Maria (Pitts)
Brookville. Her father died in Derbyshire, where for some years he
operated a hat factory. He was also the proprietor of a store in London.
His wife spent her last days in Yorkshire, England.
Soon after their marriage, Mr. Sherburn
and his young bride started for the new world, crossing the Atlantic on the old
sailing vessel Patrick Henry on her first trip. They did not tarry in the
east, but made their way to the Mississippi valley, locating in Dane County,
Wisconsin, where Mr. Sherburn engaged in farming
until 1852. In the spring of that year they started for California, making the
overland trip with oxen. They were five months upon the way, and endured
the usual hardships that fell to the lot of the early pioneers who crossed the
hot and barren plains and climbed the steep mountains which barred the path to
the Pacific coast. Their little son William H., then only five years of
age, rode horseback nearly all the way. On
reaching the Golden state Mr. Sherburn embarked in
merchandising in Sacramento, in partnership with a Mr. Prentice, but the same
year a fire destroyed their property. However, with characteristic energy
they began business again; but the floods came on and destroyed their store and
stock to even a greater degree than the fiery element had done.
Therefore Mr. Sherburn determined to
devote his energies to agricultural pursuits, and removed to his present farm,
about three miles south of Sacramento, the place being locally known as Sutterville. When he first came, he made his way to
the farm in a row boat from San Francisco, for all of the country was under
water, the site of his present home being the only tract of dry land visible
for many miles. In connection with farming Mr Sherburn also kept a tavern for twenty-seven years after
settling upon the farm. Few men in central California have done more to
advance the agricultural interest of this garden spot of the world than he.
He placed his land under a very high state of cultivation and the fields
were made to blossom as the rose. All modern improvements were added, and
the progress of the times has been manifest in the new methods of farming and
the improved machinery
which has been utilized at Sutterville.
It has been only about three years since Mr. Sherburn
put aside the active cares of business life and has lived retired, his farm being
now rented to his grandson.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Sherburn are two in number. William H., a merchant of
Sacramento, was married and it is his son George who rents the old family
homestead. He, too, is married and has a little son Harold W., who was
born on this homestead, as was George R Sherburn.
John B., the second son, was married and died at the age of twenty-eight
years, leaving two daughters, both of whom are now married and each has a
child, so that Richard Sherburn, of this review, has
three great-grandchildren.
In his political views Mr. Sherburn has been a stalwart Republican since casting his
first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856. He filled the office
of justice of the peace for six years, and for many years was a member of the
school board. He was largely instrumental in establishing the first
school in this locality, and the first teacher, S.L. Rogers, boarded with his
family. He has ever labored untiringly to promote the cause of education,
realizing the importance in the affairs of life. Both he and his wife are
members of the Episcopal church, of which they have
been communicants for more than fifty-five years. The family is one of
the older and most highly esteemed in Sacramento County. Mr. and Mrs. Sherburn are a polite and
courteous old-time English couple, whose friends are desirous that they may be
spared to reach the century mark. In the evening of life they are
surrounded by the comforts that former toil has enabled them to secure, and
they enjoy the friendship and warm regard of all with whom they have been
brought in contact.
Source: “A Volume Of Memoirs And Genealogy of
Representative Citizens Of Northern California” Standard Genealogical
Publishing Co. Chicago. 1901. Page 167-168.
Submitted
by: Betty Tartas.
© 2002 Betty Tartas.
Note:
Having just read the biography of Richard SHERBURN (my relative), I would like to tell you that his father William SHERBURN lived at Sprotborough in Yorkshire. His mother was Margaret ASK. They were married in 1799. Margaret was the daughter of Robert ASK and Margaret MORTONSHE was born in 1777 at Sprotborough, Yorkshire. I hope this may be of some use to someone. I have lots more information if needed.
"JENNY BRACK" jennybrack@btinternet.com