Colusa County CA Archives Biographies.....Harlan, Thomas Helm November 17, 1834 - 1910 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Steve Harrison raleighwood@juno.com December 20, 2011, 9:20 am Source: History of Colusa and Glenn Counties, California Author: McComish "THOMAS HELM HARLAN The story of the life of Thomas Helm Harlan, one of the pioneers of California, is a story of deep interest; and were he alive to narrate it, the scenes that he witnessed during his active career in the Golden State, the hardships that he endured, and the obstacles that he surmounted would make a large volume. His biography dates from November 17, 1834, when he was born in Kentucky, to the year 1910, when he died at his home in Willows. His parents were George W. and Johanna (Helm) Harlan, the latter born in Missouri. Thomas H. Harlan received a common school education in his native state, and grew to young manhood on farms in his home locality. In 1853, he was taken with the gold fever, and, in company with his brother Joseph, crossed the plains with ox teams, in due time arriving in Grass Valley, Cal., where he began mining. Thereafter he was in Yuba County until 1856, when he located in Grand Island, Colusa County, and there began raising stock. Meeting with considerable success, he later went to Bear Valley and there confined his efforts to raising sheep and hogs, and to general farm pursuits. He sold this property and came down to Colusa County once more, and purchased a full section of land about ten miles west from Williams. Here he improved a good ranch and farmed with success for many years, in time becoming a large stock-raiser. He it was who introduced the breeding of Angora goats in his section of the county; and he became well known in that particular branch of the stock business. He was very successful, and was engaged in active pursuits until he finally retired to a life of quiet at a home in Willows. Thomas Helm Harlan was united in marriage with Jane Haynes; and they had seven children born to them: Helm Harden, Thomas William, Mattie Johanna (deceased), Joseph, Christian Madison, George B., and Susan. Mr. Harlan was a man of happy, friendly disposition, with a smile for everybody. Naturally he made many friends and few, if any, enemies; and he became one of the best-known and best- liked men in the Sacramento Valley. He was a Democrat in politics, of much influence in the party, and a fine speaker. For recreation he wrote poetry of considerable merit, and much prose. He ranked high as a Mason. After a well- spent and prosperous life, he passed away at his home, leaving five sons to mourn his passing. T. H. Harlan lived to do as much good as he could, to as many as he could, as he passed through life. It did not matter to him what their creed, nationality, color, or social position might be; for he stood ready to aid all on their journey through life, so long as the path they followed did not lead to evil or evil influences. He was known to have dismounted from his horse to give it to a stranger, and then to have walked joyously home with the feeling that he had helped a fellow man. He was very hospitable; and he made it his object in life to be good and do good; to scatter precious seeds of kindness, so that the lives of others might be brightened a little for having met him. His was not a selfish life; and hence he did not look for great worldly returns. His sentiments are well expressed in the following lines: "Love, honor and obey, The things that are pure and right; And never on your pathway, night or day, Let these sentiments stray from your sight. "Cherish them in your childhood; Cherish them in your prime; Cherish them in your manhood; Cherish them all the time." Following is a unique notice of the location of a mining claim filed by Mr. Harlan: Notice "Notice is hereby given, that this mine I do locate In accordance with the statute of these United States. It is only Chapter Six, and Title Thirty-two, A plain little reference that tells me what to do. "I surely am a citizen; in Kentucky I was born. Close by a cotton field, and sugar cane and corn. I guess that I am old enough, this mineral claim to lay; For my hair, once so black, has turned to silvery gray. "Fifteen hundred feet I claim, o'er this mountain glide Rich in silver and in gold, with diamonds on the side. The sides I claim three hundred feet, running parallel, Timber, water - yes, mill site, and this lovely dell. "On southeast side of Preston Peak, there you can find A prospect shaft, drill, and pick to mark this rich mine. Southwest from this gulch - ore mountain high you bet - Between claims owned by Williams and Green Bartlett. "State of California, and County of Siskiyou, The fifth of September, eighteen hundred and ninety-two. Although this claim to you may not be worth a farthing- Then let it alone. Respectfully, Yours, T. H. Harlan." Additional Comments: History of Colusa and Glenn Counties, California by Charles D. McComish and Mrs. Rebecca T. Lambert Los Angeles: Historic Record Company, 1918 Pages 514 and 517-518. Portrait on page 515 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/colusa/bios/harlan922bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb