Sutter-Shasta County CA Archives Biographies.....Chism, William H. 1859 - ************************************************ 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: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 8, 2012, 7:08 pm Source: See below Author: Peter J. Delay WILLIAM H. CHISM. — Prominent among the most experienced and successful sheep-growers in Northern California, William H. Chism has been looked upon as one of the most interesting exponents of progress in the agricultural departments of the Golden State. A native son, he was born in the old town of Shasta, Shasta County, on June 7, 1859. His father was Granville F. Chism, born in Kentucky, who came out to California in 1852, crossing the plains with oxen and wagons, and followed mining for a time in Shasta County and vicinity. He married Marticia Ellen Barnes, also a native of Kentucky. Her brother, James Barnes, had come to California in the early days of gold, in 1849 or 1850. He also crossed the plains; and so it was arranged that his sister Marticia should join him here and that they should return to their home together. She made the overland journey in an ox-team train in 1852, and in the same train Granville F. Chism was making his way slowly towards California. They became acquainted, and after their arrival at Shasta they were married. This changed the plans of all the young folks and they never returned to their Eastern homes. Mr. Chism was a miner, and he took out water ditches and supplied other miners with water for sluicing and hydraulicking. His career was cut short, for he died in 1859; and two months after his death, the youngest child, William Henry Chism, of this review, was born. The oldest child in the family, James G. Chism, was a mining man and a manufacturer in Mexico until his death. Some years after the death of Granville F. Chism, his widow married J. M. Simmons, who was a stockman in Shasta County. He died in 1890. Mrs. Simmons spent her last days in Oakland, passing away in 1913 at the age of seventy-two years. Henry Chism, as William H. Chism is familiarly called by his friends, attended the public schools in Shasta, and learned to ride the range and rope cattle while a small boy. When a lad of thirteen years, he ran away from home and went into Modoc County and fought in the Indian War, remaining in the service until the capture of the bad Indians. He was a member of a cowboy outfit, and as such gave a good account of himself. After the war he rode the range in Shasta and Tehama Counties, and on north to the Lava Beds, enduring severe hardships, often having to sleep out and go without grub. He thus became an adept with the rope and with the six-shooter, the usual firearm of the men of the range of those days. In 1880 Henry Chism came to Yuba City with a band of cattle, expecting to return to Shasta; but he liked the country so well that he decided to remain. He secured a job with W. H. Phillips, driving sheep and hogs to the Grass Valley market. Upon the death of Mr. Phillips he continued the business for himself as a dealer in sheep and hogs. He was elected and served as constable of Yuba City Township, and also served as deputy sheriff under T. L. Smith. Then he was elected the first marshal of Yuba City, continuing to serve as marshal and constable for twenty-six years in all. During part of the time he worked under L. S. Robinson, United States Marshal of Sacramento. During the time Mr. Chism served as a peace officer, the railroad was built and much levee work was completed, to accomplish which all kinds of bad men were brought to this locality. The officer performed his duties without fear or favor and with credit to himself, never having to resort to rough usage or violence. It was also while thus engaged that he enlarged his operations in sheep-growing, and in ranching and dealing in stock. He leased the Hudson ranch. Peacock ranch, Hibbard ranch. Bell ranch, and other lands, including about 6400 acres in all, with only a verbal lease from year to year, the mutual confidence reposed in each other by the contracting parties being so strong that the spoken word was considered as good as a written bond; and the business has thus been carried on with mutual satisfaction. He runs his bands of sheep in Butte, Colusa, Glenn and Tehama Counties, having about 6000 head. His hobby is raising sheep; and he certainly knows how to do it successfully, as the substantial results show. He is naturally much interested in the welfare of the county, and glad to participate in all progressive movements for the good of the community. In politics he is a Democrat, and for years has been a member of the county central committee. In Yuba City, on October 7, 1885, Henry Chism married Mary J. Wilcoxon, daughter of Benton Wilcoxon, a pioneer of Yuba County. She was born at Rag Town, in Carson Sink, Nev., while her parents were coming across the plains to California with ox-teams in 1860. The pilot of the train was the famous Kit Carson. Benton Wilcoxon was a Missourian; and he first crossed the plains in the early days of the gold excitement, mined awhile, and then returned to Missouri and married Mary Smith. She was also a native of Missouri. Mr. Wilcoxon was foreman for Mr. Gridley, and later for Mr. Sanborn. Both he and his good wife passed away in Yuba City, highly esteemed by all who had come to know them. Mr. Wilcoxon was a Mason and an Odd Fellow. Mary J. Wilcoxon was the second child in a family of nine children, and was reared and educated in the locality where she arrived when a babe of but two weeks. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Chism has resulted in the birth of three children. Hazel is Mrs. A. W. Chase and lives in Marysville. Annie became the wife of Leslie Fairlee Spilman, of Oakland. The only son, Phillip Grover, died at the age of twenty-seven. There are four grandchildren to gladden the hearts of Mr. and Mrs. Chism. Mr. Chism is a member of Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A. M., of Yuba City, and has served as marshal of this lodge for twenty-two years. He is a member of Washington Chapter No. 13, R. A. M.; Marysville Commandery No. 7, K. T.; and Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Oakland. He also belongs to the Sciots in Marysville. He is an Odd Fellow, a member of Yuba City Lodge No. 185, and has serevd as Noble Grand three terms; and he also belongs to the Encampment and to the Rebekahs. He is a life member of the Grass Valley Lodge of Elks, and is also a Woodman of the World. With Mrs. Chism he belongs to Fidelity Chapter, O. E. S., of Yuba City, in which Mrs. Chism served as the treasurer seven years. Mrs. Chism has been Noble Grand of Sunflower Rebekah Degree Lodge and has served two terms as district deputy. She is also a member of the Marysville Art Club. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chism are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, in Yuba City, and liberal contributors to its benevolences. He is one of its trustees and was active in the building of the new church edifice. Mrs. Chism is also serving on the official board, and is the treasurer of the Ladies' Aid. For years Mr. Chism was a member of the Butchers' Board of Trade in Salt Lake City. He is an active member and a director of the Northern California Wool Growers' Association. During the war he was active in the various drives, and was a liberal buyer of Liberty Bonds, while Mrs. Chism did active work in the American Red Cross. Additional Comments: Extracted from: HISTORY OF YUBA and SUTTER COUNTIES CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with Their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY PETER J. DELAY ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1924 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/sutter/photos/bios/chism1135gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sutter/bios/chism1135gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 8.2 Kb