Tehama County CA Archives Biographies.....Bahney, W. H. 1825 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 18, 2007, 10:50 pm

Author: Lewis Publishing Co. (1891)

W. H. BAHNEY was born in Massillon, Ohio, March 25, 1825. His remote ancestors,
natives of Switzerland, settled in this country long before the Revolution. His
father, J. J. Bahney, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1794, and emigrated to Ohio
in 1812. He was a pioneer and highly esteemed citizen of that State.

  The subject of this sketch engaged in the general merchandise business in his
native town when he was twenty-two years of age, and conducted it with success
from 1847 till 1851. In the latter year the wonderful stories of the piles of
gold hidden in the mountains of California, allured him to this coast. He
engaged in mining, having only moderate success. The same year he returned to
his native State. From 1852 to 1857 he was the pioneer postal clerk on the
Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad. At that time he decided to make his
permanent home in the Golden West, returned to this State with his family and
located in Tehama County, on what he supposed was Government land. It proved,
however, to be a grant, and, liking the property and not wishing to give it up,
he purchased the place, built on it and farmed it for ten years. Meeting with an
opportunity to make an advantageous sale, he disposed of the property, and in
1867 came to Red Bluff. Here he purchased the pioneer drug business of Dr. J. R.
Bradway, and continued in that business with marked success for eighteen years.
In 1885 he sold out and retired from business for two years. This was rest
enough for one who had been an active business man all his life; so he began to
seek something that would give him employment, and in 1887 bought his present
clothing store. The room he occupies is 50 x 70 feet, and is filled with gents'
fashionable clothing, furnishing goods, hats, caps, boots and shoes; and here
Mr. Bahney is doing a fine business, preferring to "wear out rather than to rust
out."

  In 1847 he married Miss Elizabeth Haas, a native of Virginia. To them were
born four children, three of whom are living, namely, E. W., Alice J. and Luther
E. For thirty-one years Mr. and Mrs. Bahney lived happily together. In 1878 she
was stricken with disease which resulted in her death, and her husband and
family were bereft of a loving wife and mother. For his second wife Mr. Bahney
married Mrs. Mary W. Eaves, an estimable lady, a native of Buffalo, New York.
Their union has been blessed with one child, a son, Charles.

  Mr. Bahney was a Douglas Democrat, and voted for the "Little Giant" for
President, but since then he has given his vote and influence to the Republican
party. In 1868 he was appointed Postmaster of Red Bluff, and held that office
until 1878. He has rendered efficient service to the public in many ways; twice
held the office of Justice of the Peace; was Superintendent of Schools, and has
three times been a City Trustee. At present he is honored with the position of
President of the Board of Trustees, a place he is filling with credit to himself
and entire satisfaction to his constituents. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
in all its branches, and has been through all its chairs. He is a consistent and
influential member of the Methodist Church, has for years held the office of
trustee in that organization, and aided materially in building their house of
worship in Red Bluff. He has built one good store in the town, owns the one he
now occupies, and he also erected the commodions residence in which he resides
with his family.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.


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