Yolo-Sutter-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Wilcoxon, Caleb R. 1862 - ************************************************ 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 sdgenweb@gmail.com January 13, 2006, 10:08 pm Author: Tom Gregory (1913) CALEB R. WILCOXON, D. D. S. The removal of the Wilcoxon family from the Atlantic seaboard to the Pacific coast was accomplished in successive stages of migration, in accordance with the principles governing the westward current of civilization. A colonial establishment of the name in Maryland brought the family into touch with the southern culture of the period. It was Louis, a native of Maryland, who crossed the mountains into Kentucky and later established the name to the west of the Mississippi river. As in Kentucky he had been a pioneer of resourceful ability and undaunted courage, so in Missouri he exhibited the qualities typical of the frontiersman, and with tireless energy labored to transform a tract of raw land into a productive farm. The balance of his useful life was passed in Howard county and there was reared to manhood his son, Caleb E., who was born in Bullitt county, Ky., September 8, 1823, but had been taken to Missouri in very early years. The environment in Missouri was wholly that of the frontier. Schools were few and widely scattered. The teachers were in many instances little better informed than the pupils, while the log cabins utilized as "temples of learning" were as crude as the text-books and the methods of instruction employed. That the pioneer's son, deprived of every advantage for culture and education, should nevertheless have risen to prominence and success furnishes abundant proof as to his native ability and the force of will which enabled him to surmount obstacles and rise above circumstances. With the courage that always characterized him he started across the plains in the spring of 1853, bringing with him his wife and infant child, and making the journey in a "prairie schooner" drawn by oxen. Many months of weary travel had dragged their slow length along ere he reached California and found employment for the support of his family. After a very brief period with a Marysville firm as bookkeeper he was appointed under-sheriff of Sutter county, and in 1856 was elected county clerk, auditor and recorder, which positions he filled during much of the ensuing fourteen years. Afterward he served for one term as a member of the general assembly of the state legislature. In addition he filled out an unexpired term as sheriff and tax collector, also filled out a term as county superintendent of schools, and was further chosen to fill a vacancy in the office of treasurer. All of these offices, with their varied duties and heavy responsibilities, he filled with fidelity and intelligence. His admirable adaptability for the public service led to his election from his district to the state board of equalization, and for eight years he continued on the board, being its chairman most of the time. Upon his retirement from the office he was succeeded by Hon. Richard H. Beamer. Easily one of the foremost men of his day and locality, it would be difficult to mention any important enterprise to which Caleb E. Wilcoxon did not lend his influence. During early days he served both as postmaster and express agent of Yuba City, but eventually-his interests became too diversified for him to retain these positions. For a long period he was interested with T. D. Boyd in mercantile affairs at Yuba City. Liberal and charitable to a fault, he never refused an appeal for aid or declined to help the unfortunate. The Methodist Episcopal Church South received his generous assistance for years, and not only did he make liberal donations to the building of the house of worship at Yuba City, but in addition he donated the site of the parsonage and always helped in the maintenance of the congregation by large offerings. While still living in Missouri he had been initiated into Masonry and when Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A. M., was organized at Yuba City he became one of its charter members, besides which he also maintained a warm interest in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. When his death occurred January 2, 1904, there were countless expressions of regret among his large circle of acquaintances throughout the state and upon the occasion of his funeral every business house in Yuba City was closed as a last token of respect to his memory. As previously stated, the marriage of Hon. Caleb E. Wilcoxon had occurred prior to his removal to the coast. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Julia Ann Crow, was born in Charleston, W. Va., and in very early childhood accompanied her parents to Ohio, thence soon removing to Missouri and settling in Howard county. Of her marriage eleven children were born, seven of whom grew to maturity. The eldest of the children was a native of Missouri, the others being natives of Sutter county, Cal. Her last years were quietly passed in the last-named county and there she passed away two months after the demise of her husband. Six of her children are still living, the fourth of these being Dr. Caleb Russell Wilcoxon, an honored professional man of Woodland, and a native of Sutter county, born at Yuba City March 31, 1862. After he had completed the studies of the Yuba City schools he entered the office of the county clerk, auditor and recorder of Sutter county, where he continued as a deputy from 1880 until July, 1886. Upon resigning as deputy he entered upon the duties of postmaster of Yuba City, to which office he had been appointed under the administration of President Cleveland. The term lasted for four years, until July of 1890. Meanwhile, leaving the office in charge of his brother as deputy, in 1888 he became bookkeeper with Weinlander & Hexter of Marysville, with whom he remained for four years. Nominated and elected county clerk of Sutter county on the Democratic ticket, he entered upon official duties in January of 1893 and served one term of two years. For some time it had been the ambition of the young county official to take up dental studies and he had saved much of his salary for that purpose. During May of 1895 he matriculated in the University of California and there he kept up the regular course until he was graduated in 1898 with the degree of D.D.S. After a short professional engagement in San Francisco he came to Woodland and opened an office, October 1, 1898, in the First National Bank Building, where he has since remained, being now the oldest active practitioner in the city in point of professional service. He is a member of the Sacramento Valley Dental Society and the California State Dental Association, having been a member of the latter since June, 1899, and in both of which his standing is the highest and his reputation for broad professional knowledge the most enviable. To limit all mention of Dr. Wilcoxon to his professional labors, important as these have been, would be to do injustice to the varied mental powers that have enabled him to participate actively and successfully in many progressive projects. Recognizing the value of education to the future prosperity of our country, he has never refused to aid movements for the promotion of the schools. For six years he served as a member of the board of education and during two years of the time he held the presidency of the board, meanwhile giving of his best efforts to the advancement of the public schools. In national politics he votes with the Democratic party, but partisanship with him gives place to patriotism. The greatest good to the greatest number has been his aim as a citizen and as an official. Movements for the moral upbuilding of the community receive the same support from him that is given to educational affairs, while his allegiance to religious work has been equally vital and steadfast. As president of the board of elders and deacons of the Woodland Christian Church, he occupies a leading position in the activities of that organization, whose charities he supports with zeal and whose missionary movements he fosters with enthusiasm. April 18, 1900, he married Miss Mary Josephine Boggs, daughter of the late A. Leonard Boggs, of Woodland; her mother was Mrs. Clementine (Aull) Hughes, an estimable lady still residing in this city. In church and in society Mrs. Wilcoxon holds a position of esteem and influence and she also gives generous support to the charitable measures fostered by the Doctor. The latter was made a Mason in Enterprise Lodge No. 70, F. & A. M., and subsequently identified himself with Woodland Lodge No. 156, F. & A. M., of which in 1907 he served as master. When the Woodland Merchants' Association was organized he was selected the first president and for three years he filled the position with characteristic devotion. Nor has his service been less helpful as president of the Federated Brotherhood of Woodland, an organization having for its aim the raising of the standard of social conditions and the moral uplifting of the community. Additional Comments: Extracted from HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY TOM GREGORY AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913] File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/yolo/bios/wilcoxon328bs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.poppet.org/cafiles/ File size: 9.8 Kb