Yolo-Colusa County CA Archives Biographies.....Willman, Joseph 1842 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 13, 2005, 9:00 pm

Author: Tom Gregory

JOSEPH WILLMAN

   A short distance north of Dunnigan lies one of the well-improved ranches of
Yolo county, a tract that represents the results of the wise energy and
persevering labors of the owner, Joseph Willman, who as early as 1877 acquired
the equity in three hundred and twenty acres of the present homestead. Scarcity
of funds handicapped him for years and for some time after he had purchased the
property he continued to work out for wages, in order that he might secure
needed money for making payments on his property. When finally he had reduced
the indebtedness to an amount possible to handle and had also accumulated the
capital necessary, for investment in machinery and stock he began the personal
cultivation of the tract. The first years were filled with toil of the most
severe nature, but after a time he began to reap the reward of his efforts and
was able to enjoy life in a greater degree. The neat residence adds to the
beauty of the homestead and the general attractiveness is enhanced by the large
number of shade and ornamental trees, also the English walnut trees and fruit
trees, planted by the owner. A pumping plant is an important addition to the
place and there also are needed buildings for the storage of grain and shelter
of the stock. A later purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of adjacent land
gives the owner a splendid tract, forming, indeed, one of the very finest
ranches in the entire north part of the county.

    Evidence of the possession of the splendid traits of the Teutonic race is
manifest in the activities of Mr. Willman, who, although of American birth,
comes of German ancestry on his father's^ side, while through his mother he
inherits the thrifty qualities of French progenitors. His father, Xavera
Willman, was born in Alsace-Lorraine, on the shores of the Rhine river, and in
youth learned the trade of a stone mason. Upon the expiration of his
apprenticeship he came to the United States in 1827 and followed his occupation
as a journeyman. Finally he established a home in Medina county, Ohio, and there
followed his trade. There also he married and in that state he reared his
family, comprising five sons and three daughters, their mother having been
Josephine Braman, a native of France. The family moved from Medina county to the
vicinity of Defiance, Ohio, and settled on a farm, where the father, with the
assistance of the boys, developed a profitable acreage.

    Among the children the fourth in order of birth was Joseph, who was born in
Medina county, Ohio, October 25, 1842, and who received a fair education in the
country schools. During the month of April in the year 1864 he left Edgerton,
Ohio, with an expedition bound for California. The journey across the plains was
made with wagons and horses. At the expiration of about five months he arrived
in Yolo county September 20, and immediately secured work on a ranch near
Knights Landing, where he remained during the winter and continued working in
that vicinity until 1872. From that year until 1877 he operated a rented farm,
and then purchased the larger part of his present ranch, after which he worked
out for ranchers until able to begin the cultivation of his own place. The
raising of wheat and barley has been his specialty, and besides cultivating his
own ranch he has rented several hundred acres each year for the sowing of grain.
To some extent he has had stock on his ranch and in this department of
agriculture he has been fairly successful.

    The marriage of Mr. Willman was solemnized in Dunnigan, Yolo county,
September 28, 1884, and united him with Mrs. Louisa (Harper) Goodin, a widow,
with one son and a daughter. The former, Albertus Goodin, is now married and
cultivating a part of the Willman ranch, and the latter, May, is deceased.
Simeon Harper, a native of Germany, immigrated in early life to America and
settled in Lafayette, Mo., where his daughter, Louisa, was born. Later he
engaged in farming in Kansas and from that state during 1873 she removed to
California, where they settled on a ranch near College City, Colusa county. Mr.
and Mrs. Willman are the parents of three children, namely: Clara Belle, who is
the wife of Herman West and lives in Colusa county; Alena, Mrs. Cotter, of
Sacramento; and Joseph Floyd, who remains at home. The family are identified
with the Dunnigan Christian Church and Mr. Willman serves the congregation in
the office of elder. In fraternal relations Mr. Willman for years held
membership with the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Arbuckle. While
steadfastly refusing to accept nomination for any office, he nevertheless has
consented to serve as a delegate to the county Republican conventions and has
given of his time and means for the furtherance of the party welfare.


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]




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