Yuba County CA Archives Biographies.....Dunning, Halsey H. 1869 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 5, 2012, 11:16 pm

Source: See below
Author: Peter J. Delay

HALSEY H. DUNNING. — Not every interesting and instructive career of even an
exceptionally public-spirited public man of the first importance so well
illustrates the value of previous opportunity and experience in travel and
observation as that of Halsey H. Dunning, known as one of the most aggressively
progressive promoters of Northern California, and one of the most representative
and influential citizens in Marysville. Having traveled throughout California,
and particularly in the Southland and the San Joaquin Valley, and having
acquired a practical, detailed experience in leading lines of business, he early
detected the natural resources of Yuba and Sutter Counties, at a time when the
potentialities of this region were not generally recognized. Upon his return
from his tours, he manifested the liveliest interest in favor of development;
and this intelligent appreciation of Yuba and Sutter Counties' importance led to
his appointment as director of the Sacramento Valley Development Association.
The conscientious and successful discharge of the responsible duties connected
with that position led to his commission as the representative for Yuba County
at the Panama-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco, and also at the San Diego
Fair. His study of modern conditions, and particularly of traffic problems, at
these teeming centers proved in time the incentive to his giving to Marysville
the largest and best-equipped garage, under one roof, in the State of California. 

    Halsey H. Dunning was born at Moores Flat, Nevada County, on August 27,
1869, the son of an early settler, Zopher Dunning, and his good wife, who had
been Sarah Hawthorn in maidenhood. Both of these worthy parents were born in
Maine, the father at Bangor, and the mother at Thomaston, a little place in Knox
County. In 1848, Zopher Dunning set out from his native State on a sailing
vessel bound for Australia; and having rounded Cape Horn on his rough and
hazardous voyage, he reached the Golden Gate at last, and soon afterward went
inland to the mines at Moores Flat, where for twenty years he went through the
ups and downs of a miner's life. In 1870 he came to Marysville; and until 1872
he was proprietor and manager of the old Denton House, where his excellent
service and old-fashioned hospitality became well and pleasantly known. He had
bought a ranch at Yuba Dam, about two miles from Marysville, and there, in
connection with his farming, he conducted one of the best road-houses in
Northern California. This old ranch has since then been cut up into subdivisions
suited to the more modest operations of the small farmer, and sold to former
employees and others, the estate thus continuing to be operated in the interest
of the most intensive development of the section's resources. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Dunning have passed away. They were most useful members of society, and were
widely known and esteemed. They left a family of six children: Aurelia, now Mrs.
Catland, of Santa Ana; Florence R., the wife of Charles Hastings; Iola T.;
Halsey H., of this review; and Louis and Abigail, now Mrs. Casey, also of
Marysville. 

    Halsey H. Dunning attended the Linda district school, having been reared in
Yuba County; and when school days were over, he learned the carpenter's and
wood-worker's trade. He was thus equipped to take advantage of the great
building boom in Southern California, and going south to San Bernardino County,
in 1889, he followed carpentering there until 1891. Returning north, he found
employment in the operation of threshing machinery, and remained in Stockton
until 1896. Then he removed to San Benito County, where he successfully
conducted a blacksmith shop at Paicines, and also one at Tres Pinos. Disposing
of his holdings in 1905, he returned to Marysville. There, in partnership with
his brother, he established a repair shop for harvesters, on C Street, the two
forming a firm under the name of Dunning Brothers; and in 1907 they incorporated
their business as the Dunning Brothers Company, at the same time purchasing for
their factory and headquarters the corner of Fourth and E Streets. Later they
erected a two-story concrete garage building, 73 by 160 feet in size, and while
continuing the business of harvester-repairing, began also to give their
attention to work upon automobiles. In 1912, Halsey Dunning bought out his
brother's interest, and took into partnership with him his own sons; and since
then the business has been continued as a close corporation, each of the members
giving his undivided time, attention and best efforts to the establishment's
success. The most marked prosperity of the firm dates from that year, 1912, when
the Dunnings became the agents for the Ford automobile for Yuba and Sutter
Counties; and this agency led later to their handling the Lincoln car and the
Fordson tractor. 

    A member of the Sacramento Valley Development Association, organized in
1900, Mr. Dunning was appointed by the board of supervisors of Yuba County both
as a director and as the official representative, for which he was preeminently
fitted, being familiar with local conditions, and alive to the possibilities of
this section when once the advantages should be made known beyond the county and
State. Intensely interested in hastening development of the fertile valley, he
faithfully fulfilled the duties connected with his position, despite the cost of
fatiguing effort and valuable time. It was very natural, therefore, that when
the Panama-Pacific International Exposition was launched in San Francisco, the
supervisors of Yuba County should appoint Mr. Dunning sole commissioner for the
county on the commission representing the Sacramento Valley, and to this
commission he also gave unstintingly of his time in promotion of the interests
of the section he represented. Finding, however, that the new responsibilities
conflicted with his onerous work in the Sacramento Valley Development
Association, he resigned his position with the latter body to give more time to
Exposition work. Hardly had he undertaken the San Francisco budget when he was
also commissioned to represent the Sacramento Valley exhibit at the San Diego
Fair. This double program compelled him to spend part of his time in the Bay
City in the North, and considerable time in the Southern city. But he was well
rewarded by the results, for so well received were the Sacramento Valley
exhibits that the entire section undoubtedly gained wide repute thereby.
Provision had been made to pay the members of the commission for their time and
expenses, but Mr. Dunning, with characteristic liberality, refused to accept any
such remuneration. He continued active on the commission until the closing up of
all business matters, and then he returned the balance of money on hand to the
supervisors — the only instance in the State's history when any public money was
returned after an exposition. 

    It was while Mr. Dunning was in the Southland that, he had a chance to
compare the possibilities of the Sacramento Valley, and its natural resources,
with other portions of the State, and this comparison deepened and broadened his
insight into the greater opportunities awaiting the counties of Yuba and Sutter.
With A. L. Conard and others, he became one of the organizers of the Lassen
Volcanic National Park Association, in which he is now a director. This
association was organized in order to gain governmental recognition and secure
appropriation from the government with which more rapidly to improve the Lassen
Volcanic National Park. The originators of the movement went before the State
legislature as well, and secured an appropriation of $8000 for development work.
Mr. Dunning's first-hand experience and personal observation in both the
Southland and at San Francisco, as commissioner, materially aided him in the
development of his own business interests, and gave him the incentive to provide
a thoroughly up-to-date garage and automobile service for Marysville. Following
the selection of the Dunning Brothers Company as agents for the Ford products,
the company found their quarters inadequate, as the population increased and
their trade developed; and in 1918 Halsey Dunning built the California Garage,
at the corner of Fourth and I Streets, a structure 160 by 240 feet, the largest
garage on one floor in the State. After conducting both establishments for a
while, however, they gave up their old location, on January 1, 1921, leasing the
well-known building for stores. From that time on they concentrated their
efforts and energies in the highest development of their main enterprise. The
marked increase of business once more necessitated enlargement, and in 1923-1924
they built a two-story extension, 80 by 160 feet, to their California Garage,
making a total floor space of 67,000 square feet, occupying a whole block facing
I Street, and extending from Third to Fourth Street. This establishment is the
most complete of any in the State, each department being confined to separate
rooms, and each run under the management of an acknowledged expert. There is a
salesroom for the Ford and the Lincoln cars, another for trucks and bodies, and
a third for tractors and tractor equipment. There is an electrical and battery
shop, a radiator and sheet-metal department, and also a vulcanizing shop. In
addition to these, there are an accessory department, where everything for the
Ford and Lincoln cars, and the Fordson tractor, is to be found; trimming and top
and paint shops; a used-car sales department; a modern machine shop, with a most
complete blacksmith shop; and a body-building shop. In fact, everything for the
car and tractor, for repairs of every kind, and for the best of service, is to
be found under their vast roof, with a storage room besides. To supply the
service station, which is in charge of four girls, Mr. Dunning purchases
gasoline in car-lots; and he has an individual pipe-line running to the spur on
the Western Pacific Railroad, by which the gasoline is brought by gravity to his
storage tanks at the station, the auxiliary tanks giving him a capacity of
18,000 gallons. This simple process of handling eliminates waste, evaporation
and extra expense, so that the firm is enabled to sell gasoline three cents per
gallon under the prices of competitors, and still make a fair profit. The
offices of this establishment are located on the mezzanine floor, in the center
of the building, overlooking the whole garage. Adequate space is set apart for
rest rooms, and balconies are arranged for the comfort of patrons, even a
play-room for children of tourist-patrons being provided. There is also a
cafeteria, with electric cooking apparatus, and a noonday meal is supplied to
employees at a cost of twenty-five cents per plate. From even this brief
description it will be seen that the Dunning Brothers Company have not
overlooked a single item to render service of the worthwhile sort to
appreciative patrons, looking after their welfare and comfort as well as after
the best interests of the employee. The company also maintains a branch garage
at Wheatland, in Yuba County, in their own building, 44 by 90 feet in size, and
another branch at Live Oak, in Sutter County, 60 by 100 feet in size, near the
center of the town and both catering to the fast growing traffic speeding
through on the great State highways. 

    At Sacramento, in 1888, Mr. Dunning was married to Miss Sarah E. Manning, a
native of Folsom, Cal., and an accomplished lady, and a social favorite. They
have been blessed with five children: Encil M., Don L., William Glenn, Jack, and
Ada Elizabeth. The four sons are associated with their father in business. Mr.
Dunning has been active for years in both civic and fraternal circles; in
1915-1916 he served as president of the Marysville Chamber of Commerce. He is a
director and vice-president of the Rotary Club, and a member of Marysville Lodge
No. 783, B. P. O. Elks. He is a Democrat, and a member of the Democratic County
Central Committee, of which he has been chairman; and he has been a member of
the Democratic State Central Committee for years. He is distinguished as one of
the most enterprising citizens of Marysville, with the broadest vision and
exceptional courage and nerve to build for the future, an excellent judge of
business conditions, and an optimist of the most hopeful and helpful kind. As a
first-class "booster," he was one of the first promoters of the new hotel, and
has become one of the largest stockholders; and he has always been conspicuous
for his championing of every local undertaking for the beautifying of the city
and the development of its resources. He deserves especial credit for his great
work in laboring for improved roads, for which he has accomplished much in this
part of Northern California. Marysville has never had a more public-spirited
citizen, nor one more deserving of the public's confidence and gratitude; nor
could any community in the Pacific commonwealth hope to have a more unselfish,
untiring worker at home for the community's good, or a more fearless and
unremitting champion abroad, of the community in which he lives. 


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


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