GEORGE W. TROXEL

It does not take long for a community to recognize leadership in men and women of native ability and valuable experience ; and this is true of George W. Troxel, one of the influential residents of the section about Glenn, in Glenn County. He was born on September 27, 1851, in Will County, ILL., and at the age of three came to California with his parents, Daniel Z. and Eleanor (Zumwalt) Troxel, natives of Maryland and Ohio respectively.  Daniel Troxel left Illinois in the fall of 1853 and spent the winter in Iowa; and on April 9, the following year, he set out, with a party consisting of about sixty wagons drawn by ox teams, across the plains to California under the leadership of Joseph Zumwalt, captain of the train. Mrs. Troxel and her four living children, the youngest of whom was Albert, then a nine-day-old baby, were put into a wagon, and the journey that was to last almost six months was begun. She was then a frail woman weighing only about one hundred twenty pounds ; but when she arrived in California she weighed some one hundred sixty pounds. She had ten children born in the East, and one after settling in this state, all of whom are now deceased except George W. and Albert, who lives in Washington, near Centralia. On arriving at their journey’s end, Mr. Troxel had one ox, one cow, and two horses hitched to his wagon. He had started out with three yoke of oxen, two cows, and two horses. The first stop made by the family was in Placer County. In 1857 they moved to Solano County, and were engaged in farming about four and one half miles from Dixon until 1870, when George W. Troxel came to Colusa County and settled six miles west of Willows, now in Glenn County, where he made his first independent venture.

In 1875, George W. Troxel and his two brothers, Joseph E. and Albert, became partners in the purchase of twelve hundred eighty acres of land. This they improved, setting out trees and building barns, and began the raising of grain and stock. In a short time Joseph dropped out of the firm; but George W. and Albert continued together until 1889 or 1890. In 1888, Mr.  Troxel moved to Elk Creek and invested in a ranch there, on which was one of the finest orchards of peaches and pears, as well as apples, in the entire county. On removing to this place he still retained his interest in the former ranch for two years.  There was no market for fruit at that time; and besides, Mr.

Troxel had made the change from a grain-raiser to a fruit man.  Not succeeding in his venture, he left Elk Creek and spent one year in Willows. The following year, 1897, he moved to Woodland, and thereafter was variously employed until 1902, when he came with his family to the place where they now live, near Glenn. This property originally consisted of twenty-seven acres, and was so heavily wooded that a space large enough to erect his house upon could barely be found without grubbing out trees.  To his first purchase in 1900, he added other land until he owned at one time some sixty acres; but some of this was lost by the erosive action of the Sacramento River. He cleared the land of timber by hard work, and planted corn, beans and grain, which yielded good harvests year after year. In 1917, he set out a prune orchard of eight acres, which is in a thriving condition.  This property was a part of the Glenn ranch, and is very fertile ground. Besides his own acreage, Mr. Troxel leased other land and farmed to grain, meeting, on the whole, with good results.

On January 14, 1886, Mr. Troxel was married at Woodland to Miss Anna Caroline Everts, a native of Niles, Mich., who came to California in 1878, arriving at the home of her uncle, Thaddeus Hoppin, in Yolo County in March of that year. She spent two years with her uncles and then returned to her home, then later came back to Woodland with her parents, who remained there until their death. She has lived here ever since. Three children were born of this union: Stanley E., Myra C. E., and Morvel E. By a former marriage, on December 24, 1879, at Willows, Mr. Troxel was united with Miss Lou Ogle, a native of Adams County, Ohio. Two children were born of that marriage, Clarence M., and Verda. Mrs. Lou Troxel died in April, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Troxel and their family are members of the Baptist Church of Glenn, of which Mr. Troxel is senior deacon and a trustee. He gave the ground for the building and lot, and also helped to build the church.

While the history of Colusa and Glenn County is written in detail, the life of George W. Troxel will not be forgotten. He was one of the pioneers in grain-growing, and farmed in 1872 where the town of Willows now stands. In 1880, he harvested eighteen sacks of wheat to the acre from nine hundred acres.  An evidence of the esteem in which this pioneer is held, and of the influence he has long exercised for the upbuilding of the county, is seen in his election in 1916 to the vice-presidency of the Glenn County Farm Bureau, of which he was also previously a director at large.

Pages 697-701

FRANK W. TROXEL

Among the successful ranchers, stock-raisers and dairymen of Glenn County, and in the front rank of those who have worked hard for what they possess and take pride in maintaining the highest standard, is Frank W. Troxel. He was born in Glenn County, December 1.3, 1870, a son of William T. Troxel, a native of Illinois, and Eliza (Johnson) Troxel, a daughter of William and Sarah Johnson, and a native of England. The parents met in California, and were united in marriage at Dixon, Solano County.  William T. Troxel was the son of Daniel Z. and Eleanor (Zumwalt) Troxel, born in Maryland and Ohio, respectively. They left their Illinois home in 1853, wintered in Iowa, and the following year set out, on April 9, with an ox-team train of emigrants, some sixty wagons, under the leadership of Capt. James Zumwalt, for the long trip across the plains to the Golden State of California ; and after a six months’ journey they arrived in Placerville. In 1857 they located in Solano County. For a time Mr. Troxel did teaming from Sacramento to the mines, and then began farming near Dixon, when he had saved enough money to buy an outfit.

He later became an early settler of what is now Glenn County, farming the Peter Garnett ranch a few years, and then went back to Solano County. Still later he returned to Glenn County, bought  land in the Kanawa school district, improved a ranch, and farmed there until 1888. He then sold out and located on Stony Creek, three miles south of Elk Creek, where he purchased two hundred four acres ; but thinking to better his health and the health of his wife, he again sold out and went to Solano County. Ten years later, however, we find him back in Glenn County, on Stony Creek, where with his son Frank he bought the old West ranch; and on this place he passed his last days, dying at the age of eighty-one years. His widow still resides on the home place, and is sixty- eight years of age. They had ten children, eight of whom were sons ; and nine of the family are still living. These are : George, of Dixon; Frank W., the subject of this sketch; Albert, in Washington ; Emma, Mrs. Scull, of Patterson, Cal.; Delbert, of Sacramento; Cal, Mrs. Itchertz, of “Winters; Joseph, of Woodland; and Lloyd and Cecil, who reside in Elk Creek. 

Brought up on a ranch, and accustomed from boyhood to hard labor, Frank Troxel lived with his parents until he was twenty-one, and then started out for himself, engaging in farming and the stock business at Elk Creek. On February 4, 1891, in Colusa, he married Jessie Elizabeth Corbin, a daughter of David and Addie (West) Corbin, and a native of Glenn County. Her father came across the plains with John Williams, bringing a band of cattle, and became a successful stockman, specializing in sheep on his twenty-seven hundred acres north of Elk Creek. He met an accidental death, being thrown from a horse at what is now Winslow, in June, 1878. His wife had passed away on December 24, 1877.  Two of their sons, Edward and Lloyd, died in 1878. Mrs. Troxel is the only child of the family now living. She was but five years old when her father died, and was left a fortune in land; but unfortunately, in the settlement of the estate she was left with nothing, though later she received one thousand dollars on a compromise settlement. On her mother’s side, Mrs. Troxel is a grand-daughter of John and Martha (Wood) West, born in England and Indiana, respectively, who crossed the plains and became pioneers of California. They were well-to-do farmers on Elk Creek, where they died. 

Through her grandmother, Mrs. Troxel inherited two hundred acres south of Elk Creek, where she and her husband located after their marriage. Mr. Troxel bought two hundred forty acres adjoining; and the property is devoted to grain, stock and a dairy.  The land is well improved with a comfortable residence, and with barns and fences, and thirty acres are seeded to alfalfa, which is irrigated with water from Stony Creek. The dairy business has been remunerative, the cream being shipped to Orland. Under the supervision of Mr. Troxel a high degree of success has been attained. 

Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Troxel : Etta, Mrs. W. E. Sale, of Winslow ; and Ray, Ralph, Lester, Roy, May, and Harold. Mr. Troxel is a wide-awake citizen. In political matters he aligns himself with the Republicans. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow, a member of Newville Lodge, No. 321. Among ranch-men, he is highly esteemed as a man of affairs. He has been the president of the Elk Creek Farmers’ Bureau since the time of its organization.

Pages 758-759

WILLIAM R. ZUMWALT

One of the chief elements in the attractiveness of any town is found in the artistic design and stable quality of its architecture ; and when the finest edifices in a community are the product of one of its own gifted and experienced citizens, as is the case with Willows, there is special reason for local pride and satisfaction. W. R.  Zumwalt, the prominent contractor and builder of Willows, is a native son, born near Colusa, Colusa County, on February 27, 1885.  Mr. Zumwalt ‘s parents are John H. and Fannie (Craigmiles) Zumwalt, natives of Illinois, who came to California in 1880, and in 1890 located at Willows, where the elder Zumwalt followed the carpenter’s trade. John Zumwalt is held in high esteem in his community. He is a member of the Masons.

One of three children — the other two being Grover and Eva

Zumwalt — William R. Zumwalt was educated at the Willows public schools, and afterwards learned the carpenter’s trade witli Ms father. He then took a course in architectural drawing in the International Correspondence School of Scranton, Pa., and as a result he is able to make his own plans for buildings. He has erected many fine residences here, among them being the homes of Frank Glenn and Frank Weinrich; and many others also have been designed by him. Since 1906, Mr. Zumwalt has been engaged in contracting and building throughout Glenn County. He has made a specialty of schoolhouses, having erected the following very creditable buildings : the high school at Willows, the Plaza school near Orland, the Cherokee school west of Orland, the Butte City school at Butte City, and the Union school at the east of Butte City. He was also the builder of the new library at Bayliss. He recently completed three reinforced concrete bridges in the county, and previously erected five of the same kind ; and he has built a number of reinforced concrete culverts.

As a man of business affairs, Mr. Zumwalt ‘s interests are varied, including among others an interest in a drug store. He is a member of the firm of Crete & Zumwalt, proprietors of the Willows Pharmacy. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of Laurel Lodge, No. 245, of Willows. As a citizen, he is a supporter of all worthy enterprises that have for their aim the upbuilding and betterment of the community.

Pages 673-674

PACIFIC ORD EIBE

From the time of settling in what is now Glenn County, in 1870, until his death, which occurred in February, 1917, Pacific Ord Eibe was one of the most influential business men and citizens of the county. Emphatically a man of work, he was never idle, but continued to be one of the most enterprising and active men of Willows. No enterprise was projected that failed to receive his substantial encouragement, and every plan for the promotion of the public welfare had the benefit of his keen judgment and wise cooperation. A man of broad and charitable views, he aided every movement for the advancement of education, morality or the well-being of the county. “No man was held in higher esteem by the people of this county, and they showed their love for him by thrusting honor after honor upon him.” Thus spoke one of the leading county newspapers of Pacific Ord Elbe, at the time of his death; and the sentiment unquestionably reflects the opinion of thousands of his fellow citizens who, during his varied and useful career, either knew him or knew about him.     

Born at Pacific Springs, Utah, on June 29, 1854, the future pioneer first saw the light when his parents, Matthew and Emily (Zumwalt) Elbe, were crossing the plains to California. They were members of a large train of emigrants drawn by ox teams, and when they reached Pacific Springs many of their oxen so sickened and died from poisoning that this delayed the parties at that point for a number of weeks. While there a baby son was born; and his parents, wishing to commemorate the event, gave him the name Pacific after the place of his birth.    

When the Elbe family arrived in the Golden State, they settled for a time in Solano County, near Silveyville, where their son, Pacific Ord, attended the common schools. Afterwards he took a preparatory course in a business college at Berkeley, and then worked at home until in 1870, when, with his brother, J. C. Elbe, he took up his residence on what is today known as the Eibe ranch, two miles west of Willows, Glenn County, where he farmed to grain and raised stock successfully. In due time his fellow citizens found in Pacific Ord Eibe the qualities necessary in a public officer, and he entered upon his public career as a deputy under Lon Stewart, county assessor of Glenn County upon its organization. For eight years Mr. Elbe served in that capacity, and then became a candidate for the office of assessor and was elected by a handsome majority. At the end of his first term he was reelected to the office through the will of the people, serving to the end of his term with commendation from everybody.    

Believing that it would be a good plan to let some one else have a chance at the office, Mr. Elbe refused to be a candidate for reelection and retired to business life for the following four years. In partnership with I. J. Proulx, he carried on a very successful and extensive real estate business. During this time, he was instrumental in having the great Glenn estate subdivided, and in having thirty thousand out of the fifty thousand acres sold. In 1905, the community thought no better representative of Glenn County could be selected for the Lewis and Clark Exposition at Portland, and Mr. Elbe therefore went north on his official mission, returning to his home after the duties of the position were ended.    

In 1909 Mr. Elbe was induced to become a candidate for the office of county supervisor from the First District in Glenn County; and he was elected by an overwhelming majority. Four years later he was reelected ; and still again the people, appreciating his honest and painstaking administration, invited him, at the November election, 1916, to retain his portfolio. He worked for and favored every project that would build up Glenn County. He induced many to buy land and become settlers on the Glenn Tract, when the land was cheap. Since that time the land has increased five, and even six, times in value. He favored the building of good schoolhouses and the maintaining of a high standard of education.  

He named the Ord district; gave to every church, no matter what its denomination; was a man of broad intelligence, keenly alive to every opportunity offered in the county; and made and retained friends wherever he went. It was while he was an incumbent in office that he passed away, following a long period of illness. His death was commemorated by the unfurling at half-mast of many flags throughout the city and county. Thus passed a man who held a clean record all through his career, which he left as a heritage to his dependents.    

The first marriage of Pacific Ord Elbe took place in 1880, in Solano County, when he was united with Miss Maud Emma Abbott, and two children were born to brighten the home circle: Ernest V.; and Maud Emma, who died at the age of five months. Ernest V. is living on the home place and assisting in its management. Mrs. Elbe passed away on December 23, 1884 ; and on November 5, 1905, Mr. Elbe married Mrs. Belle (Quint) Barceloux, who survives him, together with three of his brothers and a sister: A. O. Eibe, of San Francisco; J. C. Elbe, of Sacramento; T. T. Eibe, of Dixon; and Mrs. M. J. Parrish, of Napa. At the time of her marriage to Mr. Eibe, Mrs.Eibe was the widow of Ernest J. Barceloux, a son of Peter Barceloux, a pioneer of Glenn County. Three children were born of her first marriage: P. Elmer, Leo Vernon, and Ernest J., who are with their mother on the home ranch. Of a very sociable nature, Mr. Eibe was a member of Chico Lodge, No. 423, B. P. 0. Elks, and of Monroe Lodge No. 289, 1. O. 0. F., at Willows, of which he was a charter member, and in which he passed through all the chairs. Shortly before his death, he embraced the Catholic faith of his own free will.    

After her husband’s death Mrs. Eibe took up the burden of running the home ranch, assisted by Mr. Eibe’s son, Ernest V.; and here they raise fine Egyptian corn, barley, hogs and cattle. On the place there are some two thousand prune trees, five years old, besides cherries, apples, peaches and apricots. The place was developed by Mr. and Mrs. Eibe after they took up their residence there. Mrs. Eibe ever proved her worth as a true helpmate to her husband in all his business affairs. She made his home life happy, and in his home he was always to be found after his business was concluded, his happiest hours being spent in her society. Pages 258-259

History Of Colusa and Glenn Counties, California
History by: Charles Davis McCormish and Mrs. Rebecca T. Lambert
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1918
Transcribed by: Martha A Crosley Graham

Included below are Family Files, Photos, Obituaries, a detailed Narrative, Troxel Family History, Will, Citizenship Application, Marriage Notice, and Death Notices. All files are pdf format.

All of the images can be found here and are easily identified

         Corbin, Nicholas Z

         Troxel, Daniel Zachariah

         West, Frances

         Wood, William

         West, John - Citizenship Application

         West, Martha Wood -Will

         1876 - Jesse Corbin

         1880 - Elizabeth Sydney Hattie Abigail Robbins

         1880 - Marriage Announcement - Lott W Owens & Rosamond Wood

         1885 - William West

         1900 - John Joshua West and Ella Dale Green West

         1901 - Etta Ray Ralph Lester Troxel

         1902 - Charlotte Davis Wood Obituary

         1907 - Joseph Calude Troxel and Elizabeth Gatton Troxel

         1907 - William Johnson and daughter Eliza Johnson Troxel

         1908 - Janeta Rita Faye Ernest Scull

         1910 - Hattie May Decker Jones Thompson Carr

         1914 - Lester Troxel

         1915 - Ray Troxel and Lorraine Carver

         1916 - Zumwalt-Troxel-Nancy Hunt - Narrative

         1917 - Ray & Lester Troxel

         1920 - Frank-Jesse Corbin Troxel

         1923 - Elsie Troxel daughter to George and Mattie Troxel

         1923 - Hazel Marguerita and Leona West

         1928 - Harriet Troxel Harry Gibbs2

         1930 - Troxel Family History by Clarence

         1930 - Winslow Bridge Elk Creek CA

         1932 - Harriet Troxel Elk Creek 1st grade class  

         1933 - Harriet Troxel Elk Creek 2nd grade

         1934 - Harriet Troxel Elk Creek 3rd Grade

         1935 - Alexander Constantine Carr

         1935 - Rose Nell Carr Grigsby

         1940 - Juanita Lester Harriet Troxel  

         1940 - Vernon Lester Troxel - Alma Gilbert Troxel

         1943 - Elk Creek CA High School

         1943 - Harriet Troxel Carol Weston

         1944 - Harry Gibbs

         1945 - Frank Troxel

         1948 - 5 generations - Photo

         1948 - Lester & Edith Troxel

         1950 - Hattie May Decker Jones Thompson Carr

         1953 - Death Announcement -Frances Luella Bagley Decker Nicholas

         1954 - Lester & Edith Troxel  

         1962 - Joseph Claude Troxel and Elizabeth Gatton Troxel

         1972 - Certificate of death for Lester W Troxel

         1979 - Edith Troxel Harriet Wilkins Cathy Heady

         1994 - Edith Troxel (rt) & Edna Carr Ash

         1996 - Death Certificate for Edith Carr Troxel

         West, John - Citizenship Application

         West, Martha Wood -Will

Site Updated: 6 January 2010

Martha A Crosley Graham

Rights Reserved: 2010

All Photos and Documents donated to the Colusa and Glenn Counties GenWeb by Cathy Heady.