Sacramento Valley Biographies

William Day Dean

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, March 2009

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

          William Day Dean. The life which this narrative depicts began in
Lincoln-shire, England, July 29, 1832, and came to an end at Colusa, Cal.,
July 21, 1888, after a busy and eventful existence covering fifty-six years.
In a land far removed from the scenes of his birth and amid conditions
radically different from those of his boyhood. Mr. Dean passed the period of
middle age and went down to his grave, honored by all. Though he was not
spared to old age, yet his life was sufficiently long for the accumulation
of ample means and the building up of an honored name. In many ways he was
instrumental in promoting the material prosperity of Colusa, whose growth
and development were matters ever near to his heart.
         William Day Dean was given such advantages as the means of his
parents permitted, and while still a mere boy he proved of great assistance
to his father, who was a farmer and stockman. Upon starting out to earn his
own livelihood, he crossed the ocean to Canada and located near Ottawa,
where he became interested in the lumbering business. After nine years in
Canada he returned to England, where he made but a brief sojourn and in 1866
left London for the United States and arrived May 12, that same year, in New
York City, which did not prove sufficiently interesting to cause him to
settle in that metropolis. Going to Canada, he later returned to New York,
October 30, and the following day took passage on a ship for Aspinwall,
crossed the Isthmus and November 24 arrived in San Francisco and engaged in
the lumber business, to which the remaining years of his life were actively
devoted. After his marriage, in November of 1870, he brought his wife to
Colusa, where he had bought out a lumber business occupying the present site
of the Colusa Lumber Company. This latter organization was established
through his efforts and under his capable management became a leading
concern of its kind in northern California. Since his death Mrs. Dean has
retained her interest in the company and with wise judgment superintends her
various monetary interests.
         In San Francisco, March 30, 1870, occurred the marriage of William
Day Dean and Mary T. Richardson, daughter of Artemus and Dorcas (Hubbard)
Richardson, and descendants of Puritan ancestry. Her grandfather, Capt.
Artemus Richardson, who was of English extraction, and a native of
Massachusetts, followed the sea in early life, but later settled upon a farm
in Maine. Artemus Jr., who was born and reared in Maine, came to California
by way of Panama in 1854. For a time he engaged in mining in Nevada, but
later was similarly occupied near Brownsville, Yuba county, Cal. Returning
to Maine he remained there until his death, at Baldwin, about 1888. His
wife, who was born at Limington, Me., died in 1853. Of their seven children
all but one attained maturity and four  are now living. Charles resides in
California. Nathaniel, a pioneer of the gold-mining days, died in Nevada
City, in 1854. Mrs. Dean was born and reared in Hiram, Me., and in 1863 came
via Panama to California, settling in Yuba county. From that time until her
marriage she spent a considerable period in San Francisco, from which city a
few months after her marriage she removed to Colusa. Possessing exceptional
social qualifications, she has been a leader of thought, a friend of worthy
movements, a pronounced suffragist, and a constant contributor to charities.
At one time she was warmly interested in the Rebekahs, but is now demitted.
In the Order of Eastern Star she is past worthy matron and in October, 1895,
was honored with the election to the office of grand treasurer of the grand
chapter of Cali-fornia for the ensuing year. 
         The elevating principles of Masonry found a true disciple in Mr.
Dean, who was a past master in the blue lodge, and a member of the Chapter
and Knights Templar Commandery. In addition, he was a leader among the Odd
Fellows, in which he was a past officer of a San Francisco lodge and also a
member of the Encampment. With his wife, he was a believer in Episcopalian
doctrines and an adherent of that denomination, although a generous
contributor to all religious enterprises irrespective of sect or creed. The
Republican party had in him a pronounced adherent, and his wife has always
been of similar belief concerning politics. For ten years he officiated as
president of the board of trustees of Colusa, but at the expiration of that
time he refused to fill the office longer. As a citizen he was progressive,
a champion of measures of undoubted benefit to his home town, a friend of
education, religion and all that elevates and uplifts humanity; domestic in
tastes, upright in character and enterprising in disposition - all in all, a
man of whom his city may be justly proud.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, California," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 343-344.