California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
 
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

 

Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914



WYLIE ENGLISH. � The community in which Wylie English makes his 
home has no more progressive, public-spirited citizen than he, whose enthusi- 
asm over public matters has incited many of his associates to take an active 
part in the development of industrial interests and in the installation of 
utilities for the general good. Most especially is he at present interested in 
the telephone system in the valley, which probably is the most important and 
essential facility for the increase in business and progression of the valley 
interests. It is but natural that he takes this interest, as he is a native son 
of Mendocino county and has spent most of his life in the valley. He was 
born October 15, 1869, on the old English homestead four miles north of 
Ukiah, where Arnold Ford now makes his home. His father was Calvin 
Henderson English, a native of Missouri, who crossed the plains in 1850. For 
a time he followed mining, then becoming an early settler in Mendocino 
county, he acquired a ranch near Ukiah which he farmed, giving particular 
attention to the raising of stock and hops. He died in Ukiah in 1903. The 
mother was Frances Ruberts, a native of Illinois, who crossed the plains with 
her first husband, a Mr. Hall, and after his death became united with Mr. 
English. Her death occurred August 17, 1908, while on a visit to her son, 
Wylie, in Round Valley. Of her union with Mr. English there were born 
eight children, of whom Wylie was the third youngest. After attending the 
common schools of his neighborhood, in the Central school district, he re- 
mained at home for a period, then, in 1888, went to Oakesdale, Wash., to start 
for himself. The same year he returned to Covelo, not having found the 
northern country to his liking, and procured work on neighboring ranches, 
in order to save money. He then took a course at Santa Rosa Business Col- 
lege. On returning to Round Valley he purchased a twenty-acre tract and 
took up farming for himself, and a short time later was able to purchase an 
additional eighteen acres, all of which he improved, planted and brought to a 
fine state of production. With his farming operations he combined stock- 
raising, in which he has been very successful. 

In 1909 Mr. English traded his thirty-eight acres for a tract of seventy- 
nine acres which at the time was in need of improvement. With determina- 
tion he set to work arid in a short time had it brought to a productive state, 
and at present it ranks among the best ranches in the valley. For a period 
he rented this ranch to others, but he is now making it his home place and 
has just completed a modern house which is spacious and comfortable. Aside 
from his stockraising and farming Mr. English is engaged in dairying. Withal 
he is an industrious and successful farmer, whose present state of prosperity 
is due to his own untiring effort, a self-made man in the best sense of the term. 

On April 23, 1898, Mr. English was married to Issolena Gertrude Gray, 
who was born in Round Valley, Mendocino county, the daughter of Andrew 
and Dicy A. (Begley) Gray, born in Massachusetts and California respectively. 
Mr. Gray was one of the early settlers of Round Valley and a successful stock 
raiser. Mr. and Mrs. English have five children, viz., Leila Frances, Elden 
Andrew, Muriel Joy, Doris Evelyn and Clinton Bradford. In politics Mr. 
English is a Democrat and being interested in the cause of education he is 
serving as a member of the board of trustees of the Gray district.