Yolo County Biographies


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Charles M. Fishback
 
One of Woodland�s best known and most popular citizens is Charles M. Fishback, 
who by his perseverance and sterling qualities has succeeded in attaining his 
present prosperity.  A native of Kentucky, born May 17, 1848, in Barren county, 
he there spent his early childhood, removing in 1855 to Pike county, Mo., with 
his parents, John Morgan and Elizabeth (Button) Fishback, both natives of 
Kentucky.  He was educated in the public schools and followed farming in 
Missouri until the spring of 1872, when he came to Yolo county, Cal.  The latter 
part of his journey westward was somewhat novel, a recent wash-out across the 
tules near Sacramento, necessitating the removal of the passengers to a flat car 
pulled a short distance by horses.  They were then conveyed by a boat to another 
handcar fitted with a sail, and with sails set they flew along until they 
arrived at Davisville.  The tules were under water for miles at that time.  Upon 
his arrival in Woodland Mr. Fishback secured a situation on the J. M. Dutton 
ranch, but after eighteen months rented a place at Hungry Hollow, later 
purchasing the property, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres.  In 1892 he 
bought his present thirty-eight acre ranch in Willow Oak Park, adjacent to 
Woodland, devoting twenty-five acres to alfalfa, of which five cuttings are 
secured annually.  He has also three and one-half acres of Sultana grapes, and 
upon a portion of the property he operates a dairy of twelve cows.
 
The marriage of Mr. Fishback, in Yolo county, in 1874, united him with Miss 
Colislia Dutton, who was born in Pike county, Ill., and who came to California 
in 1863, crossing the plains with her father, James M. Dutton, who was for many 
years a well known rancher of Yolo county.  Mr. and Mrs. Fishback were blessed 
with eight children:  Cora E., now the wife of J. D. Musgrove, of Woodland; 
Bruce, at home; Zuella, now Mrs. D. E. Green, of Sacramento; Marcia, the wife of 
H. E. Van Horn, of Fresno; Myrtle, Eunice, Gladys, and Harold.  
 
Optimistic and generous, Mr. Fishback is prompt to support all public 
enterprises of merit, and as a thoroughly progressive and dependable enjoys the 
esteem and confidence of his associates.
 
Transcribed by Bea Barton
 
Source:  �History of Yolo County, California� by Tom Gregory.  Published by the 
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 563 � 564.