Sutter-Yuba County Biographies


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



 
WILLIAM MONROE THARP
 
Prominent among the experienced stockmen whose extensive operations have made 
Northern California famous for the sheep industry, is William Monroe Tharp, now 
a familiar guest at the Western Hotel, in Marysville.  He was born in Missouri 
on August 7, 1861, the son of R. W. and Elizabeth M. (Hiatt) Tharp, the former a 
native of Missouri and the latter of Kentucky, worthy pioneer folks, both of 
whom have closed their earthly careers.  R. W. Tharp arrived in California in 
the spring of 1870, on one of the early emigrant trains.  He settled with his 
family at Kirksville, on the Sacramento River, in Sutter County, ten miles north 
of Knight�s Landing.  Ten children made up the Tharp family, of whom eight are 
living today.
Will Tharp, as he is familiarly known, was next to the oldest in the family.  He 
went to the Sutter County schools, and then took up ranch work with his father 
on the home farm.  For the past twenty-eight years he has been engaged in 
sheep-raising and wool-buying; and he now owns some 8000 sheep.  His winter 
range is located west of Orland, he being the owner of the old Burrows ranch; 
while his summer range is in the Sutter Basin country, in Sutter County.  For 
the past eighteen years he has been wool-buyer for E. H. Tryon, of Stockton.
Mr. Tharp was married in Sutter County to Miss Olive Ford, the ceremony taking 
place on the old Ford ranch.  By their union were joined two interesting pioneer 
families, Miss Ford being the daughter of Milton Ford, a native of Maine, who 
came out to the Golden State and in Sutter County erected what is now known as 
the old Ford home, a historic landmark of the early days that is still standing. 
 Four children have blessed this union: Blanche, Kirby, Hope, and Wayne.  Mr. 
Tharp is a member of Marysville Lodge No. 783, B.P.O.E.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 1079