Sacramento Valley Biographies

MARCELLUS B. VILLAS

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, May 2009.

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

        Since 1865 M. B. Villas has been identified with the business men of
Shasta county as the owner of a large sawmill situated two and a half miles
east of Shingletown. Through his native thrift and close attention to
business he is now enjoying a large patronage in the county in which he has
made his home for some years. He is the son of Joseph and Mary Vilas,
natives of Vermont and New Hampshire respectively. The father lived to reach
his seventy-seventh year, but his mother died in 1840, when her son, M. B.,
was only six years of age.

        Born in St. Lawrence county, N.Y., March 23, 1834, Marcellus B.
Villas received his education in the public schools of his community,
interspersed with light duties on the home farm. At the age of seventeen
years he embarked in the stock business, buying horses and shipping them to
the western states. He continued in that occupation for three years, after
which he engaged in lumbering in Wisconsin, remaining there for four years.
At this time the discovery of gold at Pikes Peak was causing considerable
emigration, and in 1859 Mr. Vilas determined to join the tide of gold
seekers, starting across the plains with ox-teams. Upon reaching Ft. Laramie
he determined to try his fortunes in California instead, and arrived in this
state in September, 1859. Locating in Shasta county, he engaged in mining
for six years, meeting with well deserved success. After a short time spent
in Nevada he returned to this state in 1865 and purchased the property,
whereon he made his home for thirty-four years. In December, 1905, he
removed to Modesto, where he has one hundred and twelve acres in alfalfa.

        In 1864 Mr. Vilas married Emma Williamson, and of the union were
born four children, namely: Edward P., living at Anderson; Helen, the wife
of Mark Thatcher, a mill man of Shasta county; Lillie, the wife of Samuel
Sorenson, of Reynolds Mill; and Walter M., in business with his father. In
1876, twelve years after their marriage, the death of Mrs. Vilas occurred,
at the age of twenty-nine years. Three years later Mr. Vilas married Sarah
McMullen, a native of Ireland, and they are the parents of seven children:
Perry E., in business with his father; Clay, at home; Bertha M., residing in
San Francisco; Gertrude, the wife of Leo D. Weinnand, of San Francisco; and
Homer, Herbert, and Ralph, the three latter at home.

       Fraternally Mr. Vilas is a Mason, belonging to the lodge at
Millville. His political views bring him into affiliation with the
Republican party, whose men and measures he supports by his ballot.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Company,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 491-492.