California Biographies

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 the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WILLIAM PIKE EACHUS. One of the intelligent, extensive and prosperous agriculturists 
of Merced county is Maj. William P. Eachus, who owns and occupies a valuable homestead 
near Ingomar. He is familiarly known as Major, a title that was bestowed upon him while 
he was journeying with a large company across the plains, when he was but eighteen years 
old, and by which he is still affectionately called. A man of ability and strong individuality, he 
is held in high esteem, and is in all respects a valuable citizen of the county, fulfilling his duties 
and obligations as such with fidelity. A son of David Eachus, he was born March 13, 1849, 
in Henry county, Iowa, where the earlier years of his life were passed. 

Born and educated in the Shenandoah valley, in Virginia, David Eachus learned the miller's 
trade in his native town, and subsequently followed his chosen occupation in Cairo, III, or 
near there, for three years. Leaving the Prairie state in 1847, ne located at Deedsville, now 
Merrimac, Iowa, on the Skunk river, where he was employed as a miller for a number of years. 
Coming across the plains to Tehama county, Cal., in 1865, he operated a mill near Redbluff 
for four years, and was afterward engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of 
his active life. He lived to the ripe old age of eighty-three years, dying at Brentwood, this 
state. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Pike, was born in Tennessee, and also died at 
Brentwood, at the age of eighty-two years. They were the parents of eight children, four boys 
and four girls, William Pike, the subject of this sketch, being the third child. 

Brought up in Iowa, William Pike Eachus received a limited education in the common 
schools, and in 1865 came with his parents to California, following the wagon trail across the 
plains. Beginning the battle of life on his own account soon after coming to this state, be worked 
as a farm laborer on different ranches in the San Joaquin valley, at one time being employed 
on the ranch that he now owns. Going from there to Butte county, Major Eachus, as he was 
always called, leased land near Oroville, and was there successfully engaged in raising wheat 
and barley for more than a score of years. Returning to the San Joaquin valley in 1892, the 
Major continued his agricultural operations with characteristic skill and success. In 1903, with 
the money that he had accumulated, he purchased his present valuable ranch, lying in Ingomar, 
about ten miles southwest of Newman, and is pursuing his free and independent occupation 
with excellent results. In his home farm he has four hundred and eighty acres of fine land, 
which he devotes to the culture of wheat and barley, and also rents nine hundred and sixty 
acres on Garzos creek for the same purpose, raising large crops, which bring him in a good 
annual income. 

In Merced county, Cal., December 25, 1870, Major Eachus married Sophia Jane Bradley, a 
native of Contra Costa county, being the daughter of one of its earliest pioneer settlers. 
Thomas Wesley Bradley. A native of Tennessee, Mr. Bradley migrated first as far west- 
ward as Missouri, from there coming overland to California in 1843. Locating first in Napa 
county, he engaged in general farming and cattle raising. Moving then to Contra Costa county, 
he erected the first hotel in Martinez, and remained as its landlord for many years. After 
spending a short time in Lafayette, he came from that county to the San Joaquin valley, 
locating near Newman, where he was engaged in general farming until his death, which oc- 
curred while he was visiting friends in Tulare county. Of the union of Major and Mrs. Eachus 
nine children have been born, one of whom, a daughter, Gladys, died when young, and eight 
are living, namely : Albert J., of Newman ; Maud, wife of R. Trefts, of Newman; Harry B., at 
home; Delia, wife of Leonard Ball, of Oroville ; Kittie, the wife of Louis Pfitzer; Edward P., 
at home ; Nola Butte and Ray, at home. Politically Major Eachus is an earnest advocate of 
the principles of the Republican party, and while a resident of Butte county served as school 
director.