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


WILLIAM FRANCIS ORNBAUN.� A prominent factor in the busi- 
ness affairs of his community, William Francis Ornbaun has identified himself 
with all projects which have for their purpose the improvement and develop- 
ment of that country, and his services in many directions have been keenly 
felt by the benefactors thereby. Born in Mendocino county, near Yorkville, 
October 8, 1866, that county has formed the environment of much of his 
active life. His father, John Shipley Ornbaun, was raised in Crawfordsville, 
Ind., and coming to the county in 1854, was one of the first settlers in Mendo- 
cino county, in the valley which now bears his name and where he now makes 
his home. He owns a stock ranch of about four thousand acres and has 
engaged in stock-raising and general farming practically all of his active life, 
meeting with unusual success in spite of the hardships of pioneer life. 

Attending the public school of his locality until he was fifteen, William 
Ornbaun then started to work for himself, finding employment in getting out 
tanbark and hauling it to Cloverdale until he reached the age of twenty, when 
a position in a slaughter house was offered him at Albion, and he remained 
t-here for two years. Returning then to his former employment, he again 
worked there for two years, and at the age of twenty-four opened a livery 
stable in Cloverdale. successfully carrying it on for some years. Later he 
rented a three hundred acre ranch at Yorkville which had been set out to 
hops, but after farming this for a time he removed to Fort Bragg and engaged 
in teaming and hauling for himself. Four years subsequently he returned to 
Ukiah and for eight years served as deputy sheriff under J- H. Smith, until 
the latter was killed in January, 1906. After this he accepted the responsible 
position of manager of the Round Valley Land Company ranch, which con- 
sisted of eighty-four hundred acres, much of which was set out to hops and 
gram and was very productive. For seven years he held this position with 
creditable results and recently resigned to take up farming for himself. At 
present he is operating a ranch of three hundred and twenty-nine acres, three 
miles southeast of Covelo, and three hundred and twenty acres fourteen miles 
northwest of that town, where he is engaged in raising grain, also horses, cattle 
and hogs. Aside from his ranching he is the proprietor of the Covelo hotel. 
which is the leading hostelry in Round Valley. 

Mr. Ornbaun was married at Hermitage February 20. hWl. to Carrie 
May Ward, who was born in Echo, Mendocino county, and to them have 
come four children: Wildia, Mrs. Byron Hurt, of Covelo; Wanda, Percy and 
Farrance. Able, conscientious and naturally of an intellectual turn of mind, 
he has been offered offices of trust by his community and is active in local 
politics. He has held office as marshal of Fort Bragg. The Democratic 
party numbers him among its stanch supporters and fraternally he was made 
a Mason in Covelo Lodge. F. & A. M., and with his wife is a member of Covelo 
Chapter, O. E. S.