Yuba County Obituaries

CLARINDA E. TENNIS HARKEY

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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Marysville Daily Appeal - Sat 9/4/1920, p1

Pioneer Woman Dies in Yuba City
- Mrs. W. P. Harkey passed away this morning at 2 o'clock in Yuba City after
an illness of about two weeks.  Mrs. Harkey was 84 years old and was the
widow of the late W. P. Harkey, who died about 14 years ago.  She is
survived by two children, a son and a daughter; W. S. Harkey, of Gridley,
and Mrs. Ida V. Campbell, of Yuba City. - Mrs. Harkey came to Marysville in
1854, crossing the plains with the early settlers. 

Marysville Democrat - Sat 9/4/1920, p5 - 

Death Claims Mrs. Harkey - Yuba City-
In the passing of Mrs. Clarinda Harkey, one of the pioneers of Sutter
county, the Sacramento Valley loses one of its most estimable women.  Mrs.
Harkey died shortly after 2 o'clock this morning at her home on C street
here following an illness of about a week's duration.  Death was not
unexpected and she was unconscious two days prior to her death.  Her family
was at her bedside when she passed away.  Mrs. Harkey is the widow of the
late W. F. Harkey, who served for many years as sheriff of Sutter county. -
Coming from her native state, Illinois, in 1854, across the plains by
ox-team she settled in Sutter county where she has made her home since that
time.  During her residence here she made a legion of friends who will
regret to hear of her demise.  No more kind, devoted and charitable
Christian woman than Mrs. Harkey cannot be found in the universe.  Always
ready to lend a helping hand to those in need she made friends with all who
knew her and it can readily be said she had no enemies. - She was 84 years
of age at the time of her death and is survived by two children, a son, W.
S. Harkey of Sacramento and daughter, Mrs. Ida V. Campbell of this place.
She also has a sister, Mrs. Margaret Black of Zamora and a brother, J. L.
Tennis of Sacramento.  Granddaughters surviving are Miss Idylene Campbell of
Yuba City and Mrs. Clara  Stanton of Live Oak and a grandson William Harkey
of Gridley.  One great-grandson, Edgar Stanton of Live Oak and two grand
daughters, Barbara Deane and Margaret Isabelle Harkey of Gridley survive
her. - Funeral services will be held from her late home in Yuba City Monday
afternoon at 8:30 and interment will be made in the Marysville cemetery
under the direction of R. E. Bevan & Son.

Marysville Daily Appeal - Sun 9/5/1920, p9 
Mrs. Harkey's Funeral On Monday Afternoon - Yuba City, Sept. 4.
The community was grieved today to learn of
the death of Mrs. Clarinda Harkey, a pioneer of Sutter Co., who passed away
at 2 o'clock this morning at the advanced age of 84 years, following upon a
short illness. - Mrs. Harkey possessed all the attributes of a Christian
woman, and was beloved by all whom she knew during her many years of life.
She came to Sutter County in 1854. - She is survived by two children, a son,
W. S. Harkey, of Sacramento and daughter, Mrs. Ida V. Campbell, of this
place.  She also leaves a sister, Mrs. Margaret Black, of Zamora, and a
brother, J. L. Tennis, of Sacramento.  Granddaughters surviving are Miss
Idylene Campbell of Yuba City and Mrs. Clara Stanton of Live Oak, and a
grandson William P. Harkey of Gridley.  One great grandson, Edgar Stanton of
Live Oak, and two granddaughters, Barbara Deane and Margaret Isabelle Harkey
of Gridley survive her. - Funeral services will be held from the home in
Yuba City Monday afternoon at 2:30, and interment will be made in the
Marysville cemetery under the direction of R. E. Bevan & Son.

Marysville Daily Appeal - Thu 5/5/1904, p5 

From Over the Feather - Married Fifty Years 
Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Harkey Observe Their Golden Wedding in a
Fitting Manner - Yuba City, May 4.-Mr. and Mrs. W. P. Harkey celebrated
their golden wedding here today by keeping open house where they were kept
busy all the afternoon and until late this evening receiving the
congratulations of their large number of friends in this community, who
called to pay their respects. - The history of this section of California
would be incomplete without reference to the life of "Bill" Harkey, for
twenty years Sheriff of Sutter county and at all times among her most
progressive and best esteemed citizens. - Leaving his home in Montgomery
county, Ill., in 1854, at the age of 22 years, Mr. Harkey began his journey
for the Golden State by the overland route.  Later his bride, Miss Clarinda
E. Tennis of the same county, followed in another company westward bound and
overtook at St. Joseph, Mo., the expedition of which her soon-to-be husband
was a member.  The courtship was brief and before many days the services of
a clergyman were secured to cement the fortune of the two young people which
were thereafter to run in the same channel even unto this date. - Mr. and
Mrs. Harkey reached California in July of 1854, residing thereafter in Yuba
county until 1867, when they removed to Sutter county, settling at Harkey
Corners, where for a number of years Mr. Harkey followed the business of
wheat growing and general ranching.  During this time he was elected Sheriff
of Sutter county, holding that position continuously, with the exception of
a single year, for twenty years, before retiring to private life. - Since
1893 Mr. Harkey has been engaged solely with the administration of his
private affairs and incidentally in endeavoring to get out of this life a
well earned period of recreation. - As a fitting conclusion to the day's
festivities the Marysville Band journeyed over to Yuba City and serenaded
the bride and bridegroom of fifty years ago.

 

Marysville Daily Appeal - Tue 8/1/1905, p5

Sutter County Items - Came Here Fifty-One Years Ago 
Yuba City, July 31.- Just 51 years ago today W. P.
Harkey and wife landed in Marysville, California. - Mr. Harkey was born in
Healdsborough, Illinois, in 1832, and when twenty-two years of age, with a
light wagon, four mules and two horses made his start for California with
two other families.  He crossed the Missouri river on May 4th at Saint
Joseph, at which place he was married to Clarinda E. Tennis.  He and his
wife then continued their journey and landed in Marysville, California, on
July 31st of the same year.  Shortly afterwards he began freighting from
Marysville to the mountain towns and continued the same until 1867, when he
moved to the place now known as Harkey Corners, in Sutter county.  He worked
as a rancher until 1874 when he was nominated on the Republican ticket for
Sheriff of Sutter county and was elected by a large majority.  He and his
family then moved to Yuba City where they have since resided. - Mr. Harkey
served 16 years and ten months as Sheriff for this county.  Since his
retirement from that office he has led a quiet life, not engaging very
actively in business except to look after his large interests. - Mr. Harkey
is one of the best known residents of Sutter county.  He is known by and
also knows almost every man, woman and child in the county.  His genial
nature and kindly disposition have endeared him to everyone and his friends
are numbered by the hundreds.  Mrs. Harkey is also much thought of by all. -
Both Mr. and Mrs. Harkey see many changes in the valley from what it was a
half century ago.  They were among the first white settlers in the valley,
and they remember when it was a vast domain, inhabited by few persons of
white skin.  They have seen it develop and the indications are that they
will see many more changes before their sun shall set in the west.