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Collection: Books and Periodicals
A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) (713 pages)
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Page: of 713
HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 558
1856 and settled in Colusa County. Three
children were born to them in the Golden State,
all of whom are living. The father died in
Chico in 1875. Our subject was the oldest of
their children. He was educated in the public
schools of Butte County, and in 1879 began
the study of law with C. F. Lusk, a pruminent
lawyer of California. In 1883 he was admitted
to the bar, and has since been actively engaged
in the practice of his profession.
Mr. Sproul was married, in 1886, to Miss
Georgia Dorn, a native of Nevada. One son has
been born tu them—Stanley L. In politics Mr.
Sproul is a Democrat. He has been City Attorney of Chico five years, and Assistant District Atturney six years. During President Cleveland’s
administration he was appvinted Postmaster of
Chico. After filling that position fifteen months
he resigned to give his undivided attention to
his legal business. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, is Past President
ot his Parlor, and one of the Grand Trustees of
the order. Mr. Sproul came to Chico with his
parents, at the age of two years, has grown up
with the beautiful city, and is greatly interested
in its prosperity. As one of the representative
citizens of Chico he is held in high esteem by
all who know him.
EORGE WHITFIELD SOVEREIGN, tor
so many years intimately and profitably
identified with the interests of Oroville,
comes of sturdy German ancestry, his grandfather, Frederick Sovereign, having emigrated
from Germany to America in an early day,
making his home in New Jersey. There he
lived, reared his family and died. His son
John was born in that State in 1797, but subsequently removed to London District, Canada,
where George W. was boro October 14, 1829,
not far from St. Thomas. His muther was
Marion Mabiz, a native of Nova Scotia, who
bore a family of ten children, and of this number six survive. George was the sixth child,
and in 1840 he accompanied the family to Ilinois, passing through Chicago, then but a small
village, on their way to Rockford, where he
grew np and was educated. His literary instruction was finished at the Mount Morris
Institute. after which he learned the joiner’s
trade, and gave his attention to it some two
years, when, like hundreds of others, filled with
enthusiasm at the news of the great wonders
of the State of California, he came hither
and arrived at Sacramento May 22, 1853.
House-building ocenpied him until his removal
in the fall of 1854 to Jamison City, Plumas
County, about a year after which he came to
Oroville, and was varivusly employed some
time. Among other things he built a planingmill and engaged in the manufacture of doors
and sash, but after the destruction of this property by tire in Dece-nber, 1867, he began the
undertaking business, which he has since continued. For upwards of twenty-three years he
has done the principal undertaking of the place,
and in this branch, which requires a person of
good judgment as well as experience, .he has
demonstrated his fitness to carry iton. In connection he has a hearse purchased in Cincinnati,
Ohio, and other conveyances necessary to the
conduct of his business. His pleasant home on
Bird street is surrounded with orange and palm
trees, besides tlowers and shrubs, forming a desirable place of residence. April 1, 1853, Mr.
Sovercign was united in marriage to Miss Sarah
A. Webster, of Rochester, New York, who died
in 1887. The two children given them died in
childhood. April 26, 1888, Mr. Sovereign took
a wife in the person of Mrs. Il. M. Cummings,
widow of John Cummings. [er maiden name
was [Harrict Metcalf. Mrs. Sovereign has two
sons, F. M. and J. Wort Cummings. Mr. Sovereign has been one of the pillars of the Methodist Church at Oroville and a Sunday-school
superintendent for thirty years. His connection
with this denomination dates back over a
period of forty-six years, during which time he
has held many official positions. His political
views are Republican, and he is a strong tem-