2103. DeWitt Clinton Cuddeback Sr.
George C. Mansfield , History of Butte County, [1918], p 922-23 (with special thanks to Carolyn Hackett Dowd)
"DeWitt Clinton Cuddeback. Comparatively few of the veterans of the Civil War remain with us. Most of them have joined the ranks of the countless multitude which has preceded them into the land of shadows---a land from which 'no traveler e'er returns.' Mr. Cuddeback is one of the few of the old boys in blue who are still with us. He is a native of Illinois, born in Hancock County, June 2, 1838. His father, John Cuddeback, was born near Skaneateles, N.Y. He came to Ohio, where he ran a canal boat and where he was married to Miss Sallie Ann Richardson, a native of Ohio. In 1837, he removed to Hancock County, IL, where he was a pioneer farmer and helped to drive the Mormons out of Nauvoo. In 1861, he came with his wife and family, except DeWitt Clinton, the eldest, across the plains to California, remaining here until 1863, when he returned East via Panama, leaving his family temporarily behind; they followed him in 1864. After the war he settled in Hampton, IA, where he farmed until he died. After her husband's death, his widow returned to California and died at the home of her eldest son.
"DeWitt Clinton Cuddeback was raised on the prairies of Illinois where he attended the district school in a log schoolhouse with slab benches, the modern schoolhouse being a thing unknown in Illinois at that time. Owing to trouble with his eyes, he was obliged to leave school, and he began farming. He was married in Nodaway County, in northern Missouri, in 1858, to Miss Elizabeth Daggett, a native of Ohio. He continued farming until the war. In 1862 he enlisted as a volunteer in Company G, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. At Springfield he was mustered into the Army of the Potomac as sergeant and colorbearer of the Company. He was with his regiment in a number of engagements, including the famous battle of Gettysburg, and had several horses shot from under him, but fortunately escaped injury himself. After the Gettysburg battle he was honorably discharged and went to Chicago. In 1864, he reenlisted in the same company and regiment. They were sent to New Orleans and were with General Banks in the Red River campaign. He was afterward taken seriously ill and was much disappointed that he could not go with his regiment to the Rio Grande. He received his honorable discharge in August 1865, and returned to his home in Illinois.
"In 1867, Mr. Cuddeback moved to IA and purchased eighty acres of land, which he farmed until April 1870, when he came by rail to California, the fall of 1870, when he located at Dayton, Butte County, and was engaged in farming for one year, then began teaming, running outfits of eight to twelve mule teams each, hauling to the mines in the mountains. In 1880, he moved to Red Dirt, eight miles north of Marysville, where he bought a ranch of eighty acres, set out an orchard, and began teaming for the merchants in Marysville, sometimes running three teams hauling goods to the mountains as far as La Porte, and lumber on the return trip. From Red Dirt he moved to Brownsville, Butte County, and bought an eighty-acre ranch, living there eleven years, continuing in the teaming business. He still owns that place. In 1903, he moved to near Marysville and lived there seven years, and from there went to Sutter County and bought a dairy of forty cows, which he ran for three years. In 1912, he bought six acres in Chico on Nord Avenue, which he planted to peaches and almonds.
"Among other blessings during a long, happy and prosperous life, Mr. and Mrs. Cuddeback were blessed with twelve children, two of whom died at an early age. The eldest daughter, Alice, Mrs. William Nellis, died in Yuba County. Six boys and three girls are still living: Laura Emeretta, Mrs. Cleland, resides in Chico; Florence, a contractor and builder, resides at Brownsville; Edson N. is a teacher in this county; Peter is a resident of Chico; DeWitt Clinton, Jr. is a rancher in Yuba County; Daisy, Mrs. William Turner, lives in Chico Vecino; Emery is city superintendent of schools at Visalia; Robert is a farmer in Washington; and Sally Ann Lyn, now residing in Sebastopol.
"Mr. Cuddeback is Past Commander of the G.A.R. Post at Marysville, is a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church."
George C. Mansfield , History of Butte County, [1918], p 1327 (with special thanks to Carolyn Hackett Dowd)
"Edson N. Cuddeback. Butte County is particularly fortunate in that it numbers among its citizens men of ability and sterling worth and its progress and advancement are largely due to their untiring efforts. Edson N. Cuddeback is a most able teacher as well as a successful horticulturist. He is a native of IA, and was born July 29, 1868. His father, Dewitt Clinton, was a veteran of the Civil War. (See his sketch on another page of this work.)
"Edson N. Cuddeback came to California with his parents in 1870. He was brought up in Yuba County where he attended the public schools, later attending school at Red Bluff. In January, 1886, before he was eighteen years old, he obtained in Yuba County, a teacher's certificate. He worked one year on a ranch, and during the year 1887 he taught one term in the Greenville district, Yuba County, but owing to serious illnesses was obliged to give up his school work. After six years, having recovered his health, he again took it up, teaching first at Clarks, then two terms at Hansonville and two terms in Barry district, Sutter County. Meantime (about 1897), he bought ten acres in the Webster district northwest of Chico, set to peaches, since then one half of it was set to almonds, employing others to care for it. In 1905 he moved onto the place and bought ten acres almost adjoining and set it to prunes. He built a fine residence, barns, etc., on Shasta Avenue where he now resides. He is a member of the California Prune and Apricot Association and the California Peach Growers' Association. In 1908 he again took up teaching in the Webster district, now making his tenth year in that district. He has had a life certificate since 1903.
"In Marysville, December 20, 1899, Mr. Cuddeback was united in marriage to Miss Effie Evers, who was born in Frenchtown, Yuba County, where she was educated. She was a daughter of D. H. Evers, a native of Germany, who came to California in 1849 and followed mining until his death. He began placer mining on Purdy Creek, continuing with his three partners on the same creek until they worked it out. He was accidentally killed in a runaway, a wagon running over him. Mrs. Effie (Evers) Cuddeback's mother, Lillian (Turner) Evers, was born in California. After her husband's death she married Mr. Evans and now lives on Cussick Avenue.
"Mr. Cuddeback was made a Mason in Enterprise Lodge, No, 70, F. & A. M., in Yuba City. He is now a member of Chico Lodge, No. 111, F. & A. M. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, of which he is a deacon and she a deaconess."
Grundy Courier, Reinbeck, IA, Friday, September 21, 1900 (pg 4): John Patterson, of Morrison, for several years a resident of Reinbeck, died at his home in the former city early Tuesday morning, the immediate cause of death being heart failure Mr Patterson was a member of Thompson Post, No 386, GAR, of Reinbeck, and enlisted as a private in Co #, 92d Illinois Infantry, in 1862, and served for almost four years in the war of the rebellion Several of his GAR comrads went to Morrison Wednesday to attend the funeral services, which were held at the Presbyterian church at 10 o'clock on that day, interment taking place in the cemetery a few miles northeast of Morrison Mr Patterson was about 62 years old at the time of his death
Grundy Courier, Reinbeck, IA, Friday, October 5, 1900 (pg 14): Another old soldier has passed away Mr John Patterson died Monday night of last week after an illness of short duration, having taken sick on the previous Saturday The funeral service was held at the Presbyterian church on Wednesday, conducted by the pastor, Rev H B Dye, assisted by Rev ME Mitchell There was in attendance a large number of the friends and acquaintances, and the GAR Post of Reinbeck, of which he was a member, was also in attendance and performed the rites of burial in the cemetery five and one-half miles northeast of Morrison Mr Patterson enlisted in the army in Ogle county, Ill, in 1861 and remained in the service three and one-half years While in the service he was thrown from a horse and received injuries to his head and shoulders from which he suffered until his death He was warmly attached to his fellow soldiers and loved to dwell on the memories of his soldier life Mr Patterson leaves a wife and four children-three daughters and one son-three brothers and three sisters to mourn his loss Two brothers and two sisters were in attendance at the funeral One brother and one sister remain in their native country, Ireland All the children were present except Anna, who is in California He was born in Co Antrim, near Belfast, Ireland, June 1835, and was 65 years of age He was a member of the Presbyterian Church and died in the faith, and we mourn not as they who have no hope The remarkable devotion and tender regard of the neighbors and friends in this instance of sickness and death are worthy of high commendation and in behalf of the family and by their request, sincere gratitude is hereby expressed
4485. Grover Cleveland Cuddeback
BIOGRAPHY: On his Draft Registration, he identifies a Mrs. L Cuddeback, 1832 Griffith, Los Angeles.
BIOGRAPHY: In the 1930 census for Los Angeles, he identifies himself as born in New York, his father in Louisiana, and his mother in Ohio. His wife Jeanne identifies herself as born in California, her father in Missouri, and her mother in California.
Bureau of Land Management Records
MD 0160N 0040E 004 1088 1882/02/20 RICHARDSON ELIAS F
http://www.cagenweb.com/re/losangeles/ElMonteBios/CUDDEBACK_MosesC.htm
Moses Clinton CuddebackBearing the distinction of being the first white child in El Monte, Moses C Cuddeback was born January 22, 1853 or 1854 (the exact year not being definitely established) At the time, his parents were living with the family of Nicholas Smith on Valley Boulevard in an adobe house, which remains at the location to this day Moses C Cuddeback was the son of Grant P and Almira Cuddeback, their native state being New York History tells that the family came to California in 1850, and that the death of the father, Grant P occurred in 1905 The mother died in 1874
Moses C Cuddeback received his education in the limited facilities of the early schools of El Monte After reaching his majority, he settled on a tract of land near El Monte and farmed for a number of years About 1868 he went to Tehachapi and engaged for several years in ranching and stock raising Mr Cuddeback was thrice married In about 1870, while ranching near Tehachapi, he was married to Miss Sarah Davenport, daughter of Jessie and Jane Davenport, natives of Illinois By the first marriage, there were two children, namely: Jessie of Bakersfield, and Mary, (Mrs SO Ritchart) of El Monte In about 1878, the mother was taken by death Desiring that his children be given a mother’s care, Mr Cuddeback was a year or so later married a second time to Mrs Kate Powell-Beck, a native of California To them were born two children, Edith, (Mrs RE Dancer) of Baldwin Park, and Arthur, now residing in Bakersfield
In about 1883, Mr Cuddeback moved with his family to Orange where he acquired a small ranch home Death claimed his second wife while they were living in Orange, the year of her death being about 1893
Mr Cuddeback’s third wife was Mrs Cloa Kent-Irons, of whose people no records were to be found The third marriage occurred in about 1900 as nearly as can be ascertained To this union were born three children, namely: Margaret (Mrs Herman Bohnhard) of Woodland, Washington; Leon, of Reno, Nevada; and Clinton, of Winnemucca, Nevada
© Copyright 2001 by Ray Ensing
http://wwwstatenvus/cnr/ndwp/markers/mark_107htm
Nevada Historical Marker 107
ELKO AIRPORT
(Terminus of the First Commercial Air Mail Route)
On April 6, 1926, Varney Air Lines pilot Leon Cuddeback, carrying one bag of mail, landed his tiny Curtis Swallow bi-plane at Elko, Nevada, completing the first scheduled air mail run in the United StatesThe single engine, 90-horsepower aircraft had taken off from PasCo., Washington, stopped at Boise, Idaho, for fuel and mail, then completed the 460-mile flight to Elko The Varney contract was awarded October 27, 1925, at a rate of eights cents an ounce Varney sold to Boeing, which merged with United Air Lines in 1931
Monroe County News, The (Albia, IA)
September, 11, 1961
Pioneer Pilot Recalls First Flight
By Donald Jackson
United Press International
Oakland, Calif (UPI)--One day a year and a half before Charles Lindbergh's epic Atlantic crossing, Leon Cuddeback eased his open-cockpit Swallow biplane off the ground at PasCo., Wash, and pointed its nose south
About 4½ hours later Cuddeback arrived in Elko, Nev, and commercial air transportation in the United States was born
Cuddeback's flight launched Varney Air Lines in the mail-carrying business
Varney was bought by Boeing Aircraft Co in 1929 and subsequently evolved into United Air Lines
Today, Leon Cuddeback is white haired and 63 years old He is head of the Regional Safety Bureau of the Civel Aeornautics Board here
"Flying was less complicated in those days" Cuddeback reminisced recently "But it was also a lot less certain A pilot knew his terrain You had to, in order to know where you were The only way you could navigate was to get down and folow the road"
In rough weather, the pioneer pilots usually had only one recourse "You'd just pick out a field and come down," he said
Cuddeback learned to fly in nearby San Mateo, Calif, in 1921
"I had been working on a ranch in Nevada, pitching hay I used to see the mail planes flying over the ranch It looked a lot nicer up there than it was where I was"
He joined barnstorming troupes in California, doing stunt flying and aerial acrobatics Then in 1926 he and three other pilots became the first commercial flyers when they joined the newly formed Varney company
On his inaugural mail flight April 6, 1926, Cuddeback arrived at his destination on schedule But fellow pilot Frank Rose was not so lucky
Rose took off from Elko, headed for PasCo., 15 minutes after Cuddeback landed in Elko
"I ran into storms pretty quick," said Rose, a retired Air Force brigadier general now living in Oakland "I got as far as northern Nevada, when I ran out of gas"
"I was 30 miles from the nearest ranch, so I started walking after I landed Finally I hitched a ride with a cowboy I finally made it to Boise--three days later"SEE ALSO: The Oakland Tribune, 21 March 1976
BIRTH: Also shown as Born Jun 1868