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m. 26 Apr 1870
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m. Abt 1902
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Humboldt Times Newpaper Obituary 23 October 1918 Abstracted from "Obituaries, Humboldt County 1911-1920" compiled by Marilyn Keach Milota. Wightman, Earl Died 10 October 1918 at Chico, California. Former Briceland resident. Left wife, Hulda (Linser) Wightman; father Henry Wightman. Brother of Mrs. Daryl Lambert, Delos and Cecil Wightman. The Humboldt Times Wednesday, October 23, 1918, Page 4 Earl Wightman Dies In Chico Earl Wightman died Thursday, October 10, at Chico, according to word brought to this city by his sister, Mrs. Darrel Lambert. Wightman, for a number of years past had been part owner of the Chico nurseries, and previous to that time was secretary and manager of the Pacific Oak Extract plant at Briceland. Besides his sister in this city, he leaves a wife, his father, H. Wightman of Chico, a brother Delos of Chico and another brother, Cecil of Eldorado. Mrs. Wightman was formerly Hulda Linser of Mendocino county, a member of the pioneer family of that name. Butte County Biographies EARL WIGHTMAN.— Among the most potent of all agencies in recent years for the rapid advancement of California horticulture, must be mentioned the Chico Nursery Company, one of the leading spirits in which, contributing ever to its development, is Earl Wightman, the secretary and treasurer, who was born near Booneville, Mendocino County, on August 7, 1873. His father, Henry Wightman, was a native of New York State, as was his grandfather of the same family. The latter, a wagon-maker, removed to Ripon, Wis., and there Henry Wightman was reared. After he had finished learning his trade, and had worked at the making of wagons, that is, when he was twenty years of age, he crossed the plains in 1861 to California, and with his ox teams reached Red Bluff, where he stopped for a while. He worked at the carpenter's trade, and was engaged on the first courthouse of Tehama County, and thereafter traveled through different parts of California until he located in the Anderson Valley, Mendocino County. Here he built a wagon shop, and also followed the carpenter's trade. As a millwright, he helped build the early mills on the Coast, notably those at Albion, Little River, Mendocino City and Salmon Creek. He now resides with his son Earl, having reached the fine old age of four score years. Mrs. Wightman was Miss Julia Ball before her marriage. She was born near Booneville, and was one of the first white children born in Anderson Valley. Her father was Jefferson David Ball, a New Yorker who came to California across the plains in the early fifties. He mined for a while, but drifted into Mendocino County, and was one of the first white settlers, with Mr. Anderson, in the valley named for him. He engaged in raising stock, and was as prosperous as he was industrious. Mrs. Wightman died in Anderson Valley, in her forty-third year, the mother of six children, five of whom are still living. The second oldest in the family, Earl Wightman was brought up and educated in Anderson Valley. He learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until he was twenty-three. He also attended the Stockton Business College, and graduated from its excellent courses, thus fitting himself to serve as bookkeeper for the Wagner Leather Company in Stockton. His next move was to Briceland, in Humboldt County, where he went as manager to the same company; and as they were putting up various buildings, and had some road problems to solve, Mr. Wightman found the best of opportunity to extend his experience. He started their extract plant, put in the engines, the crushers, etc., and continued there for three years. When he resigned from this position, Mr. Wightman came to Chico; and in June, 1904, he entered the employ of the old Chico Nursery Company, where he had charge of the office until 1907. Then, with others, F. X. Bouillard and T. E. Harlan, Mr. Wightman purchased the nursery business; and with the organization of the new Chico Nursery Company, he became secretary and treasurer. While the new organization means new blood, new methods and new results, the present firm and its establishment is historically interesting as the successor of the nurseries started here in 1851 by General Bidwell, and long so productive and so famous. The Chico Nursery Company was incorporated in 1902, and now possesses some two hundred acres of stock, plants and trees, under splendid irrigation. The company issues an attractive, scientifically edited catalog, and sells its rare products all along the Coast and in the mountain regions. It has a well-equipped packing house, located at First and Cedar Streets, and switches and spurs from both the Southern Pacific and the Northern Electric companies' lines. Mr. Wightman was married at Eureka to Miss Hulda Linser, who was reared in Mendocino County; and she is the mother of two children, Evelyn and Louise. Mr. Wightman belongs to Chico Lodge, No. 423, B. P. O. Elks; the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Encampment, in which he is a Past Chief Patriarch; the Stockton Parlor of the Native Sons of the Golden West; the Pacific Coast Nurseryman's Association; and the California Nurseryman's Protective Association. In politics, he is a Progressive. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1246-1247, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918 References
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