Henry A. Dyer received a limited education in the public schools in his native city. While his educational advantages were limited, however, he is a well-educated man, being self-educated in the broadest sense of the term. Thrown on his own resources, at thirteen years of age he went to St. Louis and became an apprentice in the George Bayne mill. Completing his apprenticeship, he returned to Springfield, where he became the owner of a flour mill run by water power, which he continued to operate until 1883. A milling combine was formed in the state, forcing all the small mills in. The assessments soon ate up the investment, and as a consequence he lost his mill. He then came to California, in October, 1883, intending to go to work for Mr. Bidwell; but owing to the small wages Mr. Bidwell was paying, he came to Butte City that winter, and there engaged in farming, raising grain until 1893. He was an active agent in the upbuilding of Butte City. He built the Dyer House, the leading hotel of that city and the finest hotel in the county, and also built the water works, and electric light plant, the ice and cold storage plant, the meat market, and a blacksmith shop, as well as the first garage in the town. He continued in business until the fire of August 7, 1913, wiped out the business section of the city, when he sustained a loss of fifty thousand dollars, with only thirteen thousand dollars of insurance. He rebuilt the garage, blacksmith shop, and meat market, and leased them; and in October of that year he removed to Chico, where he was engaged in business until February, 1917. In October, 1916, he opened Dyer's Cafe, at 212 Main Street, remodeling it, putting in new fixtures and otherwise improving it, and making it first class in all respects.
Mr. Dyer has been twice married. His first wife, who was in maidenhood Nancy Bryant, died in California. Of the six children that were born of this union, two are living: Irma, now residing in Chico; and Ira, of Oakland, but now serving in the Aviation section of the United States Signal Corps. At his second marriage, Mr. Dyer was united with Mary Hamilton, of Oakland, who died in Butte City. The children by this marriage are: Lena, now Mrs. Johnson, of Sacramento; Ella, living in Chico; and Henry, who is in the United States Army. Mr. Dyer is a Republican. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1210-1211, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
~~~
Chico Daily Enterprise, Saturday Evening, June 4, 1927: "Henry A. Dyer Taken By Death. Henry Allen Dyer of Sacramento, former resident and restaurant proprietor of Chico and at one time an extensive property owner in Butte City, died yesterday evening in Sacramento. Dyer lived in Chico from the years 1913-1918. He was aged 70 years and a native of Missouri. He is survived by two sons, Ira B. Dyer of Oakland and Henry A. Dyer of Butte City; and three daughters, Mrs. Erma Meier of San Francisco, Mrs. H.L. Harwood of Oakland and Mrs. E.L. Ashley. Dyer was the first proprietor of the Oyster Loaf on Main street near Second which is still in operation. The funeral will be held Monday at 2 o'clock at the new Bicknell & Moore Funeral Parlor. The Rev. W.L. Mellinger will officiate."
Chico Daily Enterprise, Monday Evening, June 6, 1927: "Dyer Funeral Service Held. Funeral services for Henry A. Dyer, who died Saturday in Sacramento, were held at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the chapel of Bicknell & Moore's undertaking parlors, the Rev. W.L. Mellinger officiating. The services were attended by a large number of friends who had known the departed during his long residence in this community. Interment was made in the Dayton cemetery."
Henry A. Dyer received a limited education in the public schools in his native city. While his educational advantages were limited, however, he is a well-educated man, being self-educated in the broadest sense of the term. Thrown on his own resources, at thirteen years of age he went to St. Louis and became an apprentice in the George Bayne mill. Completing his apprenticeship, he returned to Springfield, where he became the owner of a flour mill run by water power, which he continued to operate until 1883. A milling combine was formed in the state, forcing all the small mills in. The assessments soon ate up the investment, and as a consequence he lost his mill. He then came to California, in October, 1883, intending to go to work for Mr. Bidwell; but owing to the small wages Mr. Bidwell was paying, he came to Butte City that winter, and there engaged in farming, raising grain until 1893. He was an active agent in the upbuilding of Butte City. He built the Dyer House, the leading hotel of that city and the finest hotel in the county, and also built the water works, and electric light plant, the ice and cold storage plant, the meat market, and a blacksmith shop, as well as the first garage in the town. He continued in business until the fire of August 7, 1913, wiped out the business section of the city, when he sustained a loss of fifty thousand dollars, with only thirteen thousand dollars of insurance. He rebuilt the garage, blacksmith shop, and meat market, and leased them; and in October of that year he removed to Chico, where he was engaged in business until February, 1917. In October, 1916, he opened Dyer's Cafe, at 212 Main Street, remodeling it, putting in new fixtures and otherwise improving it, and making it first class in all respects.
Mr. Dyer has been twice married. His first wife, who was in maidenhood Nancy Bryant, died in California. Of the six children that were born of this union, two are living: Irma, now residing in Chico; and Ira, of Oakland, but now serving in the Aviation section of the United States Signal Corps. At his second marriage, Mr. Dyer was united with Mary Hamilton, of Oakland, who died in Butte City. The children by this marriage are: Lena, now Mrs. Johnson, of Sacramento; Ella, living in Chico; and Henry, who is in the United States Army. Mr. Dyer is a Republican. Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 1210-1211, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.
~~~
Chico Daily Enterprise, Saturday Evening, June 4, 1927: "Henry A. Dyer Taken By Death. Henry Allen Dyer of Sacramento, former resident and restaurant proprietor of Chico and at one time an extensive property owner in Butte City, died yesterday evening in Sacramento. Dyer lived in Chico from the years 1913-1918. He was aged 70 years and a native of Missouri. He is survived by two sons, Ira B. Dyer of Oakland and Henry A. Dyer of Butte City; and three daughters, Mrs. Erma Meier of San Francisco, Mrs. H.L. Harwood of Oakland and Mrs. E.L. Ashley. Dyer was the first proprietor of the Oyster Loaf on Main street near Second which is still in operation. The funeral will be held Monday at 2 o'clock at the new Bicknell & Moore Funeral Parlor. The Rev. W.L. Mellinger will officiate."
Chico Daily Enterprise, Monday Evening, June 6, 1927: "Dyer Funeral Service Held. Funeral services for Henry A. Dyer, who died Saturday in Sacramento, were held at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the chapel of Bicknell & Moore's undertaking parlors, the Rev. W.L. Mellinger officiating. The services were attended by a large number of friends who had known the departed during his long residence in this community. Interment was made in the Dayton cemetery."
Gravesite Details
SOURCE: Dayton Cemetery (c) 1994 By Adriana Farley and Marilyn Corley
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement