Posted on: Yuba County, California Biographies Reply Here: http://cgi.rootsweb.com/~genbbs/genbbs.cgi/USA/Ca/YubaBios/34 Surname: Gurney, Androus, McKinney, Stubbs ------------------------- LEO B GURNEY - As president and general manager of the Brown's Valley Irrigation District, Leo B. Gurney is well known in this section of the valley; and his efforts have been instrumental in the permanent settling of much desirable land in the Loma Rica, Glen Olive and Sunnyland districts, all fed by the Brown's Valley system. A native son of the county, he was born in the Buckeye district on the Benjamin Gurney home place, September 17, 1881, the youngest son of Benjamin and Euretta (Androus) Gurney, who settled in Marysville in 1863. The father engaged in the profession of teaching during most of his lifetime, his death ocurring in 1898; while his good wife passed to her reward in 1916, aged sixty-nine. Leo B. Gurney received his education in the Yuba County schools, graduating from Marysville High School in 1899. In 1911-1912 he attended the University of California farm school at Davis, completing the courses in scientific dairy and animal husbandry, giving special attention to dairying and irrigation under Profs. L. M. Davis and S. N. Beckett. Since 1908 Mr Gurney has served well the interests of Brown's Valley Irrigation District, as its president and manager, excepting two and a half years; and in this work his studious application to this branch of agriculture has been of great benefit to the ranchers in the district, dependent in these modern days almost wholly on irrigation for the success of their crops. In addition to his public work, Mr Gurney has developed the eighty-acre ranch he owns, his portion of the estate of his father; and he has found the application of his university studies of real value here also, using scientific methods in carrying on the ranch operations. The marriage of Mr Gurney, in Sacramento, August 19, 1910, united him with Miss Ethel McKinney, born in Wheatland, a daughter of the late Rolin McKinney and Dora (Stubbs) McKinney, pioneers, dating back to 1862. The father died in 1922; his widow survives, and resides in Oroville. Six children have blessed the union of Mr and Mrs Gurney: Marjorie, Dorothy, Richard, Alice, Curtice, and Eunice. Mrs. Gurney taught school nine years before her marriage. With her husband she is interested in furthering the development of their section of our wonderful State. Mr. Gurney is a member of the Yuba County Chamber of Commerce in Marysville, and of Loma Rica Center of the Yuba County Farm Bureau. Source: "HISTORY OF YUBA AND SUTTER COUNTIES, CALFORNIA" by Peter J. Delay, Historic Record Co., Los Angeles, CA, 1924, pg 1261