s/w Nelle O. Flood
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Flood Ranch A Century Club Member

The Colusi County Historical Society area boasts several ranches that have been accepted as members of the California Exposition One Hundred Year Club. To be eligible a ranch must have been in a direct family line for a hundred years. The Flood Ranch of Newville was awarded membership in this club in 1970.

The ranch has been in the possession of the Flood family since 1856, a period spanning five generations. The original owners, John and Mary Flood united the talents of the Irish and the English to master the new land. John emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1849 as a young boy. Four years later he crossed the plains to California with John James, helping to drive the latter's cattle. Mr. Flood built the first cabin in what was later Henleyville and ran a blacksmith shop with John Simpson in Tehama.

In 1856 he took up a claim of 160 acres in the Newville area where he built a house and blacksmith shop – the first one in the district.

Mary Williams Flood was a native of Liverpool, England coming to the United States with her parents as a young girl. In 1853 the Williams family crossed the plains, settling in 1858 three miles north of the Newville site, where they engaged in the dairy business.

On Sept. 6, 1860 John and Mary
were united in marriage. The young couple established a home on the acres which have continued to be the home place to this day. (The original house was washed away in a flood in the early years. The present home was built about 1868.) Gradually adding to his acreage by purchase Mr. Flood sold his black smith shop in 1866 to devote all his attention to his agricultural and stock raising interests. Known as 'the mule ranch' emphasis in early days was on mule production. Wheat and barley was raised up and down the flats.

The Floods became the parents of nine children. One son Lester of Paskenta still survives. After the death of John Flood Nov. 22, 1898, the ranch was operated by sons John Thomas and Lester.

In October 1934 Leo, son of Louis, and Minnie Millsaps Flood, moved to the home ranch with his family to take charge of operations. He continued to do so until during the last four or five years because of failing health he turned the operation over to his son Lyle. The ranch now grown to 1,725 acres produces sheep and hogs together with barley, oats and hay.

An interesting feature on the ranch is the Flood Museum started about 1965 by Leo and son Lyle to house hundreds of items of historical interest ranging from a mouse trap and cheese cutter from the old Henleyville store to a John Deere tractor. Some thousand visitors have visited it, a particular attraction to school children.
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"Wagon Wheels", Volume XXIII, Number 1, February 1973, Pages 4 - 10. -transcribed by A. Canon 27 Sep 2008

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"Orland Unit-Register" (Orland, California), Wednesday, December 6, 1972

LEO FLOOD DEAD AT 74

ORLAND – Death came to Leo Ernest Flood 74, Sunday morning after he had been shopping at Bucke's Market and walked to the parking lot where he collapsed. Mrs. Flood had come to town with him and was in church at the time.
Flood was born Aug. 9, 1898 in Chrome, as his mother had before him. His father was a native of Newville, and Leo Flood lived all his life in that area. He was a member of Orland Lodge no. 265 F&AM, a director of the Farm Bureau and a director of the Colusa County Historical Society.
Survivors include his widow, Nelle and son, Lyle of Newville, a daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Murphy, Paskenta; brother Tom of Concord, two sisters, Mae Loomis, Southerlin, Ore., and Mrs. Nora Colbert, Klamath Falls; 10 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Funeral services under the direction of F.D. Sweet and Son and the Masonic Lodge, were conducted at 10:30 this morning, with Roy Holten of the Church of Christ officiating followed by burial in the Newville Cemetery.
- Transcribed by M.
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"Wagon Wheels", A Colusi County Historical Society Publication, Volume XXlll, February 1973:

LEO ERNEST FLOOD, 74, b. Chrome, Glenn County, August 9, 1898, d. Orland, Dec. 3 1972.
Member of a pioneer family of the Newville area, Mr. Flood operated the family ranch whose story appears elsewhere in this issue.
Mr. Flood attended the now lapsed Newville Grammar School and Corning High School. On June 26, 1922 he married Nelle Rowe in Orland. In October 1934 they moved onto the home ranch which he operated until shortly before his death. Most of his life was spent on the family acres. In 1960 he participated in the People To People Tour to Russia and in 1968 accompanied a Farm Bureau trip to Mexico.
He was a member of the Orland Masonic Lodge, a director of the Farm Bureau and a director of the Colusi County Historical Society. His interest in history was graphically demonstrated by the museum he maintained with his son Lyle.
Surviving him are his wife, Nelle; a son, Lyle, both of Newville; and a daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Murphy, of Paskenta. Also surviving are a brother, Thomas of Concord; two sisters, Mrs. Mae Loomis and Mrs. Nora Colbert, both of Oregon; ten grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Services were conducted at Sweet and Son in Orland; interment was in the Newville Cemetery. - Transcribed by M.