USA > California > Merced County > A history of Merced County, California : with a biographical review of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 41
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John A. Roduner received his education in the public schools of Stockton, and also took a course at Heald's Business College, in San Francisco. He then followed teaming for ten years, in Stanislaus, Mariposa and Merced Counties, coming to the latter in 1869, as a teamster hauling grain to Murray's Mill near Snelling. In 1871 he located in the county and worked for John Montgomery, and in 1879 located on land seven miles southwest of Merced in Merced County, 140 acres of which was given over to grain raising, and the balance to alfalfa and stock. In 1886 or 1887 he developed a fine nine-inch artesian well on his ranch, with an inch and a half flow at the top, and flowing 24,000 gallons every twenty-four hours, and this is the only one of five wells that is now flowing. Ranching was a little harder in his earlier days of development work, and it meant hard application and good management to bring land to where it meant success for the owner, and future prosperity for the whole section of which his life and work are a part. Of late years Mr. Roduner has been engaged in raising registered Holstein dairy cattle, and he owns a herd of 200 fine cattle of this breed, milking sixty-five cows; he was a breeder of pure bred Poland-China hogs, but since his son has taken over the ranch, he changed to Red Durocs. During 1891-96, he conducted a retail milk delivery in Merced, supplying a large patronage.
At Hornitos, Mariposa County, on November 7, 1879, occurred the marriage of John A. Roduner to Miss Hattie Arthur, who was born in Ohio, and brought to California in 1862, a babe in arms, and the eldest of ten children born to Robert and Belle (Steele) Arthur, both natives of Ohio, the father a blacksmith by trade and a pioneer in that business at Coulterville, and Hornitos, this State. Ten child- ren have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Roduner : J. Edward; George A .; Belle, the wife of Samuel Hale; Julia, deceased ; J. Elmer ; Mary, wife of C. A. Blauert; C. Roscoe; Cornelius A., deceased; Walter P., who now rents his father's ranch; Robert S., of Merced. Two sons, C. R. Roduner and Walter P., served their country in the World War; C. R. as a corporal in the A. E. F. from May, 1917, to July, 1919, receiving his honorable discharge at the Presidio, San Francisco. He is a member of the Merced American Legion post. Walter P. served in the U. S. N. R., attending the Radio School of the 12th Naval District, and received his honorable discharge Septem- ber 30, 1921. In October, 1924, Mr. Roduner retired from the ranch and now lives at 436, Twenty-second Street, Merced. Fratern- ally, he belongs to Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E .; Yosemite Lodge No. 30, K. of P., and the Woodmen of the World.
S. L. ljivens
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SAMUEL LEWIS GIVENS
Of the pioneers living in Merced County, there are few who can so clearly recount the early stories and incidents that happened in the lives of the men and women who blazed the trail for the generations that are to follow, as can Samuel Lewis Givens, the retired rancher of the Bear Creek district, near Planada. A representative of a dis- tinguished family who came to California in 1853, he was born in Union County, Ky., November 8, 1842, the youngest of ten children born of the marriage of Thomas and Catherine D. F. ( Richards ) Givens. His father was born in Virginia on December 1, 1798, and his mother was born in Kentucky on February 1, 1805. They were married on June 23, 1825, and became the parents of the following children : Robert R., born April 7, 1826, who now has a daughter Ada teaching school in Merced; Lewis R., born June 21, 1827, and died July 22, 1840; Eleazar, born October 17, 1828; Matilda L., born May 24, 1830, died August 7, 1853; Jane R., born March 7, 1832, married D. M. Pool of Mariposa County, who served in the State legislature; Catherine A., born November 17, 1833, married A. J. Gregory, who served in the legislature (she died November 25, 1856) ; Thomas Jr., born October 15, 1838; John H., born October 15, 1838, served one term as sheriff of Merced County; Mary R., born October 30, 1840, married E. E. Thrift of Stockton; and Samuel L., our subject and the only one of the family now living.
It was on December 24, 1852, that the Givens family left their home in the Eastern States and started for California, reaching New Orleans on January 1, 1853, from which port they embarked on board the Pampero for Greytown, which they reached twelve days later. They crossed the Isthmus on the backs of mules and then took passage on the Brother Jonathan for San Francisco, reaching that city on February 2. The Brother Jonathan disappeared on its next trip and was never heard from again. The family proceeded to Mariposa County by way of Stockton on the mail stage and arrived at their des- tination in due time over some very bad roads, as it was a wet season. Mr. Givens bought the possessory rights of the Texas Ranch, com- prising 1040 acres, which ranch is now owned by our subject. Here the father died on September 12, 1860.
Samuel L. Givens was educated in the pay schools of Mariposa County, attending about four months each year, and finished with a course at the University of the Pacific at San Jose. His schooling over, he returned to the home ranch and remained until 1869 and then engaged in running stock into Inyo County until 1876. In 1878 he bought the ranch he now owns in Merced County, known as the M. O. Barber ranch, on Bear Creek, upon which he has since lived. This
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ranch comprises some 520 acres, which has been devoted to grain and stock-raising; in addition he has been a large leasor of land for stock purposes.
Mr. Givens has been closely allied with all movements for the upbuilding of this part of the county and has maintained his interest in the events of the period, keeping abreast of the times by observation and reading. In politics he is a Democrat. Since his retirement the ranch has been managed by his son Archibald, who is an only child, and who has been given the best of educational advantages.
On December 20, 1877, in Mariposa County, Mr. Givens was united in marriage with Miss Susan Lurana Wills, a native of Mari- posa County, born December 9, 1855, a daughter of Benjamin Wills, a native of Alabama, who married Miss Amanda Cathey. Mr. Wills made his first trip to the Golden State in 1849, and afterwards he went back East for his family. Mr. and Mrs. Givens have one son, Archibald, who married Miss Virginia McReynolds of Santa Rosa; and they have a daughter, Virginia Lurana.
On Mr. Givens' ranch stands an orange tree, a seedling grown from a seed of an orange which Mrs. Givens obtained when she was coming across the Isthmus of Panama in 1853, and which she planted seventy-five years ago on their Texas Ranch in Mariposa County. In 1900 the tree was moved to the ranch of our subject, and still bears a bountiful crop each year. .
GILBERT B. NEIGHBOR
The late Gilbert B. Neighbor of Snelling, Merced County, was one of the pioneer merchants of that village and he was one of the foremost upbuilders of his adopted State. He was born in German Valley, Morris County, N. J., September 14, 1836, a son of Jacob Weise and Mary Ann (Trimmer) Neighbor, both born in that same state. His paternal great-grandfather, Leonard Neighbor, and the grandfather, also named Leonard, served in the War of the Revolu- tion. The latter lived to be ninety-one years old. In 1855 Jacob Neighbor moved to Princeton, Ill., and there both himself and his wife died.
Our subject received a common school education and was nine- teen when the family located in Illinois. In 1859 he came on to Cali- fornia, via Panama, and arriving in San Francisco he went at once to Tuolumne County where he farmed seven years, then for the next seven years he was a clerk in a general store. In 1873 the came to Snelling with his experience and embarked in the general merchandise business that he followed until his death. He was interested in sheep raising and in farming, owning 120 acres, besides some town prop-
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erty. As one interested in the upbuilding of the county he served as justice of the peace four years and in every way possible gave of his time and means to advance the interests of the people and the county.
Mr. Neighbor married Matilda H. Smith, born in Augusta, Me., the daughter of P. B. Smith, who came around the Horn to California in 1850 and lived for many years in Jamestown, Cal. Of this union eight children were born: Charles G., a rancher in Merced County; Marjorie A., married William C. Richards ; May N., became the wife of Fred G. Robinson; Ada Grace, married R. H. Allen; Pearl, de- ceased; Josie; Melvin, postmaster at Snelling; and Ethel. Mr. Neighbor died February 20, 1922, aged eighty-six years, and is sur- vived by his wife, who lives in Snelling. He was faithful to every trust reposed in him, as was attested by his serving the Wells Fargo Express Company for almost forty years. He is missed by a wide circle of friends who appreciated his noble qualities of mind and heart.
WILLIAM EDWARD LANDRAM
There are few names more closely identified with the history of Merced County than that of William Edward Landram, who, as banker and citizen, has wielded a strong influence that has done much for the growth and prosperity of Merced, which has been his home for more than a third of a century. His birth occurred in Cairo, Mo., March 11, 1867, a son of W. L. and Betty (Boney ) Landram. W. L. Landram was drafted for service during the Civil War and was on his way to the front when the war ended; he had been a farmer all his lifetime and died on the old homestead in Missouri on June 8, 1924, having reached the venerable age of ninety-one years ; the mother of our subject passed away on April 29, 1922, aged eighty-five years.
William Edward Landram first attended district school in the vicinity of the home farm in Missouri; then he attended the Kirks- ville Normal and the Kirksville Business College. He was reared to farm work and spent twenty years of his life on the farm in Missouri, receiving practical knowledge of agriculture that proved of great worth after coming to California. On September 29, 1887 he came to Merced and soon thereafter became an employee of the Merced Lumber Company. After working and saving his money he bought stock in the business. For a time Mr. Landram ran the Merced River Flour Mill, on the river near Snelling; then he was in the transfer. wood and coal business for six years and for two years had charge of some land in the vicinity of Merced, and he now owns 320 acres of land in the Merced Irrigation District. In 1900 he took charge of the
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Merced Lumber Company, of which he has been vice-president and was general manager until January, 1924, when he came into the Farmers and Merchants Bank to give it his entire attention.
The marriage of Mr. Landram occurred in Merced on September 23, 1890, and united him with Miss Ida Banks, daughter of the late John Banks, senior member of the firm of Banks & Bedesen, pioneer butchers of Merced. Mrs. Landram was also a native of Missouri. One son was born of this union, John William, manager of a branch lumber yard at Livingston. Mrs. Landram passed away March 28, 1924. Mr. Landram is a thirty-second-degree Scottish Rite Mason ; he also belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World and with his wife was a member of the Eastern Star and Women of Wood- craft. Locally he belongs to the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Landram is the active vice-president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Merced, to which he gives all his time. The family are prominent and active members of the Central Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Landram has been clerk of the board for the past twenty-three years.
JOHN C. JAMES
A retired pioneer of Merced and Stanislaus Counties, John C. James has been identified with the development of the San Joaquin Valley for the past sixty-five years, and in that time he has lived a life full of responsible work for the community at large and developed his own personal resources. He has been a factor for real progress and advancement in all of Central California. Born in Dodgeville, Iowa County, Wis., on November 16, 1840, he was the eleventh child born to his parents, William and Eva James, natives of Cornwall, England, who came to the United States with three children and settled at Dodgeville. The father was a blacksmith in England, but after coming to America he became a farmer, and built and operated a flouring mill on Otter Creek. He was a stanch Republican and after becoming naturalized held the office of justice of the peace in Dodgeville, where both parents died the same month and year.
John C., now the only living son, received his education in the public school and at Mineral Point Seminary. He came West via Panama and arrived in Stockton on May 1, 1861, on the side-wheeler Cornelia from San Francisco, having made the Atlantic part of the voyage on the S. S. Northern Light, and the Pacific journey on the S. S. Constitution, being twenty-three days from New York to San Francisco. His brother, Captain Henry George James, the third child in the family, had preceded him, arriving in California in 1851. In the sixties he was a prominent rancher and stockman living west of
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Turlock, Stanislaus County. Another brother, Edward, the oldest of the family, was a Forty-niner, having come around the Horn to the gold fields of California. William, the second child, crossed the plains in 1850. The first work John C. did after reaching this State was on the San Joaquin River, in the employ of a Captain Jones who ran the steamer Alta, with a Mr. Ward as pilot. Later, when Captain James and Charles Blair engaged in the retail meat business at Big Oak Flat, John C. was his bookkeeper, after Mr. Blair sold to Captain James. They sold ten dressed beeves daily while the mines were in full blast. Later a shop was opened at Tuolumne City with John Simmons as a partner, but when the majority of the people moved to Modesto, in 1872, the two James brothers moved also; but Mr. Simmons remained in Tuolumne City. James Street, Mo- desto, is named for Captain James, deceased pioneer.
In the years up to 1879, John C. James resided in the great ranching center of Stanislaus County, where he served as the first enrolling clerk on the registry law; that year he came to Merced County, and farmed 2000 acres of the J. W. Mitchell lands, wheat being his chief crop. With the exception of four years absence in Oregon, where he conducted a shingle mill at Coquelle, he has made Merced County his home from that date. He developed a choice vineyard of fifty-three acres, north of Atwater, which since has been subdivided and is a part of Gertrude Colony. He also owns desirable real estate and rental property in Merced, and has prospered with the developing of the fertile Valley of the San Joaquin, for his keen foresight and ability to see the wonderful future in store for this section of the State have netted him good returns, and at the same time he has been able to contribute to the settling up and further advancement of the State's resources.
The marriage of Mr. James, which occurred in 1876 at the home of Jack Hayes, Modesto, united him with Miss Jennie Weston, the first girl babe born on Sherlock Creek, Mariposa County. Her father, Lewis Weston, was a native of New England who crossed the plains and settled in California in 1849. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James; Sydney L. is married and the father of three sons and resides in Mariposa County ; John H. is a rancher of Mer- ced, married and father of three children; and Gertrude A. Casad of Merced is the mother of four children. Mrs. James passed away in Oregon in 1903.
Mr. James has always maintained a deep interest in State history, and he has done much for his fellow pioneers; he contributes to local newspapers, a most interesting style of writing, on past events and early California history, his Nom de Plume being "Wilkins Mc- Cawber," and he often favors civic clubs and the like, during banquet
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hours, with his presence and gives little talks, and is always received with ready response for "More, more!" A most likable man, he holds the respect and liking of his friends and acquaintances through- out the great central valley. Fraternally, he is an Odd Fellow; and in line with other civic work, he served one term as deputy county asses- sor of Stanislaus County under Tom Wilson. In 1919, in company with his brother, Richard, he made an extended visit to eastern states, but while enjoying the sights of the "effete East," he saw nothing to make him regret his early decision to "come West and grow up with the country."
PETER J. WOLFSEN
A native son of California, born near Oleta, Amador County, on August 8, 1866, Peter J. Wolfsen is the eldest of nine children born to Henry C. and Amelia (Howell) Wolfsen, pioneers of that county. Henry C. Wolfsen was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, and came to California during the Gold Rush, via the Panama route. He engaged in work, first in the Southern Mines, later in the silver mines in Nevada, and also in sawmill work, finally devoting his whole ener- gies to agriculture. In the fall of 1875, he moved to Merced County, and located on the old Crawford ranch, near what is now Planada; this property he leased, and operated for three years raising wheat with good success. He then moved to the Page ranch of 1280 acres, operated it for one season, and finally settled on the J. M. Mont- gomery ranch, embracing 4000 acres, on Bear Creek, and this property he purchased in 1880 and made it the family home for the remainder of his days. He was a well-known Odd Fellow, and an active man in school work, serving as a trustee of the Bear Creek district. Amelia (Howell) Wolfsen was a native of England, but came to the United States when a girl, with a party of friends, and crossed the plains with ox-teams from Missouri. She and Mr. Wolfsen were married in Amador County, and were among the permanent upbuild- ers of the central part of the State. Mr. Wolfsen died January 30, 1901, aged sixty-five years, four months and eleven days ; Mrs. Wolf- sen passed away January 20, 1918.
Peter J., being the eldest of a large family, and the times uncom- monly hard for the early ranchers, had opportunity for but little schooling, and was forced to go to work at an early age, learning the ranch business through contact with its practical side in close associa- tion with his parents. He remained at home until 1889, and then, following his marriage, he commenced ranching on his own account on one-half of his father's home ranch. This he continued until 1894, when he moved to his present place six miles southeast of
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Merced. This property then comprised 1360 acres, and he was very successful as a grain- and stock-raiser for many years; he later sold off some of his land, and today owns only 200 acres, highly improved to intensive ranching, and with modern residence and ranch buildings.
The marriage of Mr. Wolfsen, at Hornitos, April 8, 1891, united him with Miss Mary Arthur, born at Coulterville, Cal., the daughter of the late Robert and Belle (Steele) Arthur, both native of Ohio of Scotch extraction. They were also among the early settlers of Central California. Married in Ohio, they came west in 1865, via Panama, and that year settled in Coulterville, where Mr. Arthur ran a blacksmith shop. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolfsen: Arthur, married Agnes Ball, of Nevada, and is the father of two children, Norman and Gertrude; Ruth, at home; and Chester, married Hazel Elliott, of San Francisco, and is the father of three children, Elliott, Harlan and Beverly Jean. Mrs. Wolfsen passed away on September 22, 1924, aged fifty-seven years. Mr. Wolfsen is highly esteemed in his community as a man of good principle, and one who has the real upbuilding of his district at heart. He is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, of Merced.
JOSEPH SPENCER SPARKS
One of the early settlers who became a successful stock-raiser on the West Side in Merced County was Joseph S. Sparks. He was born in Kentucky, May 12, 1830, a son of Madison Sparks, a Vir- ginian, who had married Winnie Thomas, who bore eight children, Joseph S. Sparks being the third in order of birth. He was able to get a fair education in the local schools and remained in his native county until he was of age. He had heard of the discovery of gold in California and it so fired his enthusiasm that he decided he would cast in his lot with the pioneers and followed the trend of emigra- tion, crossing the plains in 1852.
Upon his arrival in this state he went to the mines in Placer County and was engaged in mining for many years, meeting with the usual luck of the miner, sometimes meeting with good success and sometimes with reverses, but continuing with the hope that he would find his fortune. In 1867 he went to Chico and engaged in the lumber business for a time, filling contracts for hauling logs to the mills. In 1869 he came down into the San Joaquin Valley, bought 160 acres of land, and the following year added 320 acres near Ingomar, which he fully improved and farmed for many years. He became a suc- cessful stockman, noted for breeding and raising fine horses. He operated his farming operations on a large scale and became a valued member of his community.
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In Chico, Mr. Sparks married Melissa C. Eachus, who was born in Iowa, and came with her parents to California in 1865. They had six children: David William, deceased; May L., Mrs. Detlefsen; Nellie Bird, deceased; Margaret Russell, wife of H. J. Miller of Oakland; George Madison of San Francisco; and Joseph Spencer, Jr. deceased. Mr. Sparks, who was much beloved by all who knew him, died in 1892. He was an Odd Fellow and a consistent Christian, hold- ing membership in the Methodist Church. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Sparks continued on the home place and in 1901 erected a modern house on the ranch and at the same time conducted the place with the aid of her sons. She now makes her home in Oak- land. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks won a host of friends who appreciated their worth as citizens and neighbors.
JOSEPH VASCHE
Numbered among that intrepid band of pioneers who came to California in the stirring times when gold was discovered we find the name of Joseph Vasche, who had come across the plains behind slow-moving oxen to reach the land of opportunity and share in the wealth that seemed to be obtainable here. He and his hardy band met with the usual trouble that the immigrants experienced with Indians, though no record has been made that any of their party were killed or injured. Upon arriving in this state he followed mining for a time, and although a mere boy, he participated in the stirring times of the Vigilante Days in San Francisco. He turned his attention to the more secure method of gaining his independence and engaged in the sheep business, continuing until about 1875, when he disposed of his flocks and went to San Jose and was engaged in the mercantile business for six years. The future of Merced County appealed strongly to him and he returned here and invested his money in 2100 acres of land at Athlone, which he developed into a fruitful ranch with diversified products, though he was one of the large grain raisers here.
Joseph Vasche was born in Germany in 1826, came to America when he was but fourteen years of age, grew up in Missouri until 1848, and then began his journey to the unknown West. In 1871 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Bielenberg, the wedding taking place at the famous old "stone house" above Plainsburg. They had one daughter, Josephine, Mrs. Ringnalda, now connected with the schools in Los Angeles. The wife and mother died in 1872, after which Mr. Vasche toured Europe. In 1874 he was married to Maria Halenkamp, born in Germany and who became the mother of ten
Kenny Nelson
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HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
children, four of whom remain at home. The children are: Pauline Lines, deceased; Gertrude, supervisor in the schools of Merced County ; Joseph, Henry, Francis (deceased), Elma (deceased), Fred- rika, Florence; Karl, who saw service in Siberia during the World War; and Harold, who also was in the service of his country when the armistice was signed.
Mr. Vasche died in 1912. He was a Democrat in politics and cast his first vote for Franklin Pierce. It is to such men as Mr. Vasche that the generation of today owe much of their prosperity for he was among the early trail-blazers in California.
HENRY NELSON
Among the best-known of the old-timers now living in Merced is Henry Nelson, whose memory carries him back to the earliest days in the forming of the county, and who is able to recount the happen- ings of those early days when a "man was a man" and stood upon his own feet. Mr. Nelson was born in Frederickton, N. B., on August 17, 1844, the son of William and Anna C. (Campbell) Nelson. The former died in May, 1896, at Sonora, and the latter in September, 1895, at Merced Falls; both are buried in the Odd Fellows Ceme- tery in Snelling.
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