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 43
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for the Jordan-Atwater Tract, Merced Colony Tract No. 2, and the Wood-Arena Tract. He has seen prices go from $25.00 and $40.00 per acre for raw land in 1908, to $200.00 per acre in 1920 and $250.00 and over per acre in 1925, and says that about fifty per cent of the first settlers made good. He has been an eye witness to the changes that have taken place in the last half century, for in 1870 he drove a supply wagon through here to the sheep camps on Owens Creek when he was working for J. W. Mitchell for $1.00 per day, and he has implicit faith in the future of the county. There were then only three ranches, the Atwater, the Dillon and the Ritchie ranches in this section and the roads were, according to Mr. Osborn, "wherever you took a notion to drive." In March, 1925, Mr. Osborn had the pleasure of a visit with his school teacher of 1870, Fanny Walsh, now seventy-nine years of age, who taught fifty-three terms in the schools of the State.
JAMES WILLIAM IVES
We may respect the reticence of a modest man with regard to his good deeds, but it is right for the public to know something of them as it is a great stimulus to others to emulate his example. When any one begins at the bottom and builds up a successful busi- ness, triumphing over adverse conditions and becomes a public bene- factor, it is of general interest and benefit to know how it was accom- plished. James William Ives was born on June 3, 1874, in Alameda County, Cal., a son of James H. and Emma J. (Adamson) Ives. Up to twelve years of age he lived in Oakland and after that went to school in Napa County, and finished in the Adventist school at Healdsburg, where he learned the trade of carpenter. From there he went to San Francisco, before the great fire and carried on a sales stable. In 1906 he was burned out and lost what he had accumulated, then he took up the carpenter's trade again and helped to rebuild the stricken city. His subsequent activities in that line include a long and notable list, on which are the Humboldt Bank and the Miller buildings. Coming to Los Banos in 1910 he worked as a carpenter for Miller and Lux, and he helped to erect the old pavilion in the park. Taking up contracting on his own account he erected, among others, the J. V. Toscano and the John Barneich blocks, and sixty and more residences, including the fine home of J. V. Toscano; a number of dairy barns on ranches are credited to his activity. In 1922 Mr. Ives bought the B. R. Bilby hardware store and now has the only exclusive hardware store in Los Banos. When he took the stock over it invoiced $3700, and in two years time he increased the stock to $14,000, and has a fine showing of goods.
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Mr. Ives was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Baldwin, born in San Francisco, and they have a daughter, Lola. He is prominent in fraternal orders, being a member and a Past Grand of Los Banos Lodge No. 82, I. O. O. F .; belongs to Newman Encampment; Modes- to Canton, and to the Rebekahs. He is a Past President of the Fra- ternal Order of Eagles, Aerie No. 3050, and belongs to Merced Parlor No. 24, N. S. G. W. In civic and educational affairs Mr. Ives has shown his public spirit in many ways. He served three years as a member of the board of city trustees of Los Banos; was clerk of the grammar school board, and was the prime mover in having the line of busses put on that now transport the children to and from school; the first bus was a made-over truck that carried the children from the oil tank section. Now there is a fine line of modern busses that carry from 150 to 200 pupils daily.
GEORGE W. BAXTER
A particularly well-known grain and cattle raiser of the San Joa- quin Valley, George W. Baxter has lived in this section of the State since 1874, and during that long stretch of time has been a part of the growth and development of his district, where he is prominent as an agriculturist and a man of fine business integrity. Born in Colchester County, Nova Scotia, June 5, 1865, he is the eldest of eight children born to his parents, J. C. and Agnes (Miller) Baxter, mentioned elsewhere in this history. George W. received his educa- tion in the Appling school, and later, in 1895-96, took a business course at the Ramsay Business College in Stockton. With his father and brothers he engaged in sheep and wool growing until 1878; in dry years, such as 1877, they drove their flocks into the mountains as far as Inyo County, Owens Valley, where feed was plentiful. His uncle, the late Robert Baxter, who had preceded the family to Mer- ced County, was one of the successful pioneer grain ranchers of the valley and died at their home ranch in 1884. He was the inventor of the Stockton Gang-plow which has been such an important factor in grain development in the entire country.
When twenty-four years old, George W. Baxter went into the grain-raising business on his own responsibility on an extensive scale, planting as many as 2500 acres at times, and raising large quantities of wheat and barley, always ranching in the Appling district. He became well known as a breeder of excellent work stock, having raised more fine mules than any other individual in this part of California, with shipments into Arizona, New Mexico, and even to the Hawaiian Islands, besides supplying local markets. His property embraces 1000
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acres of choice land in Merced, Mariposa, and Madera Counties, and 240 acres at Plainsburg, being a taxpayer in three counties. He attri- butes his success largely to persistency of effort despite reverses. for he has taken the "ups" with the "downs" and won out by staying at the helm in all kinds of weather.
The marriage of Mr. Baxter, occurring at Santa Cruz, Cal., on October 17, 1888, united him with Fanny Taylor, born on Dry Creek near Snelling, Merced County, a daughter of William Fielding and Elizabeth Ellen (Inman) Taylor. Their biography is written at length in another article in the history. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Baxter : Nelly A., deceased; Wallace W., married Leona Grow and has a daughter Nellie, and is a rancher at Le Grand; Alvin, rancher at Le Grand, married Helen Walker; Ellen A., a teacher. now deceased; Glenn W., at home ; and Mary E., at home ; all natives of Merced County. Two sons, Alvin and Glenn, served their country during the World War. Alvin served in the United States Navy for four years, and Glenn went into training at Stanford University for six months. A Republican in politics, Mr. Baxter has always voted for the men and worked for the measures which meant the future development and upbuilding of his district and the country at large. He has served for twenty years as trustee of the Appling school district, and has been active in other civic and educational affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Odd Fellows, both the Lodge and Encampment at Merced, and to the Merced Camp, M. W. A.
JOHN W. AND CALPHURNIA NEEL THOMAS
John W. Thomas was born at Mountain View, Santa Clara County, on September 22, 1853, the son of Silas and Emaline (Haun) Thomas. The father was a native of Missouri and came to Califor- nia at the age of nineteen, in 1849; he died in Mountain View, leav- ing a family of four children : John W .; Seth, deceased; Eliza, who became Mrs. Vaughan of Watsonville and is deceased; Ellen, who became Mrs. Sprague of Oakland and is also deceased. Emaline Haun was also a native of Missouri and crossed the plains with an ox-team. She first married Silas Thomas, and after his death married C. B. Crews. In 1864 the family moved to a ranch at Old Gilroy which is known to this day as the Old Crews Place.
John W. Thomas was educated in the schools of Mountain View and at a private high school which was in Old Gilroy. He has been twice married, first at Oakland, in March, 1875, to Miss Bell Doll, who was born at Red Bluff, Tehama County, in 1856, the daughter of Jacob Granville and Harriet (Johnson) Doll. Mr. Doll was one of
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the early settlers of Tehama County, coming with the gold rush. He was a man of affairs and represented Tehama County two sessions in the State Senate. Mrs. Thomas died in 1884, leaving four children, namely : John M., who lives at Fresno and has two boys; Erwin M., superintendent of the Frankenheim ranch of Oakdale, who has two sons; Lucy, Mrs. William Blake, of Gilroy, now deceased; and Emma, Mrs. George Dexter of Betteravia, Cal., who has one daugh- ter and two sons.
In 1875, in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Thomas pur- chased 3500 acres of land lying three miles south of Pacheco Peak in Pacheco Pass, and they carried on the stock business on this ranch until 1900, when Mr. Thomas moved to Dos Palos. Having traded some of his mountain land for a thirty-acre ranch one mile northeast of Dos Palos, he improved the place and built a home on it and other farm buildings and has carried on general farming and a diary.
On May 14, 1888, in Gilroy, Mr. Thomas married for his second wife Calphurnia Neel, born in Red Bluff, Tehama County, the daughter of Barnett and Calphurnia (Johnson) Neel, and a cousin of the first Mrs. Thomas, their mothers being sisters. Barnett Neel was a native of Pennsylvania and his family traces its ancestry back to 1700, when the Neel family first landed in America. His great-grand- father fought in the American Revolution. Mrs. Thomas' mother came from Tory stock in Virginia and she was born in Missouri, but her mother, Martha Brock Johnson, Mrs. Thomas' grandmother, came from Virginia. In 1852 Calphurnia (Johnson) Neel came to California, across the plains in the train under the command of Cap- tain Bridger, and landed in Truckee in the same year. Barnett Neel came to California later, settling in Tehama County, and being an expert in figures he was for years a public accountant and served Te- hama County as treasurer. He passed away in 1869. Mrs. Thomas was one of four children : Nora, Mrs. Voss of San Francisco; Martha Neel and Granville D., both of Watsonville; and Calphurnia. She was educated in the Oakland Grammar School, and after one year in the high school she was later graduated from the San Jose State Normal School. She began teaching in the Bryant district of Fresno County and for fifteen years followed teaching in central California; the last fourteen years she has taught in the Dos Palos Colony, and one year in the Junior High School of Dos Palos. In 1923 she was appointed by the superintendent of schools of Merced County as rural super- visor of general subjects, and has charge of all rural schools west of the Merced state highway to the west county line. She is a member of the County Board of Education.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have three children, namely: Martha of Oakdale; Granville, of Berkeley, who has a daughter; and Helen,
Jessie J. Ferrel.
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Mrs. E. E. Flory of Dos Palos, who has two girls. These children have received the best of educations and all are following the pro- fession of teaching and are very successful educators. Mr. Thomas is a Democrat in politics. Mrs. Thomas is active in club and lodge work, and is a charter member of the Dos Palos Women's Improvement Club. She is a member of the Eastern Star and a Past Worthy Mat- ron of Morgan Hill Chapter; she is also a member of the Ladies of the Maccabees, of Dos Palos.
WILLIAM J. FERREL AND JESSIE F. FERREL
The story of pioneer days may be told by the biographies of the pioneers who struggled amid difficult conditions in order that their successors might find prosperity and comfort. A venerable pioneer, who not only paved the way for others, but reaped the reward of his own labors, was the late William J. Ferrel, landowner and farmer on the Merced River, who was born in Dallas County, Texas, in 1838, and died at Berkeley, Cal., in October, 1911. His father, Walter Ferrel, was a slaveowner; his mother died when he was two weeks old, and his father remarried a year later.
Starting on his own account at the age of eighteen, William J. Ferrel left Fort Belknap on May 7, 1856, with cattle and horses for the West. He arrived in Los Angeles in October, 1856, having been successful in bringing his stock across the plains and selling them after his arrival. He came to Merced County in the spring of 1857, and for seven years worked on ranches, receiving monthly wages. By saving his earnings he was able, in 1861, to invest in land on the Merced River, which proved to be the foundation for his own and his son's fortunes. He bought 500 acres four miles west of Snelling and in time became a prosperous grain farmer, and by industry and frugality he obtained financial independence. By later purchases he added some 1300 acres of hill land northeast of Snelling to his holdings; this acreage he used for grain-raising and the stock business. He was a pioneer in the use of modern methods of agriculture, and on his river ranch he employed hundreds of Chinese laborers. Corn and hogs were raised as a specialty. Dairy farming and the raising of other stock have since replaced the corn and hog combination, and the Chinese have long since disappeared. Mr. Ferrel used to relate the experiences he had had as an early settler in these parts, but he was a man who boasted very little of his achievements. He did his first day's work in Merced County for the late J. M. Montgomery, and they became very close personal friends. Mr. Ferrel was a stanch Democrat, and he will long be remembered for his good work as chair- man of the board of school trustees of the Dry Creek school district.
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The marriage of William J. Ferrel occurred in the old El Capitan Hotel at Merced, on January 15, 1879, and united him with Miss Jessie Frances Burns, who was born in 1860 at Lake Tent House near Roberts Ferry on the Tuolumne River, on the old Stockton-Mariposa wagon road. She was the youngest of five children of the late John A. and Luinda Frances (Jennings) Burns.
John Burns was born in Missouri and came to California across the plains with oxen and a covered wagon, arriving in Los Angeles in 1849. He spent the winter of 1850 on Monterey Bay and in the spring of 1851 began farming in Monterey County, continuing there for three seasons. He made money there; and when he removed to the Lake Tent country, in Stanislaus County, he conducted a hotel for seven seasons. The surrounding country was sparsely settled, vast cattle and sheep ranges making neighbors few and far between; thou- sands of antelope and wild horses ran over the unfenced country, and the only marks of civilization were along the main traveled road. In 1864 Mr. Burns moved to a place ten miles below Coulterville, and for nine years he conducted a public house, livery stable and stage sta- tion there. He kept many fine horses, which were used by tourists go- ing into Yosemite Valley. While there Mr. Burns dispensed a broad and liberal hospitality to the guests and tourists, who made that stop- ping-place a lively and enjoyable resort. In 1871 he moved to Merced County, took up land three miles north of Snelling on Dry Creek, and engaged in grain farming, being a pioneer in this venture, for up to that time the government lands were not opened to settlers. He died there at the age of seventy-six.
The children of the late pioneer and Forty-niner, John A. Burns, are as follows : John S. was formerly proprietor of the Athlone Hotel in Merced County, and is deceased. Sarah died in Mexico in 1883. Alla Katherine Welch, widow of the late P. L. Welch, supervisor, Mason, successful storekeeper and grain farmer of Plainsburg, resides in Snelling. By her former marriage she was the wife of Rev. B. A. Hawkins, who was a school teacher and a member of the board of education in Fresno and Merced Counties, and who died in 1908. Isabel M. Haskel, of Le Grand, has been married three times, and had two children by her first husband and eight by her second mar- riage. Mrs. Jessie F. Ferrel is the youngest of this progressive and highly esteemed family.
The Burns children attended the Anderson district school, where Mr. Burns was a trustee for many years. The region was built up by the settlers, and there were but eighty pupils in the district when at its best. Mrs. Ferrel received the best education the local school af- forded. She was reared on a ranch, learned to shoot and ride, and still finds great pleasure and gratification in going hunting, for she
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is able to handle a gun and is a good markswoman. She is active as a member of the Snelling Lodge of Rebekahs, being a Past Noble Grand, having served as Noble Grand in 1923, and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge twice. She makes use of her franchise, voting on public questions, and handles her own business affairs. Since her hus- band's death she has shown a splendid acumen in the care of her pro- perty, which embraces 420 acres of Merced River bottom lands. Her two sons are both in the dairy business. W. J. Ferrel, Jr., owns and conducts a dairy and stock business on his ranch, making his home with his mother at Snelling. Francis Eugene Ferrel, a dairyman, married Miss Ethel Hooper, and has two daughters, Gene and Joyce. During the Panama Pacific Exposition at San Francisco, Mrs. Ferrel took a very active part and ably represented Merced County in an official capacity. She has become well and favorably known in the State of California as well as in Merced County.
In 1919 Mrs. Ferrel bought the store building used by Jacobs and Simons, one of the oldest landmarks in Snelling, the building having been erected in 1858, of sandstone construction. Since 1920 she has lived on this site in a commodious home which she rebuilt from the huge stone structure, and she owns ten acres adjoining this residence property, running back to the edge of the Merced River. Here Mrs. Ferrel dispenses a liberal hospitality to her many callers and friends.
JOHN H. SIMONSON
In political and financial circles in Merced County, John H. Simon- son has wielded a wide influence for many years and as a public-spirited and broad-minded citizen has helped to make it the Merced County of today. He was born near Hamburg, Germany, on November 6, 1850, the son of Jasper and Anna Maria (Clausen) Simonson. Jas- per Simonson was a cabinet-maker and he immigrated to America in 1857. Purchasing land in Minnesota, near Ulen, he farmed one year, then he moved into Marine Mills, Minn., and followed his trade until his death. This worthy couple had six children, John H. being the youngest.
Obtaining his early education in the public schools of Marine Mills, Minn., John H. Simonson became a wage-earner at the age of thirteen, becoming a clerk in a general store; he was promoted to be bookkeeper and remained with the same firm until 1876. The fall of that year he came to Merced and accepted a position with the house of Simon, Jacobs & Company, and here he continued as bookkeeper two and one-half years. He was asked to become the nominee on the Republican ticket for county clerk, was elected and served from
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March, 1880, until January, 1883, the term having been extended by legislative action. Mr. Simonson was reelected twice, serving until January, 1887, to the satisfaction of nearly everybody. He then engaged in the real estate and abstract business, compiling a complete set of abstract books. In 1890 he was nominated on the Republican ticket for county assessor and, being elected, served for four years, and was reelected for a second term, serving until January, 1899. He refused to again become a candidate and returned to his former business and as the senior partner in the firm of Simonson-Harrell Abstract Company carries on a thriving business in real estate and abstracting, handling both city and country properties. He is also a live-wire insurance agent and broker.
John H. Simonson was united in marriage in Merced, to Miss Jessie B. Stoddard, who was born in Calaveras County, a daughter of that early settler, E. M. Stoddard. They have a son, Stanley S. Simonson, who is in business with his father. There is one grand- child, Stanley S. Jr., to brighten the Simonson home circle.
Mr. Simonson is prominent in fraternal circles and is a member of the various Masonic bodies. He was made a Mason in St. John's Lodge No. 1, A. F. & A. M. at Stillwater, Minn., and after being a member for fifty years, demitted to Yosemite Lodge No. 99; he de- mitted to Merced Chapter No. 12, R. A. M., in which he is a Past High Priest; he belongs to Fresno Commandery No. 29, K. T .; and to Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. in San Franscico. He is a mem- ber and a Past Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias. He has always been a stanch Republican and has served on the county central com- mittee for many years. As one of the best-known and among the most active citizens of the county John H. Simonson holds a recog- nized position here and throughout the San Joaquin Valley.
GEORGE A. KAHL
In the life history of George A. Kahl we find he is a worthy son of the late Adam Kahl and his good wife, whose sketch appears on another page of this history, and who are worthy of mention for the part they played in the early history of Merced County. George A. was born in the county in which he now lives, on September 26, 1866, and with the exception of a very few years, his life has been passed amidst the scenes of his birthplace. He attended the public schools and the Stockton Business College, spending five years in perfecting himself for the responsibilities of later years. He then spent a few months in San Luis Obispo County, and then returned to Merced County, where he settled down to the life of a rancher; and that he has more than made good is shown by his possessions today
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and by the position he holds in the esteem of his fellow-citizens. With his brother, Ernest D. Kahl, he operated the home ranch with good results in raising grain and stock. He has always been in the front rank with those who help to make for progress and was one of the first men in the Plainsburg section to install a rural telephone, and with the march of progress he has been extensively interested in developing orchards and vineyards on his own ranch. With the ad- vent of irrigation and intensive farming to fruit and vines Mr. Kahl has noted with the greatest of satisfaction that the prosperity of the citizens has been on the up-grade, and they have shown their public spirit by encouraging every worthy cause for advancement of com- munity and county.
When George A. Kahl came to marry, on April 26, 1888, he was united with Miss Mabel B. Gardner, born in Tennessee, a daughter of William Gardner. Mr. and Mrs. Kahl have had five children : Georgia W., wife of H. H. Vasche of Napa; Evelina M., died at the age of eighteen months; Helena W., Mrs. R. C. Wakeman of Norwalk, Ct .; Guy, in Merced; Mabel L., married Richard Norris and is deceased. Fraternally, Mr. Kahl is a member of Merced Lodge No. 208, I.O.O.F .; Merced Encampment No. 46, I.O.O.F .; and Merced Lodge No. 1240, B.P.O.E. Politically, he casts his vote for the best men and measures. For fifteen years he served as justice of the peace (1891-1906). He is one of the dependable men of the county and has an ever-widening circle of friends.
JAMES G. RUDDLE
One of the most likable men in Merced County and one who has witnessed the gradual growth and development of the whole State since he was old enough to remember, is James G. Ruddle, born January 7, 1862, the oldest and only surviving child of the family of the late John Ruddle and his wife, who are mentioned at length on another page of this history. James G. attended the schools in Hopeton and in Merced and he has spent his entire life on the ranch. At an early age he began riding the range, the country then being in its virgin state when there were no fences to impede travel and with cattle roaming at will. During the late seventies he was engaged in sheep-raising and wool-growing and continued along those lines for more than ten years with varied success. He owns some 2000 acres of river bottom land upon which there is being carried on six dairies with about 1000 head of milch cows which are owned by the tenants. This industry was started with about 100 cows and with the passing of the years has grown to be a large and paying industry.
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Mr. Ruddle devotes his time to viticulture and horticulture, begin- ning in 1921 to plant fruit on a commercial scale in order to keep up with the progress of the county along those lines of industry. Mr. Ruddle has set a section of his own land to peaches, 640 acres to Thompson seedless grapes and eighty acres to Malagas. Of this privately-owned tract, 800 acres are in the Merced Irrigation District and the balance is on a higher elevation, supplied with water from three deep wells, the smallest of which throws 1200 gallons per minute. Mr. Ruddle has men who have been in his employ for thirty- five years.
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