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 44
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85
As the stock-raising and farming interests increased Mr. Ruddle kept abreast of the times and in time he conducted a mill, fitted with modern machinery and sanitary in every way to make flour; and the mill was run to capacity, which is 100 barrels of flour daily. He has come to own 3800 acres of land, all of which he has operated him- self until he began leasing to dairy tenants. With James F. Peck, J. D. Bradley and others Mr. Ruddle installed the electric lighting plant in Merced Falls, it being the first water-power plant in this county, and he was one of the organizers of the Merced Falls Electric Light Company. He has been a hard worker, thoroughly honest and straightforward in all his dealings, and has won a high place in the esteem of his fellow-men.
Mr. Ruddle was united in marriage with Annette Stockard, born at Hills Ferry, Stanislaus County, a daughter of the late John Stockard, a California pioneer of 1852, and a niece of James J. Stevinson, who settled on the San Joaquin River in 1852. The children born of this union are : John Garland, who is associated with his father in business and is a favorite native son of Merced County, and Allan B., who resides in Merced. James G. Ruddle is a member of the Merced Lodge of Elks, having been one of the men who was instrumental in its organization; and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias in Merced. Politically he is independent and gives his co-operation to all progresive movements. The Ruddle home site is one of the most scenic in the county as it overlooks the fertile lands on the river be- low the town of Snelling, and here a broad and liberal Californian hospitality is dispensed to a large circle of friends.
FRED AMHERST ROBINSON
Prominent among the well-known and highly esteemed county officials of Merced County is Fred Amherst Robinson, who as county assessor has won friends among all classes of people by his genial manners and kindly courtesy. His training for public service began
461
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
in 1898 when he became deputy county assessor under A. G. Clough and covered a period of twenty years. Six years ago he was elected county assessor, and he has served with entire satisfaction to the public.
Fred Amherst Robinson was born in Providence., R. I., on Janu- ary 19, 1864, a son of Augustus W. and Mary (Herrick) Robinson. When our subject was a young lad he had the misfortune to lose his mother. In 1876 he accompanied his father and an uncle to Califor- nia and they located in San Francisco where they remained for two years. The father then engaged in mining at Hornitos, Mariposa County, which occupied him for three years, when he located in Merced and engaged in the life insurance business with Sam Bates. In 1888 he returned to San Francisco and there passed away.
Fred Amherst Robinson received his education in the grammar and high schools in San Francisco. His school days over, he engaged in mining for two years, then took up the study of dentistry and prac- ticed this profession in Nevada County four years, meeting with fair success. Then he engaged in contracting and building until 1898 when he became deputy county assessor.
The marriage of Mr. Robinson united him with Miss Susan Jones, born at Quartzville, Mariposa County, Cal., and they are the parents of two children : Ella J. is now Mrs. Keefer; and Lloyd A. is deputy county assessor of Marin County, Cal .; there are five grandchildren. Mr. Robinson is a Republican in politics and is affiliated with the Elks of Merced. He finds his recreation in periodic trips to the mountains, where he enjoys hunting and fishing. Mr. Robinson is a liberal and enterprising citizen and holds a high place among the men who have aided materially in the development and upbuilding of this section of California.
CHARLES D. MARTIN
The fortunes of Charles D. Martin have been more or less intimately identified with the State of California since 1882. His life has been a varied and eventful one and its record is entitled to a place in the history of the State and more especially of Merced Coun- ty, which has been the scene of his activity since 1884. Mr. Martin was born in Watertown, N. Y., on July 13, 1863, a son of James and Abigale (Pinney) Martin. James Martin was also born at Water- town and was a successful candy manufacturer during his life. Mrs. Martin was a native of Vermont and both are now deceased.
Charles D. Martin completed the grammar and high school courses in Watertown, after which he took private instruction in civil engineering. In 1882 he came West to San Francisco and entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, remaining
462
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
for two years. He then came to Merced, in the interests of Charles Crocker, to assist in the construction of the canal location, which was known at one time as the Merced Irrigation Company, and still later as the Crocker-Huffman Land & Water Company, and in June of that year he was given entire charge of the engineering department. Some years later he had full charge of the distribution of water. Mr. Martin had the supervision of the development work of this company for twenty-seven years. From 1886 to 1890 he was county surveyor of Merced County. In 1911 he entered private practice but was retained as consulting engineer for the Crocker-Huffman Company. Mr. Martin is now occupying the position of city engineer for Mer- ced; in this position his more than ordinary ability and experience find an ample outlet, and this locality is indeed fortunate in securing such an able man.
The marriage of Mr. Martin united him with Miss Hallie Bost, born in California the daughter of John and Mary (Fitzhugh) Bost. Three children have blessed this union, viz: Beatrice is now Mrs. Allan B. Ruddle; Rosalind is the wife of Delwin Shumann; and Alan Bost, who entered the service of the United States and served during the World War, arriving at New York the day the armistice was signed. He married Isabelle Kerrick, of Stockton and they have one child, Kerrick Martin. Mr. Martin is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and belongs to the California Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Politically he is a Republican.
JOE CLEVELAND COCANOUR
A man of excellent business ability and thrift, Joe Cleveland Cocanour is a worthy representative of the successful business inter- ests of Merced County and the San Joaquin Valley and he is held in high esteem as a man and citizen throughout the entire commun- ity. A native of California, he was born in Merced, on July 30, 1883, the son of John Boyd and Mary E. (Mitchell) Cocanour. John Boyd Cocanour was born in Lancaster County, Pa., on April 15, 1813, and when he was eleven years old he went to New Orleans. In 1832 he located in Fort Wayne, Ind., where he worked at the trade of carpenter until 1850. In that memorable year he left for Cali- fornia via Panama and arrived in San Francisco on August 12. He went at once to the mines and after a short time spent in seeking for gold he turned his attention to raising cattle, realizing that a surer way to independence would be found in that line of work. He ranged his stock along the Merced and San Joaquin Rivers and met with good success, having as high as 8000 to 10,000 head of stock. He
463
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
used to hold his rodeo on Bear Creek near the present site of Merced. He took an active part in the political life of the country and served as supervisor of Mariposa County before Merced was organized, and when the latter county was formed he became a member of the supervisorial board here, serving in all fourteen years. He was one of the prime movers in establishing the Merced Woolen Mills and was a large stockholder in it. With the changing of conditions Mr. Cocanour disposed of his cattle in 1872 and thereafter devoted his time to agriculture. He was one of the builders of the Madera Flume and lost a fortune in its construction, as did the other promoters of the project. In 1877 he married Miss Mary Mitchell; and they had three children: Mary Alma, of Merced; John Roy, in the San Joaquin; and Joe Cleveland. For several years prior to his death John Boyd Cocanour was superintendent of the County Hospital. He passed away on November 26, 1893 at the age of eighty years. Mrs. Cocanour is still living in Merced.
Joe C. Cocanour attended the Merced public schools and when he was about twenty-five years old he entered the retail grocery busi- ness but during 1923 he changed to the wholesale grocery and pro- duce business and is building up a wonderful trade. Besides shipping in carload lots he is also a wholesale distributor for Merced. During the busy season he employs 100 people and is the largest truck-shipper in this locality.
As early as 1915 Mr. Cocanour began packing and shipping tomatoes, first on a small scale and continuing until his business has grown from year to year until he now operates two packing houses and ships hundreds of cars of tomatoes to all parts of the United States every year. It was directly through his efforts that the Merced Tomato Products Co. is building a $100,000 plant at Merced for canning tomatoes, specializing on tomato paste. Through extended tests it has been found that the Merced tomato is best adapted for that product. The 1925 acreage will total 2000 acres. Besides to- matoes, Mr. Cocanour has the largest single tract of land in sweet potatoes in California that has ever been planted.
Mr. Cocanour was united in marriage with Miss Della May Dean, a native daughter of Merced, and they have two children, Donald and Jane. Fraternally, Mr. Cocanour is identified with Mer- ced Lodge No. 208, I. O. O. F .; Merced Lodge No. 1240, B. P. O. E .; and Yosemite Parlor No. 24, N. S. G. W. In politics he sup- ports the democratic candidate in national elections but in local affairs considers the man best fitted for the position. He is deeply interested in the growth and development of the county and State and supports liberally with his time and means those projects that have for their aims the upbuilding of the commonwealth.
464
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
H. KYLBERG, M. D.
It would be hard to find a man more thoroughly in accord with the times, or more keenly alive to the great work to be done in this generation to help forward world affairs and scientific construction work than Dr. Kylberg. Besides being eminent in his profession as a physician and surgeon, he has given much time and thought, and un- limited energy, to help with projects for his district which are un- limited in the scope of their effect on posterity ; projects which required the aid of a man big enough to see their ultimate object, and to push forward to success over and through all obstacles. The bill which he introduced and put through the State legislature and which made possible the Merced Irrigation District, and was passed over great opposition, is just one instance of the true caliber of the man, who, though born in a far country, has been an important factor in California's growth.
A native of Kalmar, born October 16, 1865, on the Baltic Sea in Sweden, Dr. Kylberg was educated in Gothenberg, Sweden and began his medical education in London, England. After coming to this country he was graduated from the California Medical College, in San Francisco, in 1893, and took a post-graduate course in London hospitals. He practiced in San Francisco until 1899, and was pro- fessor of surgical anatomy in the California Medical College there for two years. He then was located in Calaveras and Mariposa Counties for a time, in the practice of his profession. Coming to Merced County in 1910, for five years Dr. Kylberg was surgeon for the Yosemite Lumber Company at Merced Falls. An expert in bone surgery, he performed bone grafting operations with great success, and became prominent in that line of work.
A deep student, the Doctor knows the value of keeping abreast of the times in scientific work, and he has taken post-graduate courses in Chicago and New York hospitals, and also with those interna- tionally known surgeons, the Mayo Brothers, of Rochester, Minn., taking a post-graduate course with them in 1923. During his prac- tice in California he has been county physician of Mariposa and Mer- ced Counties, and city health officer of Merced City.
A member of the State legislature in 1917-18, representing Mer- ced and Madera Counties, Dr. Kylberg introduced the bill in the Assembly for the Merced Irrigation District, and labored until it was passed. Great opposition developed, and it meant work early and late to put through what is now considered the most important pro- ject for future development work that has ever been instituted in Merced County, and with farreaching effect throughout the State. Other bills were introduced and passed with the aid of Dr. Kylberg, among them the bill for the County Tubercular Sanitarium. He is
465
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
known as a thoroughly public-spirited man, working for the benefit of his district at all times.
Dr. Kylberg married Miss Juanina Costa, a native of Honolulu. One son by a former marriage, Brother L. Kylberg, was a law student at Stanford University, graduate of Class of 1925. Prominent fra- ternally, the Doctor belongs to the Mariposa Lodge of Masons, and for ten years was inspector of the Masonic District comprising Mari- posa, Merced and Stanislaus Counties ; he belongs to Merced Chapter No. 12, R. A. M., and Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T. He is a Past Exalted Ruler of Merced Lodge 1240, B. P. O. E. He is known throughout the Valley for his success as a physician and sur- geon, and as a man of fine principle and attainment. For six years he acted as secretary of the Merced County Medical Association, and has proven his worth by giving always of his time and energy to help in the civic and welfare work of the county at large.
ANTONIO PADULA
It is a trite saying that "A rolling stone gathers no moss," but Antonio Padula had done a great deal of traveling in his day before he finally settled down as a pioneer in Los Banos. He was born in lower Italy, on November 10, 1858, the son of Vingenzio and Rosa (Poppala) Padula, both born and reared in Italy and both now deceased, dying in Los Banos, the mother in 1918, and the father in 1922; they were brought to this country by Antonio in 1895, and he cared for them until they died. While a mere lad Antonio went to Montevideo, S. A., at the age of nine and there he learned the shoe- maker's trade, working for a time in a shoe factory. At the age of eighteen he went back to Italy to visit, and eighteen months later returned to South America. He once more returned to his native land and while there was married, then he was in Panama and other Central American countries, but not to make a permanent home. Again returning to Italy he spent two years, and next set out for America and California, where he arrived in 1888 when Los Banos was but a small village, and he worked for a Mr. Davis, also for a Mr. Leonard. He left his wife and daughter in Italy and after he had secured a job with Miller and Lux as a harness maker his wife and daughter joined him in 1892. Finally he had saved money enough to go into business for himself as a shoemaker, harness repairer and general leather worker and carried on a good business in Los Banos for several years. In 1895 he made a trip back to Italy after his parents, who thereafter made their home with him here. He has been successful and owns a thirty-two acre alfalfa ranch; built and
466
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
owns the Buick garage and other business blocks on I Street besides a number of houses and lots in Los Banos, and property in Italy.
On May 26, 1884, Antonio Padula and Teresa Ciuffa were mar- ried in Italy, where his wife was born, and they have the following children: Rosie, wife of L. Emberlee and mother of Teresa and Antonio Emberlee; Camilla, wife of John Emberlee has two children, Rosa and Antonio; James L., of Dos Palos married and has a daugh- ter, Maryln; Marie, the wife of L. Puccinelli, has two daughters, Eunice and Florina; Flora, married Antone Toscano and lives with her parents. In November, 1895, Mr. Padula became an American citizen and votes with the Republicans. He was one of the founders, in February, 1901, of the Foresters of America Lodge No. 178 and was the first Chief Ranger. He has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows since 1898. He has always tried to do his share to help build up Los Banos and can be counted upon to advance the interests of the entire county when matters of importance come up. He is well-liked and highly respected by all who know him.
GUST E. JOHNSON
A pioneer of the Hilmar Colony of 1903 in California, Gust E. Johnson has been closely identified with the movements that have brought this favored section of Merced County to the front. He was born at Brattrud, Laxareby, Dalsland, Sweden, on January 23, 1862, the sixth son of Johannes and Maria Lovisa (Bergman) Andersson, and was educated in what was known as the "folk" school in Sweden. As he grew to young manhood he learned the trade of carpenter in Sweden, then went to Norway where he was employed for eighteen months in the nickel and copper mines. He returned to Sweden for a short visit and then sailed for America in the spring of 1882, coming direct to the State of Iowa, where he remained for some months and then went to Minneapolis, Minn., and for the fol- lowing three years followed his trade of carpenter, principally in shop work. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Johnson traveled westward into British Columbia to work as a bridge carpenter on the Canadian Pacific Railway, remaining in the Canadian Northwest until the summer of 1886, when he returned to Minneapolis and again took up shop work until the spring of 1887. He then left for Eastern Colorado, where he took up a homestead in what was then Weld County, later being incorporated into Phillips County. While proving up on his land he worked at his trade in the city of Denver. However, not seeing his way clear to start farming in earnest he relinquished the homestead and remained in Denver.
Geo. FR. Whitworth.
469
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
While living in Denver, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage on March 20, 1889, with Miss Hilma S. Nelson, also born near Oskars- hamn, Sweden. In 1891 they removed to Durango, Colo., where Mr. Johnson followed his trade and later engaged in the lumber busi- ness for four years, or until leaving for California in 1903, coming direct to Hilmar Colony, where they have since made their home. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had eight children, viz .: George W., who married Bertha L. Thyberg of Oakland, and died in 1924, survived by his widow and three children; Carl Oscar, who died in infancy; Gust Adolph, who married Signey Johnson, a native of Sweden; Ernest Theodore, who married Olive M. Lundell of the Hilmar Colony; Marie Louise, Harry David, Hazel Malvi and Irwin Ben- jamin are single. Mr. Johnson has always voted the Democratic ticket and he is a life member of Durango Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M. The Johnson family are well-known and highly respected citi- zens in this section of California.
GEO. H. WHITWORTH
After many years of faithful public service in Merced County, the late Geo. H. Whitworth passed to his reward on October 8, 1922. He had been elected and reelected to the responsible office of super- visor again and again, and his associates honored him with a term as chairman of the board. So long had been his identification with this county, and so intimate his association with local development, that, viewing the remarkable transformation wrought within his memory, he could well exclaim "All of which I saw, and part of which I was." Great as had been his activity in general, it was as supervisor that the people of his home county most appreciated Mr. Whitworth, who served them in that office more than twenty years, having been chosen by a good majority at each succeeding election. His heart and mind were engrossed in the well-being of the county, and such was his suc- cess in the solution of many difficult problems that his fellow-citizens more and more reposed their confidence in him.
Geo. H. Whitworth was born at Dutch Bar, on Woods Creek, Tuolumne County, March 10, 1856, the son of Henry and Ann (Hall) Whitworth, natives of Lincolnshire, England. His father left Liverpool for America on September 12, 1848, and pushed his way west to Chicago. On learning of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, he with others planned to reach the new Eldorado. They outfitted at St. Louis, Mo .; and with a train of wagons drawn by mules, there being fifty men in the party, he crossed the plains, com- ing by the southern route. During the trip, each night the train was
14
470
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
guarded with military precision, and particularly was this necessary while passing through the Apache Indian country. On reaching Cali- fornia they made their way up the coast to San Jose Mission, and from there they traveled south to cross the Coast Range at Pacheco Pass and, after crossing the San Joaquin River at Hill's Ferry, went into the Mariposa mines.
Later, Henry Whitworth came to Tuolumne County, where he hauled provisions with an eight-mule team from Stockton to the stores and miners at Chinese Camp and vicinity. Later he kept a provision store for Walkerly Brothers at Dutch Bar, where our sub- ject first saw the light. Afterwards he was engaged in mining at Chinese Camp, and then, still later, near Crimea House on Keystone Flat, where our subject first went to school. Henry Whitworth ac- quired an interest in the old Eagle Quartz Mining Company at Blue Gulch, on Woods Creek, where they had a mill. He had so won the confidence of his associates that it was his task to divide the gold and weigh each one's share as it was handed to the different parties in- terested in the mine. Mr. Whitworth and Ann Hall had become engaged to be married back in England, and she made the trip to California early in 1855. She was met by Mr. Whitworth, and their marriage was immediately consummated; and he then took his bride back to the mines, where he continued until 1863. The family then moved, with teams and wagons, to Contra Costa County, taking three days for the journey. There he farmed until 1869. In 1868 he had homesteaded and preempted land on Quinto Creek, in Merced County, about twelve miles south of Newman, and in 1869 located on the place and engaged in farming and stock-raising, in which he was very successful. In 1877 he was bereaved of his faithful wife, whom he survived for twenty years, passing away in 1897.
Of the three children born to this worthy pioneer couple, Geo. H. Whitworth was the oldest, and was the last one to pass away. As has been stated, he first went to school near the old Crimea House on Keystone Flat; and later for a short time he attended a preparatory school at Berkeley. Thereafter his education was obtained by his own efforts through reading and studying at night and through first- hand practical experience, until he came to be known as a well-in- formed man. In 1877 he started out for himself, embarking in grain- raising on Quinto Creek on a ranch of 600 acres. He really acquired for his enterprise 450 acres and then leased adjoining land. In 1882 he came to the present location and purchased 120 acres three miles south of Newman, under the San Joaquin River canal, and later added eighty acres to his holding. This land he leveled and checked and sowed to alfalfa. The soil is very rich and productive and yields large crops. The 200 acres have been divided into two ranches, each
471
HISTORY OF MERCED COUNTY
leased to tenants and improved with a set of farm buildings, with sanitary barns for dairying, the two places carrying about 150 cows. He also owned eighty acres across the canal, which he planned to put out to alfalfa, but this has since been sold.
In December, 1892, Geo. H. Whitworth was married at Santa Cruz to Miss Agnes Mahoney, born in San Francisco, by whom three children were born. John Henry and George Hall are living; and the youngest was Carol, who died when she was six months old. Mrs. Whitworth passed away in 1903.
On May 27, 1905, Mr. Whitworth married the second time, be- ing united with Miss Harriet Collier, born at Shaw's Flat near So- nora, Tuolumne County, a daughter of William G. and Ann Eliza (Jackson) Collier. On the maternal side she is related to Gen. Stonewall Jackson and to Gen. Robert E. Lee. Her parents moved to Merced County when she was but three years old, her father be- coming a large stock-raiser, owning some 2500 head of cattle and a ranch of some 1500 acres of land on Merced River. He was born in Kentucky, had the advantages of a fine schooling, was a civil engi- neer and served as county surveyor of Merced County. He went to Missouri when young, and there his wife was born. In 1853 he started across the plains and upon his arrival in California settled in Tuolumne County, in the mountains, and was engaged in lumbering. Both parents passed away in Merced County after long and useful lives. Their daughter, Mrs. Whitworth, attended the grammar schools of her district and later graduated from the San Jose State Normal and became a teacher in the schools of Merced County, where she spent twenty years. She inherited 156 acres of the Col- lier estate on the Merced River, and later Mr. Whitworth bought 104 acres adjoining, all of which they improved with a pumping plant and devoted to alfalfa. This property was later sold at a good ad- vantage.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.