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 47
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On December 27, 1886, occurred the marriage of Daniel Halter- man and Miss Ellen Weston, born in Mariposa County, the daughter of the late Louis Weston, a pioneer miner and a well-known and honored citizen of this part of the San Joaquin Valley. There were five children born of this union : Mary E., Mrs. J. E. Stanfield, now living in Atwater and the mother of a son, Eugene; Verl L., a ma- chinist at Snelling; Florence, Mrs. H. K. Potter, of Sacramento and the mother of two children, Harry J. R. and Bernice; Donald Joseph, of Atwater is the fourth; and Helen I., a pupil in the local school. Mr. Halterman is a Republican in his political belief and he is a firm believer in co-operative marketing and is a member of the Atwater Fruit Exchange, the Merced-Stanislaus Sweet Potato Association and the Milk Producers' Association of Central California.
WILLIAM E. BUNKER
The Bunker family, represented in Merced County by William E. Bunker, extensive agriculturist, were citizens of New England for many years. The father of our subject, Nathaniel Emmons Bunker, left Massachusetts to seek a new location and settled in Minnesota where he took up government land, on which he farmed. After a few years he came farther west to Nevada and became a pioneer of that State and for several years served as a member of the State legislature. He married Miss Elizabeth B. Dunning, also of New England birth, and by this union six children were born, namely : Minnie E., deceased; Charles E., lives in San Francisco; William E., the subject of this review ; Fred E .; Sadie, the wife of J. St. Clair; and David T. In 1868 the parents came to the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley settling in the Cottonwood district; from time to time land was purchased until they farmed 3000 acres of deeded and
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rented land besides range lands. Here large bands of sheep, hundreds of cattle and great quantities of grain were raised. A few years prior to his death the father moved to Oakland, and there he passed away at the age of seventy-six years ; the mother passed away at Modesto, in December 1924, at the age of seventy-seven.
William E. Bunker was born on October 14, 1873, in the Cotton- wood district of Merced County and at the district school adjacent to his father's ranch he first attended school; later when the family removed to Oakland he also attended school there. In young man- hood he became associated with his father in farming and after his father's death the estate was divided among the heirs and Mr. Bunker farms his share consisting of about 500 acres, a portion of which lies in the Cottonwood district. Of recent years he has leased a part of his ranch for dairy purposes, retaining an interest in the business, his share of the dairy herd being about 120 head. His herd sire came from the Bridgeford Holstein Farm at Patterson and Mr. Bunker is gradually bringing his stock to a registered herd. Mr. Bunker has a walnut orchard of five acres on the home place, and walnut trees have been contracted for to set out 100 acres more; he has an orchard of fifty acres of black Mission figs and fifteen acres in walnuts on a ranch at the south edge of the Cottonwood district.
September 2, 1903, in the Cottonwood district of Merced County, Mr. Bunker was married to Miss Rose T. Pfitzer, born at San Felipe, Cal., daughter of Anthony and Theresa (Mayr), both natives of Germany. They were pioneers of California and came to the San Luis district of Merced County in 1868 where he owned extensive range lands and engaged extensively in the sheep business. There are nine children in this family : Frank; Joseph; Mary, Mrs. Domen- gine; Julia, Mrs. McCabe; Anthony; Rose T., the wife of our sub- ject ; William; Clarice; and Louis. Mr. and Mrs. Bunker have three children, Edwin, Jack, and Elizabeth. Upon the death of Geo. H. Whitworth, Mr. Bunker was appointed by Governor Richardson to fill the unexpired term of two years as supervisor of the Fourth Dis- trict of Merced County. During the World War, Mr. Bunker leased his ranch and removed to Merced and for two years served on the exemption board. He is a member of the Walnut Growers' Associa- tion and a director in the Bank of Gustine. Since 1913 Mr. Bunker has served as clerk of the Gustine High School board and is also a trustee of the Gustine Grammar School; since 1919 he has been the president of the Chamber of Commerce. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bunker are Republicans. Fraternally, Mr. Bunker is a member of Hills Ferry Lodge, No. 236, F. & A. M., at Newman; Modesto Chapter No. 49, R. A. M .; Modesto Commandery No. 57, K. T., and Aahmes Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., at Oakland.
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JOHN S. CARDOZA
One of the leading Portuguese-American citizens of the West Side of Merced County is John S. Cardoza, born at St. George, in the Azores, on October 12, 1859, the second child born to Antone and Anna (Silvieira) Cardoza. The father followed farming all his life in his native land. The mother died in 1869, when her son was a lad of ten years, and it was after the death of this parent that our subject began to be self-supporting. He was given work to do on the farm that would have been enough for a man, but he was strong and willing and in a way accomplished what he was set to do. He had but little opportunity to go to school for his days were given over to monotonous work and, as he grew older, he could see but little promise for the years that were to come; so he decided he would come to America where there was more opportunity for a man of persistency and purpose.
In 1873, when fourteen years of age, J. S. Cardoza landed in New York, with but little money and among strangers. He secured work on a farm in Rhode Island, but the wages were small and after eighteen months he had saved barely enough to pay his passage to California, where he arrived on January 1, 1875, having but a "two- bit" piece in his pocket. He was ambitious to get ahead and he worked his way to the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley where there were many of his countrymen with whom he easily found work on a ranch. He saved his money and by 1881 was able to embark in ranching for himself on 1000 acres of leased land upon which he began raising grain, each year adding to his leasehold until he had under cultivation some 2500 acres. He was so successful in disposing of his grain that in 1885 he and Charles Nye purchased 160 acres of the Page tract, which they put into alfalfa and sold at a good profit. Mr. Cardoza then bought his present home place, first only eighty acres, then adding seventy, all of which he improved with a good set of farm buildings, with barns suitable for dairying, and here he has been successfully engaged in that industry ever since. He was one of the pioneers in the dairy business in this locality and with the pass- ing of the years he has won the respect and good will of his neighbors and has an ever-widening circle of friends. Upon the organization of the Bank of Newman Mr. Cardoza was invited to become a stock- holder and later was made a director and after some years sold his stock. In fact nearly every project for advancement of this section has had his hearty cooperation and support.
The marriage of John S. Cardoza at Centerville, Cal., united him with Miss Mary Munyan, who was born there, a daughter of Frank Munyan, who crossed the plains in 1849 and had the usual experiences of the pioneers in that long and hazardous journey. He mined for
DR. WM. ROBINSON
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a time, abandoning that to undertake ranching near Centerville, in which occupation he was very successful. Of this marriage there were born the following children : Charles ; Lena, married Frank Dias, has two children, Frances and John, and lives in Merced; Geneva, wife of Tracy Barrett, lives in Berkeley; Carrie, married Ralph Reed and resides in Stockton; Lunas; and Stuart, all of whom have had the advantages of the best schools to prepare them for the battle of life. Mr. Cardoza is a Republican in politics of national import, but in local affairs he believes in the best men for the office regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Knights of Phythias, Woodmen of the World, Women of Woodcraft, Degree of Honor, and United Portuguese Union. In the review of the life of this worthy citizen we find that his success, and the position of honor in which he is held, are the result of prudence, perseverance and push, the three P's of success, all combined with good citizenship.
DR. WILLIAM ROBINSON
The subject of this interesting review, Dr. William Robinson, was born in Athens County, Ohio, September 12, 1828, a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Robinson. The father died at Zanes- ville, Ohio, in 1833. At the age of fourteen years, William Robin- son assumed the responsibilty of providing for himself, and until he was sixteen years old worked for four dollars a month. In December, 1844, he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and there took up a govern- ment claim, on which he built a cabin. In a short time he went to Schuyler County, Ill., and there engaged in the trade of broom-mak- ing. In 1847 he enlisted in the service of his country in the war against Mexico, being a member of Company C, commanded by Capt. N. C. Cunningham. He arrived at the front too late to par- ticipate in the actual fighting, but did patrol duty until he was honor- ably discharged on July 7, 1848. During his service in the war with Mexico he mastered the Spanish language, becoming very proficient. On September 1, 1848 he went to Independence, Mo., where he was in the employ of a railroad company, for a time, and then returned to Schuyler County, Ill., and worked at the cooper's trade until 1850.
In 1850 William Robinson was married to Miss Susanna Wood- ruff, and they removed to Henderson County, Ill., where he devoted his energies to agriculture until 1854. His next abiding place was Oskaloosa, Iowa, and there he farmed and worked at the cooper's trade until 1863. Then came a call for additional troops to defend the old flag, and he volunteered in Captain Sherry's 3rd Iowa Cav- alry, serving in the quartermaster's department at Davenport for
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nine months, when he was discharged on account of the death of his wife, who left five children: William H .; Joshua A .; Annie Jane, who married Joseph Brady of Kansas City, Mo .; George Edward; and Addie Leona, who married Peter S. Skelly. He then worked at the carpenters' trade for a while. In September, 1869, Dr. Robin- son was married a second time, this union joining him to Miss Melissa Yonker. After their marriage they removed to Missouri, where he farmed from 1869 to 1874. Then followed the journey to Cali- fornia, where Mr. Robinson became the owner of one of the pro- ductive farms in Merced County. Of this second marriage the fol- lowing children were born : James B .; Nellie M., who married Joseph Harrigan of San Francisco; Benjamin B., a rancher near Snelling; Frank D., in Merced; Flora B., wife of John Wolfsen of Merced County ; Sheldon, who died aged twenty years; and Alice, who died in childhood.
Dr. Robinson's career was marked with many changes, and he experienced many different phases of life, but the attractions of the Golden State were sufficient to hold him for the balance of his life. He passed away in Merced in 1905, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Robinson passed on in 1911. Dr. Robinson was an exemplary citi- zen. He was strictly temperate in his habits, a profound student of the Bible, and in every way a man whom it was an honor to know; and he was recognized as one of the most esteemed citizens of Merced County.
DAVID L. ELLIS
The life story of this "born and reared" Californian is full of interest to all students of history, including as it does the experiences of pioneer parents, and his own life as a youth, during the early days in the settling up of the valley regions of the State. Born in Plains- burg, Merced County, August 29, 1869, of Scotch-English extraction, David L. Ellis is the eldest of eleven children born to his parents, all of whom survive, but none of the family, with the exception of David L., now reside in Merced County. Thomas H., the father, born August 18, 1826, in Humphrey County, Tenn., was a Forty-niner, and worked his way to California with a party of emigrants who left Tennessee in 1848 and arrived at the Southern Mines in 1849, and followed mining until his marriage. After his marriage, which united him with Maggie Harris, her family at that time living near Plains- burg, he settled in Merced County, at Sandy Mush, and devoted his life to stock-raising and ranching. He was well and favorably known on the range from Stockton to Tulare Lake, and from Mariposa to
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Hollister. Active as a Democrat, he was always much interested in California progress, and did worthy work toward that end. He later sold out his Merced County interests to spend his declining years in Selma, and there his death occurred, July 10, 1899. Maggie Harris Ellis was the daughter of the late Isaac Harris, a Texas ranger who came to California in 1853 ; she was a native of the Golden State, and her death occurred November 23, 1900, at Selma, Cal.
David L. attended the Lone Tree school, with some sixty-five other pupils, having for a teacher Judge Connolly, now of Madera. He was practically reared in the saddle, working on the range with his father, and recalls many interesting experiences, one of them indelibly printed on his memory. It occurred during the exceedingly dry year of 1877, when he accompanied his father, driving a band of cattle from Sandy Mush to the North Fork of the San Joaquin River. The sad sight of the dead stock on the plains due to the drought, made an impression on his youthful mind and heart which he has never forgotten.
When Mr. Ellis started out to work on his own account, he entered the employ of Henry Miller, and remained steadily in his employ until 1890, in charge of cattle camps on the Santa Rita, New Columbia and Hoglan ranches; a faithful and trusted employee of the former "Cattle King" of California, he became well-known throughout the valley as a man to be depended upon. The next nine years were occupied at Sandy Mush homesteading 160 acres, and working on the outside on the Chowchilla ranch and also for Chamberlain & Com- pany. In the meantime he invested in the Landram Colony at Buhach buying twenty-six acres and starting development work there. He is now the owner of this ranch, having brought it to a splendid con- dition of development, and also owns city lots in Atwater.
The marriage of Mr. Ellis, July 9, 1889, at the Moran Hotel, Merced, united him with Leila Robison, born April 26, 1873, at Mariposa, the daughter of Neil and Tabitha Ann (Elam) Robison, both natives of Tennessee, the father born February 14, 1840, and died October 16, 1889, at Plainsburg, Merced County ; while his good wife was born July 3, 1849, and died February 2, 1882. Six children were born to them, Mrs. Ellis being third in order of birth. Three children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ellis : Neil L., an ex-service man who served in the World War as a Second Lieutenant, now resides in Fresno; Mae L., wife of H. A. Dodson, also of Fresno; and Lee R., at home. There is one grandchild, Neil L., Jr. Frater- nally, Mr. Ellis has been a member of the Modern Woodman of America for twenty years. He is keenly interested in the further growth and development of his section of the State, and does all in his power to aid in movements which have that end in view.
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OSCAR EUGENE SMITH
One of the "old-timers" of the West Side in Merced County is Oscar Eugene Smith, living retired at the western city limits of Los Banos. He was born in Fayette County, Iowa, on May 5, 1861, soon after the first gun of the Civil War had been fired, and was the son of Samuel A. and Nancy (Dollarhide) Smith, born in Illinois and Indiana, respectively. The father was a school teacher and farmer and thirteen months after their first child, Oscar Eugene, was born, in 1862, they set out for California, across the plains behind horse- teams, coming via the Platte River and Salt Lake routes. Arriving in California, the family lived in Yolo County one year, then settled in Solano County on the present site of Dixon, where Mr. Smith did a general farming until 1868, then came down to Merced County and settled on the West Side near what is now the town of Los Banos. Here he preempted 160 acres and bought 160 more, and began making improvements and raised grain and stock. He had to guard his fields from the depredations of the cattle belonging to Miller and Lux, he standing guard during the night and his son during the day, as there were no fences at that time. While the irrigation canal was being built Mrs. Smith boarded the engineers and foremen in charge. This couple had ten children, six now living. Mrs. Smith died in 1879, and Mr. Smith died on January 5, 1923, aged eighty-four years. A more detailed sketch of the family is given on another page in this history.
Oscar Eugene Smith grew up on the home ranch and attended the public school in Los Banos. When he was seventeen he was driving a six-horse team over the mountains through Pacheco Pass, teaming from Gilroy to the San Joaquin Valley, continuing this business until he was twenty-one. Then he married and located on a ranch he had preempted, made all improvements, and after considerable litigation over the title, which was claimed by Miller and Lux, he received his patent from the government to 160 acres and here he has lived and prospered for forty years, doing general farming and dairying. He sold eighty acres of the original quarter section; also five acres to the Associated Creameries for their plant site.
On May 31, 1883, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Amy Hunt, born in Mankato, Minn., the daughter of William Harry and Rebecca (Frizzell) Hunt, natives of New York State and Lon- don, England, respectively. Upon coming to California the Hunts settled in Ione, Amador County in 1875, where Mr. Hunt had charge of a mine. Later they moved to Stockton, and still later, about 1880, to the West Side of Merced County, where they lived until moving to Turlock, where Mr. Hunt spent the balance of his days, dying at
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the age of seventy-five. Mrs. Smith is the only survivor of the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hunt and she finished her schooling in the Central Point district school. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have had ten children, viz : Clarence E., of San Jose, married Ella Johnson and they have two children, Dorothy and Harold; Letha B., Mrs. David Allen, of Newman; Oscar Noble, deceased; Harvey S., deceased; Myrtle Ruth, married Fred Carroll of Corcoran and they have three boys, Frederic, Ruxton and William Allen; Jesse M., of Merced, served as a mechanic during the World War and was the first man to enlist from Los Banos. He trained at Kelley Field in San Antonio, Texas, then went to New York and from there to Dover and was commissioned a lieutenant. He is married and has one son, Jesse M., Jr. Wesley Leland is the pioneer mail aviator pilot in the United States service, now flying between a point in New Jersey to Belle- fontaine, Ohio. He served in the World War, entering the University of California, then going to Camp Lewis, trained at Rockwell Field and received a commission as lieutenant. He is a fine baritone singer. David H., principal of the Weber school in Stockton, has two chil- dren, David H., Jr., and Randolph; Blythe A., married Thomas Hancock of Los Banos and has two children, Thomas and Betty; and Lyle H., of Salinas. Politically Mr. Smith is a Democrat. He is a member of the Fraternal Aid of Los Banos.
JAMES CAMPBELL BAXTER
Among the pioneers who helped make history after 1868 in California, and at the same time build up for posterity a heritage of a good name and a competence to start them out in the world, was the late James Campbell Baxter. He was born in Nova Scotia on March 19, 1841, the son of David and Helen (Waugh) Baxter, both born in Scotland, the former on March 30, 1799, and the latter on June 25, 1800. They were married on January 13, 1824, and raised their family on a farm. James C. attended the schools in his native province and farmed there until 1862, when he was united in marriage with Agnes Miller, who was born in Nova Scotia in 1842. He had decided he would come to California, where a brother, Robert Baxter, had already settled, and in 1868 he left his family in Nova Scotia and came via Panama, arriving in that year in San Joaquin County. He farmed near the present site of Tracy with ordinary results ; also he and Lee Fancher worked together in the construction of the Central Pacific Railway when it was built into Stockton. In In 1871 Mr. Baxter came into Merced County and settled about twelve miles from Plainsburg, hauling the lumber for his first house
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from Dover, a point then reached by the steamers plying the San Joaquin River. He began to make headway and developed a ranch, equal to the best in the county.
In 1874 Mr. Baxter was joined by his wife and their two children, George W. and Margaret Ellen, who later became the wife of Ernest Kahl. In time the following children were added to the family circle : James Robert, David Andrew, Mary Agnes, Mabel Agnes, now in Oakland, John Jerdine and Harrison. Their oldest child, named David, had died in Canada. Mrs. Baxter passed to her reward in 1891. Mr. Baxter continued to be a successful farmer and stockman in Merced County until 1900, when he retired to Oakland and there he passed away on December 17, 1924. He left to his heirs 3400 acres of as fine land as there is to be found in Merced County. Mr. Baxter was a Christian gentleman and endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact.
CHARLES W. KAHL, M.D.
A native son of Merced County who is now a well-known profes- sional man in his home community, Dr. Kahl was born in the Plains- burg District on Mariposa Creek, on December 24, 1868, the son of Adam and Lydia Ann (Spangenberg) Kahl, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of New York State, both now deceased. The father reached seventy-eight years, and the mother eighty-five, dying in September, 1924. After receiving his preliminary education in the district schools, Charles W. Kahl attended Bainbridge Business College, at Stockton, and then returned to his father's ranch, remain- ing there until 1891. In 1896, he was graduated from the Missouri Valley College, at Marshall, Mo., with the degree of A. B., and in 1899, he was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, San Francisco, with his degree of M. D.
Dr. Kahl then passed one year in Nome, Alaska, and was later surgeon on the John S. Kimball steamship line, between San Fran- cisco, Seattle and Honolulu, putting in two years in that service. He next practiced medicine in San Francisco, at Sixteenth and Mission Streets, and was burned out by the big earthquake and fire of 1906, losing all his effects, and gave his services to help the suffering popu- lation of the metropolis during that trying time. On account of ill health, he returned to Merced County, locating at Le Grand, and in 1914 opened his office in Merced, and has since that time main- tained his practice here, in home surroundings and with a patronage upheld by the confidence of the people who have known him since childhood, and to whom he has demonstrated his ability, both as a
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man and a physician. To his practical experience he adds constant study of the new discoveries science is bringing to the world, and his conscientious application has won him many friends in the community.
Dr. Kahl has been twice married, the first union being with Isabel Allen, at San Francisco, in 1897; she was a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, and bore him two sons: Charles W., who saw service with the U. S. Navy after the war, with the Atlantic Fleet, and is now a mechanical engineer; and LeRoy, who also served in the Navy after the World War, and is now employed in the San Mateo postoffice.
Dr. Kahl's second marriage, in 1916, united him with Mrs. Eugene Reid, a native of San Francisco. Mrs. Kahl is a Past Pres- ident of Veritas Parlor of the Native Daughters, and Past Noble Grand of the Rebekahs. Fraternally, Dr. Kahl is a Past President of Yosemite Parlor No. 24, N. S. G. W., of Merced; is a member of Mariposa Lodge No. 24, F. & A. M .; Pyramid No. 14, Sciots, of Merced; Past Grand of Unity Lodge No. 131, I. O. O. F., San Francisco; and belongs to the Rebekahs, the Redmen, and the Women of Woodcraft.
MRS. LUCY DRUMMOND-HOLLINGSWORTH
Among the pioneer women of Merced County, none is held in greater respect than Mrs. Lucy Drummond-Hollingsworth, who has been an eye-witness to the wonderful growth and development of Merced County, where she has borne her part as a substantial citizen. She was born near Ashton, Ill., a daughter of John Quincy and Eliza Jane (Rosecrans) Drummond, both natives of Ohio. Her father was born June 20, 1827, a son of Andrew Drummond, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania and became an early settler of Ohio, where for a number of years he was engaged in farming in Licking County. Removing to Illinois in 1838, he took up land in Ogle County, and there pursued his chosen vocation until his death. He married Elizabeth Lutzenhizer, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in Illinois, at the age of sixty years. She bore him eleven children, five of them being boys.
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