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 51
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docino County. At that time it was a wild and undeveloped region and many times he rode thirty miles to see a patient, over trails on horseback through dense timber. He bought a dairy ranch of 120 acres, but this he sold when he came to Merced County in the winter of 1887.
Upon locating in Merced Dr. Castle built up a good medical practice. Merced was then a town of some 2000 people, had five doc- tors and the outlook was not promising until the following February, when the irrigation canals from Lake Yosemite were opened up. Dr. Castle was far-sighted and decided he would remain and take his chances, and although he has made several pilgrimages away from this county, he has always maintained it as his home. His first office was located on Front Street, later he moved to larger quarters on Main Street. It was during a temporary absence that he lost all of his equipment and a fine library in the fire of 1894, but he became reestablished in the Puritan Block, and later took as a partner, Dr. W. N. Sherman, and together they built up and maintained one of the leading practices in the county. He had established his residence on Nineteenth Street, then built a home on Twenty-first Street, selling that to take up the family home on Bear Creek, where he lived until moving to Bakersfield in January, 1925. His home was a model of convenience for a country estate.
While living in Illinois Dr. Castle was united in marriage with Miss Alma Tabor, born in Rhode Island and died in Illinois, leaving two children: Grace Imogene Schlief of Calistoga, who has four children; and Curtis H., of Merced, who has a daughter. His second marriage was solemnized in Merced and united him with Miss Vir- ginia Wills, born in Mariposa County, by whom he has three children : Chandos Barrett, a graduate of the University of Oregon, an ensign in U. S. N. radio station at Pensacola, Fla., who has a wife and two children; Mary Mercedes Mahon, who has a son; and Genevieve Wills, class of 1924, San Jose Teachers' College. The Doctor is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South and served on the local school board and as a member of the county board of education.
Until 1892 Dr. Castle was a Republican, but in that year he voted for the Populist candidate, and ever since he has been active in that party. He was a member of the Populist National Committee being chosen a delegate in 1896 and in 1904, but each time pressure of business made it impossible for him to attend. He was nominated for Congress at the convention of the Populist party held in Sacra- mento in 1896; later there was a fusion with the Democrats and he was the nominee on the joint ticket, and was elected by a majority of 240 votes, took his seat in March, 1897, and served through the extra session and through the regular session, until March 4, 1899. He was
EnRicor
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a member of the Committee on Pensions and did much to pass the pension bill for private pensions. The old Seventh Congressional district then included Stanislaus, San Benito, Merced, Madera, Fresno, Kings, Kern, Tulare, San Bernardino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego Counties. At the end of his first term he was once more nomi- nated by the Democratic and the regular Populist conventions, but was defeated by Needham by 125 votes. His service in the interest of the people had been one of fidelity. He carefully looked after the interest of his constituents and he retired to private life with an enviable record.
ELBRIDGE NELSON RECTOR
A man who stands high in the esteem of his associates as a leader in the profession of the law in the San Joaquin Valley, Elbridge Nel- son Rector has the distinction of being a native son, born at Snelling, Merced County, January 6, 1865, the son of the late Elbridge Gerry Rector, whose biography appears on another page of this history. Elbridge Nelson Rector attended the local district school and then entered the Pacific Methodist College at Santa Rosa, and was grad- uated in 1889 with the A. B. degree. He was fitting himself for the law and next entered Hastings College of Law, a branch of the Uni- versity of California, where he spent one year. He then began teach- ing school at Atwater, continuing for two years, to enable him to complete his law course, which in due time he did, graduating from Hastings College of Law in 1895 with the degree of LL.B. After his graduation he entered upon the practice of his profession in San Francisco, and the following year returned to his home county and began his professional work in Merced, a work which was to lead to high honors with the passing of the years. In 1900 he was elected, at a special election, to fill the high position of superior judge, which had been vacated by J. K. Law. He had been nominated and elected under the banner of the Democratic party; but in 1902 there was no Republican nominee for the post, and Judge Rector succeeded him- self and is still the incumbent in that high office. His high qualities of mind and his clear understanding of the law have made his years in office very satisfactory to the citizens of Merced County.
The marriage of Elbridge Nelson Rector united him with Miss Lillian Mae Nicholls, a native daughter of California, born in Placer- ville, and they have three children: Elbridge S., a high-school stu- dent; and Geraldine and Carolyn, pupils in the Merced Grammar School. Judge Rector is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in which he has been a trustee for many years. He is a member of the State Bar Association, the Chamber of Com.
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merce, Lions' Club, Union League Club, and the Commonwealth Club of California, and a life member of the Luther Burbank So- ciety. Fraternally, he is a member of the Moose and Native Sons. He takes a live interest in all clean sports, having been a sprinter in his college days, and is fond of out-of-door life. He is counted one of the most public spirited men of Merced County. The Judge has written several very creditable descriptive articles on famous Cali- fornia scenery, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite and the High Sierras.
GEORGE A. SCHWINN
The descendant of one of the early settlers of the San Joaquin Valley and Merced County, George A. Schwinn is ably carrying on family traditions, and doing his share toward developing the resources of this section of California. Born on the old Johnson ranch, twenty- four miles southeast of Merced, in Merced County, July 19, 1884, he is the eldest of three sons born to Adam and Mary (Carey) Schwinn. Adam, a native of Reihnbon, Germany, born February 29, 1844, was a soldier in the German troops, but took leave in 1872, and with his brother, Fritz, came to New York. They drifted about for a time, and then came west, first locating in Stockton, where they worked for wages on ranches. Adam finally entered the employ of Robert Baxter, at Old Ellis, and with them came to Merced County, in 1874, where three years later he invested in the present home place, known as the old Johnson ranch. Here he engaged in sheep and wool growing, but sold out his stock, and in 1880 entered the cereal grain growing as joint owner with his brother, George, who two years later sold out his interest to Adam and the latter con- tinued in business until the time of his death, adding to his holdings by subsequent purchase until he owned 960 acres.
In addition to his agricultural pursuits, Adam Schwinn was one of the founders of the Rochdale Store, at Le Grand, and was one of the stockholders in the concern. After a full life, the death of this able man occurred September 14, 1904, at the present home of his son, George A. Schwinn, survived by his widow and two sons. Mary (Carey) Schwinn was born in Ireland, and came to New York as a girl of fifteen, in a party of five cousins. She arrived alone in Merced, September 30, 1880, having spent some ten years in the East, and on July 24, 1883, Mary Carey and Adam Schwinn were married.
George A. Schwinn received his education in the Appling school, and from a mere lad was closely associated with his father in the running of the home ranch, and took up full responsibilities twelve
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months before the latter's death, due to the confining illness of the father. With his brother, W. R. Schwinn, who was born on the ranch, May 13, 1888, and also reared and educated in the Appling District, he has been active in further developing the home property, and they have done very well indeed in the handling of the property, and perpetuating of their father's name for industry and strict in- tegrity. They had added to the extent of the family property, and it now embraces 1430 acres, of which 880 acres is choice grain land, and the balance devoted to pasture. The ranch is well drained, and has four good wells, while out on reserve are three springs. Live- stock and cereal grain are the chief sources of income, and both brothers are members of the California Cattlemen's Association, active in its affairs and regular attendants at meetings. They are also members of the Le Grand Farm Bureau. George A. is vice- president and director of the Le Grand Mercantile Co., successors to the Rochdale Store which their father founded and which on being reorganized took its present firm name and is owned by a group of local business men.
Fraternally, George A. Schwinn is a member of the Fraternal Aid Union; and W. R. is a charter member and Past Chief of Mariposita Lodge of Redmen, of Le Grand. Both are men of pro- gressive ideas, with a full knowledge of the resources of Merced County, its climatic and soil conditions, and the possibilities the future holds forth for even greater development in this section of a wonderful State.
WARREN A. BRADLEY
Occupying a position of prominence among the progressive and prosperous agriculturists of Merced County is Warren A. Bradley, who recalls the days of privation and hardships and the progress of the years which have led to the prosperity of the present time. He is one of California's native sons, born at Martinez, November 13, 1868, a son of John D. and Sarah A. (Harmon) Bradley, natives of Ten- nessee and Indiana, respectively. In 1850, John D. Bradley came across the plains to Oregon, then on to California where he settled at Martinez ; here he remained until 1867 when he located in Merced County, near where now stands the town of Gustine; in 1868 his family joined him and the home was established on a half section of land. He became a prosperous farmer and continued in this oc- cupation for the balance of his active life. Five children were born in this family ; William T. now makes his home at Riverdale ; Adelia, deceased; Ada J. became Mrs. B. J. Bither, and passed away in 1920; Hattie, deceased; and Warren A., our subject. The father passed
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away at Gustine on August 30, 1923, lacking but a few weeks of be- ing ninety years old; the mother passed away on December 24, 1924, aged eighty-seven.
Warren A. Bradley attended school in the Occidental district of Merced County; then attended the Chestnutwood Business College in Santa Cruz. Early in life he began his practical training in agri- culture, and when sixteen he worked in the harvest field, now the site of Gustine, and hauled grain to Hills Ferry, the nearest shipping point. In 1892 he became associated with his father in ranching and this occupied him until 1900, when he started out for himself on a ranch leased from Whitworth and Howard Company, raising grain on 1000 acres until 1906 when he established a dairy on 321/2 acres, which he purchased and developed, and ran that for seven years, when he leased his ranch and dairy and moved to Gustine. He en- tered the employ of Miller & Lux and remained with them for one year. On March 10, 1914, he was appointed postmaster of Gus- tine, in which capacity he has since acted. Mr. Bradley sold his ranch of thirty-two and a half acres and with the proceeds purchased fifteen acres near the city limits of Gustine, two acres of which lie within the city limits near the high school property.
On September 20, 1893, at Chico, Cal., Mr. Bradley was married to Miss Ada E. Swearingen, born, reared and educated in the schools of Chico, completing her education at the Chico State Normal School. Mrs. Bradley is the daughter of John B. and Elizabeth (Thomalson) Swearingen. Her father came across the plains in 1850, and the mother about 1852, and they were married in Chico. John B. Swearingen was a successful farmer in Butte County and became a close associate and friend of General Bidwell. There are four child- ren in this family; Frank; Ada E., wife of Mr. Bradley; Emma J .; and Georgia B., Mrs. J. J. Rhea of Newman. Mr. and Mrs. Brad- ley have three children : Orelia W., now Mrs. William R. Woods, of Gustine, and the mother of four children, William R. Jr., Winnifred R., Warren A., and Howard Wilbur; Howard S., employed by the Standard Oil Company at Patterson; and Wilbur K., employed by Manlove & Peters in Gustine. Politically, Mr. Bradley is a Dem- ocrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Merced Lodge of Elks.
WILLIAM GRANT GILBERT
A native son of California and a highly respected citizen of the West Side in Merced County, William Grant Gilbert was born in Sonoma County, on January 22, 1868, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. David W. Gilbert. Mrs. Gilbert was in maidenhood Nancy
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Katherine Freshour and was born in Missouri; the father had come from Ohio to California and here was married. In his later years David W. Gilbert was a minister of the gospel and held charges in Fall River, Big Valley, Galt and in Sacramento. His last seven years were spent in Shasta County and he died at the age of fifty-eight.
William Grant Gilbert grew up in San Luis Obispo County and attended the public schools there and in Shasta County. In 1892 he came to the West Side in Stanislaus County and found employ- ment on ranches for three years, then he took up a homestead in the hills west of Patterson, proved up on it and after five years sold out and bought forty acres of bare land four miles west of Ingomar in the Cottonwood district. This land he fenced, erected his home and barns suitable for his needs and follows dairying and growing alfalfa, and has met with fair success.
On December 17, 1890, Mr. Gilbert was married in Fall River Valley, Shasta County, to Miss Elvira Ray, born in Jackson County, Mo., the daughter of Isaac and Nancy (Copple ) Ray, natives of Ohio and Missouri, respectively. When their daughter was a babe of four months, in 1876 the family moved to California and for two years lived in Marysville, then moved to Shasta County where the father carried on a sawmilling business until he met an accidental death when he was sixty-five years old. His widow died on September 18, 1924, at Stockton. There were six children in the Ray family: Rebecca Jane, Andrew, Elvira (Mrs. Gilbert), Edward Thomas, William and Ernest. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have three children: William Leslie, who married Lula Spikes of Gustine; Ella Irene, married M. J. O'Keefe of Groveland; and Vivian Ray. In politics Mr. Gilbert is a Republican; fraternally, he belongs to Acorn Camp No. 502, W. O. W., of Newman. He has served as school trustee in the Clay district three years. In 1905 the Gilbert family located on their present home place near the Clay schoolhouse.
ANDRES S. RAYNOR
Owner of 1700 acres and more in Merced County, besides large property interests in adjoining counties, upon which are carried on large ranching and stock raising interests, Andres S. Raynor has fully demonstrated his ability as a manager and has won a competence through his persistent efforts. Mr. Raynor was born on Long Island, N. Y., January 14, 1865, one of three children in the family of Wil- liam M. and Jennie (Carmen) Raynor, the former an early pioneer of California. He was born at Hempstead, N. Y., in 1831, a son of Micajah and Ruth (Baldwin) Raynor, and he spent his youth on the
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farm, but when seventeen he went to Richmond County to learn the baker's trade. It was while he was learning that business that he felt the lure of California and accordingly embarked on a steamer for Panama. Reaching Aspinwall, Mr. Raynor was five days traveling up the Chagres River, after which he took the steamer McKino for San Francisco. Bad weather delayed the vessel and both the coal and provisions ran out and after waiting several months he was at last obliged to take another boat, upon which he reached his destination after a voyage of five months.
Going to Jamestown, Tuolumne County, Mr. Raynor followed mining for several years, then returned to New York, where, in 1861, he married Jennie Carmen, the only child of Joseph Carmen, who lived to reach his eighty-fifth year, dying December 26, 1904. Mrs. Jennie Raynor died in San Jose, Cal., December 21, that same year, aged fifty-nine. In 1868 William Raynor and his family made the trip to California via Panama, and in Tuolumne County he engaged in rais- ing sheep until 1871. The next year he was in the same business in Mariposa County. In 1872 he located on what came to be known as the Raynor ranch in that county, and here he was engaged in the sheep business on an extensive scale. He settled in San Jose in 1881, but died in Fresno in 1893, aged sixty-two years. His children are Mrs. Addie Daulton, Andres S., and William N.
Andres S. Raynor received a good education in the common schools which was supplemented by a course in the Garden City Business Col- lege, after which he devoted his time to ranching. He was assisted by his brother William N., who married Sadie Cleek, a native of Merced County. Our subject was married in San Jose to Miss Nellie McKee, born in San Jose, and they have three children : How- ard; Ruth; and Joseph, who married Miss Anna Jones and is em- ployed by the M. I. D. in the engineering department. Mr. Raynor is a stanch Republican and is very public spirited in all things. The family home is called "Rockhurst" and is situated nine miles east of Le Grand at the base of the foothills and is an ideal home site.
An incident worthy of mention in connection with the history of the Raynor family is here given: On April 21, 1880, on the same ranch where is now the A. Raynor home, a cloudburst occurred during sheep-shearing time. There were a number of men employed in shear- ing sheep and two were in a cabin in the path of the flood of water that came rushing down the creek bed; as it struck the cabin it col- lapsed and killed Joe Thomas, a Portuguese, and Charles J. Smith, a partner of the elder Raynor in the sheep business. When the bodies were recovered they were taken over almost impassable muddy roads to Athlone for shipment. The same cloudburst also did some damage to the old Raynor Ranch situated five miles farther up the creek.
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Mr. Raynor was fond of a garden and had a nicely cultivated one at the home, with a picket fence around it to keep out the stock. There were loose weeds on the ground and when the water began coming through the fence Mr. Raynor thought to stop it and began to pile the weeds against the fence, but before he had made much headway the water was running over the top of the fence and through the house as deep as an ordinary chair bottom, carrying silt with it that made it difficult to clean up later on. Needless to say the garden was ruined. He later had a stone fence built on the creek side, part of which is still standing.
FRANCIS GILBERT
An unusually eventful life has been the portion of Francis Gil- bert, and although he has traveled to many parts of the world in making his life journey, he settled in California and made and main- tained his home here, for he recognized the possibilities of the Gold- en State, and desired to take advantage of them. Born August 8, 1866, in Devonshire, England, he is the fifth son, and seventh of thirteen children born to his worthy parents, Jonathan G. and Jane (Patch) Gilbert. Jonathan G. Gilbert was a native of Cornwall, a direct descendant of the family from which sprang Sir Humphrey Gilbert; after his marriage to Jane Patch, who was born in Devon- shire, he resided there, and there his large family was born and reared, within three miles of the birthplace of Sir Francis Drake. He was a tin miner by trade, but enlisted and served in the National Guards, being one of the survivors of the 600 Battalion of Death, immortalized by Tennyson in his poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade." He received wounds in battle, scars of which he carried to the grave, his death occurring at the good age of seventy-seven years. His seven sons all distinguished themselves in service under the Union Jack, and all of them became well-known mine managers in South Africa, with the exception of Francis, who followed the sea.
But little opportunity for education was given Francis Gilbert, for he had to go to work to help support the growing family. He worked in the tin mines as tool carrier, for which work he received nine pence a day; later he became a miner, but, in 1880, he enlisted in the British Navy, on board the training ship H. M. S. Lyon; he made one trip around the world and was a seaman on H. M. S. Im- placable at the bombardment of Alexandria in 1882, and became sec- ond C. P. O. on Old Triumph. Coming to the conclusion that follow- ing the sea would never get him anywhere, with three comrades he de- serted ship at San Diego, August 10, 1885, and with five cents in his pocket, struck out to face the world. Four days and nights were spent
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on Coronado Peninsula, then only a patch of sagebrush, without a mouthful of food or water, except salt, to eat or drink. He swam the bay to San Diego, under cover of night, rigged up a raft and rescued his three companions by rowing them to the main land, when they struck out to find food and a job, willing to take anything that was offered them.
Young Gilbert entered the employ of Rancher Tibbetts, at Tia- Juana, at ten dollars per month "and found." In the seasons of 1886- 1887, the valley was flooded, prices went high, and hay sold up to sixty dollars per ton, other produce being in proportion. For the next two seasons, Mr. Gilbert conducted a retail fruit and vegetable route on half shares with Mr. Tibbetts, becoming fairly well ac- quainted with the southern country. He also worked as longshore- man for a period of eight months. In 1887, on July 4, he won the gold medal and twenty-five dollars and the Pacific Coast long dis- tance swimming championship.
In 1889, Mr. Gilbert came to Merced County to farm the Col- lins-Twitchell tract, and this work he followed successfully for seven years, also engaged in working on contract harvesting machines. In 1902, he made a return journey to England, accompanied by his family, and was absent for fourteen months, after which his wife and three children returned to California and he went to the mines of South Africa. Three years later, he reached California with a "stake" of $5000, remaining in Santa Cruz during 1906, where he was swimming instructor at the Casino; during 1906 and 1907 he was a member of the life-saving crew as well, rescuing many from drowning-three on one certain Sunday afternoon. On September 6, 1908, at Santa Cruz, he won the "Undaunted" gold medal, being the fire and water prize, for swimming across the plunge carrying a four-inch hose and putting out a fire before the arrival of the con- testing fire brigade. Mr. Gilbert came back to Merced County and invested in land and now owns 257 acres of choice farm lands, specializing in livestock and grain raising, and is a breeder of Duroc Jersey hogs. He attributes his success to a strict policy of economy and the help of his devoted wife, who reared a family and had the hardest part of the work, but always helped in the management of business.
The marriage of Mr. Gilbert, occurring August 26, 1888, in St. Joseph Church, San Diego, united him with Miss Kathryn Col- lins, a native of Sandy Mush, Merced County, and daughter of the late William Collins, pioneer rancher; her death occurred January 16, 1915, survived by three children: Frances, now Mrs. Harden, of Merced (her twin, Charles F., died in infancy ) ; William Arthur, who served on the Mexican border for two years; and John Fran-
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cis, a Merced rancher, who served as corporal in the 12th United States Infantry during the World War, accompanying a physical trainer in teaching boxing. Seven grandchildren are in the family: Kathryn F., Gertrude, Gilbert, and Louise Harden; and Albert E., Dorothy M., and Marion E. Gilbert.
The second marriage of Mr. Gilbert, July 4, 1916, at St. Francis Church, San Francisco, united him with Miss Anna F. Farrell, who was born in Boston, Mass., the fourth of six children born to her parents; her brother, George, is a captain of police in Boston, and she has a sister in California, Mrs. Jane Shade of San Francisco, wife of Lieutenant Shade of the San Francisco fire department. Be- fore her marriage she was employed at the San Francisco Exposi- tion as inspector of women's dressing rooms. Mr. Gilbert received his citizenship papers in Merced, and has always endeavored to aid in the welfare of his adopted country, for he realizes that his success in life was made possible by his decision to locate in the newer land, and this decision he has never had occasion to regret. Fraternally, he belongs to the local lodge of Foresters, of which organization he holds the office of Sub-chief Ranger, and he is a Knight of Col- umbus. A born optimist, he has reached his present firm position through hard work and good management, and his favorite verse, a memory of his brave mother, follows:
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