USA > California > San Benito County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 36
USA > California > Monterey County > History and biographical record of Monterey and San Benito Counties : and history of the State of California : containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present. Volume II > Part 36
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After having remained in Monterey county for a long period Mr. Drake returned to his old Kan- sas home to visit early friends as well as such of his kindred as remained there. This first trip was made in 1892. When he went for the second time to the old home he took with him in 1908 his wife and children, as well as a sister-in-law, Miss Josephine Tholcke. As a citizen he has favored all measures for the advancement of the people among whom he lives; hence he is especially in- terested in schools. At this writing he serves as clerk of the board of school trustees of the Chua- lar district. Recently he was appointed road- master by the board of supervisors, having pre- viously filled the same office by an election at the hands of the people, while living at Gonzales.
He is a stockholder in the Farmers' Mercantile Store in Salinas and in the Lonoake Oil Com- pany.
WALKER BROTHERS.
Significant of the agricultural possibilities pre- sented by Monterey county is the advance made by the ranching firm whose members are the three brothers, George C., Walter W. and Frank Walker, proprietors of a tract of sixteen hun- dred acres lying between King City and San Lucas. The vast estate is conducted upon mod- ern principles and with the aid of modern ma- chinery, for the brothers are firm believers in the wisdom of availing themselves of every op- portunity for increasing results by means of the latest improved devices. The immense acreage of barley is cut and bound with the aid of a combined harvester which they own and the use of which greatly facilitates the summer work - on the ranch.
The first representative of the Walker family in California was the grandfather, George B. . Walker, who went from Missouri to Iowa, thence across the plains, leaving Montezuma,
May 12, 1862, and arriving in Butte county, Cal., October 10. Although the party was a large one, consisting of forty-seven wagons un- der the leadership of Captain Newman, they nevertheless had considerable trouble with the Indians. Mr. Walker brought his entire fam- ily, consisting of his wife, formerly Eliza Ful- ton, and their six children, five sons and one daughter. The year 1868 found the family in Salinas, Monterey county, where Mr. Walker opened a feed yard and erected what is now known as the Club stables. Selling out in 1883 he went to San Luis Obispo and made his home there until his death, which occurred at the age of sixty-eight. His wife lived to reach the age of seventy-five and passed away at the home of her son Merritt Walker, in Santa Barbara county.
Of the six children born to George B. and Eliza (Fulton) Walker the daughter and three of the sons are still living. One of the latter, Merritt Walker, was born January 9, 1843, in Clay county, Mo., and came with his parents to the west in 1862. Until recent years he was a resident of Santa Barbara county, where, near Santa Maria, he farmed and conducted a dairy. In 1901, however, he gave up these responsi- bilities and has since made his home with his sons in Monterey county. The wife and mother was before her marriage Nancy Jane Pickle, who at her death in 1894 left five sons and two daughters. Stonewall is a resident of Riverside county ; the youngest, Leo, lives in San Diego; Jessie became the' wife of William Folsom and died two years later ; Andry married Garnet W. Herbert and lives in Monterey county ; the other children, George C., Walter W. and Frank, form the subject of this sketch. The father is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, having joined Alisal Lodge in 1870.
George C. Walker was born in San Luis Obispo county, Cal., November 19, 1875, and at an early age accompanied his parents to Monterey county, settling across the line from his native county where the father took up land near San Miguel. Three years later the family moved to Santa Barbara and there he began to earn his own way in the world, remaining about four years, when he removed to the city of San Diego, Cal. For eight years he was employed
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in and near that place. Returning to Monterey county in 1906 he spent a year at San Lucas as a ranch hand, after which he went back to San Diego. During November of 1900 he went to Bakersfield, where he secured a position in the oil fields, but at the expiration of four months he left there for San Luis Obispo county.
After having spent some time in traveling through the coast counties, in 1903 George C. Walker came to Chualar and formed a part- nership with his brothers in the ranching industry. Since then he has been active in aiding in the development of the land and the cultivation of the crops, giving his attention so closely to ag- ricultural activities that he has had little leisure for participation in local affairs. The only fra- ternal organization with which he is associated is the King City Circle, Foresters of America, the benevolent work of which he has aided to the extent of his ability.
Born in San Luis Obispo county September 6, 1881, Walter W. Walker, at the age of ten years accompanied his parents to Santa Barbara, but remained there only two years, removing thence to San Diego, where he spent the next eight years on a ranch. Upon leaving that section of the state he worked his way toward the north and, earning a livelihood from place to place, he gained a fair knowledge of conditions through- out California, as well as in Oregon, Washing- ton and Idaho. May 20, 1902, he arrived in Mon- terey county and secured employment at Spreck- els. In a short time he removed to Chualar, where he had a position for one year. At the expiration of that period he formed a partner- ship with his brothers and bought a hay-press, which was operated in season.
Renting a tract of four hundred and eighty acres in Release canon, the brothers raised hay and this they pressed for shipment, continuing the industry for three years. During the autumn of 1905 they rented six hundred and seventy-five acres near King City, where for two years they engaged in raising barley. Their leased hold- ings were increased during the fall of 1906, when they rented eight hundred acres between King City and San Lucas. This tract was placed under cultivation to barley and wheat. Giving up the ranch near King City in 1907, they rented an additional tract of eight hundred acres be-
tween King City and San Lucas, and now have charge of the vast barley fields aggregating six- teen hundred acres.
Frank Walker was born April 17, 1886, during the residence of the family on a ranch in Mon- terey county, where the years of boyhood prin- cipally were passed and where he received a com- mon school education. After having been em- ployed on a ranch near that city for a time he came north to San Luis Obispo county and se- cured employment, but in four months he left for Monterey county. After having been em- ployed here until 1902 he then removed to San Francisco and secured work, but in less than one year he returned to Monterey county and em- barked in the ranching business as a partner of his brothers. Both he and Walter, like their older brother, hold membership in the Foresters of America and have been warmly interested in the work of the King City Circle of that order.
JAMES RONNING.
The custom common to olden times of teaching a trade to each son was followed in the Ronning family in Denmark. Accordingly when James had reached an age that justified removal from school and apprenticeship to a trade he was bound out to a carpenter for a period of service and during the following years he gained a thorough knowledge of the occupation under the thorough and strict supervision of the boss. On leaving his master he was well prepared to earn a livelihood as a journeyman and for a con- siderable period he remained in his native land 'earning his way by diligent and faithful appli- cation.
At the age of twenty-five years, in 1868, Mr. Ronning crossed the ocean to the United States, where he believed better wages could be secured at his trade. For one year he had employment in Chicago, from which city he removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, and for three years earned excellent wages as a cabinet-maker in that town. From there he went to Wyoming and for three years engaged as a carpenter on the Union Pa- cific Railroad. During the autumn of 1874 he came for the first time to California, settling in San Francisco, where he worked at day labor
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as a carpenter for two years. Returning to Council Bluffs, he took up the trade in that city and continued there until 1886, when again he removed to California. After a sojourn of a few months in Oklahoma he came to Monterey county and here he has since resided.
Shortly after his arrival in this county Mr. Ronning settled near San Lucas, where he se- cured by pre-emption a tract of one hundred and sixty acres owned by the railroad. In ad- dition he took up a timber claim. Later by pur- chase he acquired the title to a quarter-section, so that he is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres in one body. The improvements on the property represent his own self-sacrificing toil and energetic efforts. Besides the home place he rents four hundred acres of land near by, and is engaged in raising barley, also has con- siderable stock, including horses, cattle and hogs of good breeds. On the ranch he has a neat residence whose well-kept appearance testifies as to the energy and good taste of the housewife. Prior to her marriage in 1877 Mrs. Ronning was Miss Annie Neilsen; a native of Denmark, she has passed much of her life in California and is devoted to the welfare of Monterey county. Both of the children of the family have gone forth from the home roof to seek their livelihoods in- the world of business. The son, Neilsen, is en- gaged in railroading, and the daughter, Miss Catherine, is studying to be a nurse, taking the course in St. Winifred's sanatorium of San Francisco.
JOHN CONLAN.
Association with scenes in Ireland during the impressionable years of boyhood, followed by residence in Australia in early manhood, gave Mr. Conlan a knowledge of the resources of those two countries, and when he came to Cali- fornia he was well qualified by experience to judge concerning the possibilities offered by this part of the world. It is his opinion, based on his travels in other parts of the globe and on his experience since settling on the Pacific coast, that California is a desirable spot for a home. While the fortunes dreamed of by the Argonauts of 1849 no longer wave their dazzling visions be- fore the eyes of newcomers, there is the pros-
pect of a residence in a healthful climate, the association of refined people and the ability to earn a modest competence in the midst of con- genial surroundings.
Born in Ireland March 22, 1841, John Conlan received a fair education in the national schools. Upon starting out for himself he sailed to Aus- tralia, where he secured employment on a ranch in the care of sheep and cattle. Meanwhile a brother in California sent him favorable reports concerning the prospects in this state and he was induced to come hither from Australia in 1871, during which time he settled in Monterey coun- ty. Salinas was but a village and the valley was very sparsely settled. Few houses had been built and practically no improvements had been made.
Since coming to California Mr. Conlan has had three landlords only, although he has leased land continuously from the time of his arrival to the present. His first lease covered a part of the Santa Rita ranch, but at this writing he makes his home on the ranch owned by H. S. Ball. As a rule his farm operations have cov- ered from seven hundred to nine hundred acres, on which during former years he raised wheat almost exclusively. Later he began to devote special attention to barley and of recent seasons he has made barely and oats his principal crops. The heaviest misfortune came to him when the rust and droughts in 1877 and 1878 ruined his grain and entirely destroyed the crop. In spite of this and other adverse happenings he has worked persistently and with ultimate suc- cess. Enough horses are raised on the ranch to supply the need in the cultivation of the land, but with that exception he has not made a spe- cialty of stock-raising.
At the time of coming to this state Mr. Con- lan was a bachelor, but afterward he established domestic ties, being united with Mary McGrary, who died in August of 1893, leaving six chil- dren : Mary, Agnes, Maggie, John Joseph, Alice and Florence. For ten years Mr. Conlan has officiated as trustee of the Santa Rita school and meanwhile he has been strenuous in his endeavor to promote the educational interests of the dis- trict. He believes good teachers to be the great- est necessity in the rural districts, and in his opinion the best school is none too good for the
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boys and girls of the farms. In his political beliefs he has voted the Democratic ticket ever since becoming a citizen of the United States, but he has taken no part in politics aside from serving as a delegate to the county conventions of his party.
JAMES E. GRAVES.
Although business identifications necessitated the removal of Mr. Graves from Monterey county to San Francisco, where for sixteen years or more he was a trusted employe of the govern- ment at the United States mint, he never lost his old liking for the people at his former home and often availed himself of such opportunities as came to him to renew associations with old com- rades. At one time there were few men in Mon- terey county with whom he did not have a per- sonal acquaintance and in all circles he was popu- lar, for he was known to be faithful in the per- formance of every duty, energetic in action, wise in judgment and courageous in temperament.
Marion county, Ky., was the native home of Mr. Graves, and December 24, 1832, the date of his birth, his parents having been William and Nancy (Buckler) Graves, descendants of promi- nent old southern families. The schools near his home afforded him a fair education, to which he added by habits of close observation and thoughtful reading. When the time came for him to make his own way in the world he decided to come to the west, which for some years had been the principal theme of conversation in east- ern homes, owing to the discovery of gold and the subsequent large emigration toward the coast.
Coming by the Panama route Mr. Graves ar- rived in San Francisco May 5, 1854, and pro- ceeded at once to the mines in Eldorado county, where he met with a fair degree of success. Dur- ing 1864 he went from that section to Inyo county where he prospected for gold and silver. He also mined for a time in Arizona. Meanwhile he had many perilous adventures with Indians and after fighting them for six months he decided that "discretion is the better part of valor," and accord- ingly he left the region and removed to Monterey county during the fall of 1864. A pioneer of Salinas, he hauled the first load of lumber into the town, which at that time had not been laid
out. For many years he conducted a restaurant, and meantime he had the gratification of wit- nessing the gradual growth of Salinas. For a time he was employed on the Cooper ranch, also for two years served as deputy under Sheriff Smith. In 1885 he had the honor of being elected sheriff, in which office he served for eight years with distinction and fidelity. At the expiration of his term of office he left Salinas and settled in San Francisco in 1893. After having been em- ployed at the custom house for three months he became an employe of the mint, where he was still occupied at the time of his death, July 18, 1909. In politics he was a life-long Democrat. Fraternally he was identified with Salinas Lodge F. & A. M., and Watsonville Commandery, K. T.
WALLACE EDWARD OLLASON.
One of the younger generation of agricultur- ists of Monterey county is Wallace E. Ollason, who since 1902 has had the superintendency of the ranch belonging to Mrs. Daniel Snively, on the outskirts of Salinas, Monterey county.
The Ollason family is of Scottish origin, many generations flourishing in the Land of the Thistle, and the first of the name to be rep- resented on this side of the Atlantic was the father of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, Sinclair Ollason. He came to the United States in the early 'zos, with California as his objective point. Coming directly to Monterey county, he established himself in the dairy busi- ness at Carmel, having as a partner in the enter- prise William Hatton, a well-known resident of that place. After nearly a quarter of a cen- tury Mr. Ollason passed away at his home in Na- tividad, esteemed by a large circle of friends who had become endeared to him on account of his sterling qualities, both as a business man and as a friend.
Wallace E. Ollason was born on the home ranch near Carmel, March 1, 1880, and when he was six years old, in 1886, settled with his parents in Pacific Grove. Two years later they located in Natividad, also in Monterey county, and when in 1896 they settled in Salinas their son completed the education which he had be- gun in the former places mentioned. The year
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1902 marked the close of his school days, and the same year he undertook his own support by engaging as a helper on the ranch belonging to Mrs. Daniel Snively, near Monterey, and in the meantime he has been entrusted with its sole management. The property includes fifty acres of as fine land as is to be found in the county, and in addition to this Mr. Ollason rents thirty acres in close proximity, having the en- tire acreage in grain.
In 1902 Mr. Ollason was married to Miss Winnie Hiserman, a native of Monterey county and a resident of Salinas at the time of her mar- riage, her father, J. L. Hiserman, being one of the dependable citizens of Monterey county.
JOHN A. STEINBECK.
Three continents have been the home of Mr. Steinbeck at different periods of his life. The Rhenish province of Prussia, Germany, formed the environment of his boyhood, his birth having occurred in 1832 near the city of Dusseldorf. There he received his education and gained a thorough knowledge of the trade of a cabinet- maker. At the age of seventeen years he ac- companied a party to Palestine, Asia, where he remained from 1849 until 1856. Since the latter year America has been the scene of his industri- ous and intelligent efforts, and on the western coast of the country he has won his way to a success as gratifying as it is well-merited. While living in Palestine he formed the acquaintance of Miss Almira Dickson, who was born in Mas- sachusetts in 1828 and from there had accom- panied members of her family to the Holy Land. The marriage of the young people was solem- nized June 1, 1856, and their first-born child, Charles, now residing in Hollister, Cal., was born in 1857 prior to the departure of the family from the old world.
After a sojourn of one year in Massachusetts the Steinbeck family removed to St. Augustine, Fla., where Mr. Steinbeck secured employment at his trade. Work began pleasantly in that en- vironment, but soon the clouds of war began to cast their shadow over the sunny southern land and Mrs. Steinbeck returned north to relatives in Massachusetts, while he began a forced service
in the Confederate army. As soon as possible he left for the north and joined his wife in Leominster, Mass., where they remained for a time. His occupation in the old Bay state was. that of a mechanic in a piano-forte factory. Wages were fair and conditions agreeable, but finally he decided a change of climate and occu- pation would be desirable; therefore he resigned his position and in 1873 came alone to California ... The following year he was joined by his wife and five sons.
During the first year of his residence in Cali- fornia Mr. Steinbeck found employment at car- pentering. Meanwhile he was examining lands with a view to purchase and in 1875 he selected a tract of ten acres, which he bought and planted. to fruit trees. There were no houses between his place and Hollister, few trees had been planted, and the depot could be seen from his. house. At first he made a specialty of the dairy business and kept a herd of twenty-five cows,. delivering milk to customers twice a day. Through his work he formed the acquaintance of every family in the community and among the. pioneers he was honored for his manly traits and sterling integrity. The drought of 1877 fell. heavily upon him, as it did on all stockmen, but he did not relinquish his dairy interests until eight years later. Since then he has been inter- ested in the fruit business. A well-equipped. small ranch has been developed through his in- dustrious application. The orchard is of apri- cots, some of the trees being' twenty-five years old, and all are in excellent bearing condition ..
Since becoming a citizen of the United States Mr. Steinbeck has voted with the Republican party in national elections, but in local matters- has maintained an independence of franchise, supporting men rather than party. For years he has been associated with the Hollister Lodge of Masons, in which at one time he held the. office of master. It was the privilege of him- self and wife to celebrate their golden wedding in 1906, and on that occasion they were the re- cipients of the congratulations of their hosts of friends. Notwithstanding their years of cease- less industry they enjoy their physical and men- tal faculties in full, and their interest in life's activities has not diminished. Children and grandchildren by their affectionate ministrations:
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render happy their declining days, while the pos- session of a little competency removes from them the sting of poverty with its ceaseless anxieties. As previously stated their eldest son, Charles, is a resident of Hollister ; he was born in Jerusalem, Palestine. The second son, Her- bert, a native of New Jersey, met an accidental death in Hollister, where his widow still resides. The third son, Ernest, was born in St. Augustine, Fla., and is now living in Salinas, Cal .; he is married and has three daughters and one son. William B. is a resident of Stockton. Harry, who was born in Massachusetts, died in San Luis Obispo, Cal., at the age of about forty years, leaving a widow and two sons. The children received fair educational advantages, and became citizens of worth and intelligence. In addition to the sons mentioned there was one that died in Florida during infancy.
LAURITZ P. ROHDE.
In the life and accomplishments of Lauritz P. Rohde are noticeable the characteristics for which those of Danish origin have cause to be proud-indomitable preseverance, frugal habits and an honesty of life which make them desirable citizens." Mr. Rohde was born in the southern part of Denmark, on the German border, April 16, 1868, the son of parents who had spent their entire lives in this locality. They were in a position to provide their children with good ad- vantages for an education, and they in turn were appreciative and made good use of their oppor- tunities. A good education in the common schools of his native land and a sturdy, well- built frame constituted his stock in trade when, in 1888, Lauritz P. Rohde embarked on the vessel which was to bring him to the United States, the land of opportunity for the young man of good principles and not afraid of hard work. He had been preceded hither by an elder brother and sister, Hans P. and Mrs. Marie Lund, whose reports of the country were so pleasing that he was anxious to join them. Locating in Muskegon, Mich., he remained about four years in that vicinity working on a rail- road then in course of construction. Subsequent- ly he came to California and for a number of
years was variously employed, principally on ranches in Monterey county, all of which gave him valuable experience which he was to utilize later on.
Mr. Rohde's first experience on his own ac- count was in 1897, when he leased one hundred and forty-five acres in the vicinity of Salinas which he set out to beets. From the first he has had a market for his product, and the second load which he raised was hauled to the new factory at Spreckels. From that time on he has had an assured market, his product being of excel- lent quality averages sixteen tons to the acre.
As a companion for life Mr. Rohde chose one of his countrywomen, Miss Annie Ahrenchil, and three children have been born to them, Al- ma, Holger and Albert, the daughter born in Salinas, and the sons on the ranch. Not only is Mr. Rohde a believer in good schools, but he is also a worker in their behalf, and at this writing (1909) is one of the trustees of the Buena Vista school district. Politically he is a Democrat, believing thoroughly in the principles for which that party stands, and in November, 1908, served on the election board. In his fraternal asso- ciations he is allied with Alisal Lodge No. 163, I. O. O. F., and also belongs to Compromise Encampment No. 37, and Uniform Rank of the same body. In his religious belief Mr. Rohde follows the teachings of his parents, which are those expounded by Martin Luther, and with his family he attends the Lutheran Church at Salinas.
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