Sacramento Valley Biographies

JOSEPH GIRDNER

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, March 2009

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

	One of the most prominent of the old pioneer
ranchers of California is Joseph Girdner, who lives six miles south of
Meridian, in Sutter county. His father, David Girdner, was of German
extraction, and was born and reared in Pennsylvania, from which state he
went to Tennessee, thence to Kentucky, where he owned a ranch and lived for
some time. From Kentucky he removed to Missouri, where he followed farming
and stock-raising until his death, which occurred in his seventieth year.
The mother, Elizabeth Parman, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in
Missouri when about sixty-seven years of age, leaving thirteen children.
          Joseph Girdner was born in Knox county, Ky., October 31, 1828, and
was a small child when his parents took him to Missouri, making his home on
the farm there until 1849, when he with three others started for California.
The three other men furnished the outfit and Mr. Girdner was to give them
one-third of what he earned in twenty months from the time he left Missouri,
and this one-third amounted to $913. After reaching this state he worked in
mines on the American river near Auburn for about fourteen years, at the end
of which time he went to Marysville and purchased an interest in a hotel
which he retained for a time, then sold out and began buying and selling
ranches along the Sacramento river. After purchasing a ranch, he improved
it, and sold it at a good profit, thus receiving a good return on his
investment. At different times he has owned large tracts of land along this
river, and while engaged in this business he also dealt in cattle, but one
bad season he lost the greater portion of them, which resulted in a large
financial loss. Discontinuing the cattle business he bought sheep, and
purchased an open range ranch, which he devoted to sheep and cattle grazing,
continuing in this business several years. During this time he made his home
in the vicinity, but has recently sold the greater portion of his stock,
though still owning some two thousand acres of land on the Sacramento river,
which he has rented out for the past few years. 
           Mr. Girdner married Catherine H. Britton, a native of Missouri,
who came to California during girlhood, and died here, leaving nine
children, viz: Mary, who lives in Sutter county; Thomas B., who died at
twenty-five years of age; Georgia Annie, who is the wife of George A. Pratt,
and lives in Yreka; Josephine W., who lives in Oakland; Charles B., who died
at twenty-five years of age; Henry T., who is living in Sacramento; Joseph
M., deceased; Mark A.; and Leroy E., who is running one of his father's
ranches. In politics Mr. Girdner formerly voted the Democratic ticket, but
for the past ten years, has been an active Prohibitionist, although he has
never desired public office. He is a member of the Methodist Church South,
and formerly was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. For
several years his son Mark A. has had charge of his land, and is known as
one of the most prominent ranchers and stockmen in this section. His father
gave him a deed to three hundred and sixty acres of his present home, to
which he added three hundred and twenty more, making a very vulnerable farm.

"History of the State of California and Biographical Record of the
Sacramento Valley, California," J. M. Guinn, The Chapman Publishing Co.,
Chicago, 1906, Pages 353-354.


            It is interesting to chronicle the history of the pioneers, the men 
who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their 
heritage; men who were not afraid to endure hardship and privations, but 
willingly and ambitiously placed their shoulder to the wheel to aid in 
developing this new country, thus building it up to its present wonderful 
development and advanced civilization to the lasting benefit of this and the 
coming generations.  Such a man was the late Joseph Girdner of Sutter City, who 
as an Argonaut crossed the plains to California in 1849. His father, David 
Girdner, was of German extraction, and was born and reared in Pennsylvania, from 
which State he went in succession to Tennessee and to Kentucky, and thence to 
Missouri, where he followed farming and stock-raising until his death, which 
occurred in his seventieth year.  The mother, Elizabeth Parman before her 
marriage, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Missouri when about 
sixty-seven years of age, leaving thirteen children.
            Joseph Girdner was born in Knox County, Ky., October 31, 1828.  He 
was but a child when his parents took him to Missouri; and there he lived on his 
father�s farm until 1849, when with three others he started for California. The 
three other men furnished the outfit; and Mr. Girdner was to give them one-third 
of what he earned in twenty months from the time he left Missouri; this 
one-third amounted to $913.  After reaching this State he first worked in mines 
on the American River near Auburn, and then went to Marysville and purchased an 
interest in a hotel, which he retained for a time, after which he sold out and 
began buying and selling ranches along the Sacramento River.  After purchasing a 
ranch, he would improve it, and then sell it at a good profit.  At different 
times he owned large tracts of land along the river; and while engaged in this 
business, he also dealt in cattle and sheep.  During all this time he made his 
home in the vicinity where his interests were centered. In later life he gave up 
active work, sold his stock, and rented his land.
            Joseph Girdner married Catherine H. Brittan, a native of Virginia, 
who crossed the plains to California during girlhood, and died here on November 
29, 1892.  This worthy couple had a family of nine children:  Mary E., of Colusa 
County; Thomas Brittan, who died in young manhood; G. Annie, now Mrs. Pratt, of 
San Francisco; Josephine Wright, of Sutter City; Charles B., deceased; Henry 
Tutt, of Sutter City; Joseph Madison, who died in infancy; Mark A., of 
Watsonville; and Leroy E., of Gridley.
            Joseph Girdner was a Democrat in national politics.  He was a member 
of the Methodist Church South, and was identified with the Independent Order of 
Odd Fellows.  He was a staunch fighter against hydraulic mining, and stuck by 
his guns until the legislature passed an anti-debris act doing away with that 
destructive process.  He was strong for the temperance cause, and always took a 
deep and conscientious interest in everything that tended to the betterment of 
humanity.  In his passing, which occurred on August 7, 1908, Sutter County lost 
one of its most worthy and progressive upbuilders, whose death was widely 
mourned.

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p  337

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler