Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

IRA E. NALL

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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


 
An experienced, optimistic and up-to-date rancher is Ira E. Nall, who lives 
about two and one-half miles northeast of Meridian, where he exerts an enviable 
influence in favor of agricultural development and deserves his full share of 
credit for what has been accomplished there.  He was born about four miles to 
the east of Meridian, so that he is now living and operating under an 
environment with which he has been familiar these many years.
On December 6, 1860, Ira Nall entered the family circle of Matthew and Charlotte 
(Ormsby) Nall, both natives of New York, the former a pioneer of 1854, when he 
came out to California around Cape Horn.  Mr. and Ms. Nall married in the 
eastern metropolis, and Mrs. Nall followed her husband to the Coast in 1855.  
Mr. Nall worked in the mines for a short time, and then settled about 1856, at a 
place about one mile to the north of West Butte, where he bought half a section 
of grazing land and engaged in the cattle business; but later he sold out his 
Butte holding, and purchased eighty acres three miles east of Meridian.  He 
built a comfortable and attractive home, and lived the life of a California 
rancher until he retired, when he sold that place and removed to San Jose; and 
there he died at the age of eighty-four.  Mrs. Nall, who breathed her last at 
Meridian, lived to be sixty-three.  Seven children were happy in the enjoyment 
of life at the Nall homestead: Ida became Mrs. Cope, of San Jose; Ira is the 
subject of this instructive story; Clara is Mrs. Jones, of Wheatland; Ada has 
become Mrs. Raub, and lives near her sister, Ida Cope; Jesse passed away at the 
age of twenty-eight; Edith, Mrs. Stevenson, lives at San Jose; and Waldo is at 
Meridian.
Ira E. Nall attended the West Butte grammar school and the college at College 
City, in Colusa County, and when of age, he started out in the world for 
himself.  He leased a ranch and garden in the vicinity of Meridian, where he was 
married.
On October 28, 1888, Mr. Nall and Miss Nettie Paine were married.  She was born 
in Yuba County, the daughter of John Allen Paine, and she came to Meridian when 
a little girl, and so attended school there, her father being a miner; and she 
grew up to be familiar with the vicinity.  After his marriage, Mr. Nall leased 
120 acres of his father�s farm for twelve years, and about 1900 he bought the 
present home place.  This ranch has 140 choice acres, devoted to a dairy of from 
twenty-five to sixty cows.
The following children blessed the happy family life of Mr. and Mrs. Nall.  
Reeta became Mrs. Hixson and is deceased; Pearl has become Mrs. Knox, and lives 
at Meridian; Alice, or Mrs. Taylor, lives near her; and Howard is the youngest 
in the group.  Mrs. Taylor has one son, Wesley, and one baby girl named Bettie 
Joyce.  Mrs. Hixson had two children, Emerson and Donald; and Howard had a son 
named Howard, Jr., who was taken with scarlet fever and passed away January 14, 
1924, being two years and two months of age.  Mrs. Nall died on October 16, 
1906, and was mourned by all who knew her.  In politics Mr. Nall is a 
Republican.
 
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 1212