Tulare County Biographies

ROBERT K. OGDEN

Transcribed by Kathy Sedler

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

 
A native of the Prairie State, now one of the successful men of Tulare county, 
the career of Robert K. Ogden has been one of struggles and success. He was born 
at Victoria, Knox county, Ill., April 2, 1864, a son of Mathew B. and Catherine 
(Fisher) Ogden, the one a native of Pennsylvania, the other of Illinois. The 
father came to California and, locating in Riverside, was one of the pioneer 
orange growers in the southern part of the state. He met with much success and 
became widely known in fruit circles as well as in the leading markets of 
California and the East. He so far won the confidence of his fellow citizens 
that they called him to the office of justice of the peace and elected him a 
member of the board of supervisors of Riverside county.
In young manhood Robert K. Ogden engaged in freighting between Leavenworth, 
Kans., and Santa Fe, N. Mex. Buffalo and other wild game were plentiful in that 
part of the country at that time, and he saw buffalo chased by hunters through 
the streets of Dodge City, Kans. After he had freighted for a time he went to 
Indian Territory. He once drove a band of horses to New Orleans and later was 
engaged in the livery business for a year in Arkansas. We next find him in 
Montgomery county, in his native state, working for wages. From Illinois he went 
to Kansas City, Mo., where he was employed to assist in the construction of a 
railroad from that city to Beatrice, Gage county, Neb. California has been his 
home since 1889 and he began his career here as a rancher on Lewis creek, 
between Exeter and Lindsay. In the period 1891-95 he was farming west of 
Visalia, growing wheat extensively and breeding hogs in large numbers. In1896 he 
bought his present farm of sixty acres on the Exeter road, four miles from 
Visalia, and has greatly improved the property, planting much of it to alfalfa 
and maintaining a fine dairy. He is considered one of the up-to-date farmers of 
Tulare county and his success is of so substantial a character that it seems to 
hold out a promise of note�worthy future achievement.
In December, 1891, Mr. Ogden married Miss Pearl Mathewson, who was born in 
Tulare county, a daughter of one of its pioneers. They own a fine home in 
Visalia. Mrs. Ogden has been a worthy helpmeet to her worthy husband and has 
given him her sympathy and encouragement in all the years since their marriage. 
They have children named Arthur M., Harry R., Beulah, Beryl, Ralph and Wanda. 
Mr. Ogden affiliates with the Eagles, the Modern Woodmen and the Woodmen of the 
World.
 
History of Tulare and Kings Counties, California with Biographical Sketches - 
Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company, 1913, Pp 864-865