Ventura County Biographies

R. G. Surdam

Submitted by Sandy Neder

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

 
R. G. Surdam, the founder of the towns of Nordhoff and Bardsdale, was born in 
Dutchess County, New York, August 11, 1835. His father, Lewis L. Surdam, was a 
native of Connecticut. His ancestors came from Germany and had been residents of 
America for many years. Mr. Surdam's mother, Julia (Lockwood) Surdam, was born 
in Dutchess County, New York, the daughter of Hanson Lockwood, a native of 
Connecticut. His great-grandmother, Julia Williams, attained notoriety and fame 
during the Revolution by the daring deed of swimming her horse across the Hudson 
River to escape the Red Coats, with her little son, Mr. Surdam's grandfather, on 
her lap. The subject of this sketch is one of a family of four children, two 
sons and two daughters, all now living. He received his education in Illinois, 
and was there until 1854, when he came to California, and has remained in this 
State ever since. For ten years he was engaged in mining, in all the mining 
regions of the State, and made and lost fortunes and experienced all the 
vicissitudes and hardships of mining and pioneer life. In 1864 he came from San 
Francisco to Los Angeles, sick with bilious fever. Old Dr. Griffin sent him to 
the care of the Sisters of Charity, who nursed him, and to them and Dr. Griffin 
he owes his life. In 1865 he had charge of the mines on the Santa Catalina 
Islands, and had much to do in entertaining visitors to the islands and showing 
them points of interest.
    In 1866 Mr. Surdam came to San Buenaventura, built a warehouse and handled 
grain and oil for ten years. He sent the oil to San Francisco, which was used to 
preserve the timbers of the Palace Hotel. He purchased 1,700 acres of land for 
public purposes, and it soon became a noted sanitarium. He sold the whole tract 
in two years; and when he named the town after Mr. Nordhoff, the author, Mr. 
Nordhoff wrote him a letter thanking him for the honor and speaking in the 
highest terms of the climate and picturesque location of the beautiful new town.
    Bardsdale is located about one mile north of the railroad station at 
Fillmore. A number of nice houses have already been built, surrounded with 
thrifty trees and shrubs, all supplied with a fine system of water works. In 
this beautiful valley Mr. Surdam now resides, and is the manager of the whole 
property, which is, as he terms it, his pet tract. The subject of this sketch 
has never married. He is a man of very generous impulses, - not so much after 
making and hoarding money as to help his fellow men. It may truthfully be said 
of him that he has done much to build up Ventura County. He has long been 
identified with its interests, has seen its day of small things, and has great 
faith in its future.
    Mr. Surdam is a Royal Arch Mason, and has been a staunch Republican all his 
life. He is a man well known and much respected throughout the county.
 
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS 
OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 632