California Biographies

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

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

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


WALTER E. NETHERTON. One of the most prosperous and thriving agriculturists of 
either Stanislaus or Merced counties, Walter E. Netherton is conducting his ranch in keeping 
with the latest and most improved and approved methods, making a specialty of dairying. Re- 
siding three miles south of Newman, his land is within the limits of Merced county, and is 
especially adapted to the raising of alfalfa and hay, which are his staple crops. A native of 
Contra Costa county, he was born near Byron, September 28, 1874, a son of J. Smith Netherton. 

The son of a farmer, J. Smith Netherton was born in Platte county, Mo., in 1835. In 1850 he 
came across the plains with an ox team train to California, being then fourteen years of age, 
and at first worked in the mines. He subsequently began farming in Lafayette. Cal., and 
afterward entered one hundred and sixty acres of land near Byron. Since that time he has been 
actively and prosperously engaged in farming and stock raising, being located in Merced coun- 
tv, where he has a valuable ranch of three hundred and twenty acres. He married Matilda 
Ann Estes, a native of Missouri. Her father, Joseph Estes, emigrated from England, his 
native land, to the United States, and located first in Missouri, from there coming with ox 
teams to California in pioneer times, and spending his remaining days as a farmer in Contra 
Costa county. Of the nine children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. John Smith Netherton, 
five survive, namely : William P., an attorney in Santa Cruz county ; Edward, a printer in 
San Francisco ; George, connected with the Oakland Street Railway ; Walter E., the special sub- 
ject of this sketch; and Delbert, manager of the home ranch. 

Having completed his studies in the district school, Walter E. Netherton grew to man- 
hood on the home farm, becoming familiar with the various branches of agriculture. As- 
suming charge of a large ranch in Merced county in 1892, he labored diligently and effectively, 
meeting with deserved success in its management. In 1903, Mr. Netherton located on his 
present farm, and has since been actively engaged in the dairy business, keeping thirty-five 
cows, and having eighty head of cattle, mostly Holsteins, although he has a few choice Durhams. 
On his home farm he has forty acres of land in alfalfa, and also owns thirty-seven and three- 
tenths acres below the ditch, which he devotes to the same crop. Mr. Netherton's farm in point 
of improvements and equipments is one of the best in the vicinity, with its neat residence and 
ample barns and outbuildings being a credit to his energy and activity. 

In Modesto, Cal, Mr. Netherton married Mrs. Mary Petersen, who was born in Den- 
mark, a daughter of Albert Albertsen, a farmer and dairyman, and came with her parents to 
California when a year old. Mr. and Mrs. Netherton have one child, a daughter, named 
Mabel Ruth. Fraternally Mr. Netherton is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and of the 
Uniformed Rank Knights of Pythias. He is a man of good business ability and judgment, and 
is one of the stockholders in the New Era Creamery Association.