California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California 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 Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 AUGUST SANDAHL.� One of the most respected citizens of the vicinity of Middletown. Lake county, is August Sandahl, for almost a quarter of a century engaged in business at that place as a merchant tailor, now giving his time principally to the cultivation of his beautiful forty-acre ranch near the town. He still does occasional work at his trade, in which he was as successful as he has been in his agricultural work. His property, which ad- joins Middletown on the south, has become a veritable paradise under his thrifty care. Mr. Sandahl is a native of Sweden, born January 21, 1846, in Oester Goet- land, son of Gustaf Sandahl, a country tailor. Being the eldest of a family of nine children he began work early, commencing to learn tailoring under his father when but eleven years old. When a young man of twenty years he went to Stockholm and entered a large and fashionable city tailoring establishment, where he became familiar with the most approved methods and ideas. At the age of twenty-three he entered the military service of his country, being a member of the Swedish army for ten years, until June 28, 1879, when he received an honorable discharge. Meantime, when twenty- four years old, he had married Fredericka Hagberg, of Oester Goetland, and at the close of his term of military service they came to America with their family, then consisting of four children. Sailing from Gothenburg in July, 1879, they landed at New York August 1st, and proceeded westward to Chicago, Ill., where they remained two and a half years, Mr. Sandahl work- ing at his trade. In 1881 he removed with his family to Davenport, Iowa, and they subsequently lived for a time at Des Moines, that state. For nine months of his residence in Iowa Mr. Sandahl was ill. From that state he moved to Phelps Center, Nebr., and later conducted a large merchant tailoring shop at Holdredge, Nebr., where he continued to make his home for three years. However, he had decided to try California, and accordingly came out to Oakland, this state, thence coming to Middletown, Lake county, in the year 1886. That year he bought fifty acres of the Coats ranch near Middle- town, the place which he has ever since owned, though he sold off twenty acres of his original purchase, and afterward bought ten, now having forty acres. Though all the improvements on this fine tract have been made by Mr. Sandahl, he did not devote himself entirely to agricultural work for many years after it came into his possession. From 1886 until 1910 he carried on merchant tailoring in Middletown. his conscientious, skillful service to all his patrons winning and holding a large custom. Mr. Sandahl has prosecuted the development and improvement of his property so thoroughly that he may truly be called an intensive farmer. He has a vineyard of choice grapes, covering one acre, a fine apple orchard of the same size, and two acres set out in prunes and peaches. His mechanical genius is evident in the many appliances about the place for caring for his crops. The threshing machine with which he has threshed all his grain for four years he made himself. He has also made a cider mill. The numerous other conveniences include a fruit dryer, sulphuring and dipping plant, well kept barn and chicken houses, and a fine new well, ten by ten feet in dimen- sions and twenty-five feet deep, with tank house. There are good fences, the yards are in first-class condition, and the residence is a comfortable cottage, cared for in the neat and orderly manner which characterizes everything else about this property. Mr. Sandahl also has a tailor shop on the premises, and follows his trade as occasion requires. Though now sixty-eight years of age he is still working industriously, interested in progressive methods and ideas which promise to improve or increase his crops, and leading a life of true worth which has gained him the esteem of the many who know him in this part of Lake county. His usefulness and high Christian character have always made him regarded as a most desirable citizen. Nine children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sandahl, all now grown to maturity and making their way in the world: August Christian, born No- vember 28, 1871, resides in San Francisco, where he is engaged as manager of the Daily Commercial News, with which publication he has been connected for twenty years ; he married Glenn Johnson, of San Francisco. Carl Ludwig, born September 7, 1873. is also a resident of San Francisco, in business as a ladies' tailor and proprietor of the Hotel Palmer, at the corner of Grant avenue and Bush street : he married Mamie Long, of San Francisco. Hjalniar Henning, born May 22, 1876, a carpenter by trade, lives at No. 15 Broderick street, San Francisco. Maria Ruth, born February 14, 1879, is the wife of Emil Tillman, a tailor, and lives in San Francisco; they have three children, Ruth F., Vera Caroline and Eunice Mildred. David, born at Davenport, Iowa, November 18, 1881, is a traveling salesman for a San Francisco grocery house and resides in that city; he married Rose Clinton, and they have one child, David Clinton. Harry, born at Holdredge, Neb., October 14, 1884, is a tailor in San Francisco; he married Olga Ness. Arthur, born October 28, 1886, at Oakland, Cal., lives with his parents. Aaron, born October 4, 1888, in Middletown, Cal,. is a tailor, in New York City. Mildred Frederika, born at Middletown, December 23, 1890, is employed in San Francisco. Mr. Sandahl was brought up in the faith of the Lutheran Church, and confirmed in that denomination, but while still in Sweden he and his wife became members of the Baptist Church. They are consistent Christians, and their upright lives testify to the sincerity of their faith. Mr. Sandahl was naturalized while living at Holdredge. Nebr.