El Dorado County
Biographies
CHARLES T. WALKER
One of the large and important ranches of the Clarksville district of Eldorado county is that of which Charles T. Walker is the active manager and which is devoted largely to the raising of cattle. Mr. Walker was born on this place on the 12th of May, 1893, and has always lived here. He received his educational training in the public schools of Clarksville and a business college in Sacramento, after which he went to work on the home ranch. In the course of time, when increasing years compelled his father to relinquish much of the farm work, Charles T. took over the active management of the ranch and is now practically directing its operations. They have two thousand eight hundred acres of land in the home place, and also have another ranch of three thousand five hundred acres at Lake Tahoe. On these ranches they run about six hundred head of cattle, in the handling of which they have been very successful, being numbered among the leading ranchers of this section of the county.
Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Eva Miser, who also was descended from one of the old pioneer families of Eldorado county, her father being extensively engaged in cattle raising. Mr. and Mrs. Walker were the parents of two children, Marcella and John Franklin. Mrs. Walker died December 27, 1930. Mr. Walker takes a keen interest in public affairs, but in politics maintains an independent attitude, voting for the best men, regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Native Sons of the Golden West. His maternal grandmother was one of the first school teachers in Eldorado county. The Walkers have always been numbered among the best families of Eldorado county, commanding respect for their sterling personal qualities, as well as for their material wealth.
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. W. Wooldridge, Chicago: The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931
pp 31-32
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler ©, September 2004
J. C. MacDONALD
The late J. C. MacDonald, of Rescue, California, who departed this life October 7, 1915, was a man of good education and high attainments as an engineer and performed some notable work in his line. While he was greatly respected for these things, he was also greatly esteemed for his high character and likeable traits, which won for him a warm place in the hearts of all who were associated with him. A native of Nova Scotia, he was there reared to the age of twenty-one years, and in the course of his educational training acquired a thorough and practical knowledge of civil and mechanical engineering. At about the time he attained his majority he went to Portland, Oregon, where he lived for five years, and then became connected with the Grunley Smelting Company at Grand Forks, British Columbia, in which position he continued for nine years. He then continued the private practice of his profession in Grand Forks, organizing an engineering and construction company. Later he went to Vancouver and opened an engineering office and shortly afterward constructed the Vancouver and New Westminster water works system. Later, because of impaired health, Mr. MacDonald disposed of his British Columbia interests and came to his wife’s home place of Rescue, where he spent much time in the improvement and development of the ranch. He was called to Ottawa, Canada, by the provincial government to plan for bringing water from Clear Lake, but because of conditions, the project was abandoned. In the spring of 1915 he returned to the home place, his health failed rapidly and he closed his eyes to earthly scenes in the fall of that year.
Soon after first going to Portland, Oregon, Mr. MacDonald met and was united in marriage to Miss Julia Litten, who at that time was teaching school in Portland. She is a daughter of Arthur Litten, to whom personal reference is made in other pages of this work. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald became the parents of two children, Lloyd, who died in infancy, and Litten D., who died May 20, 1930, at the age of thirty-two years, a bright and gifted young man, whose death was a great loss to his mother. Mr. MacDonald was a republican in his political views and was urged to accept public office, but invariably declined to become a candidate. He was a member of the Masonic order and was extremely popular wherever known, his death being regarded as a personal loss by those who knew him.
A bit of old history is recalled in the fact that General Fremont camped at the spring on the MacDonald farm, and Fremont peak was so named from the fact that the General took observations from its summit. It is located on the MacDonald property and is but a short distance from the home. It is the highest point between Mt. Hamilton and Mt. Shasta. Mrs. MacDonald carries on the work of the ranch, being a woman of ability and judgment in practical matters. Her sister, Miss Litten, who also lives in the old home, is a teacher and has taught three generations of El Dorado children.
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. W. Wooldridge, Chicago: The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931
pp 28-29
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler ©, September 2004
CHARLES E. DUGAN
Charles E. Dugan, who owns and operates a fine ranch of six hundred and forty acres near Shingle Springs, is a member of one of El Dorado county’s oldest families, his grandfather having come here with the historic band of “Forty-niners” who gave California its first great impetus. Mr. Dugan was born on the home place at Dugan Station, Eldorado county, on the 11th of September, 1890, a son of Charles W. and Mattie (Hanley) Dugan. After his grandfather had been in California two or three years he returned east and in 1853 brought his family across the plains to their future home. In the following year he built the Dugan house, which stood at Dugan Station until 1924, a period of seventy years. The grandfather died in 1868 and was survived many years by his widow who passed away in 1902. The original farmstead consisted of three hundred and twenty acres, to which a like number of acres were added by Charles W. Dugan, who was born and reared on that place. He was educated in the rural schools of that neighborhood and devoted the active years of his life to ranching and cattle raising. His death occurred in 1919 and his widow, who is a native of Eldorado county, now resides in Placerville.
Charles E. Dugan acquired his education in the schools of his home district and the public schools of Sacramento, which he attended for one year. He then worked for the Southern Pacific Railroad for twelve years, at the end of which time he returned to the home ranch. On the death of his father he took over the management of the place, in the operation of which he has been very successful. He has part of the land under cultivation and also raises large numbers of cattle, sheep and goats. He keeps the ranch well improved, has proved a good manager, and is now numbered among the prosperous and substantial farmers of Eldorado county.
Mr. Dugan was united in marriage to Miss Agnes L. Maher, a native of Nebraska, and they are the parents of two children, Eleanora Agnes and Alberta Ida. In his political affiliation Mr. Dugan is a republican and takes a helpful interest in public affairs, particularly such as affect the welfare of his home community. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Native Sons of the Golden West. Hunting and fishing are his favorite forms of recreation. He is a man of great energy and determination and has exercised sound judgment in business, so that he has well earned the prosperity which is crowning his activities.
History of the Sacramento Valley California Biographical, Vol. III by Major J. W. Wooldridge, Chicago: The Pioneer Historical Society Publ. Co., 1931
pp 27-28
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler ©, September 2004