Merced County
Biographies
JOHN S. CARDOZA
One of the leading Portuguese-American citizens of the West Side of Merced County is John S. Cardoza, born at St. George, in the Azores, on October 12, 1859, the second child born to Antone and Anna (Silvieira) Cardoza. The father followed farming all his life in his native land. The mother died in 1869, when her son was a lad of ten years, and it was after the death of this parent that our subject began to be self-supporting. He was given work to do on the farm that would have been enough for a man, but he was strong and willing and in a way accomplished what he was set to do. He had but little opportunity to go to school for his days were given over to monotonous work and, as he grew older, he could see but little promise for the years that were to come; so he decided he would come to America where there was more opportunity for a man of persistency and purpose.
In 1873, when fourteen years of age, J. S. Cardoza landed in New York, with but little money and among strangers. He secured work on a farm in Rhode Island, but the wages were small and after eighteen months he had saved barely enough to pay his passage to California, where he arrived on January 1, 1875, having but a "two-bit" piece in his pocket. He was ambitious to get ahead and he worked his way to the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley where there were many of his countrymen with whom he easily found work on a ranch. He saved his money and by 1881 was able to embark in ranching for himself on 1000 acres of leased land upon which he began raising grain, each year adding to his leasehold until he had under cultivation some 2500 acres. He was so successful in disposing of his grain that in 1885 he and Charles Nye purchased 160 acres of the Page tract, which they put into alfalfa and sold at a good profit. Mr. Cardoza then bought his present home place, first only eighty acres, then adding seventy, all of which he improved with a good set of farm buildings, with barns suitable for dairying, and here he has been successfully engaged in that industry ever since. He was one of the pioneers in the dairy business in this locality and with the passing of the years he has won the respect and good will of his neighbors and has an ever-widening circle of friends. Upon the organization of the Bank of Newman Mr. Cardoza was invited to become a stockholder and later was made a director and after some years sold his stock. In fact nearly every project for advancement of this section has had his hearty cooperation and support.
The marriage of John S. Cardoza at Centerville, Cal., united him with Miss Mary Munyan, who was born there, a daughter of Frank Munyan, who crossed the plains in 1849 and had the usual experiences of the pioneers in that long and hazardous journey. He mined for a time, abandoning that to undertake ranching near Centerville, in which occupation he was very successful. Of this marriage there were born the following children: Charles; Lena, married Frank Dias, has two children, Frances and John, and lives in Merced; Geneva, wife of Tracy Barrett, lives in Berkeley; Carrie, married Ralph Reed and resides in Stockton; Lunas; and Stuart, all of whom have had the advantages of the best schools to prepare them for the battle of life. Mr. Cardoza is a Republican in politics of national import, but in local affairs he believes in the best men for the office regardless of party lines. He is a member of the Knights of Phythias, Woodmen of the World, Women of Woodcraft, Degree of Honor, and United Portuguese Union. In the review of the life of this worthy citizen we find that his success, and the position of honor in which he is held, are the result of prudence, perseverance and push, the three P's of success, all combined with good citizenship.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 496-499
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
DR. WILLIAM ROBINSON
The subject of this interesting review, Dr. William Robinson, was born in Athens County, Ohio, September 12, 1828, a son of Ebenezer and Elizabeth (Hamilton) Robinson. The father died at Zanesville, Ohio, in 1833. At the age of fourteen years, William Robinson assumed the responsibility of providing for himself, and until he was sixteen years old worked for four dollars a month. In December, 1844, he went to Des Moines, Iowa, and there took up a government claim, on which he built a cabin. In a short time he went to Schuyler County, Ill., and there engaged in the trade of broom-making. In 1847 he enlisted in the service of his country in the war against Mexico, being a member of Company C, commanded by Capt. N. C. Cunningham. He arrived at the front too late to participate in the actual fighting, but did patrol duty until he was honorably discharged on July 7, 1848. During his service in the war with Mexico he mastered the Spanish language, becoming very proficient. On September 1, 1848 he went to Independence, Mo., where he was in the employ of a railroad company, for a time, and then returned to Schuyler County, Ill., and worked at the cooper's trade until 1850.
In 1850 William Robinson was married to Miss Susanna Woodruff, and they removed to Henderson County, Ill., where he devoted his energies to agriculture until 1854. His next abiding place was Oskaloosa, Iowa, and there he farmed and worked at the cooper's trade until 1863. Then came a call for additional troops to defend the old flag, and he volunteered in Captain Sherry's 3rd Iowa Cavalry, serving in the quartermaster's department at Davenport for nine months, when he was discharged on account of the death of his wife, who left five children: William H.; Joshua A.; Annie Jane, who married Joseph Brady of Kansas City, Mo.; George Edward; and Addie Leona, who married Peter S. Skelly. He then worked at the carpenters' trade for a while. In September, 1869, Dr. Robinson was married a second time, this union joining him to Miss Melissa Yonker. After their marriage they removed to Missouri, where he farmed from 1869 to 1874. Then followed the journey to California, where Mr. Robinson became the owner of one of the productive farms in Merced County. Of this second marriage the following children were born: James B.; Nellie M., who married Joseph Harrigan of San Francisco; Benjamin B., a rancher near Snelling; Frank D., in Merced; Flora B., wife of John Wolfsen of Merced County; Sheldon, who died aged twenty years; and Alice, who died in childhood.
Dr. Robinson's career was marked with many changes, and he experienced many different phases of life, but the attractions of the Golden State were sufficient to hold him for the balance of his life. He passed away in Merced in 1905, aged seventy-seven years. Mrs. Robinson passed on in 1911. Dr. Robinson was an exemplary citizen. He was strictly temperate in his habits, a profound student of the Bible, and in every way a man whom it was an honor to know; and he was recognized as one of the most esteemed citizens of Merced County.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 499-500
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler