Merced County
Biographies
SOREN HUSMAN
Although without means or influential friends, Soren Husman possessed the cheerful optimism of youth, and, when he had completed the common schools in his native country, started out for himself at the age of sixteen. He was born in Jylland, Denmark, on February 19, 1881, the son of J. C. Husman, who was twice married. By the first wife there were three children: Anders, Katherine (deceased), and Helena. Of his second union, when he married Sina Sorensen, there were ten children, viz.: Maria, Soren, Kirstine, Clara, Alfred (deceased), Julia and Alfreda, twins (deceased), Katherina, Alfred and Bror.
Soren Husman could well be spared from home and after he had earned enough money for his passage to America, we find him in Staplehurst, Seward County, Neb., in 1903, where he was employed at farm labor for a year. In 1904, he came to Watsonville, Cal., worked for a year on a ranch, then went to the Hawaiian Islands and was employed in a dairy there about a year. In 1906, he returned to California and found work with A. P. Miller, in a dairy north of Newman, Stanislaus County. He then worked for others, but came down into Merced County in the Clay district. By 1908, he had saved enough money from his wages to make a payment on a tract of forty acres in the Romero school district under the canal and here he carried on a dairy until 1923, when he engaged in raising turkeys. He owns a hill ranch of 480 acres in the Crittenden tract, a part of the Barnes ranch, capable of pasturing 100 head of cattle. He came to live on his ranch in 1908, leveled and checked it for irrigation and erected his house and farm buildings.
On March 6, 1913, Mr. Husman was married to Astrid Ebbesen, born in Jylland, Denmark, the daughter of Hans and Anna Ebbesen. The father was a native of Kalvslund, Denmark, and was a teacher in the schools of Stendrup. He could trace the Ebbesen family back 400 years and some members of the family were occupying the same farm on which he was born, always farming, Hans being the only exception. The mother was Anna Hansen, and was born in Jylland. Astrid was the eldest child, the others being Helga Dagmar, Ebbe, Thyra, Jens, Einar, Axel and Gudron. Mrs. Husman received a good education and taught school several years prior to coming to California, in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Husman have six children: James, Hans, Alfred, Selma, Elmer and Irwin. Mr. Husman is independent in politics, voting for the best men and measures regardless of party. He has been a trustee of the Romero school for several years and is a man always to be relied upon for advancing the best interests of his adopted country.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 858-859
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
EDWARD BICKMORE
Among the successful and enterprising professional men of Merced County, is Edward Bickmore, who has won an enviable reputation throughout this section as an able lawyer. The son of a California pioneer, he was born near Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, Cal., on July 27, 1876. His father, Thomas Bickmore, when a mere lad helped to drive oxen across the plains to California in 1852. The family settled in the vicinity of Los Angeles, at El Monte. When a young man, Thomas Bickmore came north through the West Side of the San Joaquin Valley to Watsonville, where later he farmed and raised fruit. In 1854 Miss Martha Cullumber left her home in Texas for California, and in 1866 she was married to Thomas Bickmore at Watsonville, and the home was established there. Thomas Bickmore was a veteran of the Civil War, having served in the Union Army; he is now deceased; the mother is still living, residing at Hollister.
The public schools of Santa Cruz County furnished the early education of Edward Bickmore; this was supplemented by the study of law in a private office. In April, 1908 he was admitted to practice law by the State bar and opened an office and engaged in the practice of his profession in Watsonville; then for four years he maintained an office in Los Banos; and during 1913 established a law office in Merced, where he has since been engaged in building up a lucrative practice.
The marriage of Mr. Bickmore united him with Miss Alice G. Bourges, a native daughter of Monterey County, and one son, Thomas E., has been born of this union. Fraternally, Mr. Bickmore is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Woodmen of the World. In line with his profession he is a member of the State Bench and Bar Association. While C. H. McCray was in the United States service in 1918, Mr. Bickmore served as deputy district attorney. He takes a keen interest in his profession and is a booster for Merced County. While not active in public affairs, yet he is intensely interested in the growth and advancement of his section of California.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 859-860
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
HAROLD BONE
The genealogy of the Bone family is traced back to England and in Southampton, Harold Bone was born on December 26, 1886, a son of Frederick and Olive (Summers) Bone, both natives of England. The father was a gardener by trade and came to California in 1889, settling in Merced County, where he followed his calling. When our subject was a lad of four years the family left England and joined the father in California. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living.
Harold Bone received his education in the schools of Merced. While still in his teens he was apprenticed to learn the plumber's trade, which he later followed for ten years; then from 1915 to 1921 he was engaged in the fire insurance business, winning success by his characteristic perseverance and industry. In 1922 he was appointed to complete an unexpired term as justice of the peace, occasioned by the death of F. H. Farrar, of Township No. 2, in Merced; he gave such thorough satisfaction that at the election that fall he was elected unanimously to the position for a term of four years. His nature is genial and his intelligence broad, substantial and helpful, thereby becoming not only a popular official, but one who can be thoroughly relied upon in all matters pertaining to his office. Mr. Bone has never married. Fraternally, he is a member of the Elks and the Woodmen of the World.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 860
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
HENRY F. BURKE
From early youth to the present day, Henry F. Burke, who has the agency of the Paige and Jewett cars at Merced, has always been interested in and operating some sort of instrument or appliance for locomotion. The son of Henry F. and Frances (Bittell) Burke, he was born in Cleveland, Ohio, February 11, 1881, and attended the local public school until he was thirteen years of age, when he became a jockey for two years. He then served an apprenticeship as a machinist for three years, after which he went into the bicycle business, all in Cleveland. As an amateur rider he won two prizes, riding to Geneva and return, but when he sold these prizes he was rated as a professional, which he practiced for three years in connection with the bicycle business. He won a number of century medals for riding 100 miles a day. In 1889 he was engaged in working on the first Winton car built. After that he was in the Buick and the Packard factories, and in the Kissel factory in Wisconsin two years. Through the succeeding years he worked in various States, North and South. For a year and a half he was in business in Louisiana, and then went to Texas. From there he came to California and in 1920 located in Merced. He worked on a salary for a time and then engaged in business for himself. He started in a modest way on October 20, 1921, and now employs five men in his present location at 345 Seventeenth Street, with the agency of the Paige and Jewett cars.
Mr. Burke was united in marriage with Miss Emma Nelson, of Louisiana, who shares with him the high regard of many friends. Mr. Burke is not tied to any party; he votes for the men and measures which seem to be for the best interest to the greatest number. He is a member of the Moose fraternity. He is fond of outdoor life and motoring, and made the record from Merced to Yosemite Valley on June 1, 1923, driving in a blinding storm, in three hours and twenty-six minutes. Highly respected and public-spirited, he has won a place in the foremost ranks of representative citizens.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 860-861
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler