Merced County
Biographies
GUST E. JOHNSON
A pioneer of the Hilmar Colony of 1903 in California, Gust E. Johnson has been closely identified with the movements that have brought this favored section of Merced County to the front. He was born at Brattrud, Laxareby, Dalsland, Sweden, on January 23, 1862, the sixth son of Johannes and Maria Lovisa (Bergman) Andersson, and was educated in what was known as the "folk" school, in Sweden. As he grew to young manhood he learned the trade of carpenter in Sweden, then went to Norway where he was employed for eighteen months in the nickel and copper mines. He returned to Sweden for a short visit and then sailed for America in the spring of 1882, coming direct to the State of Iowa, where he remained for some months and then went to Minneapolis, Minn., and for the following three years followed his trade of carpenter, principally in shop work. In the spring of 1885 Mr. Johnson traveled westward into British Columbia to work as a bridge carpenter on the Canadian Pacific Railway, remaining in the Canadian Northwest until the summer of 1886, when he returned to Minneapolis and again took up shop work until the spring of 1887. He then left for Eastern Colorado, where he took up a homestead in what was then Weld County, later being incorporated into Phillips County. While proving up on his land he worked at his trade in the city of Denver. However, not seeing his way clear to start farming in earnest he relinquished the homestead and remained in Denver.
While living in Denver, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage on March 20, 1889, with Miss Hilma S. Nelson, also born near Oskarshamn, Sweden. In 1891 they removed to Durango, Colo., where Mr. Johnson followed his trade and later engaged in the lumber business for four years, or until leaving for California in 1903, coming direct to Hilmar Colony, where they have since made their home. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have had eight children, viz.: George W., who married Bertha L. Thyberg of Oakland, and died in 1924, survived by his widow and three children; Carl Oscar, who died in infancy; Gust Adolph, who married Signey Johnson, a native of Sweden; Ernest Theodore, who married Olive M. Lundell of the Hilmar Colony; Marie Louise, Harry David, Hazel Malvi and Irwin Benjamin are single. Mr. Johnson has always voted the Democratic ticket and he is a life member of Durango Lodge No. 46, A. F. & A. M. The Johnson family are well-known and highly respected citizens in this section of California.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 466-469
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
REV. LEWIS ROBERT BOND
Among the pioneer ministers of the eighties in California mention should be made of the late Rev. Lewis Robert Bond, who was one of the outstanding figures in the California Presbyterian Church and a man who spent his entire life doing good for his fellow man and rearing a family.
Rev. Lewis Robert Bond was born August 29, 1842, on his father's farm, not far from Nashville, Tenn. In 1861, he entered the Confederate Army and served in the cavalry until the end of the war, in 1865. Between this date and 1871, he worked on his father's farm, at the carpenter's trade, and also taught school. In 1871, while teaching school, he became a candidate for the ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, before the McMinnville, Tenn., Presbytery; he was licensed in 1872, and ordained in 1873. While serving churches near Lebanon, Tenn., he was able to resume work in Cumberland University, which he had been compelled to relinquish on account of the financial depression of 1873. He was graduated from the Cumberland Theological Seminary in 1880, and was married the same year to Miss Christina Hoodenpyl, of McMinnville, Tenn., who was a graduate of, and later a teacher in, the Cumberland Female College at McMinnville, Tenn.
After a year and a half of service in the churches of Marion Junction and Pleasant Hill, in Alabama, he moved with his wife and infant son to California, and became pastor of the churches at Plainsburg and Mariposa Creek, in Merced County, near the present town of Le Grand. Thereafter he served churches at Lemoore, Bakersfield, and Farmington. In 1893, he moved with his family to Pomeroy, Wash., and there he remained two years. Subsequently, he moved his family to the Willamette Valley in Oregon, where he served in succession churches at Coburg, Woodburn, Sodaville, and Florence. He was honorably retired from the ministry by the Willamette Presbytery of the reunited Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., in 1911, with thirty-one and a half years of active service in the ministry to his credit since his ordination.
One year before his retirement he moved with his family from Florence to Eugene, Ore., where he continued to reside until the year 1919, when he moved with his wife to Le Grand, Cal. At the latter place he passed peacefully to his final rest, December 18, 1922, at the age of eighty years, three months and nineteen days. He is survived by his widow, and all five of their children: Mrs. J. J. Baxter of Le Grand; Paul G., and Capt. Aubrey H. Bond of San Francisco, Lewis A. Bond of Berkeley; and Prof. Jesse H. Bond, of the University of North Dakota, at Grand Forks, N. D. Two of his sons, Aubrey H. and Lewis A., served as commissioned officers with the A. E. F. in France. His outstanding characteristics were honest faithfulness, strong common sense, and patience. Mrs. Bond resides with her daughter, Mrs. J. J. Baxter near Le Grand, and is now in her seventy-third year and hale and hearty.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 472-473
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JUDGE CHARLES T. DOOLEY
Prominent in the civic and business affairs of Le Grand, Judge Dooley is well-known throughout Merced County as a keen business man and an able jurist. He was born near Elgin, Kane County, Ill., on April 10, 1855, and when nineteen years old went to the Texas frontier, in the San Antonio country, where he worked as a cowboy on the range for three years. In 1877-78, he was a member of the famous Texas Rangers, and for eight years was a member of the County Frontier Battalion, Co. E, under Capt. John Sparks. Later he worked as an attendant at the State Insane Asylum at Austin.
In 1884, Judge Dooley came to California and his first work in the State was on grain ranches as machinist on repair work, and running the harvester. Then for five years he worked as a cooper at the Sierra Vista Vineyard, working in the winery and distillery. In 1891, Judge Dooley came to Le Grand, where he has represented the following firms: Baker-Hamilton & Holbrook; Merrill & Stetson Company of San Francisco for the past seventeen years; and for thirty-three years represented the Aermoter Company of Chicago, in installing windmills in Merced and adjoining counties. He also represents the Home Insurance Company, and the Fidelity-Phoenix Insurance Company, both of New York. Judge Dooley is now serving his second term as justice of the peace of Le Grand and has made a record for the clean, judicious carrying-on of his office, with the full confidence of the people. In addition to his other work, the Judge has done some contracting work in Le Grand, erecting a number of houses. Among other business enterprises, he organized the Le Grand Rochdale Store (now the Le Grand Mercantile Company), on May 8, 1901, and has been president of that concern ever since.
The marriage of Judge Dooley, occurring at Austin, Texas, on April 13, 1881, united him with Sarah Loveday, a native of London, England, and one son was born to them, James L., whose death occurred January 8, 1921. Fraternally, the Judge and Mrs. Dooley both belong to the Fraternal Aid Union.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 473-474
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler