Merced County
Biographies
THOMAS JORDAN
An outstanding character in the progressive element of his district, a worker for the cause of education, and the forward movement for improving the general welfare, Thomas Jordan has done as much as any individual in Merced County to forward the progress of this part of the State. A native of England, his birth took place August 6, 1863, at Southampton, the youngest of twelve children born to his parents, and the only one to leave England. His people were of moderate circumstances, and he obtained his education in the public schools near Southampton.
In 1884, Mr. Jordan left home to come to the United States; his first two years in the new country were spent in the timber region of Sturgeon, Mich., on the Great Lakes, and of this period two seasons were put in as an edger in one of the large sawmills, at $1.25 a day. In 1886, he came to California and located in Merced County, working in the grain fields for the Ostrander Ranch Company; then after six years at Atwater and Plainsburg, and a two-year period spent on the Leeker ranch in Merced and Mariposa Counties, he invested his savings in land, and a home near Plainsburg. He later purchased 440 acres in the Appling District, which remained the family home for fifteen years, and in the meantime he added another ranch to his holdings, the Hamlett place, a 280-acre grain ranch, which he still owns, and eighty-one acres in Dixieland Colony, forty acres near Le Grand, and recently ten acres and his residence on the edge of that town. He sold his 440 acres in the Appling District about 1913. Coming to California with practically no assets, he has by his own unaided efforts made what he owns and holds, made possible through the cooperation of his helpmate, his wife, faithful and devoted.
The marriage of Mr. Jordan, at New Forest, England, on December 24, 1887, united him with Miss Alice Vince, a native of Alden, England, and eight children have blessed their union: Gertrude, Mrs. Otto Hake, in Madera County; Viola A., died an infant; Edward, a farmer at Athlone; Margaret, wife of Neal Watts; Fred, in Alameda ; LeRoy; Vince ; and Ruth. There are six grandchildren in the family.
Mr. Jordan received his United States citizenship papers at Merced, on July 26, 1896, and he takes a keen interest in civic, State, and national affairs, voting on all issues and picking his men with the same foresight which has made his success in life. He is director of the Merced County Farm Bureau, five years in office, and is prominent in irrigation movements, with great faith in the future of Merced County, and to his faith he adds works. He is a stockholder in the Le Grand Bank and one of its organizers. Fraternally, he belongs to the Odd Fellow and Rebekah lodges, and is a charter member of the Redmen, a past officer and delegate for six years. Mr. Jordan has been absent from Merced County on but two occasions since his first arrival here; six weeks in 1912, on a business trip to his old home in England; and six months in 1921, when, with his wife, he made an extended visit there.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 515-516
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
SANSOM B. DISMUKES
One of the most prominent and substantial citizens of Los Banos, who is actively interested in the welfare of his adopted community and willingly gives of his time and means to advance every worthy project brought before its people, is Sansom B. Dismukes, dealer in furniture and carpets and insurance agent. A native of Georgia, he was born at Weston, Webster County, in February, 1862, and educated in the schools of his district, where he grew to young manhood. Ten years prior to his coming to California he made his home in Athens, Ga., and came to San Jose, Cal., in May, 1896, remaining there until 1902. That fall he returned to Georgia on account of the death of his father, but came back to California in December, and in March, 1903, located in Los Banos, then a growing town, and entered upon the career of furniture dealer and insurance agent, representing the Home Insurance Company since March, 1903, and also handling insurance in other solid companies. Since he has written insurance for the Home Company, there have been but very few losses that company has had to pay, because of the extreme care Mr. Dismukes takes in examining the risks before writing the policies.
Since locating in Los Banos Mr. Dismukes has entered into the spirit of the growing West and served as city treasurer when the town was first incorporated. He was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of trustees twice and was then elected to the position; and so favorably have his efforts impressed the citizens that they have reelected him to the position three different times. During his terms in office nearly all of the important movements have been pushed through to completion, the new sewer system installed, the streets paved, and the water system purchased from the Miller & Lux interests, greatly extended and improved. When the sewer bond issue of $30,000 was passed, his name was written 4800 times on the bonds.
Mr. Dismukes was married in Athens, Ga., in 1894, to Miss Susie Mae Patman. There was one daughter born to them, now Mrs. Agnes Ethleen Sneed, of Stockton, Cal. Mr. Dismukes is a prominent Odd Fellow, holding membership in Mountain Brow Lodge No. 82, I. O. O. F., in Los Banos, and is also a member of Newman Encampment, Modesto Canton, and Los Olivas Rebekah Lodge No. 214, of Los Banos. He was the prime mover in organizing the I. O. O. F. Hall Association, and was selected for its first president in 1917. He was the moving spirit in raising the money to build the first unit of their fine hall in 1917, erected on lots purchased by the Odd Fellows some years previously; and in 1921 he negotiated the loan from the Bank of Italy to erect the second unit of their building and make a home for the postoffice, which occupies the building under a ten-year lease. When the office was moved from the shack it had been occupying for about two years to the new location that year, he mailed the first letter posted in the new office in December. The financial arrangements of the Odd Fellows building have been such that the debt is being fast reduced and there will be a surplus on hand to meet necessary repairs and purchase equipment for the lodge when the debt shall have been lifted. Mr. Dismukes has served as clerk of the Los Banos High School board for nine years. He is treasurer of the board of stewards of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, served as superintendent of the Sunday school for fifteen years, and assisted in financing the erection of the new church edifice in Los Banos. In fact, his standing as a responsible business man has had much to do with his selection by his fellow citizens to assist in almost every movement for bettering conditions in general; and his friends are legion.
History of Merced County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1925
page 516-518
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler