San Joaquin County
Biographies
CLARENCE A. REASONER.
An experienced garage operator of Clements, where he now conducts the Service Garage, is Clarence A. Reasoner, who was born at Clements on November 9, 1888, the son of Charles and Ada (Megerle) Reasoner. His father came to California about forty years ago; but his mother was born in Clements, the daughter of Philip L. Megerle, who was born in Richland County, Ohio, in October, 1840. He came to California across the plains in 1853, and made a difficult journey, requiring six and one-half months. He settled in San Joaquin County, and resided there until his death. In 1875 he purchased the farm today called the Old Megerle Rancho, a quarter-section of fine grain land lying near Lockeford. The ranch was well equipped in his time with a fine home, barns, shed, and all necessary tools. In 1867, on October 8, at Woodbridge, he married Miss Theodocia Boyce, a member of another pioneer family. They had five children, one of whom is Mr. Reasoner's mother. Charles Reasoner died in 1920. Mrs. Reasoner remarried and is now the wife of Joseph Steely, of Lockeford, partner of Clarence A. Reasoner.
Clarence Reasoner attended the Athearn school at Clements. He has been working for himself ever since he was ten years old. In 1921 he and Joseph Steely established themselves as proprietors of the Service Garage in Clements. They own their own building, and also deal in plumbing and electrical supplies. They carry farming machinery, and undertake to do general garage repairing. They have an enviable reputation for efficiency and willingness to accommodate, and the community has not been slow to respond in profitable patronage.
On December 14, 1917, Mr. Reasoner enlisted in the United States service for the World War, and was sent to Camp Lewis, where he became a member of Company G, 362nd Infantry, 91st Division. He sailed for France in June, 1918, and partook in all the drives until he was wounded in October, in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Sailing from New York, he went to France by way of Liverpool and Southampton, England, and eventually reached Havre; and in France his regiment trained at Bonnecourt before going to the trenches. Upon being wounded, he was sent to Base Hospital No. 61, and there he remained until he recovered and returned to the United States. On March 11, 1919, at the Presidio, in San Francisco, he left the service as a corporal with his coveted documents attesting honorable standing and faithful service; and then he returned to Clements. He belongs to the Clements Lodge, No. 355, I. O. O. F., and is a past grand in that lodge. He is also a member of the Rebekah Lodge at Clements.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1224
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.
DAVID BAUMBACH.
A well-known citizen and prosperous vineyardist residing about one mile north of Victor, is David Baumbach, who was born at Olivet, in Hutchinson County, S. D., on May 9, 1894, a son of George and Charlotte (Delk) Baumbach, both natives of southern Russia who came to South Dakota from the Crimea, filed a timber claim and located a homestead.
David Baumbach acquired his early education in the schools of South Dakota, and resided there until he was thirteen years old, when he came with his father to California. He is the youngest of a family of eight children: K. G., of Lodi; Elizabeth, now Mrs. John Bechthold, of north San Joaquin County; Helena, Mrs. Reimche, residing on Kettleman Lane, near Lodi; George D., residing at Orland; Lydia, Mrs. Seibel, of Lodi; Jacob, residing on Dry Creek, east of Galt; Katie, Mrs. Werner, of north San Joaquin County; and David, of whom we write. The father passed away in 1920, but the mother died when David was a boy of ten years, in 1904. After arriving in California, David had the privilege of attending the Salem school in Lodi for three years, and then for a time attended the Emerson school. His father had purchased twenty acres of land, and when sixteen years old, David began taking care of it. When twenty-one he started out for himself. He became possessed of ten acres and later added ten acres more, so that now he has twenty acres in a fine vineyard about one mile north of Victor, on which he has erected a fine bungalow. He has an irrigating well and a pump that throws 750 gallons per minute, driven by an electric motor.
On January 5, 1916, at Lodi, occurred the marriage of Mr. Baumbach, which united him with Miss Marie Young, a native of Marion County, Kan., born near Ramona, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Scheideman) Young. John Young resided in Kansas for thirty years previous to coming to California and the parents now reside on a ranch on Kettleman Lane, near Lodi, and are prosperous and well-known. Mrs. Baumbach is one of eleven children: Daniel D., of Lodi; Marie, Mrs. Baumbach; Rachel, Mrs. Schaefer, of Victor; Lydia, Mrs. Wagemann, of Lodi; Lizzie, Mrs. Lewis Baumbach, of Acampo; Esther, Mrs. Seibel, of Lodi; and Leah, Emanuel, Hilda, Ruben, and Eva, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Baumbach are the parents of one daughter, Charlotte Elizabeth.
In 1917 Mr. Baumbach went to Montana to take up a homestead in Valley County; but in about six months' time he entered the service of his country, on October 2, 1917, and was sent to Camp Lewis in Company 33 of the 166th Depot Brigade and was there one month. He was then sent to Camp Mills, N. Y., where he was transferred to Company L, 163rd Infantry, of the 41st Division. He was sent overseas during December of 1917 and spent Christmas on the ocean; landing in Liverpool Christmas eve, he was sent to Camp Morn Hill at Winchester, then to Southampton and across the channel to France. His company spent three months in guard duty at Bordeaux, and then Mr. Baumbach was transferred to Company G of the 127th Infantry and trained for one month preparatory to going to the Vosges sector, where he was stationed at St. Marie in Alsace, in the defensive sector. He went into action in the ChateauThierry and Aisne-Marne drive and was wounded in the leg. After spending three weeks in the hospital he was able to rejoin his company and was in the Argonne offensive. He was again wounded on October 3, 1918, by a piece of shrapnel that tore a hole through his left wrist. He was sent to the hospital, where he remained six months. He spent thirteen months overseas, returning to the United States during January of 1919, and was discharged May 1, 1919, at the Presidio at San Francisco and returned to his home in Victor. His wife had made her home with her parents in Lodi while her husband was overseas. On his return, they moved onto their ranch, and since then he has given all of his attention to viticulture. Mr. Baumbach is a member of Lodi Post No. 22, American Legion, and of the Wounded Veterans of the World War. He received from the government the Foreign Service or Victory medal.
History of San Joaquin County, California – Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 1923
p 1224
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.