Sutter County
Biographies
OSCAR EAGER
Among the well-to-do and successful viticulturists of Sutter County is Oscar Edgar, who is prosperously engaged in his independent vocation on one of the most desirable homesteads in this section of the State. His ranch consists of eighty-seven acres in the Live Oak section of the county, which his devoted to Thompson Seedless grapes and French prunes. He was born in Ukiah, Cal., October 9, 1882, the second child in a family of ten born to George W. and Elizabeth (Holman) Eager. George W. Eager was born in Franklin County, N. Y., and at the age of thirteen joined a party of eighty-six for California, going via Panama to seek their fortunes in the gold mines. It took ninety-six days to reach California and only seventeen of the party survived, the balance dying of fever en route to the Coast. George W. Eager mined at Sonora and Angels Camp; later he became a driver for the stage company and finally owned a stage line to Angels Camp from Stockton. George W. Eager married Miss Elizabeth Holman, a native of Missouri, who in the early fifties crossed the plains with her parents and settled near Cottle, Mendocino County, where they engaged in farming. George W. Eager gave up stage driving and settled in Suisun, where he conducted a livery business. In 1883 the family removed to Colusa, where they farmed for two years, and in 1885 located in Sutter County, where George W. Eager became joint owner with M. Marcuse in the livestock and horse business fourteen miles west of Yuba City.
Oscar Eager was reared on his father’s ranch and his education was limited as far as attending school was concerned, but practical experience in farm pursuits has proven invaluable to him and whatever he has undertaken has been successful. His first experience as an independent vineyardist was on the Reynolds ranch, where he bought forty acres, which he developed to grapes and later disposed of. In 1919, in partnership with his brother William, he purchased the N. F. Todd ranch for $28,000, which they developed together until 1922, when he purchased his brother’s interest. Twenty acres have been set to French prunes, and there are fifty-eight acres in vineyard. At six years of age the vineyard produced eighty-seven tons of raisins, and in 1922 the crop amounted to ninety-seven tons, and in 1923 to 119 tons. The prospect for a large crop in 1924 is very encouraging.
Mr. Eager’s marriage occurred at Live Oak and united him with Miss Anna Siefert, a native of Live Oak, Cal., a daughter of California pioneers, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Eager are the parents of one son, James Henry.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p . 1328