ROY J. VAN TIGER

 

Among the younger generation of orchardists of progressive spirit and unfaltering perseverance is Roy J. Van Tiger.  He is the owner of eighty acres of fine, productive land in Sutter County, and in addition leases the Oak Grove Farm of 160 acres.  The Oak Grove Farm is located midway between Yuba City and Live Oak.  The farm buildings are built on a knoll from which a beautiful view of the surrounding country can be obtained; and the entrance to the farm is made through a five-acre grove of magnificent oak trees, about 150 in number.

Roy J. Van Tiger was born near Sutter City, January 23, 1890, a son of Henry and Elizabeth Van Tiger, who are now living retired in Yuba City.  He received his education in the district schools of Sutter County and Marysville High School.  At the age of fifteen, he entered the employ of the Flannery Shoe Store in Marysville, where he worked steadily for four years.  Then he took a job with the Empire Garage, and made good as an automobile salesman.  He was thrifty and saving, and in the spring of 1910 assumed the responsibility of his father’s ranch of 160 acres, where he has since resided, and which, as stated above, he is operating in addition to his own ranch of eighty acres, or  240 acres in all.  About 100 acres of this land are devoted to orchard and vineyard.  As early as 1911, he established a dairy on his ranch and named it Oak Grove Dairy, after the name he had given the ranch.  His heard of dairy cows numbered about fifty head of high-grade Holstein and Guernsey cattle.  He conducted the dairy for about eleven years.  The orchards and vineyard on the ranch then began to take all of his time, and he sold his dairy herd, to give all of his time to his horticultural and viticultural enterprise.  Mr. Van Tiger was fortunate, when drilling his well, to strike an abundance of water, a seemingly never-failing supply.  His pumping plant consists of an eight-inch centripetal pump, which has direct connection with a thirty-horse electric motor, yielding him 2200 gallons a minute.  Thus, he is able to irrigate every part of his ranch.

At Oroville, Mr. Van Tiger was married to Miss Sarah Cramsie, a native of Smartsville, Cal.  Mrs. Van Tiger received her teacher’s certificate from the Wilkins School at Marysville, and followed the profession of teaching for ten years.  Mr. and Mrs. Van tiger are the parents of one child, Frances E.  Mrs. Van Tiger was elected school trustee of the Encinal District in April, 1923; and she is also interested in welfare work of a constructive character.  Fraternally, Mr. Van Tiger is a member of the Knights of Columbus of Marysville.  In politics he is a Republican.  He is a member of the California Peach and Apricot Association, and the Sun Maid Raisin Growers’ Association.

 

History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924

p 1019

 

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CYRUS B. CLARK

 

An experienced, enterprising and prosperous rancher who had already made a success of his efforts in quite another field, is Cyrus B. Clark, the well-known vineyardist and horticulturist living not far from Live Oak, Sutter County.  He was born in Sutter County on April 4, 1868, the son of Joseph Franklin and Mary Adeline (Lester) Clark, the former a native of Iowa, and the latter of Wisconsin.  Mr. Clark crossed the great plains with ox-teams in pioneer days, and became a large rancher in Sutter County; and the old Colt’s pistol which he used while crossing the plains is still in the possession of his son.  He made a number of trips across the continent, and on account of his greater experience he served as a guide, and so helped others to get across safely.

Cyrus Clark attended the Sutter County schools; and after his school days were over he worked around on ranches for wages, and for two years was in the butcher business at Gridley.  He was next associated with his brother, H. W. Clark, in farming.  He established a blacksmith shop in Live Oak, sixteen years ago.  The shop is now leased to another blacksmith, and Mr. Clark gives his entire attention to his thirty-four acres, devoted to a vineyard and to peaches, all set out or planted by himself.