Ventura County
Biographies
J. L. Crane
J. L. Crane. - Much credit is due to the pioneers who came to this country when it gave so little promise of being what it is to day, who, with astonishing fortitude, spent years of labor and experiment, and who overcame the difficulties and discouragements that beset their way. J. L. Crane is one of these worthy pioneers, and is deserving of more than a passing mention in these pages.
He was born in Sharon Township, Medina County, Ohio, June 17, 1839. His father, George W. Crane, was a native of Massachusetts, and a pioneer of Ohio. He went to that State in an early day, took a Government claim of heavy timber land, cleared it up, reared a family of seven sons and one daughter, and lived there until he died, in 1885. Mr. Crane's grandfather, Barnabas Crane, was a sea captain in summer and a school teacher in winter, and lived to be eighty-four years old. They trace their ancestry back to England. Some members of the family settled in Massachusetts before the Revolutionary war, and most of the Cranes of this country are descendants from that stock. The mother of the subject of this sketch, nee Louisa Briggs, was a native of New York, born in 1815. She is now a resident of California. Mr. Crane received his education in the public schools of Ohio, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits all his life. Before coming to California he sold his farm in Ohio to his brother, started in October, 1861, and arrived here in November. He came to his present location on the Saticoy ranch in December of the same year. His uncle, G. G. Briggs, came with him from Marysville, and bought 16,000 acres of the Moore Brothers, the price being $45,000. Mr. Crane had been married a short time before leaving Ohio, and to this ranch, in March, 1862, he brought his young wife. At that time it was a vast mustard-plant country. Their nearest neighbor on the west was ten miles away, and on the east, twelve miles. The only inhabitants of Saticoy were a few Indians. The country was full of game, and it was not unusual to see bands of fifteen or twenty deer on the hills. One could scarcely go out without seeing tracks of the grizzly bear. At that time it was thought that nothing could be raised without irrigation. Mr. Briggs brought nursery stock for his own use, and the next year 200 acres were plowed and planted. An orchard, containing a variety of fruits, was set out, the first attempt of that kind in the country. They planted the first ten acres of corn grown without irrigation. Up to that time, Mr. Crane had been in the employ of his uncle. In the fall of 1862 he went to work for himself. That winter proved to be a short one, and the drouth of 1864 caused Mr. Briggs to abandon the idea of colonizing the valley. Every one was discouraged and gave up the thought of staying or the possibility of living in such a country. Mr. Briggs sold his ranch in 1867 to E. B. Higgins. In 1864 Mr. Crane removed to Santa Barbara, and engaged in teaching school. The people of Santa Barbara at that time were so discouraged that they offered land in what is now the heart of the city for $5 per acre. After remaining in that town ten months, he returned to the ranch and planted a quantity of potatoes. They were planted too late, however, and were killed by the frost. After six years of discouragements here they were heartily sick of California, and decided to go back to Ohio, which they did. They remained only ten months, and, after all, found that California had its attractions, and they were sufficient to induce them to return to this coast. They came with a firm determination to stay, and have never wanted to leave again. He resided in Carpenteria seven years, was there at the time the county was divided, and has seen a wonderful change come over the Santa Clara Valley. Mr. Crane now has a farm of 100 acres at Santa Paula. Twenty acres of this are in fruit trees of different kinds, 700 pear, 300 apple, 100 plum trees, and all other kinds of fruit.
Mr. Crane's marriage occurred in 1861, when he wedded Miss Jenette Briggs, a foster daughter of his uncle. She is a native of Massachusetts. They have five children, all born in Ventura County: Emmit C., April 6, 1863; Lincoln P., September 28, 1865; Cora L., April 21, 1873; Charles, April 21, 1875; and Chancy, November 4, 1877. The two oldest sons are merchants at Saticoy, and the other children reside with their parents. Politically, Mr. Crane is a Free-trade Democrat.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 542 Transcribed by Sandy Neder
C. H. Decker
C. H. Decker is a pioneer of California, having come to the State in 1855, to Santa Paula in 1867, and to his present ranch in 1870. He was born in Kennebec County, Maine, August 20, 1832. His father, Stephen Decker, was a native of Maine, and was a merchant and farmer there; and Joshua Decker, his grandfather, was also born in that State. Great-grandfather Decker was an Englishman by birth. Mr. Decker's mother, nee Phelinda Pratt, was also a native of Kennebec County, Maine, and her father, David Pratt, was born in that State, and was at one time a hotel-keeper. Her ancestors were English people.
The subject of this sketch was the youngest, except two, of a family of fifteen children, six of whom are now living, three sons and three daughters. He was reared on his father's farm and received his education in his native State. When he came to California he engaged in mining, in Yuba County, three years, and was partially successful. For two years he furnished blocks for flumes, and from that turned his attention to the lumber business in the redwoods, being engaged in the latter business eight years. Since then he has resided in Ventura County. He is the owner of 146 1/3 acres of well-improved land, and is engaged in raising fruit and walnuts. The walnut trees were planted in 1878 and began to bear at five years old. They now average from fifty to sixty pounds to the tree. Has has a few orange trees that are doing well. At the time he settled here, Mr. Decker supposed his ranch to be Government land, and has had not a little trouble in securing proper title to the land. At last, after an expensive suit, he now has both Government title and a deed from the railroad.
Mr. Decker was married, in September, 1853, to Miss Mary Lewis, a native of Maine. To them was born a daughter, Frances, June 14, 1854, who is now the wife of George P. Willer, and resides at Newton. He was again married, August 12, 1873, to Miss Emily M. Rowell, a native of Maine. They had three children, all born at their present home in Ventura County: Burtis L., May 17, 1874; George V., October 12, 1876, and Bertha N., October 16, 1878. Mrs. Decker's death occurred October 22, 1885. June 2, 1888, Mr. Decker wedded Miss Gertrude Hill, at Santa Paula. She is a native of Missouri, born in Richmond, November 18, 1865. They have one daughter, Ruth, born October 22, 1889.
Mr. Decker is a member and a trustee of the Sespe Methodist church. Politically he is Prohibitionist. He is a man who has been identified with the best interest of the county ever since he took up his residence here: has served the public as School Trustee, and also as Postmaster of Fillmore, having been the first postmaster, when the office was established in 1870.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 323 Transcribed by Sandy Neder