Yolo County
Biographies
H. L. MARDERS
The greatest westward migration known in the history of the world occurred during the ‘50s when the newly discovered mines of California proved the magnet that attracted gold-seekers from every portion of the globe. One of the expeditions that crossed the plains had among its most active members a youth of seventeen years, H. L. Marders, who had left forever the old associations of boyhood and had joined in the movement destined ultimately to develop the then unknown west. The young traveler was a member of an old family in the United States and was born in Missouri, April 17, 1837, being a younger brother of William Nathaniel Marders, like himself a native of Monroe county, his birth having occurred August 30, 1834. The brothers were alike in energy of temperament, fertility of resource and fondness for adventure, and many of their experiences in the west were memorable and to a large degree perilous.
An opportunity to work his passage across the plains came to H. L. Marders in 1854 and he eagerly availed himself of the chance. The expedition with its large herd of cattle and its full equipment of wagons and supplies proceeded by way of Fort Laramie and the Platte river, on to Chimney Rock and Echo Canyon, thence via Devil’s Slide and the sink of the Humboldt into the mining regions. On one occasion, just as dawn was lighting the east, the guard heard several arrows suddenly whiz by and as he turned an Indian jumped to his feet, exclaiming “How do you do?” Without the pause of an instant the guard shot the Indian twice and the savage dropped dead. Knowing other savages lurked in the distance ready to attack the party, the captain of the train hastily posted a notice for other emigrant trains, warning them of danger. The party then started forward with as much haste as possible and did not pause until they were sixteen miles away. Afterward they learned that every member of the next emigrant train was killed by Indians.
Leaving the expedition in Nevada and remaining behind to earn some needed money. H. L. Marders followed freighting for two years and hauled many loads to Jacobsville, five miles west of Austin, on the Reese river. In addition he hauled salt from Sand Springs to Virginia City. Each trip brought him from $1000 to $1500. One of his chief difficulties was the loss of cattle through the drinking of the alkali water. Notwithstanding all loses he found the freighting business one bringing considerable profit and he followed it both in Nevada and California for a considerable period. Meanwhile he also had frequent intervals devoted to prospecting and mining. The first visit he ever made to Yolo county was during the year 1864 and since then he has been more or less closely identified with various portions of the county. In the vicinity of Woodland he hired out to do a job of plowing and turned the sod neatly and expeditiously with five yoke of oxen, when the rancher himself had been unable to accomplish satisfactory results with seven yoke. For six months he worked for Jesse D. Carr, for several years he lived in Watsonville (Santa Cruz county) and for three years he made his home in Woodland, where he built a large stable and then leased one-half of the building to tenants. The occupations of the early days (mining, freighting and ranching) he tried at different times and had his share of good luck and of adversity, but with it all he never lost his affection for the west and his sincere belief in its future prosperity. For some years he and his brother, William Nathaniel, engaged in the raising of sheep at Casey’s Flat, but eventually their partnership was dissolved. In 1900 he located at Esparto, set out an orchard of fourteen acres to almonds and grapes, and has also set out an orchard of twenty-five acres near his place.
The marriage of Mr. Marders took place in Sacramento in the year 1877 and united him with Miss Martha Sweeney, a native of Missouri. She died in 1896, when forty-four years of age. They became the parents of two sons. The elder, Miles, married Mattie Bolden, a young lady from El Paso, Tex., and they have three sons, Miles, Jr., Glenn and Merl of Esparto. The political affiliation of Mr. Marders are with the Democratic party, and his brother, the late W. N. Marders, likewise voted the Democratic ticket at national elections. This brother, who passed away August 13, 1899, owned nine hundred and fifty acres in the Sacramento valley and left, to inherit the estate, his widow, formerly Esther Ryder and their four children, William O., Mabel O. (Mrs. W. E. Nissen), Maude Esther (Mrs. H. R. Brown), and Roy A.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County, California” by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 791 – 793.
Ethelbert J. CLANTON
Of English descent, Ethelbert J. Clanton is one of Yolo county’s pioneers, having come to California with his parents in 1853. He was born in Quincy, Adams county, Ill., May 1, 1832. His great-grandfather was the first representative of the Clantons to leave English soil and cast his fortunes with struggling young America. With many other families from his native land he located in Virginia, where his son Drewry was born and reared. Fate decreed that the young man should meet and wed Jemima Warpool, whose grandfather was the well known Lord Warpool, thus forming from two of the best families of England a new genealogical branch. Their son John M. was born near Nashville, Tenn., and when a young man went to Missouri, where he subsequently married Mary, daughter of Samuel Griggs, who belonged to the Griggs family of historical renown. Removing to a farm near Quincy, Ill., Mr. and Mrs. Clanton there remained until 1853, when they joined their son Drewry, who had in 1850 come to Yolo county, Cal. Upon land which their son had acquired they took up their residence, Mr. Clanton later purchasing a tract of land about two miles west of Woodland, which he farmed up to the time of his retirement in that city. His death occurred at the age of eighty-four.
Ethelbert J. Clanton crossed the plains to California, driving a three-yoke ox-team, the journey beginning April 1 and ending September 17, he having walked the twenty-five hundred miles. Upon his arrival in the state he took up land near Woodland, which he began cultivating with a will. Later, upon disposing of his land to his brother Drewry, he followed carpentering for many years. In 1881 he bought forty acres of land which he planted to grapes, apricots, plums, figs, almonds, pears, peaches and apples. For his fine specimens he received several medals. The entire venture proved most successful and in July, 1903, John Duncan purchased the ranch, whereupon Mr. Clanton erected in Woodland, at North and Second streets, a comfortable and commodious residence which ranks among the best dwellings of the city, and there he is now living retired from active labor.
Mr. Clanton’s first wife, Margaret Angeline Kelsay, daughter of Larkin Kelsay, was born in Missouri in 1842 and died in Lake county in 1872. Two daughters were born to them, Josephine, Mrs. James England, whose five children are Roy, Elma, Nita, Edward and Irene; and Janet, Mrs. D. G. Hartman, who has three children, Leta, Marguerita and Ethelbert. In 1874 Mary D. Kettle, of Indiana, became Mr. Clanton’s second wife. Before her marriage she had taught school for ten years in Missouri. Mr. Clanton is past grand and past chief patriarch of Woodland Lodge No. 111, I. O. O. F., Woodland Encampment No. 71, and he also belongs to the Rebekahs, his wife being past noble grand of Rebekah Lodge No. 249. Both himself and wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and politically he was originally a Whig, and upon the organization of the Republican party identified with it.
Transcribed by Bea Barton
Source: “History of Yolo County, California” by Tom Gregory. Published by the Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1913, pages 793 – 794.