Merced-Marin-San Luis Obispo County CA Archives Biographies.....Pometta, Dante 1873 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 10, 2006, 4:49 am

Author: John Outcalt (1925)

DANTE POMETTA

   One of the really progressive men who helped to lay the foundation for the
present-day prosperity that is being enjoyed by the citizens of the West Side in
Merced County, was the late Dante Pometta, a prosperous and efficient dairyman
and rancher living five miles south of Gustine. He was born in Canton Ticino,
Switzerland, on March 3, 1873, and received his education in the schools of his
locality. When he was sixteen he made up his mind he could better his condition
in America; and hence he embarked for the land of opportunity, coming direct to
California. He found employment as a milker on a dairy in Marin County for two
years, and then for another two years he was in San Luis Obispo County. He saved
his money and was fast picking up the English language, and when he was twenty
years old he bought a dairy of fifty cows in Solano County, near Bird's Landing,
which he ran for five years. In the meantime he had married. In 1898 he sold out
his dairy herd, and with his wife and two children he visited Switzerland for a
year; but the call of the Golden State was too strong, and they returned to
engage in the dairy business in San Benito County near Hollister, where he had
about 100 cows. He worked hard and prospered accordingly, and in 1904 he moved
to Crow's Landing in Stanislaus County, where he carried on his business five
years.

   The year 1909 marked the time when Mr. Pometta became a landowner; for he
moved into Merced County and bought 110 acres in the Cottonwood district, about
a mile north of the Cottonwood school-house. This land was a bare field, and he
began to make improvements by building fences, a house, and barns, and sinking
wells. The land was planted to alfalfa. This is now known as the Pometta Home
Place, and here he lived until 1912, when be bought the Beck ranch of forty
acres a little north of his home place and moved on to it, leasing his 110 acres
and doing business on a smaller scale, to gain needed rest. In 1920 he bought
another 100 acres, known as the Sturgeon place, adjoining his first purchase. He
farmed this property until his death, since which time his sons have carried on
the business on their entire possessions. They are meeting with good success,
having learned the business from their father. Mr. Pometta became a citizen of
the United States in 1900, and was a Republican.

   The marriage of Dante Pometta and Miss Ida Brughelli, who was born in Canton
Ticino and who had come to America a few years before, occurred on November 30,
1894. They became the parents of six children: Emma married Louis Luchessa and
lives in Modesto; they have a son, Alvin. Adaline became the wife of Ulisse
Alessi, has a daughter Hilda, and lives in Gustine. Edward W., Secondo W., and
Guido K. operate the Pometta ranches, having about 200 cows in their dairy. They
are all energetic young men and members of the Woodmen of the World at Modesto;
and Secondo and Guido belong to the Knights of Columbus in Modesto. Esther
attends the Cottonwood school.

   Mr. Pometta died on January 7, 1922, leaving a void in the family circle, who
cherish his memory for the good he did during his life. He was a public-spirited
man, always ready to help every project that he thought would help develop his
adopted county. An item of historical interest is the fact that, located on the
corner of one of his ranches, stood the old Sturgeon corner postoffice in early
days, when ranches were many miles apart and when Hill's Ferry was the nearest
commercial center for shipment of produce.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY OF
MERCED COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
WITH A
Biographical Review
OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present

HISTORY BY
JOHN OUTCALT

ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1925


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