Merced-El Dorado-Stanislaus County CA Archives Biographies.....Wassum, Thomas A. 1839 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 10, 2006, 3:13 am Author: John Outcalt (1925) THOMAS A. WASSUM It is a frequent occurrence that the entire family of Mr. Wassum gather around the festive board at his home in Atwater to enjoy all the good things to eat and to recount the good old times the pioneers of California enjoyed. There are six living children, sixteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren to be accounted for in this family. Though aged eighty-six T. A. Wassum is hale and hearty and enjoys the gatherings of his large and interesting family. He is now living in quiet retirement at his Atwater home, which he purchased from Charles Shaffer in 1919. Thomas A. Wassum was born in Missouri on May 2, 1839, the eldest of five children, three of whom are still living, of Jacob and Jane (Alexander) Wassum, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. As the son of a planter, when he grew up, Jacob Wassum was called "Squire Wassum." In 1846 he went down into Texas with a band of stock but the venture proved very unprofitable and he returned to his home in the spring of 1847. In 1852 he fitted out an expedition for crossing the plains to California, his outfit consisting of two yoke of oxen, one yoke of cows, fifteen head of cattle and a blind horse, which was ridden by one of the party in driving the loose stock. He joined a party of seventeen wagons under James Fryer and Steve McReynolds, a Forty-niner, who headed the train. On account of making a late start they laid over in Salt Lake until it was safe to travel the following spring, when the party arrived safely in Eldorado County and settled at Mud Springs. Our subject worked at teaming, hauling supplies to the mines, with the ox-team, as his father was in poor health. His partners in the enterprise were Ed. Schlossi and a French boy. During the winter seasons they did prospecting for about ten years. In those early days Mud Springs was a considerable town and there was a camp of about 1500 Chinese there also. In 1922 Mr. Wassum made a trip by automobile through that section of the country and he was unable to locate any landmark that told of his early days in the section. During the time he was teaming he made a trip into the Napa valley and worked in the harvest fields. He located in the Berryessa Valley in 1870 and undertook to start a dairy business but the locality was not suitable for that industry and he turned to dealing in stock which he sold in the larger markets. He also raised grain. The advent of the California pioneer into Merced County dates back to 1904, when he began renting large tracts of land in the Cressey and Livingston districts, also some in the Tully tract in Stanislaus County, and over in the Planada section. He raised large crops of grain and prospered exceedingly and when he sold his last standing grain crop in 1919 he decided he would retire. On October 18, 1858, Mr. Wassum was united in marriage with Amanda Stice, born in Missouri on August 24, 1842. She was reared in the home of an uncle, Moses Stice, and crossed the plains with his family in 1857. Moses Stice became a well-known figure in the Sacramento Valley as a raiser of blooded stock and harness horses, but he suffered heavy losses in the flood of 1861-1862. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wassum the following children were born: Charles, a resident of Napa County, is married and has a family of six children; John, also residing in Napa County, is married and has a family of four children; Sarah lives at home and cares for her aged father; Clara married W. H. Johnston and died leaving four children, three now living. Her son, Finis E., was killed on the battlefield in France. Thomas now resides on the home ranch at Atwater, is married and has one daughter; Jennie, widow of F. A. Doane, resides at Atwater; and Jacob, a rancher in Stanislaus and Merced Counties, is married and has a daughter and son. Mrs. Wassum died on February 19, 1917, on the ranch near Atwater. Mr. Wassum has always been public-spirited and a believer in the great future of the Golden State. Now in the evening of his days he is surrounded by those he loves and is living in the enjoyment of the competence he won by his own exertions and sound judgment. 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 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/merced/bios/wassum648nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/cafiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb