Sutter County CA Archives Biographies.....Girdner, Joseph 1828 - 1908 ************************************************ 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 http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 January 7, 2012, 6:42 pm Source: See below Author: Peter J. Delay JOSEPH GIRDNER.— It is interesting to chronicle the history of the pioneers, the men who in their prime entered the wilderness and claimed the virgin soil as their heritage; men who were not afraid to endure hardship and privations, but willingly and ambitiously placed their shoulder to the wheel to aid in developing this new country, thus building it up to its present wonderful development and advanced civilization to the lasting benefit of this and the coming generations. Such a man was the late Joseph Girdner of Sutter City, who as an Argonaut crossed the plains to California in 1849. His father, David Girdner, was of German extraction, and was born and reared in Pennsylvania, from which State he went in succession to Tennessee and to Kentucky, and thence to Missouri, where he followed farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred in his seventieth year. The mother, Elizabeth Parman before her marriage, was a native of Pennsylvania, and died in Missouri when about sixty-seven years of age, leaving thirteen children. Joseph Girdner was born in Knox County, Ky., October 31, 1828. He was but a child when his parents took him to Missouri; and there he lived on his father's farm until 1849, when with three others he started for California. The three other men furnished the outfit; and Mr. Girdner was to give them one-third of what he earned in twenty months from the time he left Missouri; this one-third amounted to $913. After reaching this State he first worked in mines on the American River near Auburn, and then went to Marysville and purchased an interest in a hotel, which he retained for a time, after which he sold out and began buying and selling ranches along the Sacramento River. After purchasing a ranch, he would improve it, and then sell it at a good profit. At different times he owned large tracts of land along this river; and while engaged in this business, he also dealt in cattle and sheep. During all this time he made his home in the vicinity where his interests were centered. In later life he gave up active work, sold his stock, and rented his land. Joseph Girdner married Catherine H. Brittan, a native of Virginia, who crossed the plains to California during girlhood, and died here on November 29, 1892. This worthy couple had a family of nine children: Mary E., of Colusa County; Thomas Brittan, who died in young manhood; G. Annie, now Mrs. Pratt, of San Francisco; Josephine Wright, of Sutter City; Charles B., deceased; Henry Tutt, of Sutter City; Joseph Madison, who died in infancy; Mark A., of Watsonville; and Leroy E., of Gridley. Joseph Girdner was a Democrat in national politics. He was a member of the Methodist Church South, and was identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was a staunch fighter against hydraulic mining, and stuck by his guns until the legislature passed an anti-debris act doing away with that destructive process. He was strong for the temperance cause, and always took a deep and conscientious interest in everything that tended to the betterment of humanity. In his passing, which occurred on August 7, 1908, Sutter County lost one of its most worthy and progressive upbuilders, whose death was widely mourned. Additional Comments: HISTORY OF YUBA and SUTTER COUNTIES CALIFORNIA WITH Biographical Sketches OF The Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with Their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present HISTORY BY PETER J. DELAY ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1924 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sutter/bios/girdner1116gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb