Yolo-Shasta County CA Archives Biographies.....Marders, William Nathaniel 1834 - 1899
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com January 13, 2006, 10:43 pm

Author: Tom Gregory (1913)

WILLIAM NATHANIEL MARDERS

    An example worthy of emulation, in that it represented noble and exemplary
principles, was the life of W. N. Marders, one of Yolo county's pioneers, who
passed away August 13, 1899. To the end, Mr. Marders remained true to his
highest ideal of honor, and not one of his many acquaintances was ever able to
speak of him in aught but respect and admiration. Born in Monroe county, Mo.,
August 30, 1834, Mr. Marders spent his boyhood on his father's farm, receiving
his education in the country schools. At the age of nineteen he determined to
start in life for himself, and with his father's gift of $10—a large sum to the
boy—he fared forth, rich in the hopes of youth. Shortly after this, in 1853, he
secured a position as driver with Glenn and Wilson, cattle dealers, who were
about to cross the plains. Upon reaching Nevada he allowed the party to proceed
without him, and thereupon became interested in mining and followed it for
several years. Relinquishing this work, he took up freighting, operating between
Sacramento, Auburn, Cal., and Virginia City, Nev., but in 1860, weary of
continual traveling, he purchased, in Shasta county, a ranch which he stocked
and conducted for the next four years. He then located in Yolo county on a
homestead. At this time, however, funds were low and it became necessary to
resume for a time his occupation of freighting. Subsequently he went into the
sheep raising business at Casey's Flat with his brother Hezekiah, who after
several years grew tired of the occupation and took up other work, leaving Mr.
Marders in sole possession of the ranch.

    November 2, 1873, Mr. Marders married Miss Esther Ryder, a native of
Michigan, who came to California when sixteen years old. The young couple took
up their residence upon a farm of three hundred and twenty acres near Madison,
Yolo county, which they purchased and stocked with cattle, horses and mules.
From time to time Mr. Marders added to his holdings and at the time of his death
owned nine hundred and fifty acres, considered one of the most valuable stock
and grain ranches in Sacramento Valley.

    Mr. Marders' word was as good as his bond and this, spoken in truth, is the
best that can be said of any man. He was devoted to his home and cared nothing
for public life, though always interested in municipal work that called for his
support. He and his family were members of the Christian Church, which they
assisted in every possible way.

   Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Marders, namely, William O.; Mabel
O., now Mrs. W. E. Nissen, of Palo Alto; Maude Esther, who is the wife of Harry
R. Brown, and whose home is in Palo Alto; and Roy A., who resides in Capay. Of
all the pioneer families of the valley none are more highly esteemed than Mr.
Marders' widow and her children.

    William O. Marders, the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Marders, was born
near Esparto in 1874, and spent the first thirty years of his life assisting his
father on the ranch and acquiring a thorough knowledge of the farming industry,
as well as the breeding of horses and cattle. From 1905 to 1907 he ranched in
Tehama county before taking up his residence in Woodland, where he spent the
next three years. In 1910 he purchased a ranch of twenty acres one mile west of
Woodland; this is highly improved and from it he secures annually five or six
crops of alfalfa with irrigation. He also has a small dairy supplied by ten
cows. In 1904 Mr. Marders married Miss Josephine H. Brown, who was born in Yolo
county, her father, Warren Brown, being an early settler here. Mr. and Mrs.
Marders have three children, William G., Helen and Russel Alston.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

HISTORY OF YOLO COUNTY CALIFORNIA
WITH
Biographical Sketches
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
TOM GREGORY
AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME

HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA [1913]


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