YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
JAMES LITTLEJOHN
Throughout the greater part of his life James Littlejohn resided in California, and for about fifty years was a resident of Sutter County, where he established a wide circle of friends and became a large landowner, owning at one time over 500 acres of fine land. He came to the county without means, and for several years was obliged to work for others in order to secure the capital necessary for starting out alone. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, October 15, 1835, being a son of James and Julia (Baylor) Littlejohn, natives of the same State as himself. His father learned the shoemaker’s trade, which he followed until his death, at about twenty-four years of age. Soon after he died, his widow moved to Indiana with her sister and brother-in-law; and there she died, leaving her two sons, Abraham and James, to the care of her sister. At the time of his father’s death, James was only seven months old; and when his mother died, he was but two and a half years old. From that time he made his home with his aunt, moving with her family to Fulton County, Ill., in 1844, and thence accompanying them to Bremer County, Iowa, in 1855. At the age of twenty-one he returned to Columbus, Ohio, where his grandmother gave him $190, this being the only money he had ever received other than from his own labors. With his brother he returned to Iowa; and for a year he was employed as a clerk in a grocery at Dubuque, and later on a farm.
In the spring of 1859, Mr. Littlejohn left Iowa with ox teams and followed the overland trail across the plains to California via Salt Lake and the Humboldt River route. Arriving in Sutter County, he worked on a ranch and at teaming for several years and then bought a squatter’s claim in the Slough district. When the land came into the market, he purchased it from the government, and there he remained from 1862 to 1879. During the latter year he purchased 160 acres of the James Gray homestead; and here he erected a house, barns and other buildings needed for the storage of grain and shelter of stock. In all of his labors he had the cooperation and counsel of his wife, who was Helen D. Butler, a native of Ohio, born near Cleveland in 1847. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Charles Edward, of Manteca; Julia E., the wife of D. D. Greene, of Yuba City; James Abraham and Howard G., ranchers in the Barry district; William P., living in Oregon; George W., of Yuba City; Lottie, the wife of V. W. Cooley, a prominent rancher of Sutter County; and Laura, now the wife of John Cope, and Chester, both living in this vicinity. There are twenty-six grandchildren and three great grandchildren in the family circle.
Mr. Littlejohn passed away on December 8, 1908. He was a stanch Republican in politics. Fraternally, he belonged to Enterprise Lodge No.70, F.&A.M., at Yuba City, and with his wife was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star. Since his death his widow continues to manage the ranch business. Recently she subdivided the home place, retaining thirteen acres and the residence; and there are now in the tract three families who have built fine homes and have developed orchards. Mrs. Littlejohn is the eldest daughter of a family of five children born to Ed and Charlotta (Baker) Butler, natives of Ireland and Ohio, respectively. Ed Butler crossed the plains to California in 1852 and engaged in mining with considerable success. He returned to Ohio and brought his family to California in 1859, and located on a ranch ten miles southwest of Yuba City, where he bought 320 acres and farmed to grain. Later he removed to Yuba City and conducted the Sutter Hotel. He passed away in 1893, while his wife survived him until August 18, 1913, aged eighty-six years. Mrs. Littlejohn is a charter member of the Eastern Star at Yuba City.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 742-747
CHRIST MEIER
An optimistic, enthusiastic rancher who, while adopting modern methods, believes in making use of the accumulated experience of past years, is Christ Meier, residing three miles to the northeast of Meridian. He was born at Hartum, Westphalia, Prussia, on April 16, 1853, the son of Henry and Dorothy (Schneitger) Meier, sturdy farmer-folk also born in Westphalia. Mr. Meier passed away at the age of eighty-three and Mrs. Meier at the age of eighty-one; and both breathed their last in the German Fatherland. They had five children: William, deceased; Henry, who returned to Germany and now resides there; Christ, of this review; Fred, in Meridian; and Louisa, who became Mrs. Staas, and is now deceased.
Christ Meier attended the common schools at Hartum, and in 1868 broke away from home and crossed the ocean to the United States. He came on west as far as Illinois, and lived near Nashville, in that State, for two years, working as a farm laborer. In 1871 he broke away again from familiar associations and came out to California; and here he worked nine years on the Henry Stohlman ranch. He then bought eighty acres, two miles to the east of Meridian, which he operated as a farm, although he still lived at the old Stohlman home. Later still he bought twenty-five acres of the old Decker ranch. Mr. Meier has always engaged in general farming, and is thoroughly versed in his vocation.
At Nashville, Ill., on October 6, 1889, Mr. Meier was married to Miss Maria Kranaman, a native of Nashville, and the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Reichman) Kranaman. Her father was a carpenter by trade. Returning to California with his wife, Mr. Meier took up his residence at his attractive home some three and one-half miles east of Meridian, on a part of the old Decker ranch. Mrs. Meier, who was beloved by all who knew her, breathed her last on April 22, 1919. Mr. and Mrs. Meier were the parents of three children: Johanna, who is keeping house for her father; William Louis, who married Miss Ina Nall, the daughter of Waldo Nall of Meridian, by whom he has one daughter, Muriel; and Julian, who works his father’s farm. In national political affairs a Republican, Mr. Meier is of that type of broad-minded citizens who always find the highest satisfaction in hearty, non-partisan support of what seems to be the best for a locality in both men and measures. He belongs to the Odd Fellows Lodge at Meridian, in which he is a Past Grand.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 760-763
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