YUBA COUNTY Biographies

NICOLAUS MARTINI

A representative type of the ranchers of Sutter County is found in Nicolaus Martini, who for over forty years has resided within the confines of the county, with the exception of twelve years spent in Oregon. He was born near Coblentz, Germany, December 6, 1857, the eldest of six children born to Nicolaus and Mary Ann (Weber) Martini, both natives of Germany. He attended public school in Germany, and for three years served in the army. In 1883 he accompanied the Schneider family to Sutter County and for a few months worked for wages, and then he started out on his own account.

The first marriage of Mr. Martini united him with Miss Barbara Schwall, daughter of Martin Schwall, a pioneer of Nicolaus who passed away in 1906. In 1885 Mr. Martini removed to Oregon, and there Mrs. Martini passed away, survived by four children. Margaret, who married John Bailey, is now deceased, survived by two children, Clara and Clarence. Martin is deceased. Ella May is the wife of Nick May and has four children, Madeline, Mary, John, and Christene Virginia; they reside at Nicolaus. Frank is deceased. In 1897 Mr. Martini was married to Miss Gertrude Schwall, a sister of his first wife. She passed away on October 12, 1912, survived by one son, Theodore, who is a rancher on the home place.

In 1897 Mr. Martini returned to Sutter County and engaged in farming and dairying. In 1914 he purchased a part of his present ranch, and now owns fifty-three acres; while his son Theodore owns twenty-one acres adjoining, making them a fine ranch. His ranch is developed to fruit and alfalfa. In 1922 he completed a new residence on his place. Mr. Martini became a United States citizen at Yuba City, and has since cast his vote with the Republican party.

An enterprising and progressive citizen who is much interested in the development of Yuba City is Harry Conrad Lange, who was born near Grand Island, Hall County, Nebr., November 11, 1884. His parents were Henry and Katherine (Hake) Lange, natives of Indiana. His father served in Company K., 27^th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and after the war he settled in Hall County, Nebr., and homesteaded land. Mr. and Mrs. Lange were blessed with nine children: Anna, Elizabeth, Maggie, Joseph, Mamie, Jerry W., Herman, Harry Conrad, and Katherine.

Jerry W. and Herman Lange first came to the Golden State about 1901 and settled at Roseville, and in 1906 our subject came and also settled there; the rest of the family came to Sacramento. After working for wages at Roseville for about fifteen months, Harry Conrad Lange went to work in the Southern Pacific railroad shops, at Sacramento, where he remained for five years. Mr. Lange then leased a dairy of 900 acres on the Booth and Reid ranches near Slough House and kept about seventy-five milk cows and seventy-five additional stock. After conducting this dairy for about three years, he moved to Yuba City. In 1915 he purchased a forty-acre orchard five miles west of Yuba City. This orchard bears prunes, peaches and almonds, and Mr. Lange has installed a four-inch pump for irrigation, and uses besides the water from the Sutter Canal.

Harry Conrad Lange was united in marriage with Miss Bessie Reid, at Sacramento, on October 28, 1919. She was born at Sacramento, a daughter of A.M. and Helen (Booth) Reid. Her father came from Scotland and settled in California when he was a young man, and for years was identified with the Sacramento Street Railway. He is now a retired rancher. Miss Reid was educated at the rural district schools in Sacramento County. Mr. and Mrs. Lange’s union has been blessed with a son, Douglas Conrad. Mr. Lange is a Republican in national politics. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, of Marysville.

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