YUBA COUNTY Biographies
WILLIAM F. MEIER
A progressive and experienced rancher, for whom many long ago predicted a high degree of success and prosperity, is William F. Meier, living about three and one-half miles east of Meridian, near which town, on the old Nall ranch, he was born on August 31, 1874, the son of William and Christine (Richman) Meier, both natives of Germany, where they were educated. William Meier came out to California, the first of the Meier brothers to leave the Fatherland for the Pacific slope, arriving here during the late fifties; and he settled in Sutter. He first worked for Frederick Tarke on the ranch at West Butte. He returned to Illinois, for his bride, and after their marriage they came to California. He rented the old Decker ranch, two and one-half miles to the northeast of Meridian, and there they made their first home. He had purchased about that time a tract of eighty acres just southeast of Meridian, which he operated in addition to the Decker place; and it was characteristic of him that on both of them he made such creditable showings as to command the admiration of all who followed his efforts and noted his results under the difficulties confronting him at that time. A daughter, Lena, married F. H. Stohlman, and she passed away, mourned by many.
William F. Meier attended the Slough and West Butte district schools; and up to his twenty-third year remained at home and gave valuable assistance to his father. Then he started out for himself as a farm-hand on the Tarke ranch, where he remained until he purchased his present home of sixty acres, three and one-half miles to the east of Meridian, a part of the Levi Sultenburger tract. He built his own home, and he has lived on that place for twenty-five years. He has sold some land from time to time, to the railroad, the State highway commission, and for the building of the levees, and now he has just forty-seven acres devoted to general farming. He has served as a trustee of the Slough district for two terms. In politics he is a Republican.
At Yuba City, on December 9, 1902, Mr. Meier was married to Miss Mamie Charge, a native daughter, born on the Stohlman ranch about four and one-half miles east of Meridian, the daughter of Martin and Agness (Burgett) Charge, both natives of California. Martin Charge was a son of Peter and Magdalena Charge. The latter was born in Germany in 1824, and was first married to a Mr. Weaver, who died in the Fatherland in 1851. Magdalena Weaver migrated to America in 1858, and lived for about one year at St. Louis, Mo., when she came out to California and settled near South Butte. In 1861, she married a second time, taking for her husband Peter Charge, the grandfather of Mrs. Meier. Peter Charge died in 1871, leaving his widow and four children – two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Magdalena Charge inherited a ranch of 400 acres, some five miles east of Meridian, where she made her home. Grandfather Burgett came across the plains to California with an ox-team. Mrs. Meier’s father has been an experienced, successful farmer all of his life. Mrs. Martin Charge died when Mrs. Meier was a baby, and the father, Martin Charge, was married a second time, taking for his second wife Lena Burgett, a sister of his first wife. By this second marriage, Martin Charge had seven children: Ralph, Harry, Clifford, Ella, Peter, an infant that died, and Martin. Mrs. Meier is the only child of Martin Charge by his first marriage. She attended the Slough district school. Mr. and Mrs. Meier became the parents of six children, five of whom are still living: Eva, Addie, Arthur, Esther, an infant unnamed, and William, known as “Billy.”
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 926
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