YUBA COUNTY Biographies
M. J. WEBER
The greater part of the life of M. J. Weber has been passed in the Northwest [west]; in fact, he was reared from youth in Sutter County, and he has been at all times a supporter of those interests which have been instituted for the benefit and upbuilding of the county and State. His beautiful and productive ranch of fifty-five acres testifies to his industry and thrift; this ranch is a portion of the original purchase of 160 acres made in 1882, and is located three miles west of Yuba City on the Franklin road. He was born near Bellevue, Iowa, May 10, 1859, the seventh in a family of twelve children born to the late Joseph Weber. Joseph Weber was born in Germany and emigrated to Bellevue, Iowa, and there he married Miss Adams. In 1864 he brought his family across the plains with horse teams and wagons, taking for the trip from April, 1864, until in October, 1865, when they arrived in California and located on a farm two miles west of Yuba City. He died in 1869; his widow survived him until 1896.
M. J. Weber received his education in the parochial school in Marysville, walking four miles each day. From his youth he received practical experience in ranching, which he has followed during his entire active career. He was first married to Miss Margaret Kieffer, who passed away in 1886, survived by one daughter, now Mrs. Josie Moran, who resides in Marysville. At Marysville, on April 12, 1892, Mr. Weber was married to Miss Sophia Doeing, a native of Westphalia, Germany, who had resided in Illinois and in 1887 came to San Francisco. Nine children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Weber: M. J., Jr., who served first with the British forces during the World War, and then was transferred to the United States Army and served as an expert machinist, and who at present is a mechanic with the Roberts Garage, Marysville; Karl J., a rancher; Elmer J., owner of a highly developed twenty-acre orchard; Franz J., also a rancher; and Sophia M., Christina A., Joseph F., Louise Marie, and Bertha M. For many years Mr. Weber engaged in grain-farming, owning 240 acres here; but since 1905 he has devoted his attention to fruit-growing, which has proved more profitable. He has developed an irrigation system on his ranch for the better cultivation of his orchard.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1288-1289
JOSEPH FILTER
During the thirty-seven years he has lived in Sutter County, Joseph Filter has achieved such success as might be expected of a man who came to the United States from his native country of Germany with very little knowledge of English, but with a strong determination to succeed in whatever he undertook. He was born in Westphalia, Germany, March 11, 1866, the eldest of three children born to Otto J. and Maria Teresa (Milunos) Filter, both natives of Germany. Joseph was four years old when his father was killed in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.
Joseph Filter learned the boilermaker’s trade, and worked at it in his home town until the day before he was to enter the German army. On March 13, 1886, he boarded a vessel at Amsterdam, Holland; and after eighteen days of hardships during a severe storm, he reached New York. He was a good boilermaker and soon found work in the boiler shops at Hoboken, N. J. There he worked a short time, and then he came to Sutter County, Cal., arriving on April 25, 1886. He went to work for the Berg brothers, for whom he worked for eighteen years, and during most of that time served as foreman. In 1900 Mr. Filter purchased his present ranch of 250 acres, fifty acres of which is river-bottom land. It is located seven miles northwest of Yuba City on the Feather River. In 1902 he located on his ranch, which was devoted to grain-raising until 1916, when he planted prune and almond trees. He also has a small vineyard on his ranch.
The first marriage of Mr. Filter occurred in Marysville, and united him with Miss Cecelia Holzbock; and they were the parents of four children: Joseph A., an ex-service man, and a machinist in Chico; Frank L., also residing in Chico; Carl V., assisting his father on the home ranch; and Gottfried F., also associated with his father in ranching. Mrs. Filter passed away on November 21, 1919. In 1921, Mr. Filter was married to Miss Emma Rein, a native of Germany; and they have one son, William Arthur. Mr. Filter made a visit to Germany in 1921, where he spent three months. For twelve years, Mr. Filter served as a director of Reclamation District No. 9.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p. 1289
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