Placer
County
Biographies
JOHN ERTLE
Faithful to the public trust, John
Ertle is now capably serving as the postmaster at Rocklin, his administration
of the affairs of the office being prompt, business-like and practical. Such men are ever of worth in the community
in which they reside, and as a representative citizen of Placer County John
Ertle well deserves representation in this volume.
He was born in Massillon, Stark
County, Ohio, on the 23rd of August, 1840, his parents being
Frederick and Regina Ertle, both of whom were natives of Germany. On leaving the fatherland they crossed the
Atlantic to America, accompanied by their four children and located in
Massillon, Ohio, where eight more children were added to the family. The father was called to the life beyond in
the sixty-third year of his age, but the mother, long surviving him, attained
the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
They were honest, industrious people, highly respected by all with whom
they came in contact.
John Ertle was the youngest of their
large family. He was educated in his
native town and in 1860 he came to California, sailing on the Aerial from New
York City to the Isthmus, while the voyage on the Pacific waters was made as a
passenger on board the Champion. He
arrived in San Francisco and thence made his way to Pine Grove, where he engaged
in placer mining, working for others.
Subsequently he went to Weaverville, Trinity County, where he was
engaged in mining on his own account; but, in answer to the call of President
Lincoln for volunteers to preserve the Union, he enlisted in September, 1861,
as a member of Company H, Fourth Regiment of California Infantry. The regiment was organized at Auburn, Placer
County, and was stationed at Camp Union, near Sacramento and at Camp Lathan, in Los Angeles County. Their duty was to suppress the strong
secession element in California. After
thirteen months’ service with his regiment Mr. Ertle was taken ill and was
finally given an honorable discharge on account disability.
At Rocklin he has engaged in
blacksmithing for a number of years. In
February, 1898, he was appointed postmaster of the town by President
McKinley. He removed the office to the
central portion of the town, added a number of new boxes, and has made it one
of the most convenient post offices in the county. He is giving to his official duties his best
attention and is an obliging, courteous and capable official. He has been a life-long Republican, yet has
never been an aspirant for office. His
appointment at Rocklin, however, has given the fullest satisfaction to his
townsmen, who recognize his fidelity and sterling worth. The same loyalty which Mr. Ertle manifested
in responding to his country’s call for aid he has ever shown in discharging
his duties of citizenship. His life has
been one of industrious, honorable toil, and the qualities which everywhere
secure success have brought him to a comfortable competence.
In 1867 occurred the marriage of Mr.
Ertle and Miss Mary E. Davis, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of H. A. P.
Davis, of Massillon, that state. She
arrived in California in the fall of 1860, and by her marriage has become the
mother of seven children, of whom four are living, namely: William J., who is now carrying on the
blacksmith business in Rocklin; Charles Albert; Ella Frances, the wife of C. M.
Hamlin, of Sierraville; and Agnes, at home.
They have a very pleasant residence in Rocklin, which was erected in
1890. The family enjoy
the good will and respect of their fellow townsmen and the hospitality of the
best homes of the place is extended to them.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 756-757. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.