Plumas
County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. GUSCETTI
One of the most successful ranchmen
of the Sierra Valley is William H. Guscetti, of the Summit voting precinct in
Plumas County, where he is the owner of a splendid stock ranch of three
thousand one hundred and fifty acres, including the old home property. Mr. Guscetti was born at Virginia City,
Nevada, October 19, 1890, and is a son of Angelo and Guidetta (Bassi) Guscetti,
both of whom were born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland. Their marriage, however, occurred in Virginia
City, Nevada, at which time the mother was the widow of Julian Pamel. By her first
marriage she had two daughters: Mrs. Mauricillio Guidici, whose
husband is a rancher near Chilcoot, California; and Mrs. Alessio
Ramelli, whose husband operates a ranch near
Vinton. To the union of Angelo and
Guidetta Guscetti were born the following children: Frank, who is a proof-reader on the Chicago
Daily Tribune; Louis, a mechanical engineer and practical caterpillar tractor
operator; Ralph, who is the owner of an extensive stock ranch adjacent to that
of his brother; William H., of this review; and Olympia, the wife of Gordon
Sedgwick, of San Francisco. The mother, who was seventy-nine years old on September 15, 1930,
lives with and keeps house for her son William H. The father died in 1920 at the age of
seventy-nine years. At that time the
home ranch contained four hundred and forty acres. Angelo Guscetti lived in Virginia City for
twenty years, during which period he worked underground in the deep Comstock
mine. Owing to the extreme heat of those
lower depths, which impaired his health, he was given a job on the
surface. His physician ordered him to
try life on a ranch and he came to the Sierra Valley and rented a farm. Subsequently he moved back to Virginia City,
but finally returned to the Sierra Valley and bought one hundred and sixty
acres, the nucleus of the home ranch, to which he later added by purchases from
time to time.
William H. Guscetti was reared on
his father’s ranch and received a good public education, to which he has added
by much general reading and habits of close observation until he is regarded as
a well informed man. He took up an
enlarged homestead and has recently purchased four hundred and eighty acres of
the Charles G. Church ranch in his neighborhood. He is an experienced sheep and cattle raiser,
in which he has been very successful, and is regarded as one of the most
substantial and capable ranchers of his community. His home ranch is well improved, having a
good set of farm buildings, surrounded by a well tended lawn, to which his
mother devotes considerable time and which she keeps verdant through careful
sprinkling. There are many apple, pear, prune and other fruit trees, together with well
cultivated flower and vegetable gardens.
The Republican Party receives Mr. Guscetti’s political support, while fraternally he is
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of White
Pine Lodge, No. 175, at Loyalton. He
manifests a helpful interest in matters affecting the general welfare of the
community in which he lives, and by reason of his upright life, his sound
principles, his industry and his success, he stands high in the regard of his
neighbors and fellowmen.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3 Pages 323-324. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.