Sacramento County
Biographies
ELBERT F. ALDERSON
ELBERT F. ALDERSON.—A
widely-experienced, energetic and far-seeing agriculturist and able executive
known beyond the confines of Sacramento County, is Elbert F. Alderson, the
general superintendent of the farms owned by Messrs. C. and L. Moreing, of Natomas Reclamation
District No. 1000, the most extensive wheat-growers in the world, operating
about twelve miles north of Sacramento. He
was born at Hinton, W. Va., on December 18, 1889, the
third in the order of birth of five children of J. W. And
Mary V. (George) Alderson, of English and Scotch ancestry. J. W.
Alderson was a merchant, a lumberman and a legislator
of West Virginia, and he died on
February 1, 1919, after a very active life, having won the heartfelt esteem of
many as a real benefactor to his day and generation.
Elbert
Alderson graduated from the Randolph-Macon Military
Academy in 1905, and then entered the lumber
camps of his father in Summers County, West
Virginia, where for three years he acted as
superintendent, thereby adding materially to his experience, particularly with
human nature, and gaining a thoroughly practical knowledge of handling men,
especially laborers, on a large scale.
In 1913, he came to San Francisco, and
soon after on to Sacramento, and
entered the employ of the Moreing Bros. As purchaser
of supplies, and did for them all the buying necessary of implements, and
provisions for eight farm-camps and the cultivation of from 15,000 to 27,000
acres of the land in Natomas District No.
1000. I 1918, Mr. Alderson was made general superintendent, a fine tribute
to his standing with both employers and fellow-workers. The Moreings carry on wheat-growing on what is probably the
most extensive scale in the world, and Mr. Alderson may modestly, but properly,
claim a share in the successful attainments by these famous ranchers,
contributing no small part of the foresight, enterprise and experience
necessary to meet all emergencies and harvest all crops. He makes a
particular effort to get and to hold the most desirable men, numbering from
forty to100, according to the season, for the various camps, of which he has
full charge.
Democratic
in the extreme, Mr. Alderson holds the respect of everyone, and the good-will
in particular of those who work for and with him. During the World War Mr.
Alderson offered his service to the defense of his native land, enlisting in Sacramento,
but because of failing to come up to the physical requirements was
rejected. He is a favorite member of Lodge No. 6, of the B. P. O. Elks, of
Sacramento.
Transcribed 5-12-07
Marilyn R. Pankey.
Source: Reed, G. Walter,
History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Page 767. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Marilyn R. Pankey.