Jacob and Oswald Broder

 

Jacob and Oswald Broder. Christian Broder, the father of these gentlemen, was a farmer and a stock-raiser in Switzerland, owning the property he occupied, and was a man of energy and good business qualities. He was born in 1792, married Ceophe Roupe, and died in 1879; his wife died in May, 1844. They had eight sons and one daughter: Christian, Anton J., Oswald (deceased), Oswald (living), John, who died in Sacramento in 1850. Bena Hilvica, Elizabeth (deceased). Frank Broder, who died in August, 1868, and was buried at Mormon Island. Jacob Broder was born February 22, 1833, in Sargans, Switzerland, and was reared on a farm. In September, 1848, he and his brother left home and sailed from Havre de Grace for America, landing in New Orleans. In that vicinity they worked on sugar plantations and in vegetable gardens for about two months. In December, 1848, he left New Orleans for St. Louis, Missouri, on the steamer Great Missouri, which is long to be remembered as the boat that first conveyed the Asiatic cholera to St. Louis. Half of the ship’s crew, mostly Negroes, died of this disease. Landing at St. Louis New Years’s Eve, the brothers went into Madison County, Illinois, and remained there until April 11, 1850, employed on a farm; and while there they saw whole families dying of that dread scourge, cholera. On the date mentioned they started for California across the plains, there being now three brothers in the party,---Jacob, Oswald, and John. They had a very pleasant trip, and halted first in Sacramento, September 7, remaining there about two months, during which time John died for want of medical attendance.  Jacob and Oswald were obliged to sleep beside their dead brother in the tent, and the following day dug his grave and begged the use of a wagon, paying $10 for it, to haul the corpse to its final resting place.  Those distressing times here are described elsewhere in this volume. The surviving brothers then went to Marysville and mined for a month, and from there the North Fork of the Salmon River, in Klamath county, where they had to pay $2.50 a pound for flour; 900 pounds were dealt out at that price within three hours. They mined there for about two years, at a profit of $10 a day, the cost of living being about $2 a day. Meat averaged about 60 cents a pound, potatoes 75 cents, and butter was often as high as $4 a pound. In 1853 Jacob came to Sacramento County, and purchased his present ranch three miles from Folsom, containing 160 acres, and at present 1,100 acres, well adapted to orchard and vineyard as well as grain, hay and live stock, being well supplied with running water.  It is as good for irrigation as any valley in the world. Mr. Broder has a fine house, built in 1878 of granite, on the side of a hill, whence a most beautiful view of the ranch and surrounding country is to be had.  He made all the improvements here himself, and the ranch is one of the best in the county. When he first came here he was told that the would starve to death on such land. Although he has seen some sad experiences in early life, he is now well circumstanced. He is a man of courage, foresight, business ability and integrity. He was married November 16, 1869, to Miss Mary, daughter of John and Mary Studarus, of Brighton Township, this county, and they have seven children: Mamie J., born November 8, 1870; Frances, October 31, 1873; Jacob, July 9, 1875; Joseph, December 17, 1877; Irene, September 23, 1880; Walter, June 7, 1883; and Edith, September 20, 1885. Mr. Broder is a member of the Masonic fraternity, holding his membership in Natoma Lodge, No. 64. Oswald Broder was born April 26, 1826, and in 1864 married Miss Frances Bainbridge, a native of England. When he was on the Salmon River he was stricken with fever and started for Sacramento for medical aid, and while on the way was attacked by highwayman. By a mere chance he escaped by jumping down into the brush about one hundred feet. While lying quietly on the ground he could hear their remarks to the effect that they intended to kill him.  While lying there quiet for two days, sick, he heard the shooting guns and the cries of people, but supposed they were of the enemy. Many other narrow escapes with his life has he had. To-day he is surrounded with all the comforts of civilization, his farm adjoining that of his brother, just described.