Biographies
THEODORE GREENHALGH
Among the energetic and prosperous farmers and orchardists of the Orangevale Colony of Sacramento County is Theodore Greenhalgh, who has made an almost life-long study of agriculture and the various conditions affecting that branch of labor; his model fruit ranch consists of thirty-eight acres which has been highly developed to oranges, peaches, prunes, almonds and Tokay grapes. His birth occurred in Highland, Wis., July 7, 1850. The father of our subject, James Greenhalgh, was born in England; he came to America about 1846 and settled in Wisconsin, where he worked in the lead mines; two years later, Ellis Greenhalgh, the paternal grandfather of our subject, came to America and was employed in the shops of the Ben. Rogers Locomotive Manufacturing Works at Paterson, N.J., where James Greenhalgh worked during 1848 and 1849, after which he returned to Wisconsin, where he was married to Miss Sarah Yerbery also a native of England. James Greenhalfh remained in Wisconsin until 1871 when he removed to Red River Valley, Minn., and there stated the town of Crookstown, named in honor of Major Crooks, a prominent United States surveyor and a personal friend. James Greenhalgh was employed as a United States mail agent for eight years and was engaged in a number of fights with Indians; at one time his horse was shot from under him and he suffered the loss of considerable stock during Indian raids. He was an energetic, public-spirited citizen and was among the leaders for the general advancement of his community and was a pioneer in the development of one of the richest farming sections of the Northwest. He passed away in Minnesota in March, 1900, at the age of seventy-six. Theodore Greenhalgh left home when he was sixteen years old and went to Paterson, N.J., where he was apprenticed as a millwright with the B. Rogers Locomotive Works, at the close of the Civil War. After three years, Mr. Greenhalgh removed to Wisconsin; from there he went to Central City, Colo., and worked as a stationary engineer in a large stamp mill; during the following three years he did some prospecting. Two brothers of our subject, James and John, served in the army during the Civil War and John Greenhalgh gave his life for his country at Welding Crossing under General Grant. In 1873, Mr. Greenhalgh returned to Minnesota and took up a homestead near his brother James.
Mr. Greenhalgh was married at Crookstown, Minn., in 1885 to Eva Hardle, born in Baden, Germany, a daughter of Karl and Katherine (Weishart) Hardle. Karl Hardle came to America in 1879 and later the mother and five children came and the family settled in Minnesota. Mr. Greenhalgh remained in Minnesota, where he was a prosperous farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Greenhalgh reared a family of nine children: Sadie D. is now Mrs. Cable and she has three children and is a teacher in the Orangevale school; Lillian E. is now Mrs. Eller and she resides in Orangevale; Perry is a rancher, is married and has three children, residing in Orangevale; Howard C. was in the 363rd Company, 91st Division, A. E. F., during the World War; Martha W. is Mrs. Bost and she resides in Oroville; Helen Herren lives in Roseville; Ethel Mary is next; Holly E. is a rancher at home; and Evelyn G. is a student in the San Juan high school.
In April, 1903, Mr. Greenhalgh made a trip to the Pacific Coast in search of a milder climate and in the fall of the same year brought his family West and located at Orangevale. Mr. Greenhalgh has been a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge at Crookstown for over forty years; and locally his is a member of the California Peach Association.
Transcribed
by Patricia Seabolt.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 427. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA.
1923.
© 2007 Patricia Seabolt.