Sacramento County
Biographies
ROBERT RAPER
As a rancher for many years in Colusa county and later as a horticulturist in Sacramento county, Mr. Raper has gained a
thorough knowledge of the soil in this section of the state and also of its
adaptability to varied products. Himself a pioneer of the '60's having
crossed the plains a number of years prior to the spanning of the continent by
the first railroad system, he has witnessed the progress made by the west
during the past one-half century, nor has his own part in the slow work of
agricultural evolution been insignificant or unworthy of honorable
mention. On the other hand, he was one of the large number
of patient tillers of the soil without whose intelligent efforts and unwearied
industry the present degree of prosperity could not have been reached.
While Illinois was yet a frontier state and the large steamers on the Mississippi formed the principal means of transportation for the
people of the north and south, Robert Raper was born
in Fayette county, January 3, 1839, and was reared in Hancock county. The educational
advantages which he enjoyed were excellent for those days. Later he
enlarged his fund of information through close reading and self-culture.
Early in manhood he established a home of his own, being united in marriage April 18, 1861, with Miss Caroline F. Allen, a native of Henry county, Iowa.
The young couple began housekeeping on a farm, but soon they began to be
interested in reports concerning California, and it was not long before they
decided to seek a home in the far west. During the summer of 1864 they
traveled across the plains with a wagon and mules and notwithstanding the
hostility of the Indians they reached their destination without delays or
attacks.
Shortly after his arrival in Colusa county Mr. Raper rented a tract of raw land
on which he raised wheat and barley. Later he bought four hundred and
twenty acres of unimproved land and this he cultivated for a number of
years. When he disposed of that place he purchased three hundred and
twenty acres, which he cultivated for several years. Meanwhile he began
to realize the need of better educational advantages for his children, and
desiring to live where he could send them to first-class schools, he sold his
country home, moved to College City, bought a lot and built a residence. For about
twelve years he engaged in farming near the town, but continued meanwhile to
occupy the village home until the children had completed their studies.
The World's Fair attracted Mr. and Mrs. Raper to Chicago during the summer of 1893, and they enjoyed the splendid
exhibits from their own state, as well as from other parts of the country and
other regions of the world. Desiring to see something of the east, they
traveled on to New England and found much to interest them there. After they
had visited several of the most important eastern cities they spent some time
among old friends in Iowa and Illinois, thence coming back to California, which seemed more desirable than ever before as a place
of residence. Their enjoyment of the east did not lessen their affection
for the home of their choice. Prior to that trip they had sold out in
Colusa county and bought ten acres at Orangevale, three miles from Folsom,
Sacramento county, which tract he had planted to apricots, almonds and
prunes. On his return from Chicago and the other cities of his visitations, Mr. Raper built a substantial house on the place and made other
improvements. Shortly afterward he bought two adjacent tracts, thus
giving him forty acres altogether, of which ten acres are in Tokay
grapes. Another tract is utilized for hay and pasture.
The only son of Mr. Raper
is O. L. Raper, a prosperous farmer of Glenn county. The eldest daughter, Nora M., is the wife of
J. L. Patterson, a prominent rancher of the Orangevale
district. The second daughter, Jennie G., is Mrs. G. C. Clare, of
Mendocino county; and the youngest, Lou, is the wife of W. T. Eddy, who at this
writing carries on the Raper ranch. The wife
and mother passed away December 15, 1909, leaving to her loved ones the memory
of a kindly heart ever ready to succor those in need and willing hands ever
ready to minister to the wants of her family. The uplifting teachings of
Christianity were exemplified in her daily acts of kindness and words of
love. Mr. Raper also has been a consistent
believer in the Gospel and a devoted member of the Christian church. As a
member of the school board for thirteen years he worked effectively to promote
educational interests. Politically he has been identified with the
Republican party, but in principle he always has been
an ardent Prohibitionist and has displayed his belief in the cause of
temperance both by precept and example.
Transcribed by Sally Kaleta.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 641-643. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2006 Sally Kaleta.