ISAAC M. RIFFE

Sacramento County

Biographies

ISAAC M. RIFFE

ISAAC M. RIFFE.—A rancher who admirably illustrates the independence of the experienced, industrious farmer, is Isaac M. Riffe, living three miles north of Galt, a native of Ray County, Missouri, where he was born on Washington’s Birthday, in the year 1852, the second in a family of ten children. His parents were John and Margaret (Dameron) Riffe, and his great-grandfather was a real frontiersman of Missouri; and his father was born and reared in the same place in which our subject first saw light.

In 1852, when out subject was less than one year old, his parents crossed the great plains with cattle and teams, traveling by way of the Salt Lake route; and his father first settled in the redwoods of Santa Clara County, although in 1853 he went to San Andreas, in Calaveras County, and for four years tried his luck in placer mining. He then went to Stockton, and worked at the trade of carpenter for four years. Then he moved to the mines in Calaveras County, and mined for eight years at Comanche Camp. In 1868 he went into San Luis Obispo County and spent two years on the Avala grant, leasing the ranch there, and then he went to Morro Bay, and farmed there for two years. He then removed to Santa Clara and settled at Alviso, on the Gunn Ranch where he lived for two years, and after that he moved into Santa Cruz County, on Bean Creek, where he farmed for two years. Then he went to Wallowa Valley, Ore., staying there a year; and next he moved to Gilliam County, in the same state, and farmed for two years. Returning to California, he settled in Monterey County, south of Soledad, among the hills, where he raised stock. Still later, he went to San Jose for two years, and after that to Paso Robles, in San Luis Obispo County, where he had a fruit ranch for four years. At Santa Barbara, and at Goleta, he farmed for a couple of years; and he died there at the age of eighty-one, his devoted wife passing on to her eternal reward at the age of seventy-nine. Both were splendid types of the pioneer settler, blazing the way for others to comfortably, safely and prosperously follow.

When sixteen years old, Isaac Riffe struck out for himself, riding the range trails for big cattle-men; and he roved throughout the South, when it was still in Spanish Grant Form, passing four interesting and altogether profitable years in that manner; and then he accompanied a band of cavalry horses from Monterey County, taking them to Yellowstone Park and Montana for delivery to the quartermaster of the United States Army. On his return to California, he traveled by way of the southern route, through Arizona, materially adding to his knowledge of the world, and on reaching San Luis Obispo County again, he resumed riding the cattle range. He also drove a freight train from San Luis Obispo Landing over the mountains to Bakersfield and the San Joaquin Valley, continuing in that line of work for four years.

Mr. Riffe then came to San Joaquin County for a while, and then for another four years he was employed by James Taylor, just south of Woodbridge. He then went to Wallowa County, in Oregon, and worked there as a farm hand for two years, and after that he drove a stage line over the Haley-Salisbury Route, in Oregon, Washington and Idaho for six years. He was united in marriage at Wallowa, Ore., on November 23, 1884, to Miss Mahala Mott, a native of Battle Creek, Mich., who was born in 1862, her parents being Richard Price and Eliza (Boody) Mott, natives of New York, who were taken to Michigan by their parents while still children. Mr. and Mrs. Mott had seven children, who accompanied them to Seward Center, Nebr., and there Mrs. Riffe was educated. In 1877, her father went to Wallowa County, Ore., and there he spent the remainder of his days.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Riffe moved to Yumatilla County, Ore., and leased farm-land until 1893, when he moved south to Templeton, Cal., and farmed there for a year. Then he was in San Luis Obispo County for fourteen years in the employ of the Southern Pacific Company. In August, 1907, he removed to Douglass County, Ore., and leased land until 1912, when he moved to Klamath County, and farmed there until 1914. He then came back to Cottonwood, Cal., and farmed for a year, and in 1915 he came to Sacramento County, and near Galt has farmed ever since. He leases 254 acres of J. W. Angrave, and has a stock farm. He is a Democrat, and believes in the efficacy of Democratic platforms to cure agrarian ills.

Five children have been granted Mr. and Mrs. Riffe. Charley is with his father. Mrs. Mattie May Davis is the second child. Helen Maud passed away at the age of five months. Ruth Ellen became Mrs. Frank Michael; she was the mother of a daughter, Viola May, and breathed her last in 1911. Grover Cleveland is at Hollywood. There are also several grandchildren to gladden Mr. and Mrs. Riffe’s family circle. Mrs. Davis has three children: Harold Almer, George Martin and Harry Richard; and Grover Cleveland Riffe has a son Donald Arthur.

Transcribed by Betty J. Vickroy.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 387-388. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.