Sacramento County
Biographies
JOSEPH SANER
For
many years, and indeed from the time of his immigration to the new world until
his death, Mr. Saner was identified with the dairy and ranch interests of Sacramento
county. Such was his frugality, such his tireless
perseverance and such his native shrewdness that ultimately he acquired large
holdings in ranch lands. Not a little of his success was due to the sterling
good sense and practical co-operation of his wife, who since being left a widow
has carried forward the enterprises begun by her husband and has proved the
possession of fine business qualifications as well as an intimate and thorough
knowledge of every detail connected with ranching. The plans which he laid with
the hopeful spirit of middle age she is carrying forward to completion and in
these important tasks she has enjoyed the willing aid of her children, the
eldest of whom have reached an age which renders
genuine helpfulness possible, while the youngest are able to assist in the
lighter tasks of the ranch.
There
were not only kindred aspirations and harmonious temperaments to unite Mr. and
Mrs. Saner in a happy wedded life, but in addition they shared an affection for the same native country and the same
childhood associations. Familiar to their early days were the lofty peaks of
the Alps and the simple beauty of the lakes which give
to Switzerland
an abiding majesty of landscape. Mr. Saner was born in Canton Solothurn, Switzerland,
March 23, 1860, while the
birth of Mrs. Saner occurred September
24, 1865, her maiden name having been Mary Bisig.
Both had few educational advantages, but began to labor for self-support while
yet quite young. Both cherished longings for the liberty of America,
and both crossed the ocean in 1883, coming direct from New
York City to California
and settling in Sacramento county. Mrs. Saner saw the United
States for the first time on the 25th of April, 1883, and on the 9th of March, 1887, became the
wife of Mr. Saner, who had been employed at dairying for the four preceding
years.
The
young couple took up agricultural pursuits on a rented tract, owned by Mr.
Harvey, and there they worked frugally, industriously and efficiently for four
years. As a result of their efforts they were able to buy a place of their own.
In 1901 they purchased the Steele ranch of four hundred and fifteen acres
located on Dry creek, and three years later, in 1904, they added to their
holdings by the purchase of the Davis
tract of three hundred acres. Still later one hundred and eighty-two acres were
bought, making nearly one thousand acres, all of which Mr. Saner managed with
recognized thrift and intelligence. In the management of the broad acres his
wife, since his death, October 14, 1908, has been as efficient as was he, and
her capable mind and willing hands insure profitable returns from the
cultivation of the land. Eight children came to bless their union, namely:
Frieda, born December 8, 1888; Ameli, August 4, 1890;
Joseph, April 15, 1893; Robert, May 18, 1895; Lillie, April 3, 1897; Harry, May
29 1898; William, November 28, 1899, and Evelina,
December 8, 1903. Many sorrows have come to Mrs. Saner, and her life has had
its share of trouble, but none was more difficult to bear than the tragic death
of her youngest child, Evelina, who was lost in the
destruction of their home by fire, October
27, 1905. With supreme courage she has borne this terrible
bereavement and with firm Christian heroism she has triumphed over disaster and
distress, so that she presents to all the example of a cheerful life and an
industrious, optimistic temperament.
Transcribed by Sande Beach.
Source: Willis,
William L., History of Sacramento
County, California, Pages 635-636. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1913.
© 2005 Sande Beach.