Sacramento County
Biographies
EDWARD VAN ALSTINE
EDWARD VAN ALSTINE.--Agricultural
development in Sacramento County
receives stimulus from the intelligently directed labors of Edward Van Alstine,
proprietor of the Los Nogales ranch in the Carmichael district, and one of California’s
native sons. He was born in Sacramento, a son of Oscar Van
Alstine, a native of Detroit, Mich.
In 1852 the father started for the Golden
State, choosing the Isthmus route,
and on reaching the capital city he embarked in merchandising, which he followed
successfully for a number of years, passing away in 1880. He was one of the
early pioneers of Sacramento and
was highly esteemed in the city which had so long been his home. He married
Miss Lucy Carley, a native of Syracuse, N.Y.,
who accompanied her parents on their westward journey. They reached Sacramento
in 1853 and were also numbered among the earliest settlers of the state.
Edward
Van Alstine was reared and educated in his native
city, and in 1882 secured clerical work in the Baker-Hamilton hardware store,
in which he was employed for twenty years. He was rapidly advanced, and in 1891
became traveling salesman for the firm, his territory covering the southern
part of Oregon, and Nevada and California.
In 1903 he severed his relations with that house, having accepted a more
advantageous offer from the firm of Thompson & Diggs, which he represented
in the same territory until 1915. In January of the latter year he was
appointed assistant state purchaser by Governor Johnson, and reappointment by Governor
Stephens continued him in that office until April, 1922. In the meantime Mr.
Van Alstine had purchased a ranch eleven miles northeast of Sacramento,
in the Carmichael district, and had placed a man in
charge of the place. On completing his term of public service he moved to his
ranch, and irrigation-farming and walnut-growing have since occupied his
attention. He has ten acres of fine walnut trees and is one of the pioneers in
this branch of horticulture. He believes in scientific methods and keeps
abreast of the times in every way.
Mr.
Van Alstine married Miss Imogene L. Morrison, who is
also a native of this state, her birth also having occurred in the city of Sacramento.
He is identified with the United Commercial Travelers and is also an Elk, belonging
to Lodge No. 6. He adheres to the progressive wing of the Republican party and from boyhood has been a close friend of Senator
Hiram Johnson. He has always discharged his duty to the best of his ability,
being most thorough and conscientious in everything that he undertakes, and as
a natural result his business career has been marked by continuous progress. He
is widely and favorably known in Sacramento
County and his cooperation can
always be counted upon to further any measure for the general good.
Transcribed by Vicky
Walker, 1/30/07.
Source: Reed, G.
Walter, History of Sacramento County,
California With Biographical Sketches, Page 366. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.
© 2007 Vicky Walker.