Yolo
County
Biographies
JOE GIGER
Joe
Giger, who is one of Yolo county’s leading and successful ranchers, was born on
a farm in the eastern part of Switzerland on the 19th of January,
1885, and was there reared and educated, pursuing his studies as far as the
grammar grades. At the age of ten years
he lost his father by death, after which he was compelled to contribute to the
support of the family by his untiring and persistent efforts. He was employed as a milker on a dairy ranch
and in 1913, when he was twenty-eight years old; he came to the United States
with one of his brothers. However, the
latter remained here but a few months, returning then to his native land.
When
Joe Giger came to this country he could not speak a word of English. He went to North Dakota, where he spent some
time, during the most of which he was employed in farming, and in 1915 he came
to Yolo County. In the following October
he secured employment on the Stephens ranch, near Esparto, and sometime later
came to Woodland. He went to work on the
Lawson Bar dairy ranch, near the town, and also worked for a time for the local
ice company. About seven years ago Mr.
Giger came to the Clarence Day ranch, consisting of one hundred and sixty
acres, southwest of Woodland. This
property he operates on shares with Clarence Day, the owner, and specializes in
raising alfalfa, of which he cuts five crops a year. He has a splendid herd of sixty Holstein cattle
and sells the milk to the Golden Gate Dairy of Sacramento. At one time he also rented a dairy farm from
Al Winters.
In
1914, in North Dakota, Mr. Giger was untied in marriage to Miss Josephine Faeh, who is a native of Switzerland, and they are the parents
of five children, Joseph, Annie, Elsie, Margaret and John. Mr. Giger is a member of the Sons of Herman
and his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic Church. He is a good citizen in the best sense of the
term, has been reasonably successful in his affairs, and is regarded by all who
know him as well worthy of the prosperity which is his.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
Wooldridge, J.W.Major History of Sacramento Valley
California, Vol. 3, Pages 79-80. Pioneer Historical
Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Yolo County Biographies