Yolo County
Biographies
JOHN GEORGE RATH
Self made in the best sense implied by
the term, John George Rath is named among the
representative citizens of Yolo county, now being a
resident of Woodland. He was born in Wurtemberg,
Germany, near Oberdorf, November 30, 1856, a son of
Andrew Rath, also a native of the same place, where
he engaged as a farmer until his death, January 23, 1889, at the age of
sixty-one years. His wife, formerly Margaret Harzer,
a native of the same place, died in 1858. In religion they were both members of
the Lutheran Church. They were the parents of two sons, Andrew, who is engaged
as a farmer at Busweiler, Germany, and John George,
of this review. By a second marriage Mr. Rath became
the father of five children, two of whom are in California and three in
Germany.
Reared at Dornhan,
John George Rath attended the common schools until
the age of fourteen years, when he was confirmed. He remained in his native
land two years longer, when, in October, 1872, he went to Bremen, Germany, and
there took passage on an English vessel, the Genesee, for New York City. After
a voyage of fourteen days he arrived safely in that city, with only money
enough to pay his board for three days. Undaunted by the prospect he went to
work and succeeded in making his living. Dissatisfied with the prospects as
seen in the city he borrowed money to come to California and in March, 1873,
made the trip by rail to the coast. He first found employment with an uncle in
Hungry Hollow, Yolo county, and later worked for
Charles Coil, Sr., near Woodland, with whom he remained three years. He
continued to work for various farmers of this section until the fall of 1879,
when he purchased his first land in California. This consisted of one hundred
and sixty acres of grain land in Hungry Hollow, where he began farming and
stock-raising independently, also improving the same for a comfortable home.
Later he added another one hundred and sixty acres, owning then a half section
in one body. In 1890 he rented that property and located on a farm a mile and a
half west of Woodland, purchasing twenty-six acres, to which he later added
until he owned eighty acres. For eight years he devoted it to raising alfalfa,
dairying and stock-raising, when, in 1898, he removed to Woodland and purchased
his present home at No. 1004 Court street. Since his
removal to the city he has sold his farm of eighty acres, but still owns
property in Bayview and the ranch in Hungry Hollow.
In Hungry Hollow, Yolo county, Mr. Rath was united in
marriage with Christine Sarah Mast, April 16, 1880. She was born in Anderson
county, Minn., a daughter of Frederick Mast, who immigrated to that state from
Germany, there experiencing the trials and dangers through which the settlers
passed on account of the Indians. Later he located in California and made his
home in Yolo county until his death. Mrs. Rath died near Woodland in October, 1897, at the age of
thirty-four years. She was a woman of many excellent qualities, making a happy
home for her husband and children and a place of hospitality for all who came
within her gates. In religion she was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church.
They became the parents of six children, of whom two, Frieda R. and Lillian E.,
the third and fifth in order of birth, died in childhood. The others are: Emma
E., George F., Erna S., and Frances E., all of whom are still at home.
Fraternally Mr. Rath is identified with the
Independent Order of Foresters, and politically is a Democrat in national
issues, locally reserving the right to cast his ballot for the man whom he
considers best qualified for public office. While residing in the country he
served for seven years as school trustee of the Cache Creek district. He
belongs to the St. John’s Evangelical Church of Woodland, in the erection of
which he served on the building committee, and since its organization has acted
as a member of the board of trustees, now (1905) being its president.
Transcribed By: Cecelia M. Setty.
Source: "History of the State of
California and Biographical Record of the Sacramento
Valley, Cal.," J. M. Guinn, Pages
624-625.
The Chapman Publishing Company, Chicago, 1906.
© 2017 Cecelia M. Setty.
Golden
Nugget Library's Yolo County Biographies