From "Doc Alders, Farmington's Lone Eagle" A Reminiscence: In 1884, Dominic Mattesich, settled on a quarter section on Carter Road southeast of Farmington. His sons, John and George were well known Farmington farmers. Dominic passed away in 1901. John had a piece of property on Carter Road. Dominic's daughter, Lena Seward, lived on the place in 1977. She married Charlie Seward. His family had a ranch on Carter Road. Charlie sold the property when he retired.
George Mattesich had acreage on the road to Escalon a couple of miles south of Farmington. His sons, Glen and Lloyd, farmed it during the '30s with some help from Doc. They had less than 100 acres on the home place. They farmed a lot of rented ground. They also did a lot of customer work with the harvester. They had a combine harvester, a Holt Giant. One of the biggest ones ever made. A wooden machine. It had a twenty-four foot header and George added ten feet to make it thirty-four feet. The harvester had two tracks in back and two wheels in front. It was a pull harvester.
The Mattesiches had an Allis-Chalmers Model M as well as both the Model L and the Model LO. They had a Model M that was a small one, thirty-five horse, and two L's. Lloyd had converted both the L and the LO over to butane.
Although Lloyd Mattesich was the same age as Doc, he did not start school in Farmington. He went the first four years at the Wheatland School on Carter Road. It has been gone for some time. Someone built a home on the old school property.
Arthur "Archie" Moran's folks had a cattle ranch on Milton. They were covered wagon settlers. Archie would come to Farmington occasionally. Doc bought a motorcycle from Archie.
Lloyd Mattesich and Doc went on a motorcycle cruise down to Mexico and back. They did not go any farther than Tijuana. Doc said it was the dirtiest place he had ever seen. They headed home. They were both riding Harley's. They came back via San Bernardino. Their sight-seeing included a ride on the 'Rim of the World Drive' taking them through Crestline, Arrowhead and Big Bear. Another scenic highlight was their return through Yosemite.
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Happy Birthday to Ralph Lyda on Thursday, April 26th. I want to join his wife Peggy and family in wishing him a very wonderful day. Ralph is and has been the president of the Escalon Lions Club for two years.
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Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
George Mattesich had acreage on the road to Escalon a couple of miles south of Farmington. His sons, Glen and Lloyd, farmed it during the '30s with some help from Doc. They had less than 100 acres on the home place. They farmed a lot of rented ground. They also did a lot of customer work with the harvester. They had a combine harvester, a Holt Giant. One of the biggest ones ever made. A wooden machine. It had a twenty-four foot header and George added ten feet to make it thirty-four feet. The harvester had two tracks in back and two wheels in front. It was a pull harvester.
The Mattesiches had an Allis-Chalmers Model M as well as both the Model L and the Model LO. They had a Model M that was a small one, thirty-five horse, and two L's. Lloyd had converted both the L and the LO over to butane.
Although Lloyd Mattesich was the same age as Doc, he did not start school in Farmington. He went the first four years at the Wheatland School on Carter Road. It has been gone for some time. Someone built a home on the old school property.
Arthur "Archie" Moran's folks had a cattle ranch on Milton. They were covered wagon settlers. Archie would come to Farmington occasionally. Doc bought a motorcycle from Archie.
Lloyd Mattesich and Doc went on a motorcycle cruise down to Mexico and back. They did not go any farther than Tijuana. Doc said it was the dirtiest place he had ever seen. They headed home. They were both riding Harley's. They came back via San Bernardino. Their sight-seeing included a ride on the 'Rim of the World Drive' taking them through Crestline, Arrowhead and Big Bear. Another scenic highlight was their return through Yosemite.
*****
Happy Birthday to Ralph Lyda on Thursday, April 26th. I want to join his wife Peggy and family in wishing him a very wonderful day. Ralph is and has been the president of the Escalon Lions Club for two years.
*****
Please contact me if you have items for the Farmington News column. E-mail me at farmingtonnews@gmail.com or phone 896-6697.
