G. F. Rotsler

G. F. Rotsler is one of the prominent ranchers of Santa Paula, Ventura County, California. He came from Missouri to his present locality in 1874. Mr. Rotsler was born in Baden, Germany, January4, 1831. His parents were natives of Germany and his father was a machinist. Young Rotsler obtained his education in Germany and in 1849, at the age of nineteen years, came to the United States. he located in New York and worked in a machine shop in Green County, putting up machinery in woolen factories. He next engaged in the manufacture of straw paper, in Columbia County, and after running the paper-mill two years, he built a flouring-mill in Green County, which he ran two years. He sold out, conducted a mercantile business four years, sold it in 1866, and in 1867 went to Missouri. He purchased 130 acres of improved land in Audrain County, and a new house and eight acres of land in Martinsburg. Here for four years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, after which he again sold out, went into a merchant mill at Mexico, Missouri, ran it three years, then disposed of it, and, in 1874, came to California. He purchased seventy-five acres of land near Saticoy, built and house and improved the property; sold out ten years later; lived in Ventura one year; went to Los Angeles, bought and sold property there; and then came to his present locality. Here he purchased twenty acres of choice land, built a very attractive house and fine barn and has made this property a valuable one. He is engaged in raising Lima beans. Ten acres of this land are devoted to walnuts, and Mr. Rotsler also has a large variety of fruit trees for family use.

He was married in Green County, New York, in 1854, to Miss Sarah E. Golden, a native of that state. They had three children: Georgiana G., born in Green County, New York, married Scott Gibson, and is a resident of Saticoy; Charles D., also born in Green County, died at the age of twenty-three years; and Willie S., born in the same place, married Sarah Middleton and lives in Los Angeles. After seventeen years of wedded life, Mrs. Rotsler died. In 1872 Mr. Rotsler married Miss Hannah E. Lewis, a native of New York, daughter of Abel Lewis of that state. Their union has been blessed with two sons, both born in Saticoy, L. F. and S. L.

Politically Mr. Rotsler is a Democrat.

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