A. C. Rynerson

A. C. Rynerson was born near Stockton, California, January 4, 1858. His father, C. C. Rynerson, is a native of the State of Kentucky, and crossed the plains to the Golden State in 1849. He took up a Government claim near Stockton, was, for a time, Sheriff of the county, and for a number of years was one of the most prominent men of San Joaquin County. His ancestry came from Germany. One member of the family is a leading medical authority of New York city. His father died in 1887. His mother, Mary A. (Wesley) Rynerson, was born in England, and in infancy came with her parents to America. She was the mother of nine children, five daughters and four sons, only two of whom are now living, the subject of this sketch and his sister, Mrs. Eva J. Leach, a widow, residing at Santa Barbara.

    Mr. Rynerson received his education at Santa Barbara, and when prepared to enter the university his eyes became diseased. He afterward took a business course at the Heald Business College, San Francisco, and engaged in the milling business with his father at Santa Barbara. Five or six years later they sold the mill and moved to Arizona, remaining there a year, having, at this time, failing health. In 1884 gypsum had been discovered, and his father returned to California to see it, and purchased 660 acres of land. They have recently sold a mining claim to the Ventura Plaster Company, and the gypsum bed will now be worked. The subject of this sketch has improved the property which his father bought, by erecting a pleasant home and planting fruit trees; he has four acres in French prunes, three acres in apricots, and an assortment of nearly every kind of fruit, including blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries. He also has twelve acres in young olive trees. Many of his fruit trees are now in bearing. Mr. Rynerson sank a well 196 feet deep, in which the water rises to within forty feet of the surface, and he has an engine of his own to pump the water. For sixteen hours in succession the water has run without exhausting the supply. Since coming here, Mr. Rynerson has regained his health, and is now a strong man in a fair situation to enjoy life in his pleasant California home, which is a typical one, surrounded with trees and vines and with the foot-hills making a delightful back-ground to the picture.

    Mr. Rynerson was united in marriage with Miss Ida C. Holmes, a native of Wisconsin, and daughter of J. T. Holmes, a farmer of that state. This union has been blessed with three children, two born at Santa Barbara and one at their present home, viz.: Ruth, Edna L., and Margery. Mrs. Rynerson is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Rynerson is a Trustee of his school district, and takes an interest in educational matters. Politically, he is a Republican. Earlier in life he took an active part in the conventions of the party, but more recently devotes his time to his ranch.

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