The Placer herald., 1871-04-08
LETTER FROM JUANITA,
The Magnificent Rancho Of Jas.
r. MickesOn.


remarkable inst ,nces Of ruccess in life, COM
mencing in California under the most ad-
verse circumstances, but success soon attain
eddy indomitable energy and enterprise may
be learned by visit TO the magnificent
Rancho of Nh James X. Nckeson, now
celebrated throughout the State as Vini-
culturist, orchardist, &c. &c. This Rancho,
in Placer county, is situated about three
miles northeast of the Railroad depot in the
town Of Lincoln and twelve miles west of
Auburn, the far Capital of Placer County.
Mr.. Nickeson was born in 1919 in the good
old State of Kentucky, whence, at the age
of sixteen he emigrated with his parents to
Missouri. During his stay in the latter
STATE, he resided in Howard, Charlton, an
lastly, Linn county. v bile in Charlton he
married a lady of an excellent family and
who row adorns and gives lustre to their
beautiful home in California by the urbanity
Of Lcr manners and genial, happy deposition.
The issue of,his marriage has been four sons
and three daughters, two of the former and
two of the latter being married, while the
two remaining sons, and a daughter Just
blushed into voulanhood, yet live with their
parents on tie Rancho. In lS49, Mr.. Nick
eson, leaving his family for while, came to
California, where he engaged in various avo-
cations till sometime in 1851, when he went
back TO Missouri and in the Spring of 1852,
ri, ',I@ ..I
The determination to make it his future home
His design Was 70 settle in Tulare county,
and was proceeding thiher when a simple
circumstance occurred which caused hin to
chluge his previous inteat.on. How ,ruly
the poet, Campbell, says,
How oft our fnics from momcntoas things
May rise like rivers out Of little Springs
Mr.. Nlckeson, on a certain night, cncamp-
ed with his family on the very ground now
occupied by the Town Of Lincoln, and get
ting up the following morning discovered
that his cattle had sirayed, and Immediately
set out in search of them. While thus wan
derng he stumbled on a grassy glade boder
'ng on Doty's rayine, the waters of which
were then pure and transparent as crystal
dense forest Of oak and pine trees with
matted underbrush stretched away in front
of him, bat his eye took in, at glance, the
adaptabity of the region for splendid home
in the future. He at once abandoned the
previous intention of going to Tulare and
moved his family to a spot on the left bank
Of Doty's ravine and where they still reside.
Without one dollar in money he commenced
to raise vegetables, which, when matured,
commanded very high price, for there were
then hundreds of miners in the surrounding
region. Every spare hour from the vegeta-
ble garden was industriousl Y devoted to the
clearing of the forest and underbrush, and
now we behold, instead of a silent wilderness,
one of the most magnificent and extensive
vineyards, with a truly splendid orchard of
several thousand fruit trees of every species
and choicest selection we have vet beheld in
California, fom the Southern portion of Los
Angeles county to Siskiyou, in the northern
portion of the State Mr.. Nickeson has re-
peatedly received premiums in money, d.
plomas, in silverware and gold medals for
various exhibitions at the State Fair and
elsewhere at different times, and is now an
opulent man and an honor to the State
~ Sio'oi ioi AosPi'ai I. TIC Is aidssuiniiIS
and unostentious, frank, and with generous
impulses. Never having had the benefit of
much scholastic education, he is nevertheless
gentleman of sound practical knowledge,
Of varied information, in {. word, of high
intelligence, and with all his possession of an
abundance of this worlds goods, We can say
of him, in truth, as the immortal Scottish
bard, Robbie Burns said of Lord Daer,
The feint pride, nae pride has he
Mar than an honest ploughman.
Should he live for few years longer, his
aspirations will be realized in being the own
er of one grand Vineyard of five hundred
acres. We shall, in letters to follow this
epistle, endeavor to convey to you and your
readers something like conception of his
present expansive vineyard and great orchard
and of the other matters relating to him
which we hope will not only be interesting
but instructive, as showing what energy and
enterprise combined with intelligence and in
Aexihla intaurity hava ocb;ayo1 -, n C.I;cor,;.