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This is the story of Robert Hurd Blossom, published in Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California, 1891, continued. "In 1857 he went to Tehama county, and com- menced farming, in which business he has since continued, and in which he has met with eminent success. In 1871 Mr. Blossom purchased F. W. Fratt's portion of the Dye Grant, El Ran- cho el Primer Canon, Del Rio de los Berrendos or Antelope Rancho, situat- ed on the east bank of the Sacramento River. He devoted it to grain and harvested immense crops. In 1879 he had 20,000 sacks of wheat, 4,000 sacks of barley and about 500 tons of hay. Some of the ground brought as high as forty- four bushels of wheat to the acre. He also raised large quantities of fruit and vegetables for his own use, and for the sup- ply of the hands he employed on his place. He provided himself with every modern machine for the purpose of con- ducting the business in the best manner, and he also made many improvements in farm buildings, and he owned and resided on one of the finest properties in the county. In 1882 he sold out for $125,000, to Major Joseph S. Cone, who owned the greater portion of the rancho, and is now (1890) the for- tunate possessor of this valuable property. Mr. Blossom then p u r c h a s e d 24,000 acres of choice land, ten miles west of Red Bluff. Of this he farms 8,000 acres, and devotes the rest to sheep, cattle and hogs. On this property is a good residence, but the family lives in Red Bluff, on account of superior school facilities, and Mr. Blossom is fast bringing the ranch up to his ideal. Mr. Blossom was mar- ried in 1868, to Miss Car- oline Hensley, a native of Missouri, and of Scotch ancestry. She came to California when three years old. They have been blessed with four children, one son and three daughters, vis; Jessie, a graduate of Mills College; Edward J., a graduate of the San Mateo Semi-Military College; Bessie B., at school, and Mary R., known by the familiar name of Boby, is at home with her parents. Mr. Blossom adheres to the Republican party, and for six years has been a Supervisor of Tehama County. No man stands higher in the estimation of his fellow citizens, and few, if any have done more to stimulate the growth and development of the county. He has shown the w o n d e r f u l capabilities of the soil for farming. As a county for agri- c u l t u r e , Tehama stands second to none in the great state. Mr. Blos- som came to this county when it was in its infancy, has been a co- worker with its pioneers, and is now one of its rep- resentative citizens." A Dec. 30 postscript came from Mark Michaelis, who lives 13 miles west of Red Bluff off of Hwy. 36 West. There is a 2 acre parcel adjacent to their ranch which was once the Blos- som School. Mr. Blos- som sold the 2 acres in 1887, and according to the copy of the deed Michaels has, the price was one silver dollar. Michaelis told me you can still see the old hand dug well which is bricked line for several feet until it opens up. They also found parts of old school chairs there. The Manznita Flat post office was nearby. *** More exciting items have been donated for the Tehama County Cattle- men/CattleWomen Win- ter Dinner and Scholar- ship Auction, Jan. 9 at 6p.m. at the Tehama Dis- trict Fairground. Among the items is ceramic tile plus installation for 30-50 square feet from Malvino Ceramic Tile. A San Francisco shopping trip for two donated by Mt. Lassen Motor Transit. For the ranchers Hawes Ranch & Farm Supply has donated one five foot Powder Moun- tain V-Rack Poly Bunk Feeder. Red Bluff Round-Up Association has given box seats for four. Bucke's Feed & Grain has donated one ton of liquid cattle feed supple- ment. Carl and Jere Lee Hale have given a leather photo frame with 4 x 6 mounted photo. Carol Enos has given a pair of framed buffalo photos. Eight hours of road grading within Tehama County by Ron Humphry Construction. One set BF Goodrich all terrain pick- up tires from I-5 Tire. Lucero Olive Oil has donated a gift basket of olive oil. Richfield Feed and Supply has given a horse blanket, a horse grooming kit, and one bag of dog food. Red Bluff Les Schwab Tire Center has donated an aluminum tool box for a pickup. The Olive Pit has a gift box. Myers Produce Stand has donat- ed a Honey & Olive Oil gift basket. Elite Automotive has given oil changes. Critter Care Grooming and Boarding has given a gift basket. Ten sacks Beef Pac Supreme from Bar Ale in Williams. Dinner for two at the Green Barn Steakhouse from the Green Barn. Shoot for Purpose, Inc. has given a Basket of Plean- ty. Sutfin Veterinary Ser- vice has donated a 500 cc bottle of Ivomec Plus. The Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale has given two tickets for the geld- ing sale on Friday night, Jan. 29, and two tickets for bull riding on Satur- day night. Linda Borror has donated a homemade lemon meringue pie. Jeff Shere and Shasta Farm and Equipment has donated two PBR tickets and lodging for two at Homewood Suites in Sacramento for Jan. 16. Mesa Productions has given two Billy Carring- ton concert tickets with possible meet and greet. Walco International, Inc. has donated one ton 20 percent molasses tubs. The Red Bluff FFA offi- cers have offered five hours labor. Carol Enos has given a framed buffa- lo photo. Bob's Tire Cen- ter has donated a front end wheel alignment. Crossroads Feed and Ranch Supply has given a pair of Not your Daugh- ter's Jeans. House of Design is donating a flo- ral arrangement. Two tickets for the sold-out Sarah Palin appearance at the Red- ding Convention Center have been donated by the Peek Family of Shasta Livestock Auction Yard. Handlery Hotel in San Francisco on Union Square is donating a suite, one night stay with valet parking. There will be wine as you come through the doors, and a $75 gift certificate towards dinner. Valen- tine's Day is coming. Wine tasting will be enjoyed while the guests are viewing the auction items. Current wineries scheduled to pour are Burnsini, Indian Peak, Cline Cellars, New Clairveaux and Mt. Tehama. Barbara Frost Kloose is looking for- ward to seeing her old friends as she helps sell the wine glasses. The following finan- cial institutions have each given $100 for the popu- lar door prizes when a dinner ticket is drawn dur- ing the evening. Thanks to Butte Community Bank, Umpqua Bank, PremierWest Bank and Northern Farm Credit. Jean Barton can be reached at jbarton@theskybeam.co m. 4A – Daily News – Saturday, January 2, 2010 12600 Hwy 99E, Red Bluff Located 5 Miles from I-5 • 530-527-6483 Hrs: 9am-6pm Monday-Saturday Expires 1-5-10 Meat Packs Available Columbus DRY SALAMI $ 6 49 lb. Sushi Grade TUNA $ 9 99 lb. Boneless Ribeye STEAK OR ROAST $ 7 99 lb. Now Accepting E.B.T., Debit, Credit Cards Call For Free Information Toll-Free (800) 464-1403 or (530) 365-1403 6183 MEISTER WAY ANDERSON, CA 96007 (530) 365-1403 (800) 464-1403 LIC #808524 766 Antelope Blvd. (next to the fairgrounds) 527-0886 Red Bluff Garden Center GROW MY OWN VEGETABLE GARDEN and we are here to help! New Year Resolution Smog Check starting at $ 29 95 (most cars and pick-ups) Pass or FREE retest COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR + cert. All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Agriculture farm&ranch Robert Hurd Blossom, continued Tehama County Cattlemen President Tony Turri and Tehama County CattleWomen President Cathy Tobin invite the public to the Jan. 9 Winter Dinner and Scholarship Auction. They are pictured with 2008 Beef AmbassadorRochelle Borror. Jean Barton Farmers hope 'grown in Wisconsin' sells in China By ALEXA OLESEN and DINESH RAMDE Associated Press Writers BEIJING (AP) — Tons of Chinese-made goods, from computers to catfish, flow west. But Ameri- can ginseng goes the other way. U.S. farmers grow about 650,000 pounds of the bitter root each year, most of it in Wisconsin. They rely almost exclusively on sales to China. And after years of declining profits due to new compe- tition from Canadian and Chinese farmers, those in Wisconsin are defending their brand and hoping to tap a growing Chinese middle-class market. To do this, they've cut a deal with a 360-year- old Chinese pharmacy that once served China's emperors. The deal gives Tong Ren Tang the exclusive right to sell 400,000 pounds of Wisconsin ginseng in more than 1,000 stores over the next five years. The company says it will position the Wisconsin root as a premium product. ——— On the Net: Ginseng Board of Wisconsin: http://www.gin- sengboard.com/.