Among the successful dairymen of Pomona Valley, Daniel W. Anderson deserves special mention for what he has accomplished by his own unaided efforts. He was born December 25, 1877, in Wayne County, Iowa, and was brought up in Monroe County in that state and, having followed agricultural pursuits all his life, is thoroughly conversant with all that leads to success in his chosen vocation. His earliest recollections are in connection with his father's farm, where as a boy he followed the plow when he was so small he could barely reach the handles of the implement. He paid a visit to California in 1904, with the usual result—he returned in 1912 to remain.
Mr. Anderson leased land at Compton, Los Angeles County, the first year of his residence in the state, then purchased his present place of four acres at the corner of South Towne and Franklin avenues, Pomona, and began to build up a herd of pure-blood Holsteins. After making the subject a study he considers the Holstein breed the most satisfactory, as they are more rugged and greater milk producers than other breeds. He had a heifer with her first calf which gave seven gallons of milk daily the first year; the second year the same cow with her second calf averaged nine gallons daily for five months. His test of butterfat ran from 3.9 to 4.4 per cent, on the whole herd. The first two years he raised his own feed, but now considers it more economical to purchase it. For eighteen months he shipped his milk to the Crescent Creamery at Los Angeles, and in a test for bacteria, including milk from over one hundred dairies, the milk from his dairy was pronounced superior to all the others.
He also raises peaches and apricots on his ranch and from a crop from a few trees in 1917 received $476. The gross receipts from his ranch in 1918 were $15,000. This represented the work of himself and a helper. He has built up and sold two herds of Holsteins. The first, in 1914, which consisted of twenty-nine head, sold for $3000. In February, 1919, he sold what was considered the best herd in Southern California, consisting of fifty head, which brought $10,500. This is a sample of the increase in values in the past five years. He is now building up another herd from the same stock and already has twenty heifers. His stables and milk houses are up-to-date, modern and sanitary.
On April 6, 1914, Mr. Anderson married Carolyn E. Smith, a native of Los Angeles County, whose father, W. H. Smith, is also a native of Southern California, and whose mother, Sarah Law Smith, was born in Northamptonshire, England. Mrs. Anderson's grandfather, J. A. Smith, known as "Section" Smith, was a Los Angeles County pioneer, with the further distinction of having been a school-mate of President J. A. Garfield, and of being related to General Burnside. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of two children, native Californians, Walter K. and Dale Law. Mr. Anderson is a self-made man, who began life with the assets of strong hands, courage, a willing heart and good judgment. His success is due to persistent effort, and the sagacious use of his natural endowments. He is esteemed by his many friends in the community in which he resides.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 12/22/08, Pages 732-733
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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