San Joaquin County Biographies
Ref: Page 1287
Transcribed by: Linda Diane Jackson 11/12/2009
ROBERT L. DARTER
A man who has intelligently directed his efforts toward the goal of his ambitions and thereby attained success is Robert L. Darter, who was born in Scott County, Va., August 5, 1874. The only education he received was in the district schools and when he reached the age of sixteen he ran away from home and worked in the mountains of Kentucky for $6 per month; later he went to Indianapolis, Ind. In 1892 he came to California and worked at Tipton for three years; then he returned to Indianapolis but was not content, so in 1906 he again came to California and landed in Stockton with $1.20 in his pocket. His first employment was with the California Fruit Canners Association, where he worked for twelve and one-half cents an hour and within six months he became foreman; later he was employed by the California Traction Company and by frugal living he was able to save $700 with which he bought thirty acres of raw land in the "black land" section of Collegeville. Within seven months he brought it to such a state of development that he disposed of it at a nice profit, and with this start he settled in Stockton and entered the real estate business, dealing exclusively in the "black lands." He realized the great possibilities of that district, which had been neglected, and while he met discouragement on every side when he started his developments in that district, he was confident of success and he never relinquished his determination to do what he first had in mind, and he has demonstrated his faith in the district by what he has accomplished within the past eleven years. He has sold thousands of acres to J.W. Squier, J.F. Goodwin and other capitalists. When he first started his developments land sold for $60 per acre, which now sells for $160 per acre. To demonstrate the possibilities of the "black land" for raising of alfalfa and deciduous fruits, he took five acres, leveled the land and planted it to alfalfa and was rewarded with a fine yield. He further demonstrated with fruit and vegetables, which grow in profusion on this land. Many expert and experienced prune growers from the Santa Clara Valley have inspected the land and are loud in their praise of its producing qualities. Mr. Darter subdivided 240 acres into twenty-acre tracts, which have all been sold and settled upon. He personally owns six ranches aggregating more than 1100 acres, and has installed pumping plants on four of his ranches, and on the other two a concrete pipe system. Water is being taken from wells, none of them more than one hundred feet deep. Much credit is due Mr. Darter for the success he has won, which has been accomplished by a life of industry and integrity.
History of
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
CALIFORNIA
With A
Biographical Review
of
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been
Identified with Its Growth and Development
from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY
George H. Tinkham
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1923
San Joaquin County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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