LYMAN L. NATTINGER
CIVIL WAR SOLDIER
CARRIAGE AND WAGON MAKER
PRUNE GROWER
Bio-Sawyers
Among the early settlers of the Santa Clara Valley is Lyman L.
Nattinger, who came to California and settled here in 1875 and has been
actively engaged in agricultural pursuits since that time. He was born
in Eagleport, Morgan County, Ohio, January 7, 1843, the son of Samuel
and Mary (Miller) Nattinger, born in Germany and Virginia respectively,
who were farmers and later became pioneers of Illinois whither they
removed in 1856 and both lived and died there.
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Nattinger had nine children, seven of whom grew to
maturity; Almira became Mrs. Mason and died in Ottawa, Ill.; John was a
member of Company E., One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, served till the close of the Civil War and died in Oakland,
Cal; Julia died in Ottawa, Ill; Eliza, Mrs. McCormack, also died in
Ottawa; Lyman L. is our subject; William resides in Chicago and Albert
died in Earl Park, Ind.
Lyman L. received his education in the public schools of Ottawa, Ill.,
and went to work on a farm, remaining until he was sixteen years old;
then he learned the carriage and wagon maker's trade. In August, 1862,
when nineteen years old, he volunteered and enlisted in the U. S. Army
in Company E., One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and
during his two years and ten months of service was in thirty-two
battles, serving as sergeant. Among some of the battles were
Hartsville, Elk River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, then began the
Atlanta Campaign of 108 days, including Resaca, Dallas, Dalton, Kenesaw
Mt., Peach Tree Creek, Snake Creek Gap and the siege of Atlanta, after
which he was on the chase of Hood's army to the Chickamauga battlefield
when Thomas sent word that he could take care of Hoods's Army,
saying he could whip them with his own men. Then Mr. Nattinger took
part in Sherman's March to the Sea, taking part in the taking of
Savannah and the battles of Goldsborough and Bentonville. His regiment
went into Raleigh on the skirmish line and marched from Raleigh, N.C.,
to Richmond, Va., in record time, making the 210 miles in ninety-four
hours. To make this time they marched as the crow flies, through
fields, and over fences. He took part in the grand Review at Washington
as one of Sherman's greasers, after which his regiment was the first
out of the brigade to go home; he was mustered out in Chicago June,
1865, as sergeant, the regiment being reduced to 183 men. At
Hartsville, Tenn., he was wounded and taken prisoner and he remained a
prisoner at different places until he was taken to Libby Prison, where
he remained until he was paroled; then was in the parole camp at
Annapolis, Md., until he was exchanged, when he rejoined his regiment.
After his discharge from service Mr. Nattinger worked at his trade in
Alttona, Ill., until he decided to remove to California, arriving in
San Jose in 1875. He spent five years as foreman of the San Jose
Agricultural Works, then he ran a carriage and wagon shop on South
First Street. During this time, in 1886, he purchased ten acres on
Leigh Road, near Campbell, which he set out to prunes and as success
attended his efforts he bought land adjoining until he now owns
twenty-four acres in a full-bearing prune orchard. Some years ago he
quit business in San Jose, after having worked at his trade for
twenty-sevenyears. Since then he has devoted all of his time to his
orchard and drying plant he had erected on Leigh Avenue, where he takes
care of his fruit as well as for a number of his neighbors.
Mr. Nettinger's first marriage united him with Miss Mary Bergit, a
native of Illinois, who passed away in August, 1875; the second time he
was married to Miss Addie G. Ketcham, a native daughter, born in Placer
County, and they had one child, Frank, a stalwart man, who is assisting
his father in their horticultural enterprise. Mrs. Nattinger passed
away in 1909.
He is a strong Republican in politics and fraternally is an Odd Fellow;
a believer in cooperation as the best method of marketing the fruit, he
is a member of the California Prune & Apricot Association. Mr.
Nattinger is a very active and energetic man and despite his nearly
four score years is found about his ranch evrey day, driving a team or
doing a man's work, for he cannot tolerate idleness and believes it is
more interesting and conducive to longevity to wear out than to rust
out. He has a remarkable personality and is a man of strong
convictions, always standing for what he considers right. He is well
informed and well read and his retentive memory and ability as a
narrator of events, particularly of the stirring times during the Civil
War, make him an interesting conversationalist.
Transcribed by Marie Clayton, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. 484
SANTA CLARA HISTORICAL BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY