Shasta Co., CA Biographies

WALTER BOYER ALDRIDGE	MARTHA CAROLINE MEYER
1894 - 1976	1899 -

Walter, third child of Jefferson Davis and Minnie Boyer Aldridge, was born December 8, 1894, on a ranch near Whitmore. In 1896 the family moved to the origjnal Aldridge property on Snow Creek where he attended Bear Creek School for 9 years. In 1916 he joined the Army and spent some time in France however a bout with mumps prevented him from reaching the front lines. After the war he went to work for Roy Ballou driv1ng a hard rubber tired lumber truck. He served as Constable for two years and homesteaded 160 acres adjacent to his sister, Beth. A property named Last Chance which was eventually incorporated into Bonnie Craigs Ranch.

In 1921 the Aldridge family on its way to a picnic at Viola stopped at Thatcher's popular Pine Grove. Electa Thatcher mentioned to Walter that she had a pretty young lady visiting her who might like to go with them on the picnic. Walter told her to bring her out and let me look her over. Apparently he liked what he saw and on June 1, 1924 he married that pretty young lady, Martha Caroline Meyer.

Martha Caroline Meyer was born June 18, 1899 on a ranch near Bella Vista, the third child of six born to Frederick Meyer Jr. and Hattie May Cravens Meyer. Martha attended grade school in Bella Vista and went on to Chico Normal to become a teacher. She taught at several schools in Shasta County prior to her marriage.

Walter and Martha moved into a small cottage on the bank of Snow Creek and Walter became a partner in J. D. Aldridge and Son.. They had three children.

Shirley Beth - Martha Mae - Glenn Walter

The ranch went from sheep to a dairy and then into Herefords during the 30s but from 1933 to 1936 Walter worked as a foreman for the CCC and related agencies to help support the ranch through the great depression.

Walter served as Trustee of Inwood School District and Director of the Federal Land Bank, Chico Production Credit Association, Shasta District Fair Board (14 years) and the Agricultural Stablization and Conservation Service. He was a life member of Veterans of World War I and a member of the Valley Livestock Market1ng Association. He and Martha were both active members of the Millville Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodges, Millville Grange, Shasta County Cattlemen's Association, the Farm Bureau, Shasta Historical Society and Mt. Lassen Historical Society. Walter died July 1l, 1976 and is buried in the Inwood-Ogburn Cemetery. Martha is still an active worker on Bonnie Craigs Ranch which is now operated by their son, Glenn and wife Zettie.

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