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Note: From "Thomson & West's History of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties With Illustrations"
(Pub. 1883, reprinted 1961), page 405: SATICOY
This promising village is situated on the Santa Clara River, about eight miles east of San Buena-ventura, nine miles north of' Hueneme Wharf, and eight miles southwest of Santa Paula, at the lower end of the old Santa Paula y Saticoy Rancho. Here are the famous Saticoy Springs. In the olden time, migratory Indians and Mexicans were fighting in the grim tragedy of existence at these springs, weaving around their waters many a bloody tradition, that adds a pleasant, melancholy, and romantic charm to the enchanting beauty which renders it a most delightful spot.
J. L. Crane settled upon the site of the village in November, 1861. Saticoy is the headquarters of a section noted for its choice farms and orchards. A school was opened as early as 1868, and to-day the fine public school house stands a monument to the progressive spirit of the people. Over the post-office building great troops of flowers madly but fondly run riot, while the yard is filled with rare shrubbery, a fitting testimonial to the soil and climate. J.P. Quesnel, a carpenter and builder, is Uncle Sam's agent, and
GEO. FRED'K ROTSLER,
A worthy imitator of Vulcan, salutes the ears of the passing wayfarers with a ringing anvil
chorus.
Mr. Rotsler was born in the town of Witlengen, in the grand dutchy of' Baden, Germany, January 4, 1831. His parents were Daniel and Mary (Houpt) Rotsler, both natives of Germany. The family consisted of the parents and six children, there being two daughters and four sons, the subject of the present sketch being next to the youngest. The social laws of the fatherland require that all be prepared for the practical battle of life, and young Rotsler was thus subjected to the discipline of the common schools of his country, and when he arrived at the age of thirteen was apprenticed to the trade of a machinist. Continuing at this for a period of three years as an apprentice, he then became a journeyman, and worked at his trade in his native land until he was eighteen years of age.
Having acquired a reliable trade, and approaching manhood, he looked forward to a broader field of life and greater opportunities than were offered in the densely-peopled countries of the Old World. The great Republic beyond the sea was attracting the attention of his countrymen arid relatives, and in 1849 he joined the emigrants for that distant land of the free. In the usual course of time he reached the great city of the New World, and sought employment at his trade. This he shortly found near the banks of the
lordly Hudson, in Green County, New York, where he remained employed for fifteen years. After this long trial in his new home he entered upon business for himself, engaging as a merchant and manufacturer, which business he continued until 1867, when he removed to Missouri, locating in Audrain County. There he established a merchant flouring-mill, and continued the business for about nine years. The star of Mr. Rotsler�s prosperity was bright and hopeful, but the brigher star continually led the way to the West, and thither he followed. In 1876. he came to California, locating in Ventura County, on the premises he now occupies in the town of Saricoy. Here, in addition to the practice of his trade, he is engaged in farming, having a well-improved ranch of seventy-five acres, a view of which is incorporated in this volume.
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From "A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura California" by Mrs. Yda Addis Storke, 1891, page 312:
G. F. Rotsler is one of the prominent ranchers of Santa Paula, Ventura County, California. He came from Missouri to his present locality in 1874. Mr. Rotsler was born in Bade, Germany, January 4, 1831. His parents were natives of Germany and his father was a machinist. Young Rotsler obtained his education in Germany and 1849, at the age of nineteen years, came to the United States. He located in New York and worked in a machine shop in Green County, putting up machinery in woolen factories. He next engaged in the manufacture of straw paper, in Columbia County and after running the paper-mill two years he built a flouring-mill in Green County which he ran two years. He sold out, conducted a mercantile business four years, sold it in 1866 and in 1867 went to Missouri. He purchased 130 acres of improved land in Audrain County, and a new house and eightl acres of land in Martinsburg. Here for four years he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, after which he again sold out, went into a merchant mill at Mexico, Missouri ran it three years, then disposed of it, and in 1874, came to Califvrnia. He purchased seventy-five acres of land near Saticoy, built a house and improved the property; sold out ten years later; lived in Ventura one year; went to Los Angeles, bought and sold property there; and then came to his present locality. Here he purchased twenty acres of choice land, built a very attractive house and fine barn and has made this property a valuable one. He is engaged in raising Lima beans. Ten acres of this land are devoted to walnuts, and Mr. Rotsler also has a large variety of fruit trees for family use.
He was married in Green County, New York, in 1854, to Miss Sarah E. Golden, a native of that State. They had three children: Georgiana G., born in Green County New York, married Scott Gibson, and is a resident of Saticoy; Charles D., also born in Green County, died at the age of twenty-three years; and Willie S., born in the same place, married Sarah Middleton, and lives in Los Angeles. After seventeen years of wedded life, Mrs. Rotsler died. In 1872 Mr. Rotsler married Miss Hannah E. Lewis, a native of New York, daughter of Abel Lewis of that state. Their union has been blessed with two sons, both born in Saticoy, L.F. and S.L.
Politically Mr. Rotsler is a Democrat.
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