Description
This collection contains the personal diaries and papers of Isaac N. Casner, a ranch hand who worked in Texas, Oregon, and
San Diego County, California in the late 1800s.
Background
Isaac N. Casner was born in Texas on March 7, 1857. He moved to San Diego County, California by 1888, where some of his family
already lived on the homestead of Martin Van Casner in Ballena. He lived in San Diego County as least through 1902, working
as a ranch hand on various ranches in the Ballena and Ramona areas. He worked for several notable homesteaders, including
Charles Bailey, John Clevenger, William Wallace Littlepage, Madison D. Putman, Joseph Swycaffer, Samuel Warnock, William Warnock,
and various members of the Casner family. He also had frequent dealings with the Verlaque family, one of the first families
in Ramona and owners of the local post office and a general goods store. By 1908 Isaac owned and operated his own ranch outside
Portland, Oregon.