George Jackson "Pops" Tolladay was born July 28, 1893 to Charles Gabriel Tolladay and Henrietta Louisa Tibbey Tolladay in Redding, Shasta County [Red Bluff, Tehama County]. Some reports indicate he was born at Tolladay Mountain, Shasta County. Very little is known of his early years. A native of the Redding area, he came to Madera County in 1911.
George's ancestors had emigrated over the Oregon Trail from Grundy County Missouri in the 1850's. In those early days, California was rough and tough territory. The Tolladays were farmers by trade, but upon their arrival to California soon found more reliable employment at the Lumber and Flour Mills, and in the cattle industry.
Circa 1911, the family traveled south from Walamath Valley, Oregon down through California on their way to settle in Lompoc, where other Tolladay family members (Lemuel Evans Tolladay) lived. It has been reported that while at a lay-over in Madera, Charles Gabriel Tolladay was kicked in the head by a mule and died from those injuries (he was in his 40's). He was buried in the Arbor Vita Cemetery in Madera. His wife, Henriette Louise made the subsequent decision for this branch of the family to settle in the Madera area. (Henriette, who died at age 88, is buried beside her husband Charles.)
George Tolladay, with an eighth grade education, accomplished more than most college graduates. He was living proof that it is possible to accomplish most anything through plain old hard work.
Mr. Tolladay married Selma Simonson Jacobson (11/22/1892-11/02/1964) from Madera, and according to the 1920 Madera Voter Registration records, they made their home in Bass Lake, and later in Sugerpine, CA.
For thirty years he was employed by the Madera-Sugar Pine Lumber Co., working his way up from woodsman to yard foreman to general manager, a position he held until the mill closed in 1931. Mr. Tolladay purchased the company and created the county's first subdivision by selling company cabins and lots. He obtained the first permit to graze cattle in the Sierra National Forest. He exchanged the former Sugar Pine mill for an interest in the Madera Lumber Co., later sold the lumber company and became a cattleman, one of the first ranchers to raise Angus cattle.
By choice, he spent a good portion of his life outdoors. He knew every rock, every tree, every draw, and every trail on Speckerman Mountain.
Mr. Tolladay was active in the Madera County Fish and Game Commission and the California Farm Bureau. He was a past president of the Madera County Cattlemen's Association and a member of the Madera County Historical Society. He believed in controlled burning in the foothills and was consulted for his expertise in the field. Mr. Tolladay was instrumental in the organization of the Sierra National Forest Permits Association, the organization that authorizes mountain grazing permits for cattlemen.
In everything he did, he was respected as an outspoken leader, a hard-worker, and most of all as a fair man. Stature notwithstanding, he was a giant of a man.
He was the perfect gentleman when in the present of ladies, always tipping or removing his hat out of respect for the female gender. And probably with a great deal of effort on his part, he was even capable of keeping his language clean in their presence.
For those who knew him, "Pops" will always be remembered for his favorite saying, such as "nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs", "colder than a mother-in-law's stare", or "tighter than Dick's hat band".
George "Pops" Tolladay passed away in October 12, 1981, at age 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Selma Jacobsen Tolladay (1892-1964), and son Dickie.
Surviving are two sons, Jack of Fresno and Don of Colorado; a daughter, Eloise Rolff of Clovis; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for George Tolladay were held at Arbor Vitae Cemetery.
The family requests any remembrances be sent to the donor's favorite charity. The Jay Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Sources: Madera Tribune Obituary, Tolladay Family History, and George Jackson Tolladay Eulogy by Harold C. Rolff, Jr.
George's ancestors had emigrated over the Oregon Trail from Grundy County Missouri in the 1850's. In those early days, California was rough and tough territory. The Tolladays were farmers by trade, but upon their arrival to California soon found more reliable employment at the Lumber and Flour Mills, and in the cattle industry.
Circa 1911, the family traveled south from Walamath Valley, Oregon down through California on their way to settle in Lompoc, where other Tolladay family members (Lemuel Evans Tolladay) lived. It has been reported that while at a lay-over in Madera, Charles Gabriel Tolladay was kicked in the head by a mule and died from those injuries (he was in his 40's). He was buried in the Arbor Vita Cemetery in Madera. His wife, Henriette Louise made the subsequent decision for this branch of the family to settle in the Madera area. (Henriette, who died at age 88, is buried beside her husband Charles.)
George Tolladay, with an eighth grade education, accomplished more than most college graduates. He was living proof that it is possible to accomplish most anything through plain old hard work.
Mr. Tolladay married Selma Simonson Jacobson (11/22/1892-11/02/1964) from Madera, and according to the 1920 Madera Voter Registration records, they made their home in Bass Lake, and later in Sugerpine, CA.
For thirty years he was employed by the Madera-Sugar Pine Lumber Co., working his way up from woodsman to yard foreman to general manager, a position he held until the mill closed in 1931. Mr. Tolladay purchased the company and created the county's first subdivision by selling company cabins and lots. He obtained the first permit to graze cattle in the Sierra National Forest. He exchanged the former Sugar Pine mill for an interest in the Madera Lumber Co., later sold the lumber company and became a cattleman, one of the first ranchers to raise Angus cattle.
By choice, he spent a good portion of his life outdoors. He knew every rock, every tree, every draw, and every trail on Speckerman Mountain.
Mr. Tolladay was active in the Madera County Fish and Game Commission and the California Farm Bureau. He was a past president of the Madera County Cattlemen's Association and a member of the Madera County Historical Society. He believed in controlled burning in the foothills and was consulted for his expertise in the field. Mr. Tolladay was instrumental in the organization of the Sierra National Forest Permits Association, the organization that authorizes mountain grazing permits for cattlemen.
In everything he did, he was respected as an outspoken leader, a hard-worker, and most of all as a fair man. Stature notwithstanding, he was a giant of a man.
He was the perfect gentleman when in the present of ladies, always tipping or removing his hat out of respect for the female gender. And probably with a great deal of effort on his part, he was even capable of keeping his language clean in their presence.
For those who knew him, "Pops" will always be remembered for his favorite saying, such as "nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs", "colder than a mother-in-law's stare", or "tighter than Dick's hat band".
George "Pops" Tolladay passed away in October 12, 1981, at age 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Selma Jacobsen Tolladay (1892-1964), and son Dickie.
Surviving are two sons, Jack of Fresno and Don of Colorado; a daughter, Eloise Rolff of Clovis; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for George Tolladay were held at Arbor Vitae Cemetery.
The family requests any remembrances be sent to the donor's favorite charity. The Jay Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Sources: Madera Tribune Obituary, Tolladay Family History, and George Jackson Tolladay Eulogy by Harold C. Rolff, Jr.
George Jackson "Pops" Tolladay was born July 28, 1893 to Charles Gabriel Tolladay and Henrietta Louisa Tibbey Tolladay in Redding, Shasta County [Red Bluff, Tehama County]. Some reports indicate he was born at Tolladay Mountain, Shasta County. Very little is known of his early years. A native of the Redding area, he came to Madera County in 1911.
George's ancestors had emigrated over the Oregon Trail from Grundy County Missouri in the 1850's. In those early days, California was rough and tough territory. The Tolladays were farmers by trade, but upon their arrival to California soon found more reliable employment at the Lumber and Flour Mills, and in the cattle industry.
Circa 1911, the family traveled south from Walamath Valley, Oregon down through California on their way to settle in Lompoc, where other Tolladay family members (Lemuel Evans Tolladay) lived. It has been reported that while at a lay-over in Madera, Charles Gabriel Tolladay was kicked in the head by a mule and died from those injuries (he was in his 40's). He was buried in the Arbor Vita Cemetery in Madera. His wife, Henriette Louise made the subsequent decision for this branch of the family to settle in the Madera area. (Henriette, who died at age 88, is buried beside her husband Charles.)
George Tolladay, with an eighth grade education, accomplished more than most college graduates. He was living proof that it is possible to accomplish most anything through plain old hard work.
Mr. Tolladay married Selma Simonson Jacobson (11/22/1892-11/02/1964) from Madera, and according to the 1920 Madera Voter Registration records, they made their home in Bass Lake, and later in Sugerpine, CA.
For thirty years he was employed by the Madera-Sugar Pine Lumber Co., working his way up from woodsman to yard foreman to general manager, a position he held until the mill closed in 1931. Mr. Tolladay purchased the company and created the county's first subdivision by selling company cabins and lots. He obtained the first permit to graze cattle in the Sierra National Forest. He exchanged the former Sugar Pine mill for an interest in the Madera Lumber Co., later sold the lumber company and became a cattleman, one of the first ranchers to raise Angus cattle.
By choice, he spent a good portion of his life outdoors. He knew every rock, every tree, every draw, and every trail on Speckerman Mountain.
Mr. Tolladay was active in the Madera County Fish and Game Commission and the California Farm Bureau. He was a past president of the Madera County Cattlemen's Association and a member of the Madera County Historical Society. He believed in controlled burning in the foothills and was consulted for his expertise in the field. Mr. Tolladay was instrumental in the organization of the Sierra National Forest Permits Association, the organization that authorizes mountain grazing permits for cattlemen.
In everything he did, he was respected as an outspoken leader, a hard-worker, and most of all as a fair man. Stature notwithstanding, he was a giant of a man.
He was the perfect gentleman when in the present of ladies, always tipping or removing his hat out of respect for the female gender. And probably with a great deal of effort on his part, he was even capable of keeping his language clean in their presence.
For those who knew him, "Pops" will always be remembered for his favorite saying, such as "nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs", "colder than a mother-in-law's stare", or "tighter than Dick's hat band".
George "Pops" Tolladay passed away in October 12, 1981, at age 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Selma Jacobsen Tolladay (1892-1964), and son Dickie.
Surviving are two sons, Jack of Fresno and Don of Colorado; a daughter, Eloise Rolff of Clovis; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for George Tolladay were held at Arbor Vitae Cemetery.
The family requests any remembrances be sent to the donor's favorite charity. The Jay Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Sources: Madera Tribune Obituary, Tolladay Family History, and George Jackson Tolladay Eulogy by Harold C. Rolff, Jr.
George's ancestors had emigrated over the Oregon Trail from Grundy County Missouri in the 1850's. In those early days, California was rough and tough territory. The Tolladays were farmers by trade, but upon their arrival to California soon found more reliable employment at the Lumber and Flour Mills, and in the cattle industry.
Circa 1911, the family traveled south from Walamath Valley, Oregon down through California on their way to settle in Lompoc, where other Tolladay family members (Lemuel Evans Tolladay) lived. It has been reported that while at a lay-over in Madera, Charles Gabriel Tolladay was kicked in the head by a mule and died from those injuries (he was in his 40's). He was buried in the Arbor Vita Cemetery in Madera. His wife, Henriette Louise made the subsequent decision for this branch of the family to settle in the Madera area. (Henriette, who died at age 88, is buried beside her husband Charles.)
George Tolladay, with an eighth grade education, accomplished more than most college graduates. He was living proof that it is possible to accomplish most anything through plain old hard work.
Mr. Tolladay married Selma Simonson Jacobson (11/22/1892-11/02/1964) from Madera, and according to the 1920 Madera Voter Registration records, they made their home in Bass Lake, and later in Sugerpine, CA.
For thirty years he was employed by the Madera-Sugar Pine Lumber Co., working his way up from woodsman to yard foreman to general manager, a position he held until the mill closed in 1931. Mr. Tolladay purchased the company and created the county's first subdivision by selling company cabins and lots. He obtained the first permit to graze cattle in the Sierra National Forest. He exchanged the former Sugar Pine mill for an interest in the Madera Lumber Co., later sold the lumber company and became a cattleman, one of the first ranchers to raise Angus cattle.
By choice, he spent a good portion of his life outdoors. He knew every rock, every tree, every draw, and every trail on Speckerman Mountain.
Mr. Tolladay was active in the Madera County Fish and Game Commission and the California Farm Bureau. He was a past president of the Madera County Cattlemen's Association and a member of the Madera County Historical Society. He believed in controlled burning in the foothills and was consulted for his expertise in the field. Mr. Tolladay was instrumental in the organization of the Sierra National Forest Permits Association, the organization that authorizes mountain grazing permits for cattlemen.
In everything he did, he was respected as an outspoken leader, a hard-worker, and most of all as a fair man. Stature notwithstanding, he was a giant of a man.
He was the perfect gentleman when in the present of ladies, always tipping or removing his hat out of respect for the female gender. And probably with a great deal of effort on his part, he was even capable of keeping his language clean in their presence.
For those who knew him, "Pops" will always be remembered for his favorite saying, such as "nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs", "colder than a mother-in-law's stare", or "tighter than Dick's hat band".
George "Pops" Tolladay passed away in October 12, 1981, at age 88. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Selma Jacobsen Tolladay (1892-1964), and son Dickie.
Surviving are two sons, Jack of Fresno and Don of Colorado; a daughter, Eloise Rolff of Clovis; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for George Tolladay were held at Arbor Vitae Cemetery.
The family requests any remembrances be sent to the donor's favorite charity. The Jay Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Sources: Madera Tribune Obituary, Tolladay Family History, and George Jackson Tolladay Eulogy by Harold C. Rolff, Jr.
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