Hello to all and welcome to the fast-approaching 2024. We are very blessed that God has given us another year on this earth. Although we each deeply miss our dear loved ones who have gone on to heaven, we know they are in a much better place. We forever treasure their memories. May God look over each of us in 2024.

*****

This week, the last week of 2023, I would like to share a bit more history about the early settlers who endured so many hardships and such long journeys to settle the place we call home … our beautiful Valley Home.

In 1846, a land grant of 35,533 acres was given to Alfras Basil Thompson by the territorial governor, Pio Pico. This land would become known as Clyde. Thompson was unable to occupy the land due to the hostile Indians. Around 1901 Robert Wetzig from Missouri became the first settler in Clyde. Clyde was the chosen name at that time for what is now called Valley Home. (Clyde in 1871, Thalheim in 1903, and then Valley Home in 1918.) Records show a very long list of early pioneers who worked hard to build homes, establish a township and develop irrigation in the area. Crops such as wheat, peaches, apricots and figs along with beef cattle were a part of the early landscaping in Clyde. Rice would later take the place of many of those crops. Rice fields were very prominent in the area even up until recent years. Dairies were also very important to the early settlers and many were located throughout the area.

In the early 1900s Stockton Savings and Loan donated property on Lone Tree Road for the use as a cemetery. A beautiful resting place for many of our early settlers, many of our early veterans and many towns people also rest there now. A look back over the years, tells us that Clyde would become Talheim, a bustling and busy community. Talheim would eventually become what we now know as Valley Home. Valley Home history tells us that a very important young lady would travel, at the age of two to Valley Home by train. Clara Wieber would travel from North Dakota with her parents, Otto and Augusta Weiber, to Valley Home. Claire attended Valley Home School and would later marry the very prominent Valley Home general store owner Mr. Ben Aker. Clara and Ben would marry on November 11, 1926 and later have a son, Leroy. The couple were very influential in Valley Home. They were a constant source and resource for the folks of Valley Home. Clara would become postmaster and settle into working from a back room at the General Store. Over the next 47 years this would be her calling as she served the people of Valley Home. During the next few months, I will share more information on the lives of Clara and Ben and many more prominent Valley Home citizens, past and present. The special people who make our Valley Home the wonderful place it is today. For those of you that would like to share information please feel free to call or text me at 209-985-5233; or you may email me at winniemullins51@gmail.com

*****

Until next time, Happy Trails to All and Happy New Year!