What Was The Co-Operative Land and Trust Company

The following news clipping provides additional details on who the ran the Co-operative Land and Trust Company and what their vision was in developing land throughout the North Western United States.

Why Merced County, California

The Co-operative Land and Trust Company of San Francisco had acquired large tracks of land in the Merced area and was actively promoting and encouraging farms and others to come try their hand.  The pricing strategy on the land was for payment in cash and the balance of the purchase price from one-third of the crop each year.

SALES CONTINUE IN MERCED LAND

MERCED, June 2.—Although summer is ordinarily considered the dull season for the country land business, there seems to be no decrease this year in the demand for small farms. This is especially true of irrigated lands adapted to alfalfa growing. The Co-operative Land and Trust Company of San Francisco reports a brisk demand for its alfalfa farms in Merced Colony No. 2. In spite of the approaching summer season, home seekers are coming to Merced every day, and beginning work on newly acquired farms. (Source: San Francisco Call, Volume 110, Number 3, 3 June 1911)

John seems to have grown tired of the cold Idaho winters and was looking for a warm place to retire.  Central California must have seemed like the perfect place to retire, even if only to spend the cold months and then return to Idaho during the remaining months.  Unfortunately, his wife did not see things the same way and John was left to manage the land on his own while his wife stayed in Idaho year round.

Example of newspaper ad from Co-Operative Land and
Trust Company promoting land in California

The Final Months of John Hansen's Life

Based on information contained in the short news clipping in the Idaho Falls Daily Post dated October 20, 1921, John Hansen had traveled to his property in California sometime in June and had remained there until his passing on Sunday, October 16 from the effects of diphtheria.  According to the death certificate John was under the care of a doctor from Monday, October 10 until his death six days later.  His body was transported from California back to Idaho Falls and arrived on Thursday morning, October 20. He was buried in the Taylor Cemetery during a graveside service held at 2:00PM on Sunday, October 23.

Source: Idaho Falls Daily Post (October 20, 1921, page 1)

John acquired the property in California in 1918 and most likely traveled back and forth between his property in Idaho Falls and the property in California.  His wife, Alice, had no interest in being away from her children and grandchildren so she remained in Idaho Falls.  It is unknown if she did travel to California, if this was her first visit or if she had traveled there with John previously.

On John's death certificate Alice is listed as the informant, so it is assumed she traveled to California to arrange for the return of his remains to Idaho Falls.

California Death Certificate of John Hansen