James Raser

James Raser (b. 1855 - d. 1946] was Louis Gerlach's ranch foreman.

Census data indicates that he was born 1856 and that he was postmaster at Deep Hole in 1894. He is listed in the 1910 and 1920 census.

Van Norman writes: "He (Raser) hired on as a general manager when he was twenty-nine years old (about 1884); the fired him when he was fifty-eight (about 1913). He spent twenty-nine years on that spread and managed it as his own." However, the May 5, 1901 Reno Evening Gazette article stated that he resigned after 11 years, presumably he rejoined the ranch at a later date. The Nevada State Journal, Saturday, January 25, 1908, Page 8 mentions Raser as the manager.

Van Norman writes that Gerlach died in 1913, but James Gerlach's Find A Grave page states he died in 1921. Van Norman goes on state that after Gerlach's death, Gerlach's son-in-laws fired Raser.

Wheeler states that Gerlach was bit by a tick when he came to inspect the Deep Hole ranch. As there had been cases of tick fever that year, Gerlach was rushed to Reno. After that Gerlach never visited is property again and conducted his business with Raser in Reno. There is mention of this story in Thornton's oral history. However, Van Norman writes: "Mr. Gerlach did not spend much time around the spread. He couldn't ride a horse too well. He would come up once or twice a year and ride from ranch to ranch on his buckboard.".

"Wednesday December 8, 1920 James Raser, the well known stockman and foreman for the Gerlach Cattle Company had his leg broken last Saturday at Deephole, and Dr. Kennedy, of this place was called to attend him. While helping to brand cattle his horse fell with him, falling on his left leg and breaking it just above the ankle and otherwise bruising him." (Surprise Valley Record). Van Norman writes: "It was a bucking horse that put the cane in his hand. A horse threw him right-there at the Deephole ranch. He never did walk the same again. After that, he rode the buckboard a lot. He had to get around to keep things going. There was no workman's compensation back then."

References

• Find A Grave
• Reno Evening Gazette "May 8, 1901," Raser resigns: "James Raser for the past eleven years superintendent for the Gerlach Live Stock Company at Deep Hole has resigned his position and S S Dean will hereafter be In charge."
• Sessions S. Wheeler, "The Black Rock Desert," p 159.
• Clarence. J. Thornton, "Ch. 3: Ranch Life in Northern Nevada and Eastern California," University of Nevada Oral History Project.
• Oddie Van Norman, Wes McGirr, "I Rode For Gerlach," Old West Magazine, Fall, 1974. (Nevada Historical Society has a copy)

See Also

• Nevada State Journal, Thursday, September 18, 1941, Page 4