Sometimes friendly residents who perchance were going into town would give Birma a ride home. One afternoon, a man driving a fine span of high-stepping horses hitched to a flashy rig stopped and offered Birma a ride back into town. She accepted. The man seemed pleasant and gentlemanly, but beyond that, Birma gave the matter little thought. Several weeks later, she learned the man who had given her the ride was the well-known author Jack London. At the time, he had a ranch in the Valley of the Moon, Sonoma County.
During the next few years, Birma and Jack MacLean moved back and forth between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, depending on the demands of his work. Sometimes Jack's work caused him to travel to the Bay Area and even to Los Angeles or San Diego. Because of the long-distance traveling and being away from home long periods of time, Jack and Birma decided in 1920 to return to La Panza, where Jack could do accounting for towns in San Luis Obispo County.
Birma and Jack returned to live on the Still family home ranch, clearing and planting Burbank prune trees that did well in the La Panza climate. Gradually, with their hard work, the ranch improved. However, the 1920's brought several years of drought, and their hard work was undone. Despite this setback, Birma and her grown sons and daughters: Othor, Ione, Mentley, Duncan and Una stayed on at the La Panza ranch. Later, Ione married John Bowman and they also lived and worked at the family ranch. Ione became a noted artist and illustrated Othor's books on western history. In 1987 she was named Pioneer Day Queen. Una married Leonard Todd, also became an artist, and taught school in Santa Margarita. She was Pioneer Day Queen Attendant to Ione in 1987. Duncan studied engineering and was employed in the oil fields and Mentley worked on ranches in the La Panza area as a ranch hand.
In 1947 with the ranch not as productive as it once was, Birma moved to a small house in Paso Robles with Othor and Mentley. Birma participated in many Pioneer Day parades, winning several awards for horsemanship and authentic costume. Othor achieved recognition as historian and noted western author Angus MacLean.
John "Jack" MacLean died in 1955 and was buried at the Still ranch in La Panza. Dabirma Still MacLean, pioneer lady photographer, passed away in 1968 and also was buried on the Still family ranch in La Panza.
During the next few years, Birma and Jack MacLean moved back and forth between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, depending on the demands of his work. Sometimes Jack's work caused him to travel to the Bay Area and even to Los Angeles or San Diego. Because of the long-distance traveling and being away from home long periods of time, Jack and Birma decided in 1920 to return to La Panza, where Jack could do accounting for towns in San Luis Obispo County.
Birma and Jack returned to live on the Still family home ranch, clearing and planting Burbank prune trees that did well in the La Panza climate. Gradually, with their hard work, the ranch improved. However, the 1920's brought several years of drought, and their hard work was undone. Despite this setback, Birma and her grown sons and daughters: Othor, Ione, Mentley, Duncan and Una stayed on at the La Panza ranch. Later, Ione married John Bowman and they also lived and worked at the family ranch. Ione became a noted artist and illustrated Othor's books on western history. In 1987 she was named Pioneer Day Queen. Una married Leonard Todd, also became an artist, and taught school in Santa Margarita. She was Pioneer Day Queen Attendant to Ione in 1987. Duncan studied engineering and was employed in the oil fields and Mentley worked on ranches in the La Panza area as a ranch hand.
In 1947 with the ranch not as productive as it once was, Birma moved to a small house in Paso Robles with Othor and Mentley. Birma participated in many Pioneer Day parades, winning several awards for horsemanship and authentic costume. Othor achieved recognition as historian and noted western author Angus MacLean.
John "Jack" MacLean died in 1955 and was buried at the Still ranch in La Panza. Dabirma Still MacLean, pioneer lady photographer, passed away in 1968 and also was buried on the Still family ranch in La Panza.
Riding Orieta Spar
1951 Pioneer Day Parade
Won first place for Customed Rider
1951 Pioneer Day Parade
Won first place for Customed Rider
A First Lady of Photography
Birma Still MacLean
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