History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I, Part 100

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1362

USA > California > Fresno County > History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I > Part 100

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later his good wife, who had been a most devoted mother to seven children, passed to her eternal reward.

Richard was the fourth of these fortunate children, and was born at Freeport, in Stephenson County, Ill., on the fourth of July, 1846. He went to school for a short time in the East before coming to California with his parents. He also lived at home, so that he enjoyed what many a boy has lacked, good home surroundings: he also had the advantage of knowing something of the life of the older East as well as the vigorous and ambitious West. With his parents, he came West to Stanislaus County.

On Washington's birthday, in 1872, Mr. Owen was married to Miss Mary Weaver, a native of Clark County, Mo., who had come to California a couple of years before. Once well established in domestic comfort, he took up farming and stockraising on a larger scale. All this time, and up to 1882, he was in Stanislaus County : then he came to Fresno, reasoning. very naturally, that after all there is but one county in the state offering the many and varied advantages found here.

After his father's death, Mr. Owen was appointed administrator of the estate ; and on settling in Fresno County, he bought a section where a part of Clovis is now located. The purchase was really made in 1881, but it took some time to wind up his affairs in the other county. With his brother Charles, he entered into partnership in the raising of race-horses and stock ; while, farming to grain on a very large scale one year, he harvested as much as 37,000 sacks. They also rented large tracts of land and continued grain farming until 1902. Then his brother was killed, and he sold out and retired from active duties save in connection with his personal estate.

For twenty-five years Mr. Owen was devoted to the raising of fine horses, traveling through the state both to see what others were doing in that line, and to give fellow-breeders everywhere the benefit of his wide experience.

Three children-George W., Arminta Ellen and Sadie Louise have come to bless the family life of Mr. and Mrs. Owen, and to enjoy their residence, the first fine house in Clovis, now surrounded by a productive vineyard and orchard.

JAY SCOTT .- Through his identification with public affairs of Fresno County, Jay Scott, now living retired in Fresno, is widely known through the effective service he gave to the people of the county as sheriff, during his two terms in the office, from January, 1893 to January, 1899. A native of Illinois, he was born in Will County, January 13, 1850, a son of J. H. Scott, a native of New York state. When he was a lad, J. H. Scott was taken to Illinois by his parents and was reared to manhood on a farm which his father took up in the vicinity of Chicago. He married Anna Chamberlain, a native of Canada, and at once set up for himself and remained a farmer in that state until 1852, when he brought his family to California. Crossing the plains with ox-teams, he located in the Sacramento Valley and farmed there until a few years before his death, which occurred in Fresno in 1894, when seventy-six years of age. His widow died in 1905 aged eighty-two years.

Jay Scott was but two years of age when he was brought to this state by his parents and he remembers nothing about their long and dangerous trip across the plains. He is typically western, as all but two years of his life has been spent here, and he is keenly alive to the possibilities of this great commonwealth. He was reared in the Sacramento Valley and attended the schools near his home place. He railroaded through Fresno County in 1876, and then spent two years in Cazadero, Sonoma County, where he en- gaged in the hotel business, and in 1888 located in Fresno engaged in busi- ness until 1900, when he located on a ranch he had bought and which he improved. He made of it a valuable property and after several years given up to agricultural pursuits he disposed of the farm and moved into town.

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On his ranch he planted vineyards and orchards and carried on diversified farming. He owned 160 acres in one tract and forty in another, all improved under his capable management.

Mr. Scott was united in marriage in Tulare County with Ida Burch, and they have had four children: Oliver C .; Myrtle, who married Robert Clare and is now deceased. She left two sons, Jay Scott and Robert Burch. Philip B. Scott, married Mabel McFarland and they have two children, Elizabeth and Oliver. Jay Scott, the youngest, died at the age of four years. Mr. Scott is a stanch Republican and has been a potent factor in politics in Fresno County. He is a charter member of the Elks and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. A hale fellow well met, Jay Scott has a host of warm friends throughout the county and has always done his part, as a public-spirited citizen, towards the upbuilding of the county.

WILLIAM SUTHERLAND .- The early life history of most men who have passed the allotted term of three score years and ten is usually an un- eventful one. Such, however, is not the case of William Sutherland, who while yet but a lad made the voyage to California, coming via the Isthmus of Panama, landing in San Francisco in 1862 and since then has made his home under the sunny skies of California. He was born in New Durham, County Durham, England, February 18, 1844. His mother, Hannah (Armour) Suth- erland, died when he was but eleven years old and his father, James Suther- land, when he was fourteen. Thus at that early age he was left to shift for himself. He was the youngest of eight children. His father while living, was superintendent of a coal mine at Whitwell, County Durham, England. Young William, as a lad, attended school, receiving a fair education. During his spare time from school he assisted his father in the offices of the coal com- pany, thus becoming conversant with bookkeeping and business methods. After his father's death, as he grew older, he worked for a time in the mine, leaving the employment of the company in 1862 when he sailed for the United States. In due time he arrived in New York from the steamer Aetna but soon left for Aspinwall on the side-wheel steamer Ariel. The trip lasted twelve days. Arriving at Aspinwall, he crossed the Isthmus on the railroad and took the steamer Golden Age, on the Pacific side, for San Francisco, arriving there, after fourteen days on the water, in October, 1862. He had a brother James and two uncles living in Fresno County who came to Cal- ifornia in 1850. Starting out, he arrived at Stockton without a dollar in his pocket. Upon walking down the street he entered into conversation with a gentleman who soon learned that the lad was without funds, and the man gave him ten dollars, telling him he might repay it when he found work. From Stockton he walked south to Graysonville, and on the way met his uncle William who was coming to Stockton for supplies. Returning with his uncle he sought out the man who had so kindly loaned him ten dollars and repaid him. At this time his uncle was living near Kingston, Fresno County, as was also his brother James. In the fall of 1862 he cut timber and made oak rails. In the spring of 1863 he began to drive cattle to Amador County, and continued in this business for some time up and down the San Joaquin Val- ley. Later he worked for his uncle John, on a ranch, driving cattle to Nevada for him. In the fall of 1869 he located near Alviso, Santa Clara County, con- tinuing the same occupation until 1873. His uncle John had large interests in Stockton and he went there to work for him, remaining with him until 1876 when he and his uncle made a trip through Colorado and Texas by wagon, the trip occupying six months. His uncle then sent him to Fresno County to buy sheep. He bought twenty thousand at an average price of fifty cents per head, that being a dry year. Many of the sheep died. His uncle had also 5,000 horses and 12,000 head of cattle on the plains, which young Sutherland took care of. After the death of his uncle John he was made administrator of his estate, and after settling up his business affairs came to Fresno City, where he has since remained, and where for some time he was engaged in buying and

QBOlufs

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selling farm lands. Later he was in charge of the shipping and distribution of ice for the San Joaquin Ice Company at Fresno, retaining this position until 1910 when he resigned and has since lived retired. He owns 154 acres of land in Tulare County, near Angiola, which he rents. In 1883 he bought the home in which he now resides on N Street in Fresno.

He was married January 15, 1883, to Annette Bacon of Michigan, who died in 1915, leaving two sons, Walter James, a mail carrier, and William Bacon, who holds a responsible position with the San Joaquin Light and Power Company, both of whom make their home with him. Mr. Sutherland is now one of the oldest settlers remaining in Fresno County where he is well known and is beloved by all who know him.

OLUF BERNARD OLUFS .- Fresno County is indebted to O. B. Olufs, more than to any other man for its standing as the raisin center of this country. He put into practical application his ideas of cooperation in han- dling the raisin output of this section, soon after his settlement in the county, by establishing and managing, for several seasons, packing houses at Malaga, Fowler, Kingsburg and Oleander. He was a far-sighted man and with his systematic training, lost but little energy in whatever he undertook. The California Associated Raisin Company, organized in 1912, has continued business along the lines he advocated.

A Frisian, O. B. Olufs was born under the Danish flag on the Isle of Fohr, in the North Sea on May 25, 1849. His father was Capt. Volkert Olufs : and his grandfather was closely allied with the rulers of Denmark and was an admiral in the Danish Navy. O. B. Olufs received his early schooling in his native land and his college course in a university in Hamburg, Germany, as there were no advanced schools in his country. He served one year in the German army, then secured his release. At the age of nineteen he came to San Francisco, Cal., and there he mastered English in the schools and a business college. He was a linguist, speaking German, French and Spanish fluently, and his services were soon sought as an interpreter. He was also associated with the Danish consulate in that city. He later was employed in Colusa and Glenn Counties, and still later conducted a general store at Davis, Yolo County. For one year he was in the employ of Eppinger and Company, large grain merchants in Oakland.

In 1883, Mr. Olufs came to Fresno County and was so impressed with the wonderful possibilities he saw on every hand that he decided to locate here. Entering at once into the spirit of the times he bought land at Oleander and soon had a thriving vineyard of 160 acres, while on another 240 acres he raised grain. He extended his operations to a peach orchard near the town of Kingsburg and also had valuable holdings in that town that are now a part of the town site. The more he entered into the business life of his adopted county the more determined he became to make his work a success and to lead others to the same goal : he organized a cooperative association among the early raisin growers in order to maintain prices and to market their product. He personally managed the packing houses at Oleander, Fowler. Malaga and Kingsburg for several seasons. The result of his work at that time has been the organization and maintenance of the California Associated Raisin Company of today. Mr. Olufs was a personal friend of M. Theodore Kearney, the first president of that wonderful concern. In every way Mr. Olufs aided every worthy movement that would mean pros- perity for the citizens of the county and that would enhance the realty values. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce and served as secretary of that body in an early day.

To further prove his confidence in Fresno he erected a fire-proof ware- house at 201 Santa Fe Avenue, a model of its kind, having every known facility for the quick and easy handling of goods in large quantities. It was established in 1906, the original building embracing more than 13,000 square feet of floor space. Its capacity was soon taxed, and four years later an 41

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additional 10,000 square feet of floor space was added, thus making it one of the largest and leading warehouses in the entire San Joaquin Valley. It is used for the housing of large quantities of merchandise and the company does a general warehouse and storage business, numbering among its patrons some of the largest and best-known firms of Fresno. The company also represents some of the large eastern manufacturers and wholesalers, who distribute from this warehouse to the territory adjoining Fresno. The business is under the management of L. F. Matthes. Mrs. Olufs is the proprietor.

O. B. Olufs was married at Davis, Yolo County, to Miss Luella M. Wristen, a native of Illinois. Four children were born of this happy union : Clarence D., who graduated from the Fresno high school and was a student in the University of California at Berkeley when he met his death in a train- wreck, in 1902. He had been in the employ of the First National Bank in Fresno. Elmo B., the second son, also graduated from the Fresno high school and was for a number of years in the hotel business in the Yosemite Valley. He died in 1913. Freda O., is the only daughter. She graduated from the Fresno high school and completed her education at Miss Head's school in Berkeley. She became the wife of Norman C. Ginn, a well-known traveling salesman, who was born in Iowa and had been a resident of California ten years, three of which were spent in Fresno. Mr. Ginn died on October 27, 1918, leaving his widow and a daughter, Betty Ann. The fourth child of the family is Dick Wristen, who was educated in the public schools of Fresno and is now an employe in the county assessor's office at Fresno.

Mr. Olufs sold off his ranch property in different parts of the county and purchased forty acres of vineyard on Princeton Avenue where a modern country home has since been erected. He died on December 7, 1914, mourned by a wide circle of friends. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and was a man of liberal and progressive ideas whose name will long be associated with the growth and upbuilding of Fresno County.

WILLIAM D. CRICHTON .- A prominent jurist whose ever rising career is a splendid example, first of the opportunities offered the aspiring American in this, the freest and most promising of all lands, and secondly of that disposition, so often manifested by our people, to take advantage of and profit by such chances, no matter what exertion or cost is necessary to win the coveted goal. The jurist referred to is the Hon. William D. Crich- ton ; and the story of his life is related to the stories of millions of other Americans in so far as they have overcome obstacles that discourage many, set a high mark and finally attained it, and in reaching and climbing for themselves, have carried upward a considerable pace the high standard of their country's progress.

Born under romantic conditions-on no less a stormy place than the Pacific Ocean, while his parents, David and Honorah Crichton, were on their way from Australia to San Francisco-William first saw the light of day on the twelfth of July, 1863, the summer when his father reached California. The family tarried but a short time in the bay metropolis, and then went to Humboldt County, where Mr. Crichton engaged in farming and stock- raising. He was always a progressive. man, and led the way among the pioneers in the most up-to-date methods of which he was cognizant; and there he tilled the soil and threw in his moral weight and material aid in advancing every worthy movement for the local good, until his death in 1891. A manly and most influential man, Mr. Crichton's demise was mourned on every hand.

William attended the public schools until he was fourteen, and then he went to work as a ranch hand, finding employment on different ranches in Humboldt County until he was twenty-three. After that. he went into Eureka, and finding a good opening in the lumber business, he served in different capacities with various concerns.

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Meanwhile, however, having no idea of remaining either a farmhand or a lumber-yard helper, Mr. Crichton studied law nights; and in the great boom year of 1887, he came south to Fresno and here entered the law offices of the well-known firm of Webb & Van Meter. There, under exceptional advantages, he continued his legal studies until 1890; and at the beginning of the last decade of the century, he was admitted to the bar.

At the same time that he thus took his place in the law world, Mr. Crich- ton, whose personality and professional proficiency were becoming known, was elected justice of the peace; and so well did he fulfil his duties and pledges, that he was permitted to hold the office for four years. It was really during his incumbency of that responsible position that he was ad- mitted to practice in all the courts of the state.

Since then, Judge Crichton has been conducting a private practice, and has very successfully handled many important cases. His personal character, as well as his acknowledged ability, has had much to do with the confidence of his fellow-citizens; and in no more satisfactory way was this confidence expressed than when, some years ago, he was made the honored nominee on the Democratic ticket for a member of Congress. This was in 1900, when Republican opposition was strong and well organized; so that, without really reflecting upon him, he was defeated after a brilliant campaign.

At Dyersburg, in romantic Tennessee, on December 28, 1891, Mr. Crich- ton was married to Alice Stephens, who has proven the most companionable of wives for a professional man, and who shares with him the pleasures and the duties of membership in the Methodist Church, South.

The Judge belongs to the Odd Fellows and the Elks, and there is no more popular, loyal member in either lodge.

HERMAN H. BRIX .- This man so lived that since his passing his accomplishment and exemplary life have been a constant reminder to those left behind that what really counts for good in the lives worth recording was preeminent in his life. Born at Namslau, Silesia, Germany, February 16, 1862, Herman H. Brix received his education in his native country and after graduating from a military academy at Potsdam, he served three years in the army. In 1882, then twenty years of age, he came to the United States and located in Iowa the first year, with a brother. Mr. Brix then came to California and for a number of years was engaged in agricultural pursuits near Hanford. He next engaged in the mercantile business at Huron, Cal. This did not satisfy him and he went to Coalinga and took up a homestead, proved up on it and for eight years farmed it to wheat. Low prices made the work discouraging and he decided he would take a chance in the Alaska gold fields, so he left his ranch and went to Dawson City in 1898, and was fortunate enough to accumulate about $13,000.

While he was in Alaska the news of the discovery of oil in the Coalinga district reached him and he decided to return to California, which he did in 1901, and thereafter devoted his time and talents to the accumulation of a fortune, making his home on his homestead and awaited results of the oil development. He worked in the oil fields to acquire first-hand knowledge of the business and valuable experience. Then the demand for water arose and as he had a plentiful supply on his ranch, he organized a company, laid pipe lines, erected tanks and supplied a number of oil wells with water for the following five years. During this time he made investments in oil stock, bought land in favorable locations and sold it at high prices. Although he began with limited capital he had unlimited confidence in the district, made a special study of geology of the section round about and finally sold his water business and dissolved the company and gave his attention to the oil business entirely, buying and selling oil lands.

His original investment was in the Confidence Oil Company, with its property located six miles from Coalinga. With a Mr. Bunting, he organized the B. & B. Oil Company, which was located on his homestead property

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and as this company succeeded he soon bought out his partner and managed the business alone. He also owned lands now operated by the Nevada Oil Company ; was a heavy stockholder in the St. Paul & Fresno Oil Company, besides being a one-sixth owner in the Coalinga Syndicate. His estate still owns valuable holdings in the Coalinga district, where with others Mr. Brix owned many acres of valuable oil lands.

Mr. Brix was a heavy stockholder in the Fresno Hotel Company and he personally superintended the construction of the building, one of the finest inland hosteleries in the state; The Brix Apartments, a four-story concrete building, and one of the finest and first modern apartment buildings erected in the San Joaquin Valley, was built and owned by him. He was very much interested in the upbuilding of Fresno County and gave very liberally towards all worthy enterprises, and was a leader in many.

While accumulating these numerous and valuable holdings, Mr. Brix found time to meet his fellow men in a social and fraternal spirit. He be- longed to the various Masonic bodies and was a Shriner. In politics he was known as an independent but he never cared to hold a public office. Reli- giously, he was a believer in Christian Science in his latter years.

The marriage of Mr. Brix in 1890, united him with Miss Helene Schemel, and three children came to gladden their home, viz .: Emma M., a graduate from Stanford University : Karl H., a graduate from the Mt. Tamalpais Mili- tary Academy, who, when the war broke out, was a student at Stanford, and volunteered for service in the United States Navy and spent ten months at Mare Island, when peace was declared and he was mustered out ; Theodore Frederick, is a student in the Fresno schools. After a very useful and suc- cessful career H. H. Brix passed to his reward on September 20, 1915, since which time liis capable helpmate has assumed the responsibilities of manag- ing the estate. The family occupy a palatial home at 2844 Fresno Street.

MAHLON LEVIS .- An old pioneer of Fresno County, and also a forty- niner of the gold days in California, Mahlon Levis deserves mention when compiling the biographical history of this section of the state. He was one of the very first men to plant grapes on a large scale in the Selma district, and helped to establish and promote the raisin industry in its pioneer days, and it is to such men as he that the present prosperity of Fresno County is due.

Born in Bucks County, near Philadelphia, Pa .. February 28, 1825, Mahlon Levis was one of seven sons, all reared on the home farm. Upon the death of the father of the family, in 1838, the home was broken up and Mahlon first went to Illinois. Later, with three of his brothers, in 1842, he en- gaged in the lumber business in the pine woods of Wisconsin, and con- tinued thus engaged for several years. Then, when the discovery of gold in California turned men's footsteps west, he journeyed to the Coast, in 1849, and for two years tried his luck in the mining districts of the state, meeting with fair success. His companion in mining enterprises, a man by the name of Pomeroy, and himself then returned to Wisconsin, via New Orleans. The two men had $1,600 apiece with them as a result of their labors, and, upon crossing the Isthmus, Mr. Pomeroy was robbed; Mahlon Levis, with the ready generosity of the old pioneers, divided his $1,600 with his unfortunate partner and so the two continued to their destination.

After his return from California, Mr. Levis again devoted his attention to the lumber business in Wisconsin, and here his marriage occurred, uniting him with Maria E. Olden, a native of Canada. He later engaged in farming and remained in the eastern state until 1873, when he disposed of his 160-acre farm and went again to California.

Finding conditions here to his liking, Mr. Levis returned to Wisconsin and brought his family back to California with him, locating in Tulare County, where he purchased a large band of sheep, 3,000 of which perished from the drought in 1877. Nothing daunted, though financially embarrassed, the sturdy

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pioneer came to Fresno County in that year, and settled upon 300 acres of Southern Pacific Railway land one one-half miles north of the Canal school and four miles northeast of Selma. Here he started in the planting of grapes, one of the first viticulturists in that section. In 1878 he planted one acre of mixed varieties, of which the muscats tested out the best. In 1880 he planted four acres to grapes which are still bearing and in vigorous condition. Before 1890 he had fifty acres of his ranch planted to grapes. The rest of his land was devoted to grain and alfalfa. Later he planted more grapes, until he was one of the largest raisin-growers, as well as the pioneer of the industry in the district. It must be remembered that the growers of those days did not have the easy access to water facilities that are prevalent in the county now, and it was only by constant and persevering devotion to the culture that they succeeded, so all honor is due to these real developers of the industry in which Fresno leads the entire United States.

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History of Fresno County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Volume I, Part 100

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1362

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1362