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 104

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 104

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On January 18, 1863, Mr. Fleming married Elizabeth Dorgan, a native by birth of Cork, Ireland, from which city her parents came; the marriage occurring in Mariposa County. While she was a mere child, she had been brought to the United States, and at the same time, she had lost all trace of her nearest relatives. A goodly family blessed this union, and several of the sons and daughters are still living to further honor an honored name. John Daniel and Mary Ellen died ; Elizabeth married C. A. McCoy; Alice is Mrs. Jarvis Streeter, Jr .; Emma is also dead; Russell Anthony is also married; Anna is the wife of J. P. Coyle; George died February, 1917; Rozillah was joined in wedlock to George F. St. Louis: Julia Ellen (whose

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career is so interestingly sketched elsewhere in this volume) is also, like her two younger sisters Florence and Isabel unmarried; nor has William Timothy as yet taken a wife, he is now in the One Hundred Sixtieth United States Infantry in France. Mrs. Fleming passed into the great beyond July 30, 1913.

Ever since attaining his majority, when he could understand political issues and think and act for himself, Mr. Fleming has been inspired with civic pride and a desire for public-welfare service, and until three years ago he has been active as a citizen proud of his franchise rights, in the ranks of the Republicans. Fond of social life, he joined the Masons far back in 1858, and was a Master Mason and held the office of Senior Warden. To know Mr. Fleming has been to like him, as by the most natural of processes: and to live and work with him has always resulted in an increased respect for human nature, and an enthusiasm for what is so typically American.

JOHN M. FLEMING .- Few persons, on seeing the valuable and attract- ive vineyard of John M. Fleming, the pioneer who came to Fresno in the early nineties, would picture the sorry plight in which he found himself at first on account of the squirrels and jack-rabbits, and the almost insur- mountable difficulties with which he had to contend in getting vines well started. He persisted, however, and by extraordinary and patient labor, he made for himself a finely improved place.

The father of our subject was John Fleming, an Irishman by birth and a native of the County Antrim, while the grandfather was James Fleming, who joined the father later and resided in New York with him until he died. While yet a lad, the father crossed the ocean to the New World and at New York he completed his schooling. After that he was in the mercantile busi- ness at Lewiston, N. Y., until he retired, and when he died he closed the record of four-score years. The mother was Margaret Miller before her marriage, and she was born at Glasgow, Scotland, from which country she migrated with her parents to New York. She died four years older than her husband, the mother of eight children, seven of whom are still enjoying life. Among these John M. was the second oldest, and the only one in California. John attended the public school at Lewiston, Niagara County, where he was born, and when twenty years of age entered the employ of the New York Central, having secured a clerkship in the freight department. He was with that company for fifteen years, but desiring a change of climate, he came to Dinuba, Cal., in 1892, and in a short time to Fresno County. He found that outdoor work was beneficial, and so he labored in the vineyards. He studied viticulture and then leased one of the vineyards and engaged in growing raisins. These were sold as low as one and a quarter cents a pound, however, and there was no profit in the venture.

In 1902, Mr. Fleming located on his present ranch, a fine tract of 160 acres five miles east of Clovis. It was stubble-field at first, and it was no wonder that, when the grasshoppers came in the year of the first vineyard, the experiment was a failure. But he set out a new vineyard and worked hard four years in succession, and later he was able to sell off forty acres and to retain 120, both proving profitable. He has about forty-five acres in vineyard, of which ten acres are zinfandels and the balance muscats; and there are five acres of peaches, with alfalfa. All this was possible only after a bitter fight carried on against the ground squirrels, the almost equally numerous rabbits, and Jack Frost, so that it was necessary, in some cases, to set. and reset the vines four or five times. He made the usual improvements of buildings, and built himself a fine residence, for Mr. Fleming duly became a married man, and his family is noted for social life and the dispensing of hospitality. He was always in the successive raisin and other fruit associa-

Steve J. Baker.

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tions and has long supported the California Associated Raisin Company and the California Peach Growers, Inc.

The marriage of Mr. Fleming to Miss Emma Odell, a fair daughter of Michigan, took place at Niagara Falls and resulted in the birth of five chil- dren : May is Mrs. Hamilton and resides at Clovis; John Harry has become a promising and successful viticulturist, and is with his father; Carrie Irene is better known as Mrs. Burk of Squaw Valley; Florence, who graduated from the San Diego Normal, was a teacher in Clovis, till she married Sidney I. Drake, and now resides in Squaw Valley; and Benjamin, who responded to the call and is serving in the United States Navy. Mrs. Fleming is a member of the Methodist Church at Clovis.

Civic affairs have long interested both Mr. and Mrs. Fleming, who usually work for national reforms along the lines of the Republican party. When it comes to local issues, however, these good citizens do not talk poli- tics, but support men and measures for the good of the community generally.

STEVE TODOROVICH BAKER .- Industry, thrift, unceasing toil, at least during those times when a man should work, are excellent requisites to success, but these alone will hardly cause the plums desired to fall into one's waiting basket. The career, phenomenally successful, of Steve Todorovich Baker, the well-known viticulturist, shows the value, in addition, of having a good head for business and being a first-class manager; for he has pros- pered where others have failed, and in prospering he has brought all these conditions and qualities to aid him in his years of struggle. What adds to the interest of his story is the fact that he accomplished so much in a rel- atively short time, but the truth of the matter is, very likely, that in order to make such a rapid run, Steve put on (as so many are unwilling to do) just so much more steam.

Born in the city of Krushovatz, Servia, in 1854, Steve was the son of Theo. Todorovich Baker, a merchant, who reared him in that vicinity, and had him educated in the local public schools. When sixteen, he was appren- ticed to a baker, from whom he learned the baker trade; and two years later lie enlisted in the Servian army. He joined the Morava Artillery, and became a gunner in 1876 during the year of war with Turkey. When the Balkan Wars took place in 1877-78, he volunteered in the Russian Army, and he was in the Battle of Plevna, between Russia and Turkey, and assisted the Rus- sians to free the Bulgarians. He was then made a sergeant, and served as such until the close of the war.

In 1878 he went to Egypt and engaged in the grocery business in Alex- andria, in which line he continued until 1881 when he enlisted in the French Army as a volunteer and served a year during the occupation of Tunis, 1882. Then he returned to Alexandria and enlisted in the English army as a private. and under the famous General Gordon he went through the campaigns of the Soudan War.

Having had enough of war, Mr. Baker came to the United States in 1887, and at Pottsville, Pa., engaged in coal-mining. but a strike taking place there a year later, he left the district and came west to Denver, Colo. To his dis- appointment, however, he found a strike in progress there, and disgusted, he took the train and sought the land of gold and sunshine,-at least the country where, he had heard, gold might be readily picked up, but where, he was yet to learn, the unrivalled sunshine was itself prosperity. He found himself in San Francisco a stranger and friendless, and soon without money ; and he had to hurriedly get something to do in order to have something to eat. He was glad, therefore, to get a place with Post & Larkin, at fifteen dollars a month and his board.

Three months later he quit this undertaking and made his way to Seattle, in 1889, where for eleven months he was engaged as a fisherman on Puget Sound; after which he returned to San Francisco. The big city did not seem

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to offer him much, and perhaps it was well that it did not, for in 1890 he came on to Fresno, luckily heading for this promising center, although he arrived with but ten cents in his pocket. He found work in a restaurant at the same wages as before-fifteen dollars a month and his board. In the fall of 1891, he advanced a peg by obtaining a place to prune vines in Butler's vineyard, at fifty cents a day; and feeling the attraction of out-door labor, he continued in that line. He was wide-awake and observing, and soon ac- quired a very valuable knowledge in the caring for vines.

In 1892, Mr. Baker branched out by taking contracts for the pruning of vineyards, and the next year he began buying and drying figs in fig-orchards, curing them carefully and selling them to Griffin & Skelley. He made many friends by the quality of his service, his business increased, he obtained credit, and he made a success of the enterprise. For ten years he was on and off in the employ of George H. Malter of the St. George vineyard, and he also bought figs of him.

Finally, Mr. Baker leased from Captain J. E. Youngburg his present place, and in five years bought the 120 acres on North Avenue nine miles east of Fresno, in the Kutner Colony. This splendid tract is devoted to raising malagas and muscatel grapes, and white Adriatic figs. Since then, he has bought 160 acres more located on National Avenue, ten miles east of Fresno, where he is building a modern residence for his permanent home. On this ranch he has set out a vineyard, which takes all of his time, but he sees that it is well cared for, and therein lies one of the secrets of his success. Mr. Baker has been a benefactor in the growth of Fresno County in other ways, also. In 1898 he imported Blue grapes from Servia, known here as the Fresno Beauty. Twelve rooted vines arrived in March, 1898, and he was successful in raising seven of them ; the next year he saved all the cuttings, giving them away, and they proved a success, and now there are hundreds of acres of Fresno Beauty grapes growing and bearing in the County.

While at Pottsville, Pa., Mr. Baker took out his first citizenship papers, and at Fresno in 1894 he secured his second and final documents making him an American citizen-a fact of which he is justly proud. In national politics, he is a Democrat, but his first interest is for local advancement, and for that he sees no party lines. He has never regretted coming to Fresno, and for Fresno's prosperity he gives time, thoughtfulness and good-will.

CHRISTIAN SAXE .- Whenever the history of California is recom- piled, the historian will need to review, and with grateful recognition, the splendid accomplishments. of Christian Saxe, who was born in Audrain County, Mo., November 20, 1852, and died in Fresno, February 6, 1913. His father, Jackson Saxe, was a native of Pennsylvania and settled in Missouri as early as 1835. The lad was educated at the local country schools, and reared on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age. He then started to learn the trade of a plasterer; and having finished his apprenticeship, worked at his trade in the East until 1879. Thoroughness was always a marked characteristic of his method, and fidelity to employers a dependable stamp of his character; and so it happened that, no matter how adverse the "times," or wherever he wandered, he was seldom or never in want for employment, and at a very fair compensation.

It is hardly true that he tired of the East, in which he had met with such a hearty reception ; but his curiosity was aroused as to the Great West, and at the end of the seventies he came out to California to see what the country was like. For a while he located in Modesto, Stanislaus County, and later moved to Merced County, where he went in for sheep-raising. In 1884 he went to Madera and engaged in the mercantile business with A. Cohn as a partner ; and at the same time he owned a band of sheep near by.

In 1905 he located in Fresno and entered the field of cement and plaster contracting and building, and soon became a leader among his competitors.

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He was original in his ideas, abreast of the times and even a forerunner of much that eventually came into great vogue, careful and very conscientious in his execution, and in time erected some of the best private buildings in Fresno, including the Forsyth building, the Unitarian Church and the Chester Rowell home.

During 1881 Mr. Saxe was married to Miss Ida Daulton, the eldest and accomplished daughter of Henry C. Daulton, the well-known Califor- nia pioncer who proved himself so hardy in opening some of the paths to civilization. Mrs. Myrtle Halberson, of Coalinga, is one of the children of this union; Enslen Clay Saxe, her brother, is another; he is now in charge of his mother's ranch in Madera County, where he shows the clear indica- tions of inherited ability. Henry Clay, another son, is married and lives in Pomona; Barbara Naomi, is a daughter, and Madeline is the youngest.

The Saxe ranch referred to is one of the famous estates of its kind in California, comprising as it does some 1,800 acres, and being one of the most productive grain ranches in Madera County. Its purchase, equipment and development have always reflected creditably on the good judgment of the deceased, who willed it to his wife as her share of the estate, and its maintenance and management reflect with equal credit on those now re- sponsible for its administration. Mrs. Saxe has perpetuated in her Red Cross and other humane and charitable work the traditions started by her lamented and honored husband, and all who know the estimable lady will rejoice that she has thus been so nobly provided for. The women as well as the men of California have done the empire building; and California has always had a kindly thought for its daughters as well as its sons.

GEORGE W. SMITH .- A well-known and highly esteemed resident of Fresno County is to be found in the person of George W. Smith, now serving his fifth term as Justice of the Peace in Fresno. . Of Southern birth and lineage he was born in Tennessee, March 27, 1851, into the family of Dr. John D. and Isabella (Dickson) Smith. Dr. Smith was a native of North Carolina who moved to Tennessee in the year 1827, and, in the locality where he settled became a very prominent physician. His wife came from good old Colonial stock, her two grandfathers, Capt. Daniel McKissick and Col. Joseph R. Dickson, both served with distinction in the Revolutionary War. Five sons of Dr. and Mrs. Smith served in the Confederate Army.

George W. Smith received a public school education, was reared on a farm and devoted some years of his life to farming, until in 1880, when he left his native state to locate in Booneville, Ark. He lived in that city for five years, when in 1885, he felt the call of the West and came to California and settled in Fresno County. He was a young man, full of energy and soon made his influence felt in political circles and during President Cleve- land's administration he served four years in the Internal Revenue service, in Fresno County. His next occupation was as a vineyardist in Temperance Colony, where he lived for ten years, and at the same time he bought fruit for George West & Son. He was also interested in the oil business in Kern County for some years and in 1902 he was elected to his present office and has succeeded himself in office at each election ever since, which in itself speaks for the satisfaction he has given in the discharge of the duties of the office.

On December 31, 1871, Judge Smith was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Kerr, who proved her worth as a helpmate and counsellor for many years. She passed away at their home in Fresno on February 9, 1919, mourned by a large circle of sincere friends. Besides her husband, she left a daughter, Olive Bell Smith, and a son, James Dickson Smith, to mourn her passing. Mrs. Smith was a member of the Baptist Church.

The promising son of Judge Smith, James Dickson, who was born on November 27, 1898, graduated from the Fresno high school, then took a

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two-years' course at the Mt. Tamalpais Military Academy, and was captain of the High School Cadets until he enlisted in the U. S. Navy on October 20, 1917. He was sent to Goat Island, San Francisco Bay and from there he was sent to Harvard University, where he graduated in the Radio service and received a rating of first class. He then was sent to Pensacola, Fla., where he won a rating as first class machine gunner. He served his country until his discharge on February 10, 1919, when he returned home. He is now employed in the electrical department of the General Chemical Company at Nichols, Cal.

Judge Smith is a Democrat and active in the councils of the party. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason, belonging to the Lodge, Chapter, Consistory, Council, Shrine and Eastern Star. He is Past Commander of Fresno Com- mandery No. 29, K. T., and Past High Priest of Fresno Chapter, No. 69, R. A. M. He also belongs to the Eagles and to Fresno Lodge No. 439, B. P. O. Elks, where he is always warmly welcomed. He is a true type of the South- ern gentleman, high-minded, generous, hospitable and is a genial friend and companion.

G. P. CUMMINGS .- The transformation wrought in the San Joaquin Valley during the past thirty years is due to the energy and patient persever- ance of its pioneers who, leaving comfortable homes in other parts of our country, identified themselves with the newer sections and out of its crudity evolved the present day prosperity. G. P. Cummings is a true representative of this class of pioneers, and has been serving the public of Fresno County since January, 1899, at which time he became deputy county clerk and acting clerk of the board of supervisors, a position he filled most acceptably, as was evidenced by his being chosen in July, 1900, by the board of supervisors to fill the office of county assessor. Since that period he has served the public in various capacities with the same efficiency and in his usual painstaking and genial manner, that characterized his duties as deputy county clerk.

G. P. Cummings was born near McMinnville, Warren County, Tenn., May 30, 1856, the youngest in a family of ten children, all of whom reached mature years. The family came originally from Virginia, where his father, G. P. Cummings, Sr., was born, and he was the youngest son born to Col. Joseph Cummings, a Scotchman who went to Virginia and won his title in the war of 1812. Colonel Cummings engaged in farming near Spencer, Van Buren County, Tenn., after the war was over, and there he died at the advanced age of ninety-nine years. G. P. Cummings, Sr., was also a farmer and he served as sheriff of Van Buren County, whence he moved to the vicinity of McMinn- ville. He served in this district as assessor, and also engaged in farming until he died, aged sixty-four years. His wife was in maidenhood, Elizabeth Plum- lee, a native of Virginia, and daughter of John Plumlee, who was a soldier in the war of 1812. She died in Tennessee.

G. P. Cummings of this review received his education in Burritt College, at Spencer, Tenn., and at the age of nineteen began teaching school, which profession he followed for nine years. He won a position on the county board of teachers' examiners, of Warren County, through his thoroughness as a teacher. Deciding to locate on the Pacific Coast, he came to California in 1885, and in Fresno County taught school at Eastin (now in Madera County). Two years later he came to the small town of Fresno and secured employment as a clerk in a grocery store, remaining for one year. He then engaged in bus- iness for himself on I Street, under the firm name of Cummings and Higgins. This business was continued successfully until 1894, when the partnership was dissolved and the business sold out. Mr. Cummings was then employed as traveling salesman. On January 1, 1899, he was made deputy in the office of George W. Cartwright, county clerk of Fresno County, and was the clerk of the board of supervisors from that period until July 30, 1900, when he was appointed by the board of supervisors to fill the vacancy in the office of

Новининую

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assessor, caused by the death of J. W. Ferguson, county assessor. He filled this office with satisfaction until the end of the term, when he retired and engaged in the real estate business under the firm title of Murdock, Cum- mings & Murdock, with offices on Tulare Street. One year later, January, 1904, the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Cummings accepted a position with the county recorder to make abstracts of mortgages for the county assessor, but on February 1, of that year, he was appointed under-sheriff by J. D. Collins, and he discharged his duties here with the same fidelity that characterized his other positions. In 1906, Mr. Cummings was elected county assessor and he is still in that office. He was an active member, from its organization, of the County Assessors' Association of California, and served as its President in 1912-13, and at present is secretary of the association.

Mr. Cummings was united in marriage with Miss Bettie Smartt, who was born in Warren County, Tenn., a daughter of George M. Smartt, a Tennessee farmer, and a grand-daughter of William C. Smartt, a soldier in the war of 1812, who emigrated from Virginia to Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings are the parents of the following children: Bonnie Jean ; George, the wife of C. E. Hamilton, cashier of the Bank and Trust Company of Cen- tral California, who resides in Fresno: Annabel. wife of J. T. Tupper, who also resides in Fresno; G. Penn, Jr., was a practicing attorney in Fresno, un- til he enlisted in the United States Army, and is now serving overseas as First Lieutenant and Adjutant on the Major's Staff. First Battalion, Eighth U. S. Infantry. and is a member of the Courtmartial Board at Brest, France.

Mr. Cummings has taken an active interest in educational matters in Fresno, serving for five years on the city board of education. During the building of the high school. the Park Avenue, and the remodeling of the Emerson school, he served as secretary of the board, and was an important factor in the progress of the school system.

Fraternally, he was made a Mason in Las Palmas Lodge No. 366, F. & A. M., Fresno, and was exalted to the Royal Arch degree in Fresno Chapter, No. 69, R. A. M., and Knighted in Fresno Commandery No. 29, K. T. Mr. Cummings became a Scottish Rite. 32nd degree Mason in Fresno Consistory No. 8, and is a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O., N. M. S., of San Francisco. With his wife, he is a member of Fresno Chapter No. 295, O. E. S., of which he is Past Worthy Patron. He is a member of Fresno Lodge No. 439, B. P. O. Elks; the Independent Order of Foresters, of which he is Past Chief Ranger: the Woodmen of the World; St. Andrews Society; and is also a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, of which organization he is a Past Chancellor Commander, and at present is Grand Chancellor of the Grand Domain of California.

In his political affiliation, Mr. Cummings is a Democrat and has served as a member of the county central committee. Mr. Cummings is endowed by nature with a very pleasing personality and an affable manner, and during all the years that he has lived in Fresno County, has made many warm friends and possesses the faculty of retaining them. He is square in all his dealings and no man living in the county is better liked or more highly respected than G. P. Cummings.

HUGH WILLIAM La RUE .- Prominent among the raisin growers of Fresno County, residing in the vicinity of Malaga, is Hugh William La Rue, the eldest son of the late Jabez H. La Rue, an honored pioneer of the county. H. W. La Rue was born in Lewis County, Mo., on December I, 1851, and his early days were spent on a farm. In 1873, he migrated to the Golden State and secured employment on his uncle's ranch located near Davis, Yolo County. His careful performance of his duties and good business manage- ment soon won for him the responsible position of foreman of the ranch.

The year 1885 marked the advent of H. W. La Rue into Fresno County. His first investment was forty acres of raw land situated at what is now

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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 104

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