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 121

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 121

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

ALFRED H. BLASINGAME .- Among the pioneers of Fresno County who were successfully engaged in the stock-raising business, and one who eventually became an extensive landowner, and one of the first bankers in the county, was J. A. Blasingame, the father of Alfred H. Blasingame who was born near Vallicita, Calaveras County, on December 28, 1855. J. A. Blasingame was a native of Talladega County, Ala. Becoming enthused with the glowing reports that reached him of the discovery of gold in California, he decided to try his fortune in the Golden State and in that memorable year, 1849, he came via Panama to California, bringing with him several men to help in the mines. For a while he engaged in gold-mining, but like many other men endowed with keen business acumen he discovered other ways and means of securing gold that were not as hazardous and uncertain as mining. Subsequently he entered the stock-raising business, and by good judgment and wise management he achieved signal success. In 1862 or 1863, he located in Fresno County where he purchased land near Big Dry Creek, in the vicinity of Academy. His land holdings accumulated until he was the possessor of between ten and twelve thousand acres. In 1869 he was also interested in the sheep business. That his splendid business ability and wise counsel in financial matters were soon recognized in the community is recorded in the fact that he was for a time the vice-president of the Bank of Fresno County, the first bank in the county. In 1878 or 1879, he retired from active participation in business and moved to the city of Fresno. He was interested in educational matters and helped to build the Academy school house, which was one of the first in Fresno County. He also gave his aid to the church work of the community. T. A. Blasingame was united in marriage with Mary Jane Ogle, a native of Missouri. They were married in Calaveras County and the union was blessed with seven children: five boys and two girls.

Alfred H. Blasingame, of this review, was the oldest child. In the fall of 1869, just after the golden spike was driven, Alfred H. accompanied

Matices Erro

915

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

his parents back to Alabama, then to Texas, and about 1870 they crossed the plains, with a drove of cattle, which they had to guard every night, and after a hazardous but interesting trip they arrived safely in California. Alfred's education was received principally in the school at Academy, where he attended up to about the year 1872. After his school days were over he remained with his parents, assisting his father on the ranch until the latter's death in 1881, when Alfred assumed charge of the ranch. Alfred, with his brother. Lee A .. engaged in the sheep business, running as many as 15.000 head of sheep. About 1911, Alfred disposed of his interest in the sheep busi- ness and since then has been successfully engaged in raising cattle. They make headquarters on a part of the old Blasingame ranch, which has numer- ous springs, making it very desirable for growing cattle. They lease other lands and own about 1.200 head, which are well known by their brand, H.

At Academy, on February 8, 1905, A. H. Blasingame was married to Harriet S. Cole a native of Academy, the daughter of William T. Cole, who was born in Missouri and who served in the Mexican War. In 1848 he crossed the plains to California. For a time he followed mining. He was married in Solano County in 1854, to Jennie Sweasey, who was born in Maine, and who also crossed the plains, coming with her parents in 1850. Mr. Cole farmed in Solano County till 1860. when he located in Fresno County, being engaged in the sheep business on Kings River until 1870. when he located at Academy. He helped build the Academy school build- ing in 1872. He died in 1907. aged eighty-two years, while his widow sur- vives him, residing in Clovis, being now ninety years of age. They were the parents of a family of ten girls, eight of whom are living. Mrs. Blas- ingame was the youngest, and for some years was engaged in educational work in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Blasingame moved to Clovis in 1914, where they reside with their four children: Mary Jane. Alfred, Jr .. Julia and Kate. Mrs. Cole is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. In the line of his business, Mr. Blasingame is a member of the State Cattle Growers Association.

MATIAS ERRO .- Identified with Fresno County as a stockman and man of affairs, Matias Erro has always maintained his home here, and would like to be associated with this section as long as he lives. He is a well-to-do sheep-man and farmer who must be numbered among the most hospitable of adopted Californians, and whose prosperity and wealth are no cause of sur- prise to those who know of his activity as an inveterate worker. He was born in Navarra, Spain, on February 13, 1863, the son of Jose Erro, a miller of flour, who ran his mill with waterpower, while he also gave of his attention to farm- ing. His daughter now owns the historic establishment and runs it after the manner of the sire. Nine children were born to Señor Jose Erro and his good wife, but only five are now living ; and the single one to come to America is the fifth youngest, Matias Erro.

Brought up on a farm, he attended the Spanish public schools, and hav- ing early heard of the opportunities afforded in California, he concluded to try his fortune here. When not over seventeen, he embarked at Bordeaux for Liverpool and sailed to New York, and by May 1. 1880, arrived in San Francisco. He pushed on to Tres Pinos in San Benito County and, since his funds were low, he immediately went to to work on a ranch at $15 a month, and being anxious to give satisfaction, he worked from daylight until dark. In the fall of 1881. he removed to where King City now stands in Monterey County, and there he was in the employ of a sheepman, with whom he re- mained until 1885. In October of that year he returned to San Francisco, and on the thirtieth of the month crowned the first chapter of his life in the Golden State by becoming a naturalized American citizen. He next went to Castro- ville, bought a new wagon and two horses and drove through the Pacheco Pass to Los Banos. In November the heavy rain began and he went to Mer- ced with a partner and bought 1.100 ewes at $2.25 a head, and drove the band 49

916

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

to Fresno County, and having pitched their camp at Cantua, in the fall of 1886 he bought his partner out and continued alone. Ever since he has been in the sheep business for himself.

In 1891, Mr. Erro bought a ranch on Jacobitos Creek near what is now Coalinga, and there for a few years made his headquarters. Then he moved to Madera and bought a ranch of 420 acres four miles south of the town. Part of it was given up to the growing of alfalfa and a dairy : there were thirty acres of orchard and another thirty acres of vineyard; and some of the land was used for sheep. In 1909 he sold the ranch and removed to Fresno, and from that date Mr. Erro has been reckoned a man of affairs here. He is one of the organizers of and a director and vice-president in the Growers National Bank of Fresno. Here he bought a residence, while he continued farming and the raising of sheep in Coalinga, on leased land, and later he bought a ranch of 220 acres at Rolinda where he is now raising alfalfa and grain. The tract is under the canal and also has two pumping-plants, for which Mr. Erro put in two electric pumps, one of five inches, the other of six. He also owns 200 acres at Tranquillity, 120 acres of which he has in alfalfa. He has sunk deep artesian wells, and has a splendid flow of good water, so that he is able to irrigate the entire ranch. Besides the above, he owns 640 acres at Tulare Lake, on which he very successfully raises grain.

Mr. Erro is still engaged in leasing lands near Coalinga for sheep-raising, and there and in the mountains he has about 6,000 head of sheep. In 1916 he bought a place of forty acres on Church Avenue, Fresno, where he resided until 1918, when he purchased his present large ten-room residence at 340 North Van Ness Street, where he resides with his family. For some years he has belonged to the National Woolgrowers Association.

Mr. Erro was married at Hanford to Miss Javera Huarte, a fair daughter of Spain, who was born at Navarra. She died in 1910 from the result of an automobile accident. Five children were born to them: Agnes, Annette, An- gelina, John, and Phillip, all at home. Mr. Erro was married a second time on May 27, 1913, in Los Angeles, to Mrs. Marie (Noussitou) Camy, who was born on River Pou. Basses Pyrenees, France, and came to Fresno in 1889, where she was first married to Jean Camy, a prominent stockman and dairy- man who died February 17. 1905. the result of the union being five children, four of whom are living: Henry A, a rancher on Belmont Avenue; Julia A., who is Mrs. J. P. Sagouspe of Nevada ; Alfred, serving in the Aviation Section of the United States Navy ; and Lawrence L., attending St. Mary's College, Oakland. The Jean Camy estate owns valuable lands on Belmont Avenue and an orange grove near Centerville.

Besides Mr. Erro's interest in oil-lands, he is a capitalist of value to fin- anciers. He has encouraged every good movement likely to advance local business interests, and he has especially supported the First National Bank of Coalinga. In national politics Mr. Erro is a Republican, but when voting on matters near at home, he votes for Fresno every time, and stimulates many to vote likewise.

JOHN CALVIN BRANDON .- One of the leading contractors and builders of the city of Sanger is J. C. Brandon, better known to his intimates as "Cal" Brandon. He has specialized in this particular work since 1903 and has erected enough substantial buildings in Sanger and vicinity to justify the statement that he is a master builder and a leader in his craft, as Brandon- Built Buildings are known for their beauty and durability.

Cal Brandon was born in Mercer County, Ohio, December 14, 1862, a son of William A. and Sarah (McDonald) Brandon, parents of nine children, seven now living, namely: Cal; Lewis, in Pittsburgh, Pa .; Z. Z., in San Francisco; Lydia E., Mrs. W. F. Baker, of Fresno ; Minnie, Mrs. Frank Hells- worth, of Hanford; Pearl, Mrs. John Moore, of Porterville; and M. V., of Sanger. Cal Brandon was educated in the public schools of Ohio, learned the carpenter trade from his father, who was a master workman; then, de-

917

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

siring to see more of the world, with his brother, M. V., he came to the Pacific Coast in 1882. They stopped for a time in Placerville, but in 1884 located in Fresno County, where Cal has since resided. He was engaged in the stock business in Watts Valley, where he homesteaded 160 acres of land, and suc- ceeded. For two years he raised corn on the river bottom, east of Sanger, on land that he and his brother leased. While he was ranching he occasionally was called upon to do building for his neighbors, and in 1903 he began that work exclusive of all else and has won an enviable reputation in Sanger and vicinity, where he has constructed many of the finest homes in both city and on the ranches.

In Watts Valley, Fresno County, in 1885, Cal Brandon and Catherine E. Hole, an Iowan and daughter of J. B. Hole of Fresno County, were united in marriage. There have been born six children as follows: Pearl, Mrs. Arthur Bradford : Grover A. ; Clara B., Mrs. Elbert Hamilton ; Marvel B., Mrs. Clete Allred ; Vivian, Mrs. Houdashelt ; and Alice N. Fraternally Mr. Brandon is a member of the Eagles and Modern Woodmen of America. He is interested in educational matters and served as a trustee in Watts Valley, also three years in Sanger, where his influence was felt for the good of the schools. Mr. Brandon has seen the development of Fresno County from grain and hog- wallow land into vinevards and orchards, and has noted with satisfaction the building of towns and cities on the wide plains of the Valley.

SAMUEL J. CULL .- A resident of the Golden State for forty-five years. and an honored pioneer of Fresno County, Samuel J. Cull is one of the early settlers of his section of the county, having purchased his present ranch of forty acres in the Empire District in 1905. A native of the Blue Grass State, S. J. Cull was born in Washington County, Ky., October 17. 1873, a son of Hugh and Tennie (Taylor) Cull, also natives of Kentucky. His father was a Kentucky farmer who migrated to California in 1874, settling at first near Hayward, Alameda County, where he followed farming for one year, when the family moved to Livermore, and there Mr. Cull continued to farm until 1884. In the fall of that year, Hugh Cull moved to Fresno County, where he followed farming at what is now Rolinda, continuing there until shortly before his death which occurred in Selma in 1887, his devoted wife having passed away at Livermore, in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Cull were the parents of four children: Samuel T., of this review. being the eldest : James P., is a rancher in the Empire district; Carrie, is now de- ceased : and Frank, who resides in Kentucky.

When one year old, Samuel J. Cull accompanied his parents to Califor- nia from his native state, and was reared in Alameda County until 1884, when the father and children removed to Fresno County. His early educa- tion was obtained in the public school of the Herndon district. At the early age of ten years he was able to drive a team in the grain-fields, early learn- ing the rudiments of grain-farming while living west of Fresno.

After the death of his father, Samuel J. Cull returned to Alameda County, where he made his own way in the world by working on ranches. When he reached his majority, Mr. Cull returned to Fresno County and, after working on a ranch for one year, leased land in partnership with S. T. Cull, and they engaged in raising grain. The first year they seeded 2,500 acres to grain : they had 110 head of working stock, their equipment including two combined harvesters and a stationary threshing machine, but the first year, being a dry onc, there was not much need for the harvesters as they cut only forty-nine sacks of grain from the large acreage, the enterprise proving a total loss. Undaunted by their heavy loss, a spirit so characteristic of the early pioneers, Mr. Cull was hopeful of better results in the future, so they increased their acreage for the second year to 4,000 acres, but the Fates seemed unpropitious to these optimistic and industrious ranchers, for the second year proved to be another dry one and the total number of sacks from the large acreage was only 4,000. In 1899, Mr. Cull leased 320 acres of

918

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

land in the vicinity of where he now resides and was very successful in raising grain in this section for six years. Afterwards he leased 900 acres of the Williams ranch which he operated for two years and then leased 900 acres at Round Mountain, where he raised grain until 1916.

In 1905, Samuel J. Cull purchased his present place of forty acres from A. R. Briggs, paying $40 per acre. While raising grain at Round Mountain Mr. Cull improved this place by setting out twenty acres to a vineyard, an orchard of three acres and the balance to alfalfa. His ranch is in a high state of cultivation and its appearance bespeaks the enterprise and progress of the owner.

In 1900, Samuel J. Cull was united in marriage with Miss Ella Beatty, a native of Missouri, who came with her parents to California when she was ten years of age. This happy union has been blessed with three children: Hugh, James and Raleigh.

Fraternally, Mr. Cull has been a member of the Foresters of America. at Livermore, Cal., since 1898, and is also a member of Manzanita Camp, W. O. W., at Fresno. He is well posted on viticulture and horticulture, and keeps a record of his production each year. Mr. Cull is one of the original members of the California Associated Raisin Company, also belongs to the California Peach Growers, Inc., and is regarded as one of the most enter- prising and progressive ranchers in his section of the county.

FRANK PETER LEISMAN .- A Hoosier who, having cast his lot in California, has come to reflect most creditably on the stanch State of Indiana, is Frank P. Leisman, who was born in St. Anthony, Dubois County, on August 27, 1863, the son of Frank Leisman whose birthplace was on the stormy ocean. He first saw the light on an American sailing vessel, three weeks before his parents landed in the United States in 1835. These worthy people, John P. and Mrs. Leisman, grandparents of our subject, settled at Pittsburg, Pa., where Mr. Leisman got work in the iron mines; and later as members of a colony of sixteen Germans, they moved to Dubois County, Ind., where they engaged in farming. In 1888, they went to Missouri and there spent their last days.

Frank Leisman, the father, was reared in Dubois County and there he married Christena Berg, a native of Indiana. For a while he was a school teacher as well as a farmer, but in 1888 he located in Atchison County, Mo., where he bought a farm. He sold it in 1910, however, and settled in Nebraska City, Nebr., and there, in 1917, he died. Mrs. Leisman passed away in Mis- souri, the mother of thirteen children, seven of whom are still living.

Frank P. is the oldest of all and the only one in California ; and he was brought up on an Indiana farm until he was eighteen, when he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1885 he went to Spearville, Ford County, Kans., but he soon removed to Atchison County, Mo., where he worked on a farm. It was there, on February 17, 1890, that Mr. Leisman married Miss Carrie Gude, who was born in Dubois County, Ind., the daughter of Benjamin and Marie (Kemper) Gude, who came from Holland and settled in Indiana. They were farmer folk, much respected, and they died there leaving many friends. Mr. Leisman paid his fiancee the compliment of going back to Indiana for her, and bringing her to their new home.

Following his marriage, Mr. Leisman bought a farm at Watson, and raised grain and stock. As the pioneer in that field there, he made a specialty of Duroc Jersey hogs, and was an organizer of the National Duroc Jersey Breeders' Association. He continued here until 1897, when he spent a year in traveling the great Northwest, and after that he lived two years at Par- nell, Mo., where he farmed.

Convinced of the superior advantages and prospects of Central Califor- nia, Mr. Leisman in 1902 located in Fresno County, and soon after became one of the earliest settlers at Empire. He followed the carpenter's trade, worked in both Fresno and Empire, and built some of the most attractive

Woodworth

921

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

residences first erected here. In 1911, Mr. Leisman purchased twenty acres of raw land that he rapidly improved to his present place. He built service- able ranch buildings, and set out Thompson seedless vines which are now the chief feature of the fine place. He is a member of the California Asso- ciated Raisin Company, and was active in securing new memberships.

Mr. and Mrs. Leisman have two children: Ludvig, who served in the American national army until his discharge; and Bertha, who is Mrs. A. A. Lowe of Kerman. The family attends the Kearney Park Catholic Church. Mr. Leisman has always been a Democrat and has also always been an American, and places patriotism above partisanship, "every time."

JOSEPH E. WOODWORTH .- A typical California rancher who comes from one of the "good old" pioneer families and has been very successful, especially in the raising of fine corn, alfalfa hay and high-grade hogs, is Joseph E. Woodworth, who lives on the Laguna, six miles southwest of Laton. A native son proud of his association with the Golden State, he was born near Sacramento on October 24, 1857. the son of Alonzo Woodworth, who came from Rochester, N. Y. In company with his uncle, Lot Whitcomb, he had crossed the plains to Oregon in 1847 and settled near Baker City where the Whitcombs have ever since been leading people, but in 1850 Alonzo Woodworth came down to Sacramento, lured by the discovery of gold. In that city and year he was married to Miss Julia Malissa Twitchell, a member of a family, like the Woodworths, of English origin and identified with the English-settled East. Grandfather Joshua Twitchell- was married in Ohio to Arsula Knight, the ceremony taking place on June 25, 1816; he was born in Vermont on September 12, 1794, and his wife was born on July 1, 1797, her birthplace being Northampton, Mass. They were, therefore, all Colonial families. Joshua came from Ohio to Illinois, farmed there for a while near Monmouth, and in 1848, right after the gold discovery, he sold and outfitted for California, crossed the plains with ox teams and reached Sacra- mento in the early part of 1849, after wintering at Salt Lake. Joshua Twitchell was a physician, and so became one of the earliest practitioners at Sacra- mento, following the medical profession until he died at San Juan on August 24, 1867. Grandmother Twitchell reached the age of eighty-nine years, three months and twenty-four days, and on October 24, 1886, she died at San Juan. Dr. and Mrs. Twitchell had six living children of whom Joseph's mother, Julia, was one. She was born in Ohio, on February 20, 1833, and reared at Monmouth, Ill., and married Alonzo Woodworth at Sacramento, in 1850. He worked out on farms, was a good stockman and a teamster. He settled at San Juan, formerly in Monterey County, but later in San Benito, and owned and farmed 160 acres. The Woodworths had thirteen children, eight boys and two girls of whom grew to maturity; and Joseph is the third living son. The parents moved up to Sacramento and lived there when our subject was born.

Joseph E. grew up at San Juan until he was twenty-five years old, and there, in his twenty-first year he was married to Miss Mary F. Shook, a native of Sacramento County and the daughter of Fortunatus and Cornelia (Doane) Shook. Mr. Shook was an old river-man and a jolly old soul, a good singer and a good dancer. Two children were born as the result of this union : Josie May, who is the wife of S. F. Carper, the well-known carpenter and builder at San Jose, and who is the mother of two children ; and Pearl, the wife of Earl Campbell, also a well-known carpenter and builder in the same town, the mother of one child.

On Washington's Birthday, 1883, Mr. Woodworth came to the San Joa- quin Valley and farmed for three years near Newman, Stanislaus County, and in 1888 bought 320 acres known as the Samuel Hill Estate. Here he raised fine Durham cattle until 1896, when he sold to Miller & Lux and he then moved to Dos Palos, and in 1901 he came to Laguna bringing with him a fine herd of Durham cattle. He bought forty acres from Nares & Saunders,

922

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

and in 1905 he purchased an additional thirty acres, thus making seventy acres which he has since well improved. He has a beautiful row of Lombardy poplars, set out in 1906, now grown to be almost forest trees and beautiful as ever; and he also has a lot of fine North Carolina poplars, equally well developed. His ranch boasts of good barns, a tank house, and a milk house, with cement floor ; there is a well, furnishing an abundant water supply, from which the water is piped to his barn. So many are the improvements that it is easy to see how he has put in a life-time of work to bring about the happy results.

In 1902, Mr. Woodworth was married a second time to Miss Ola Allen, a native of North Carolina, who came to California when she was twenty years old. Her parents had died in North Carolina when she was only five years of age, and she was reared in the family of a cousin. She came out here to join her brothers, Thomas J. and William H. Allen, whose life-stories are given elsewhere in this volume. She attended the common schools of North Carolina, and there enjoyed the foundation of a liberal education.

A Native Son, affiliated with the Parlor at San Jose, and a Republican in national politics, Mr. Woodworth is a friend of Charles King, the banker and railway builder of Hardwick, and he helped to start the Hardwick Bank. He also welcomed the Hanford & Summit Lake Railway, and he helped to organize and develop the Laton Creamery, now a mournful memory.

On the old home place where Mr. Woodworth was reared, one-quarter of a mile southeast of San Juan, there are now eight market-gardens, among the finest in all California. They are managed by a great seed firm. The old Twitchell house still stands with its majestic fireplace. As our subject grew up, he followed his father's occupation of farmer and teamster, and attended the public schools of San Juan. He teamed with oxen, horses and mules before there was any railroad through the San Joaquin Valley. He hauled merchandise from San Juan and San Jose, and helped to freight grain produce and to drive hogs and cattle on the hoof-a distance of forty miles. He could ride expertly and became a "bronco buster" and a general all around buchero. He can lasso cattle to perfection. In those days there were many Spanish cattle with great horns, and he often attended Spanish bull-fights. There were some Spanish cattle here with horns two and a half feet long when our subject came to this grant. His father once lassøed an elk near where Pleas- anton now stands, and this animal was tamed and stayed on the Woodworth farm many years, and grew to be about as tall as a cow. The father suf- fered a stroke of paralysis when our subject was twenty-six years old, and remained a speechless invalid for nineteen years, when he died at Dos Palos aged eighty-two years, two months and two days. Joseph was asso- ciated with his father from the time that he was twelve years of age, and worked with him up to 1886. He was a noble old pioneer. One reason the sub- ject does not know more about his father's former history is on account of his paralysis and subsequent speechlessness. Joseph Woodworth himself has met with misfortune. In 1892, while brisking horses, he was kicked in the left eye by a colt, and the injury resulted in blindness to that eye.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 121

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