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 133

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 133

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).

At Alameda, Mr. Foster was married to Miss Adelina Ross, a native daughter and a lady of accomplishments, who was popular in her Alameda County home. She is the daughter of Andrew Ross, who came to California on March 17, 1857, and is one of the earlier pioneers of the state.

HERMAN F. SIERING .- One of the best-known men in the so-called Highland district or colony in Fresno County is Herman F. Siering. Although this part of the county was settled at a comparatively recent date, it is now one of the best raisin and table-grape districts in the county. Mr. Siering was born in Berlin, April 25, 1870, but from the age of nine years was brought up and educated in San Francisco. The father was Herman Siering, and he was born in Germany, but escaped the tyranny of the Prussian aris- tocracy by coming to America, where he made for himself a name well known in early business circles in San Francisco, of which city he first be- came a citizen in 1850. He became extensively engaged in the retail and wholesale business, dealing in fancy goods, first under the name of Locan & Company, and later of H. Siering & Company. On account of the financial panic in 1880 this firm made an assignment for the benefit of its creditors, and the Siering accumulations of thirty years were all dissolved. The assignee. Frank Locan, withheld two sections of land in Fresno County in what is now the Highland district, from schedule, and this act resulted in almost endless litigation on the part of the heirs of Mr. Siering before the matter was finally settled. His financial reverses and legal troubles hastened his death, for at the early age of fifty-six he died in San Francisco. After his death, the widow brought an action to recover Mr. Siering's share in this land, with the result that after years of costly litigation 300 acres were set off for the benefit of the heirs of Mr. Siering. As this land again came into the possession of the family, the mother, brothers and sisters came to Fresno County and engaged in the improving of the property.

The mother's maiden name was Jennie Vieck, and she was born in East Prussia. She and her husband were married in New York State in 1849, and to them were born nine children of whom four are living: Robert Sier- ing, a bookkeeper, and Henry Siering, a musician, both living in San Fran- cisco ; Jennie, the wife of Geo. E. Vockel and the mother of six children, now residing in Los Angeles; and Herman F., of this review.

In 1892, the mother deeded forty acres to her daughter Jennie; and prior to her death in San Francisco, in 1902, she deeded 220 acres to her four boys : Robert, Henry, Frank and Herman F. They began systematically to farm and improve their land and later the brothers incorporated under the name of "Siering Company, Inc." They farmed to grain principally, from 1892 to 1907. Then eighty acres were sold to Mr. Charles Pruess, and twenty acres to Arthur E. Gerner, while the rest of the land was divided among the four Siering brothers. Herman and Frank Siering received forty acres as their share.

On November 15, 1913, H. F. Siering married Mrs. Charles Pruess, whose maiden name was Katy Marcus. She was the widow of the Charles Pruess

1030

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

who is mentioned on another page in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Siering have had four children born to them: Frank; Jennie; Katy; and Herman, who died in infancy. Mr. Siering lives with his family on the eighty acres be- longing to his wife. They have a commodious residence of the bungalow type, built by Mr. Pruess, and also barns and other ranch buildings. The ranch is irrigated from the Fowler Switch Ditch.

On Mr. Siering's own property of forty acres he has ten acres of malagas, four and one-half acres of Thompson Seedless and ten acres of muscats; and the balance is being set to malagas. Mr. Siering is a hard worker, is progres- sive in his methods of work and in his political views and belongs to the California Associated Raisin Company. He stands for the community good and is a man of honesty, integrity and honor, justly popular and highly respected. He is every inch a patriot.

W. H. DAVIS .- All sections of the world honor the pioneers, but espe- cially is this the case in California where the wonderful developments of the present are due to the fearless pioneers who faced the hardships of an over- land journey across the Indian infested plains and endured the trials and privations incident to life on the frontier, that civilization might march west- ward and that farms and homes might come into being in the great unknown country. With due appreciation of the brave men of the days of '49, we speak their names with pride and respect.

W. H. Davis, Sr., the father of the subject of this sketch, was an Argo- naut of '49. He was born in Arkansas in 1830, descended of a prominent old Southern family. He crossed the plains to California and soon after his arrival found the Indians on the warpath, and volunteered in a company under Gen- eral Beale, following the Indians into the Yosemite. An old Indian stated that they were the first white men who had ever been in the Yosemite Valley. After the Indian war was over he followed mining in different localities with more or less success and then went to El Monte, Cal., to visit his sister, Mrs. Whistler, where he met Miss Sarah Jane Ellis whom he married on October 28, 1858. She was born in Tippah County, Miss., October 29, 1838, the daugh- ter of Rev. T. O. Ellis, M.D., a native of Perry County, Mo., born in 1808, and descended from an old Virginian family. T. O. Ellis was educated in an eastern college and was ordained a minister in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; he was also a graduate doctor of medicine. He married Elizabeth Long and resided in Tennessee where he was a prominent minister and physician until he removed to Texas, where he actively followed his profession until 1857, when he crossed the plains, bringing his family by an ox team train to El Monte. After teaching school for a year he became pre- siding elder of the Visalia district for a year and then located in Mariposa County, practicing medicine until 1865, when he located on a ranch which he purchased on Kings River, Fresno County. He was elected superintendent of schools and became very prominent in educational affairs in the county. Rev. Ellis was a learned and cultured man of philanthropic disposition and assisted many young people to get a start. After twelve years' service as county superintendent he lived retired on his ranch until his death, aged seventy-one. His wife survived him and died in August, 1914, aged ninety- three years.

After his marriage, W. H. Davis, Sr., followed mining in Mariposa County for some years. In 1867 he located in the Academy district. Fresno County, engaging in stock-raising until his death, in 1871. After his death his widow purchased a ranch of 520 acres in that vicinity, where she reared her family and has engaged in farming and stock-raising ever since. She lives in her comfortable home and is looked after by her children. The six children living are: W. T. and J. E., stockmen in this county ; Mary F., who is Mrs. Baird of Fairview; Eugene G. and J. O., stockmen in this county ; and W. H., Jr.

I. V. Davis

1033

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

W. H. Davis, Jr., the subject of this sketch, was born in Centerville, Fresno County, on September 30, 1871, and in his native county he was reared and received his education. Following the example of his pioneer father, he took up agriculture as his vocation, in which he has been very successful, engaging in stock- and grain-raising, later becoming extensively interested in the culture of grapes. He is the owner of a seventy-acre ranch in Round Mountain district, which he devotes to fruit and raisins, and upon which he has erected a substantial and pretentious residence, with a pictur- esque environment.

In Fresno, in the year 1900, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Miss Mary Hilton, the daughter of F. T. and Alice (Whitney) Hilton, who is a native of California, having been born in Kern County. Her parents came, with their parents, to California when they were children, the father coming from Yarmonth, Nova Scotia, when sixteen years of age, and the mother when twelve years of age, from the state of Maine, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton have been residents of Fresno County since 1888. Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Davis are the parents of eight children: Frederick H. and Mary June, in Fresno High School; Alice A .; Elizabeth A .; Walton L .; Shirley Jane; Chester B. and Dorothy May.

Fraternally Mr. Davis was a charter member of the Fresno County Par- lor of Native Sons (not now in existence) ; he is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters in Fresno.

ALEXANDER McNEIL .- Since a youth seventeen years of age Alex- ander McNeil's fortunes have been cast in Fresno County, and he has wit- nessed the various stages of development through which the county has passed, from the old days of sheep-herding and stock-raising through the eras of grain-farming, horticulture and viticulture. The old picturesque border life has given place to an era of culture and refinement, and Fresno County now holds first place among the counties of the state for the wealth of its inhabitants, the richness of its productions and the salubriousness of its climate.

This pioneer of Fresno County was born in Waukesha County, Wis., May 15, 1860, and is the son of James and Louisa (Daws) McNeil, the former a native of New York State, the latter of England. When Alexander was a small child the family moved to Minnesota, and in the fall of 1876 came to California. They arrived in Fresno February, 1877. Alexander Mc- Neil is the oldest child in a family of four children, all of whom are living. James H., the next oldest, lives in West Park, Fresno County; William J. resides in Barstow Colony ; and George P. is a resident of Sacramento. Upon arriving in Fresno the father purchased a section of land two miles north of Fresno, a part of the old Gould ranch, now known as the McNeil ranch (although the property has passed out of the family). This ranch was planted to pears, peaches, apricots, almond and walnut trees, alfalfa and grain. The orchard was one of the first planted in Fresno County. Nursery stock was raised, and many of the large orchards now producing in Fresno County were started from stock raised on this ranch. As this was the only fruit ranch for miles around, people in the early days drove there from all over the valley to buy their supply. The father remained on the ranch six years, and then returned to Minnesota. There he remained for several years, later returning to Fresno, where he died. After the father gave up the ranch it was carried on for some time by his brother, George L., and was later sold. Alexander McNeil, a boy of nearly seventeen when he arrived in Fresno, attended the only school at that time in the place, which was located in a small frame building on Tulare at the corner of L Street. After completing his schooling he took up teaming, driving an eight-mule team from Fresno to Pine Ridge, hauling supplies to the lumber camps, and returning with lumber. Later he followed dry farming, raising grain and hay in West Park

1034

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

district. He also rented land in Dry Creek district and on a large scale in San Joaquin River district. Giving this up later, he entered partnership with his brother-in-law, H. E. Burleigh, and bought a quarter section of land in West Park district, seven miles southwest of Fresno, and engaged in the dairy business. For the past few years he has been acquiring more land in that section, and is now the sole owner of 1,428 acres. He has de- veloped one of the best dairy ranches in the valley, milking 200 high-grade cows of the Holstein breed, and keeping registered bulls. He is gradually building up a thoroughbred herd. He is raising cattle, mules, horses and alfalfa and also has a twenty-acre vineyard. He was one of the organizers of and a director in the San Joaquin Valley Milk Producers' Association. This association is on the cooperative plan, to facilitate the sale of, and to stand- ardize, dairy products.

Mr. McNeil was married in Fresno, March 27, 1889, to Sadie E. Burleigh, who was born in Kansas, the daughter of J. M. and Harriett (Pervier) Bur- leigh, natives of New Hampshire who joined the throng from New England that rushed to Kansas in 1854 to make it a free state. They located on Deep Creek near Manhattan, where the family remained until 1874, when they came to Fresno, which had just been made the county seat. J. M. Burleigh was in business for a time, and also served as deputy sheriff. He and his wife both passed away at the old Burleigh home on I Street. They had four children : Frank, who fought the Indians in Kansas and Colorado during the Civil War, and who was a grain merchant in Fresno for many years; H. E. and F. L., who reside in West Park, this county ; and Sadie E., who received her education in the public schools of Fresno, her first teacher being Prof. R. H. Bromlet. Mr. and Mrs. McNeil are the parents of three children : Charles B., associated with his father in the care of the ranch; Harriett, a graduate of the Fresno State Normal and a teacher in Longfellow School, Fresno; and Mollie E., also a graduate of the Fresno Normal and now the wife of F. J. Harkness of Fresno.

Mr. McNeil's fraternal relations include membership in Manzanita Lodge, No. 160. WV. O. W., the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Eagles. He is thoroughly loyal to Fresno County, taking an active interest in all that pertains to its advancement, is public spirited to an extreme degree, and is justly entitled to the esteem in which he is held by those who know him.

ZENAS WOLGAMOTT .- A worthy and honored pioneer who recently passed to his eternal reward, and whose memory will long be cherished by an appreciative and grateful posterity, is Zenas Wolgamott. He was born in Holmes County, Ohio, January 30, 1831. the son of Jonathan and Jane (Boone) Wolgamott. His father came from Hagerstown, Md., where he was born on June 24, 1800. Later, he came with his parents to Ohio, and grew up to be a very successful farmer. With his wife and family he removed to Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1844, and fourteen years later went to Scotland County, Mo. During the Civil War he joined the Union Army, and for sev- eral months saw service under Colonel Glover. He spent his last days in Lompoc, Santa Barbara County, where he died in 1881. Jane Boone was born in Adams County, Pa., May 12, 1804, and early settled in Ohio with her father, George Boone, who was in the War of 1812. His family was closely related to that of Daniel Boone, the hero of Kentucky, a circumstance of which Mrs. Wolgamott was justly proud. She died near Unionton, Mo., on March 23, 1862. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wolgamott were pillars of the Methodist Epis- copal Church.

Zenas Wolgamott received a liberal education in Jefferson County, Iowa. In 1852 he and his brother George crossed the plains with ox teams as a part of a great pioneer train. The party was 169 days on the trip. When Mr. Wolgamott reached California he engaged in mining and farming with his brother George. The latter was stricken with cholera on the trip to Califor-

1035

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

nia, and Zenas nursed him and brought him through. George later graduated as a doctor of medicine, and was a successful physician in Chicago, Ill., until his death.

In 1856 Zenas returned to his home in Iowa, traveling by way of the Isthmus of Panama; and in the spring of the following year he located in Scotland County, Mo. On November 20, 1859, he was married to Phoebe Elizabeth Breckenridge, a native of Anderson County, Ky., where she was born on June 30, 1837, the daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Breckenridge, who was closely related to the Hon. John C. Breckenridge, the distinguished citizen of the Blue Grass State. She came with her parents, in 1843, to Callo- way County, Mo., and in 1857 to Scotland County, where her parents died. She is the second youngest of eight children, only two of whom are living: and she had three brothers who came to California in pioneer days, but returned East. Mr. and Mrs. Wolgamott were blessed with eight children, six of whom grew to maturity. Harris Boone, is a business man at Moberly, Mo .; Dora B., was Mrs. Grassle, who died at North Platte, Nebr. : Lizzie L., is now Mrs. Hall of Fort Scott, Kans. : Ollie is Mrs. Gibbons of Fresno : Jen- nie is devoting her time to the comfort of her mother; and Daisy Grace, is Mrs. Paulding of Rockford, Ill.

For a while Mr. Wolgamott engaged in mercantile business in Unionton, and then selling out. in 1859, he took up farming, which he continued until 1866. During this time he served for a while in Company L. Second Regi- ment of Missouri Militia. In 1866 he again embarked in the mercantile busi- ness at Unionton, and in 1888 removed to Kirksville, Mo., where he soon retired. During this time he made three trips to California, and in 1894, with his wife and daughter, removed to Malaga. After settling here he bought forty acres of land, and devoted himself to viticulture; and having sold the property he located in Fresno in 1910. This was the period of his final retirement, and in anticipation of a pleasant and well-deserved rest he purchased the corner of Olive and Palm Streets, a tract of five acres. Much of this was later sold for building sites, but the family still have thir- teen lots and a fine house. Mr. Wolgamott spent his last days here, and died on January 13, 1918, aged almost eight-seven years. He was especially hon- ored by the Fresno post of the Grand Army of the Republic, to which he belonged.

JUDGE J. B. CAMPBELL .- Numbered among the inhabitants the Blue Grass State has furnished the slopes of the Pacific was the well-known pioneer Judge James B. Campbell, who died September 15. 1916. He was born on a farm in Christian County, and received his education in the country schools. As a young man he read law in the office of Colonel Buckner of Hopkinsville, and after his admission to the bar practised law in Hopkinsville for eight years. In the fall of 1860 he came to California via Cape Horn. His first wife, before her marriage, was Miss Martha Crockett, the eldest daughter of Judge Crockett of Kentucky, who came out to California in pioneer days and became a judge of the supreme court of California.

Judge Campbell was a well-known practitioner of law in Santa Rosa, Petaluma and San Francisco. He also spent some time in the mining region of Owens River, back of Visalia. Upon his return to San Francisco his wife died. He next located in Mariposa and was associated in the practice of his profession with Judge Buckhalter. He was elected district attorney of Mari- posa County and served in that capacity two terms, also serving as tax col- lector. He was appointed district judge over four counties in the San Joaquin Valley and was later elected to that office for one term. While holding this office he held court in the historic old courthouse at Millerton. In 1880 he moved to Fresno and opened a law office with Samuel Hinds. Elected supe- rior judge of Fresno County, he served one term and then retired from active

1036

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

practice. He was a large landowner in Fresno and Tulare Counties and ran his ranches until his death.

Judge Campbell was a deep student and possessed a keen appreciation and love for the best literature. His second marriage, December 12, 1884, united him to Kittie Bell, of Hopkinsville, by whom he had one son, Garth B. In politics the Judge was a Democrat. In his fraternal associations he was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Knights of Pythias.

The late Judge's only son, Garth B., is a native of Fresno and one of the rising young attorneys of the state. He was born in the Grand Central Hotel, December 18, 1885. He graduated from the Fresno grammar school in 1900 and from the high school in 1904, and for one year was a reporter on the Fresno Evening Democrat. He graduated from the University of California in 1910 and from the Harvard Law School in 1912. During his vacations, from 1905 to 1912, he served as reporter on the Fresno Republican. He practised law with the firm of Sutherland and Barbour and served as deputy district attorney and United Stated commissioner up to 1915. Since then he has been in private practice of the law.

ELBRIDGE MILES .- It is the proud claim of E. Miles that he is not only a native son of the state, but a son of an honored pioneer as well. It is this class of men and women who are held in honor in all sections of the world, but this is especially true in California, where the younger generations realized that to the hardy pioneers are due the present wonderful develop- ments in all lines of industry, and are conscious of the fact that such changes could never have been accomplished without the heroic work and great hard- ships of those who blazed the trail for a later civilization. Not all the pioneers who came deserve credit for the development of the state; many sought for gold and left the state never to return, but to those who remained and, with untiring labor, succeeded in making an unknown country the fruitful abode for later happy and contented generations, is the honor due.

Such a pioneer was E. Miles, Sr., father of our subject. He was a native of Maine who left that state when a lad of about sixteen, and with courage and determination migrated to California, via Cape Horn, about 1850. He located first in Placer County, where he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for a time, but later engaged in the stock-raising business, including sheep, in which he met with success.

In 1857. E. Miles, Sr., was united in marriage with Mary A. Waldren, and in 1864 they removed to Fresno County, where Mr. Miles became a large sheep-raiser. After two years here he went to Oakland, remained for a like period. and then returned to Fresno County, where he lived until 1872. He next moved to San Luis Obispo County, farmed and raised stock till his death, in 1899, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Miles became the parents of eight children: Amanda, Mrs. Schneiderwind, in San Mateo County ; Mary, Mrs. Boney, in Los Angeles; Elbridge: Martha, Mrs. Wat- ters, in Los Angeles; Emma, Mrs. Hatfield, also in the southern metropolis. Three of the children are deceased: Ella. Mrs. Bobst, who died, leaving two children : William, also died, leaving a girl and a boy, who have been reared by their uncle, Mr. Miles of this review; and Homer, who died in young manhood.

It is reported upon reliable authority that in the early days of Fresno County the Miles family were the only Republicans in their section of the county and that the men were required to carry arms when they went to vote. The elder Miles was a man of striking personality and possessed a strong character. If he believed he was right it was impossible to swerve him from his purpose. Fraternally he was a charter member of the first Odd Fellow lodge organized in Fresno County. His wife, Mary Miles, was a loving mother and an unselfish and untiring worker in those strenuous days

Belle Miles

Errelex

1039

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

so full of hardships for the pioneer women. She came to California by way of Panama in 1855. She makes her home in Los Angeles and is in the enjoy- ment of the best of health.

E. Miles, Jr., was born in Placer County, January 8, 1860, and was reared in the city of Oakland, where he attended the public school until the family removed to San Luis Obispo, where he finished his education, supplementing his common school course by attending an Oakland business college. After reaching manhood he became interested in politics and while in San Luis Obispo County he served four years as deputy assessor. In 1886 he came to Fresno County and went to work for J. S. Jones, having charge of his grain warehouse at Traver, and later at Reedley, continuing so occupied until 1910. He served as a deputy sheriff under Jay Scott from the time the latter took office until he went out.

In 1905, Mr. Miles became a landowner when he bought twenty acres three miles east of Reedley. This was barren stubble land, and he set out every vine and tree, erected the buildings and sunk a well. He bought stock in the Raisin Growers Association before he had set out a vine and is now a stockholder in the present association, as well as in the Peach Growers, Inc.

On October 18, 1891, Mr. Miles and Miss Belle Apperson were united in marriage. She was a daughter of William L. and Elizabeth (Rucker) Apper- son, born in Vallejo, Cal., April 16, 1869. She came to Fresno County in 1873 with her parents. Her father was born in Virginia in 1822, and came to California in 1849, crossing the Indian-infested plains in company with fifty immigrants driving ox teams. The journey took them six months. Upon his arrival in the Golden State he engaged in mining for six years, sometimes making a strike and at others sinking what he had already made. He finally decided to quit mining and go back to his trade of cabinetmaker. On Septem- ber 14, 1865, he was commissioned Captain of the Alpine Rifles, Fourth Brigade of California, by Governor Lowe, to maintain law and order after the war. He was the first undertaker in Fresno County, manufacturing his own coffins in Fresno. He died at the age of ninety-four, on January 3, 1917. Mrs. Apperson was, in maidenhood, Elizabeth Rucker, a very talented woman, and for years was a school teacher. She was a sister of the late William Rucker, of Kingsburg. She finally met and married Mr. Apperson and their union was blessed with four children: Belle, Mrs. E. Miles ; Hattie, Mrs. Calcote of Visalia ; Walter, who died in infancy : and William, who died in 1912. Mrs. Apperson passed away in February, 1899, aged fifty-nine years.

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 133

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