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 143

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 143

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ROBERT W. RHEA .- For thirty-two years as a resident of Fresno County, Robert W. Rhea well deserves the title of pioneer. He has not only witnessed the steady development of the West, but has rendered valuable service in the improvement and growth of this section. He was born on Feb- ruary 15, 1851, in Ringold, Platte County, Mo., the son of Spartan F. and Lamanda (McKey) Rhea, the latter being an aunt of John McKey, ex-Gov- ernor of Nebraska.

When only a year old, Robert was left motherless, and when three years of age his father moved to Kansas in the late fall of 1854, where he not only engaged in farming, but for twenty years held the position of county sur- veyor. He was an early settler of Easton, Leavenworth County, Kans., and the first government land sale was held at his house. For ten years he was identified with the growth of this town, then removed to Platte City, where Robert received the most of his schooling. When his school days were over he continued to assist his father on the home farm until he was twenty-two years of age. He was reared on the frontier and hunting appealed to him, living in an atmosphere where boys led active, outdoor lives, only five miles from where Buffalo Bill Cody was raised. He engaged in hunting buffalo for four years, from the Platte to the Red River, hunting them for their meat and hides. He has seen as many as thirty-five carloads of Buffalo hides in bales shipped out of Kit Carson at one time; they were sold to an English firm. As a buffalo-hunter he had many thrilling experiences and also narrow escapes from the Redskins. He has seen some high stakes played and had some hard enough frontier experiences.

After four years of hunting the buffalo he went to San Luis Valley, Colo., where he rode the range for Dickie Bros., and soon became a trusted man and left to carry out large undertakings, and one of the first of these was to drive a herd of cattle from Colorado to Black Hills, Mont. In 1884 he went to Apache County, Ariz., taking charge of a cattle ranch for J. H. Bowan and at the same time was engaged in cattle-raising with a partner, George Lock- hart. While residing in Apache County he was elected Justice of the Peace and filled the office with general satisfaction. His partner and two of their men were killed by Navajo Indians, and after this he remained on his ranch another year when he sold out and located in Fresno County, in 1887.

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During his residence in Arizona Mr. Rhea was united in wedlock to Miss Laura A. White, a native of Pennsylvania. The marriage took place at St. Johns, Ariz., on November 27, 1885. After selling his Arizona interests, he first visited San Diego, where he met a Mr. Thornton, who advised him that Fresno County held wonderful possibilities. Consequently, in July of 1887 he settled in Fresno, where he purchased forty acres of farm land, his present home. He built a house, purchased a number of calves from D. D. Fowler, and in a small way made a venture at stock-raising. Finding it a profitable business, he continued, until at present his home place consists of 100 acres of valuable land. Besides raising stock, he makes a specialty of dairving. He has a fine herd of thoroughbred Jerseys, and has established a reputation for dairy products. He is also connected with the Danish Creamery, having been a director for fourteen years and president for ten years, when he requested to be excused from the presidency. He was president when the new brick building was built.

Aside from his varied business, Mr. Rhea finds time for outside interests. He has been a member of the County Democratic Central Committee for the past twelve years. He became identified with the First Christian Church twelve years ago, and has served in the capacity of deacon. He is an indus- trious worker in any undertaking, be it business, civic or social; and as a citizen of Fresno is well known and highly respected for his inherent good qualities.

WALLACE L. BARR .- Is the only son of George W. and Mary A. Barr. and was born in Santa Ana, Cal., June 11, 1881. His early education was received in the public school at Oleander, and the Washington Union High School, at Easton, after which he supplemented his knowledge by pursuing a business course in the Fresno Business College, under Prof. J. N. Sproule. After leaving school he accepted a position as bookkeeper for the Einstein Company remaining with the firm for one year and a half, afterwards keeping books for the Kutner Company. His next position was with the advertising department of the Fresno Democrat, remaining with this paper four years when he accepted a position as traveling salesman which he held six years. In 1910 Wallace L. Barr entered the real estate business in Fresno, being associated with W. E. Bush and Company for three years when he engaged in business for himself with an office at 9241/2 J Street.

Wallace L. Barr was united in marriage with Georgia H. Jones, of Kansas City. Fraternally, Mr. Barr is a Mason and a member of Las Palmas Lodge, No. 347, F. & A. M., at Fresno.

MRS. MARY M. DONLEAVEY .- A very interesting pioneer whose life-work seems to have been very fruitful in service to her fellow-men, and especially in much needed orphanage work, is Mrs. Mary M. Donleavey, of 306 Olive Avenue. Fresno. Her maiden name was Branham and she was born in Culpepper County, Va. Her first husband was Joseph W. Roberts, and he was killed at the Battle of Bull Run. After his death, she became a nurse in the Civil War, and saw heroic service at Antietam, Harper's Ferry and other centers in the thickest of the fight. She was in Washington when President Lincoln was shot, and so came to know Booth personally.

Later Mrs. Donleavey took up orphanage home work and resolved to make that her life ambition. For five years she conducted an orphanage at Bloomington, Ill. In 1871 she married W. H. Donleavey, a native of Illinois, who served in the Civil War as a member of an Illinois regiment. Being a miller by trade, he settled at Rush Center in Rush County, Kans., where he built and ran the Walnut Valley Rolling Mills. He invented an iron roller for grinding the grain, and installed the invention in the mills at Keokuk and Independence, Iowa, and at Warsaw, Il1.

Mr. Donleavey came to California in 1886, and at Smithville, Colusa County, he ran a mill. In 1887 he came to Fresno; but a year later he was

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taken sick and died in Lake County. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Donleavey came back to Fresno and opened the first orphans' home in that town. She went before the town trustees and told them of her experience, and advocated an orphanage at Fresno station. She became matron of the same on May I, 1893. The first location was at Woodman's Addition, in a large, two-story house; later she moved to Gilbert Street, and afterwards bought ten acres of land on West Olive Avenue, where she built a cabin and moved her ten orphans, later on she had a home erected. Selling her ten acres, she bought five acres farther west on Olive Street near Merced. Still residing in that section, she gave up her orphanage some few years ago, after having done a lot of good for the orphans and poor people of Fresno. She still retains one acre of the five, the remaining four having been subdivided and sold. She was the first to build and buy on West Olive Avenue, having farmed some seventy acres there to grain and at one time she had sixty acres in melons.

By her first marriage Mrs. Donleavey had a daughter, Mrs. Georgia Senior, of Hayward, Cal., to whom three children have been born : James ; Robert ; and the other is Mrs. Grace Prisin.

Mrs. Donleavey has nine great grandchildren, and has adopted a son. an orphan who took her name-Joseph W. Donleavey. When at home, he worked in the office of the Fresno Republican, and now he is in the U. S. A. aviation service.

B. F. NEIKIRK .- The appearance and environment of a man's home clearly indicate his character and taste in life. This is especially true of the cozy home of Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Neikirk, which nestles in the midst of orange, peach and nectarine trees on their highly cultivated fifty-acre ranch devoted to the culture of fruits and vines. Mr. Neikirk is a practical and enterprising rancher and has always confined his interests to the cultivation of the soil and, by hard work, persevering and intelligent efforts, has gained success in his horticultural and viticultural enterprise and now has attained the enviable position in life where he and his estimable wife can now take life easier.

B. F. Neikirk is a native of Smith County, Virginia, where he was born in 1852, a son of George W. and Mary J. Neikirk, who were also residents of Virginia. Of their family of five children, B. F. Neikirk, the subject of this review. was the only member to migrate to California, which occurred in 1891. After arriving in the Golden State he became the foreman of a large ranch for eight years, after which he held a similar position on another, for two years.

In 1901 he took possession of his present ranch, containing fifty acres devoted to the culture of nectarines, apricots, peaches, muscat and Thompson seedless grapes.

When he purchased the property the land was in an uncultivated con- dition, but through hard toil and judicious management, he has brought the land up to a high state of cultivation and his persistent efforts have been duly rewarded by abundant crops.

In 1877, Mr. B. F. Neikirk was united in marriage with Miss Mattie McCall, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Edmondson) McCall, the ceremony being solemnized in the state of Texas.

The Neikirks and McCalls are both old and highly respected families of the Old Dominion State and their ancestors can be traced back to the Revo- lutionary War, in which conflict members of the family rendered valiant service.

John McCall, the father of Mrs. Neikirk, was a soldier in the Civil War and served in the Confederate Army. Her maternal grandfather Edmondson, was an extensive slave owner and an old settler of Washington County, Va.

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The Neikirk family were also old settlers of the South and took an active part in defending and upholding what they believed a just cause, the principles of the Southern Confederacy.

In 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Neikirk took an extended trip to the South and Middle West, leaving home in April and returning in November. During their vacation trip they visited in Virginia, Washington, D. C., Tennessee, Oklahoma, Denver, Salt Lake City and many side trips of interest were en- joyed among which was a visit to Boone's monument. The pleasures of this enjoyable trip will never be forgotten by Mr. and Mrs. B. F. Neikirk.

JONATHAN C. GIBBS .- Especial interest attaches to the life of Jona- than C. Gibbs, the successful raisin grower and owner of a highly improved fifty-acre vineyard on North Avenue, one mile east of Lone Star. From the early age of ten years he was compelled to make his own way in the world, and, although handicapped through lack of money and the advantages of a good education, he has achieved marked success through his own efforts and untiring energy.

Jonathan C. Gibbs was born at Lyons, Wayne County, N. Y., on May 5, 1840, a son of Aaron Swaine and Mary (Clark) Gibbs. Aaron Gibbs was a farmer in the Empire State and passed away when his son Jonathan was seven years old. The mother continued to operate the farm for three years after the death of her husband, when she went to make her home with one of her daughters. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Gibbs consisted of ten children, seven girls and three boys. Two of the boys grew to manhood. Jonathan C. is now the only member of the family living.

Jonathan C. Gibbs, the subject of this sketch, hired out by the month at ten years of age, working on farms, and when fourteen years of age was able to do the work of a man in the harvest field, binding grain after the cradlers. In 1858, being then about eighteen years of age, Jonathan C. Gibbs, left his native state and journeyed westward to Adams County, Ill., where in 1860 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth McGibbons, a native of the same county, whose parents came from Westmoreland County, Pa. Mr. Gibbs rented a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits until the Civil War was declared, when he showed his patriotism and loyalty by enlisting in Com- pany A, One Hundred Nineteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, be- ing mustered into service at Quincy, Ill. He was engaged in several skir- mishes but was taken sick and developed a chronic disease, on account of which physical disability he was honorably discharged in 1863. In 1880 he re- moved to Chariton County, Mo., where he was engaged for five years in farm- ing, after which he migrated farther westward, this time coming through to the Pacific Coast and locating in San Francisco, in 1885, where he remained six years, being employed in the agricultural implement business.

In 1891 Mr. Gibbs moved to Fresno County, and although his total cash at that time amounted to but eighty-five cents, he was undaunted by adver- sity. He was a large and powerful man, possessing strong brain power and marked executive ability; and being an indefatigable worker and very eco- nomical in his habits of living. by 1898 he had saved $2,200, with which he purchased his present ranch of fifty acres. This property is now an excep- tionally productive raisin vineyard, and its present value is placed at $50,000. It is a cozy, homelike place, equipped with every convenience.

Mr. and Mrs. Gibbs were the parents of nine children, two of whom died when about two years of age. Mrs. Gibbs passed away on July 26. 1908. leaving, besides her husband, seven children to mourn the loss of a loving and devoted mother. The seven children are: Jennie B., now Mrs. Horst- man, of Fresno ; Linda B., the widow of Daniel Burgan, residing at Lindsay ; Albert Grant, a rancher living near the home ranch ; Charles E., a resident of the state of Washington; Maud F., the wife of Walter Pool, living in Fresno County: Almeda Carrie, who married Starr Williams, a rancher liv- ing near Fresno; and Hazel Kirk, who is the wife of Baalam Cannon, living

J.C. Gibbs.

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on the home ranch. Mr. Gibbs has three grandchildren: Bernice Clanton, mother of two children, Fern and Ralph; Roy Gibbs; and Charlene Gibbs. Of a sociable and companionable nature, Mr. Gibbs is one of the best-liked men in this section of the county. He is a member of the California Raisin Growers' Association. and in politics is a Progressive Republican. In the spring of 1918, he met with a severe accident that resulted in a broken hip, from which he was a sufferer for months, but he is now slowly recovering.

GEORGE M. BOLES .- An experienced and influential business man, such as is always to be prized in the formative period of any state, is George M. Boles, one of the representative business men of Fresno. His father was Cornelius Boles, a furniture dealer of Iowa, who came west to California in 1885 and engaged in ranching near Fresno, and there died, in 1910, at the age of seventy-two. His mother, before her marriage, was Eliza Rolens, and she is still living, having passed her eighty-fourth milestone.

George M. Boles was born near Des Moines, Iowa, March 17, 1868, and was educated at Cherokee, in the grammar and high schools, to which town the family had moved, continuing his schooling at Fresno. Leaving school, he became bookkeeper for a number of firms, and even in that routine line of work he showed capacity for larger responsibility.

In 1890, he married Miss May Wafford, of Texas, by whom he has had two sons, George C. and C. E. Boles ; and with his family he resides in com- fort at 1561 J Street. C. E. Boles served in the Coast Artillery for six or seven months, and after the armistice was signed he received his honorable discharge.

In 1900 Mr. G. M. Boles engaged in the harness business at 1144-46 I Street, and there his extensive stock was constantly added to for seven years. Selling out his harness interests, he went into the meat business for a couple of years: but in 1910 he disposed of that store, to devote himself entirely to real estate operations. He formed the Boles Realty Company, which dealt largely in San Joaquin Valley lands and in fire insurance ; and in that field, Mr. Boles was assisted by his two sons. For ten terms, at different times, he was director of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and also director of the Fresno Traffic Association for five years.

Always a public-spirited man, Mr. Boles served a couple of terms as city trustee from the Second Ward, being first elected in 1901, and reelected in 1913. He was also for seventeen years a member of the Second Infantry-the first battalion in San Joaquin Valley-of the California National Guard, and retired full of honors in 1911, with the rank of Major. A Mason, an Odd Fellow and a Woodman of the World, Mr. Boles also has long been one of the pillars of the Commercial Club.

REV. G. R. EDWARD MAC DONALD .- Noteworthy among the active and talented ministers sent to California and to Fresno County, Rev. G. R. Edward MacDonald, Dean and Rector of St. James Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, Fresno, has carried on his work here with the same earnestness of purpose for which he has been noted in other fields. Broad and liberal in spirit, and sincerely devout in his convictions, he is a practical Christian, and his kindly, sympathetic nature make him a true minister of the gospel, and a helper of man. Born in St. Andrews East, Quebec, Canada, July 21, 1877, Dean Mac- Donald is a son of Samttel and Emily Elizabeth (Roberts) MacDonald, the former a native of old Oregon, his father being a chief factor of the Hudson's Bay Company, and the latter of Fredericton, New Brunswick. When he was a small lad of six years. the family moved to Fredericton, and he received his early education in the schools of that city, graduating from the University of New Brunswick in 1898, and from Kings Theological College of Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1899.

Mr. MacDonald was ordained Deacon December 24, 1899, by Bishop Kingdon, and was ordained a priest July 21, 1901, by the same Bishop, in

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the Diocese of Fredericton, N. B. His first charge was as curate of Bathurst, New Brunswick, where he had charge of a large mission field in Gloucester County. He was next rector at South Hampton, and Queensbury, N. B. For three and one-half years he was curate of Trinity Church, at St. John, New Brunswick.

On February 1, 1906, Mr. MacDonald became rector of the Church of the Savior, at Hanford, Kings County, Cal., where a new church was erected during his pastorate. In April, 1912, he was called to the charge of St. James Pro-Cathedral, Fresno, and brought to the larger field a largeness of purpose, and a genuine devotion to the best interests of his congregation, and of the growing municipality. He is president of the Council of Advice of the San Joaquin Episcopal Diocese, and is secretary of the Missionary Commission of the same district. His faithful and disinterested devotion to worthy causes has also won him public recognition, and he is a member of the Department of Public Welfare of Fresno County, appointed by the board of supervisors of the county.

The marriage of Mr. MacDonald, which occurred June 4, 1902, at Fred- ericton, N B., united him with Lilla Clifton Tabor, a native of that city, and two children have been born to them, Lilla Klyne, born at St. John, N. B., March 7, 1903, and Charles Ranald, born in Hanford, Cal., September 9, 1909.

HARRY M. JOHNSTON .- The senior member of the well known law firm of Johnston and Jones, in the city of Fresno, is a native of the state of Mississippi, born December 15, 1865, at Coldwater, De Soto County. Brought up on a Southern plantation, Mr. Johnston, after completing his education at the South Western Presbyterian University. Clarksville, Tennessee, and graduating from that institution with the degree of M. A. in the year 1888. spent a vear in European travel, after which he took a course in the Columbia Law School, in the city of New York. In 1890 he came to California and was admitted to the bar the same year. He opened a law office in Santa Cruz, California, and served that city in the capacity of city attorney for two years. April, 1893, he came to Fresno. where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. For four years, from 1908 to 1912, Mr. Johnston was the city attorney of Fresno.

By his marriage with Laura M. Barksdale, a native of Arkansas, he established domestic ties. They are the parents of three interesting children. namely : William B .: Harry M. Jr. and Evelyn S. In his religious con- victions Mr. Johnston is a Presbyterian and a member of the First Presby- terian Church of Fresno. Fraternally he is connected with Fresno Lodge, No. 247, F. & A. M .: Fresno Lodge, No. 162, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and is Past Council Commander of the Woodmen of the World.

A. D. CRIBB .- An exceptionally fine old settler who has done his "bit" toward the development of the State of California and sending it forward to its magnificent destiny, is A. D. Cribb, who has improved various vine- vards, and in doing so has attained a comfortable prosperity for himself. In the early seventies he came to California, having been born at Racine, Wis., June 22, 1848. His father was James Cribb, who was born at Land's End, Cornwall, England, and as a young man came to the United States and Wisconsin, settling at Mineral Point. He was married to Elizabeth Clenes, who was born near London. He engaged in mercantile business at Mineral Point, and then removed to Racine County, where he secured some land. in- proved it and built there a home, and in that hard won home he died, a rugged pioneer, in 1860, at the age of forty-two. His wife had preceded him to the life beyond two years before, the mother of four children, who had called her blessed.

A. D. Cribb was the eldest of the family, and was brought up as a farmer. He had but a limited training at the public school, and after his father died he made his own living and way in the world. He lived with John McKinzie,

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a Scotch Presbyterian of the old-school type until he was twenty, and in 1868 he removed to Bates County, Missouri, where he followed the stock business. The region, however, was cursed with malaria, and as Mr. Cribb was in bad health he determined, in 1872, to some to California. Twenty- four hours after he had reached San Francisco and the attractions of bay city life he made for the San Joaquin Valley, and there he was lucky in securing employment with a sheepman, which line of work he continued until he was able to buy a band for himself. By 1877 he had two thousand sheep, but the dry year forced him to sell at a great loss, and he was just about able to pay his bills.

Summoning anew his courage and resolution, Mr. Cribb started for Fresno. He had a few dollars left, and with this small sum he bought a tract of forty acres at Malaga, and set it out as a vineyard with muscat grapes, being among the first to make a muscat vineyard, but, after a few seasons, alkali developed and he sold the land for about what he had originally paid for it.

Nothing daunted he bought a place at Lone Star of forty acres, which he set out to muscat and Thompson grapes and to peaches. The land prov- ing good the investment was a success, so that at the end of eight years he was able to sell it at a fair profit. In the meantime he had bought twenty acres on Chittenden Avenue, which he devoted to peaches and muscats, and with care he has made this also a successful orchard and vineyard. Intensely interested in his line of activity, he has supported the various cooperative raisin associations from the original T. M. Kearney Association, and has for years been an active member of the California Peach Growers' Association and the California Associated Raisin Co.

With a long, practical and rich experience in daily life and with human nature, Mr. Cribb has worked hard for civic improvements and uplift of the community, and has also never failed to give a thought to the spiritual side of existence and the attractions of the future life. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and in national affairs is a Republican ; but when it comes to local issues he knows no party lines and supports the best man and the best measures.

RAY W. BAKER .- A representative citizen of California, of which state he is a native son, Ray W. Baker, tax collector of Fresno County, first saw the light of day on February 22, 1881, in Visalia. His parents P. Y. and Augusta ( Ferguson) Baker, were representative of the pioneer element that laid the foundation for our future prosperity. The elder Baker was a civil engineer and contractor. He organized and promoted the company that built the 76 Canal and was associated with much of the early development work in Tulare and Fresno Counties, having settled there in the early seventies. He served in the United States Army in California. After an active and useful life he passed away May 24, 1899, respected and honored by all who knew him. His widow is still living.

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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 143

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