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 147

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 147

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).

From a boy, Martin was reared on the stock-ranch, learning to ride after cattle, meantime attending public school in King City. When he was of age, he and four of his brothers located homesteads in Warthan Canyon, Fresno County, and here they engaged in raising cattle. He followed cattle- raising actively till 1910, when he sold his ranch and stock, to follow the oil business, entering the employ of the Associated Pipe Line Company, on the Coalinga-Monterey Division. After three years in the repair department, he became foreman and in 1916 was promoted to engineer, and is now engineer in charge of the Associated Station No. 2, which is located only eight miles from his homestead.

Martin S. Greve was married, in Fresno, to Miss Clara Grant, a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., and they have three children: Adelle, Adeline, and Jean. Mr. Greve is a member of the Christian Science Church, at Coalinga. He is enterprising and progressive, and lends his aid to movements for the upbuilding of the county.

WM. BURROWS .- A native son of the Golden State, Wm. Burrows was born at Sacramento, September 10, 1867. His father, Phillip, was born in Michigan, where he learned the woolen manufacturing business under his father ; he was married to Sarah Knight, a native of New York, and a week later they started across the plains in an ox-team train, arriving in Calaveras County in the fall of 1849. He followed mining in that county for twelve years and then built the Sacramento Woolen Mills, thereafter building woolen mills in Stockton, San Jose and Los Gatos. After selling out, he located in Santa Cruz where he engaged in lumbering and getting out tan bark and ties, having as his partner Charles McKiernan, known as Mountain Charley. Later he removed to San Miguel, engaging in grain-farming, in Vineyard Canvon, until he retired. He spent his last years near Parlier and died about 1907; his wife died in San Jose. Of their six children, five are living.

From the age of eight until eighteen, Wm. Burrows' life was spent prin- cipally in the public schools of Santa Cruz. Moving to San Miguel when he

1165

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

was eighteen, he continued to assist his father for three years, though he was for a time engaged in driving stage from Soledad to San Luis Obispo, being the youngest driver on the road.

Mr. Burrows then went to the redwoods at Watsonville, where he fol- lowed teaming to the mills until December, 1895, when he came to Sanger and assisted in setting out the East Oakland Vineyards, and one year later was made superintendent of the place, filling the position for two years. He then bought a small farm near Parlier and set it to vines and orchard. This was during a period of hard times and he worked out at fifty to seventy-five cents a day to help pay expenses. He finally sold the place and then for two years engaged in the tallyho business in Fresno, at L and Fresno Streets.

Selling the tallyho business, Mr. Burrows bought fruit for different com- panies and then became foreman for the Minnewawa Vineyard of 600 acres. After six years he resigned and leased the Ben Epstein ranch on San Joaquin River, raising grapes and peaches for three years. In March, 1918, he became superintendent of the Wawona and Glorietta Vineyards, having 300 acres in vines, figs and peaches. He also has charge of the Riverview Ranch and the Clover Glenn Orange Orchard at Centerville, so his time is well and fully occupied, but he is well qualified by experience for his position.

Mr. Burrows was married, in Fresno, to Mrs. Lizzie (Young) Hustler, born in Missouri, who came to California in 1904. By a former marriage Mr. Burrows has two children: Edna and Cora ; the latter is Mrs. Coleman and both reside in Fresno. Mr. Burrows is a member of the Stags Lodge at Fresno.

LEONARD D. RAMACHER .- A family whose activity and usefulness in social, civic and charitable work is as well-known as their success in bus- iness undertakings and enterprises designed to advance the agricultural pros- perity of the state, is that of Leonard D. Ramacher and his forbears. He is the son of Henry Ramacher, who was born in Alsace and came to America and Indiana when he was only ten years of age. Growing up, he became a farmer and a merchant at Linton, in that state, and in time married Mary A. Fainot, a native of Ohio and the daughter of worthy French parents. In 1884 he disposed of his farm and brought his wife and three children to California ; and arriving in Fresno on May 10, he followed ranching in the foothills near Letcher. After that he moved to the Scandinavian Colony, where he was in the employ of George Bernard for three years. Having made a careful study of the propagating of plants, and the care of vineyards, he purchased a twenty- acre tract in the Kutner Colony and set it out to vines ; but finding after five years that it was not what he wanted, he sold it and bought eighty acres in the northeastern part of the same colony. The soil there proved good and all that could be expected, and so he built a residence and made other improve- ments, and as soon as possible turned half of the acreage into a vineyard. Mrs. Ramacher died in 1909, but he continued on the ranch until 1913, when he sold it to his oldest son, and retired to a residence he had purchased on White Avenue, Fresno.

Born at Linton, Indiana, on April 17, 1882, the third eldest of eight chil- dren in the family, Leonard Ramacher came to this section with his parents when they moved West, and was educated in the public schools of Fresno County. When a lad he learned viticulture under his father while working on the home place and helping run the vineyard ; and he also assisted in the care of other ranches, so that he became familiar with every department of viti- culture.

On July 10, 1912, Mr. Ramacher was married at Fresno to Miss Ruth Miller, a native of Burlington, Iowa, and the daughter of Champ C. and Della D. (Biddle) Miller, of Connorsville, Ind., and Fulton County, Ohio, respec- tively. Mr. Miller, who had come to Iowa when a lad, was a merchant at Burlington; and from Iowa he enlisted for service in the Civil War, and did

1166

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

his duty valiantly in supporting the Union. Later, he became manager of the John H. Gear mercantile establishment at Burlington and Governor Gear's close associate; and when the latter took his seat as United States Senator from Iowa, Mr. Miller was made assistant postmaster of Burlington, and held that office for twenty-four years, under every change of administration. Finally he resigned on account of his health, and moved to California; and here he has been greatly improved. He was at one time chairman of the Postal Association of Iowa. After reaching California, Mr. and Mrs. Miller became interested in viticulture in Fresno County, having purchased, as early as 1892, a vineyard in the Kutner Colony ; and there they now make their home.

One of two children, Mrs. Ramacher was educated in the Burlington High School, and later graduated from Marshalltown College, Iowa. She came to California in 1911, and for a while was engaged in teaching at the County Orphanage. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ramacher one child has been born, named Baldwin D. In 1913 Mr. and Mrs. Ramacher bought their present place of seventy acres in the Kutner Colony ; and having much im- proved it. they now have a fine vineyard, raising muscat, tokay and malvaise grapes and raisins. Mr. Ramacher is identified with the California Associated Raisin Company. In politics Mr. and Mrs. Ramacher are Republicans, and Mrs. Ramacher is a trustee of the Kutner school district. They are members of the First Christian Church of Fresno, and Mrs. Ramacher is chairman of the Kutner Colony Auxiliary of the Fresno Chapter of the Red Cross. Few worthy appeals fail to elicit a helpful response from this family, now so pleasantly identified with Fresno County and its growth and development.

JACOB HINSBERGER .- An old-timer who has been identified with California since 1870 and with Fresno County for the past quarter of a century, having come to Fresno when there were only two brick buildings in the town, and who is today as well-liked as he is highly respected. is Jacob Hinsberger, an active viticulturist who has done much in his time to improve Fresno lands for viticultural purposes. Born in Germany on February 20, 1842, he was brought to Illinois when a child by his father, John Hinsberger, who was a farmer at Arlington Heights. Cook County, where he died.

Jacob Hinsberger was educated in the public schools of Illinois, and growing up, followed farming. When he reached his twenty-first year, he went to Muskegon, Mich., and engaged in lumbering there, as also later in Manistee. He drove logs in the river for four years. and had many hard experiences and narrow escapes. He also took part in breaking the road- way, and many times was nearly caught by the separating jams.

In 1870 Mr. Hinsberger came to California, and settled for a while near Colfax, where he was employed in a saw-mill. He became an expert sawyer. and after three years went to Chico, where he worked with the lumber com- pany for several years. In 1880 he came to Madera, and then to Fresno County, and here he secured work with the Madera Flume & Trading Com- pany, now known as the Sugar Pine Company. He had charge of the flume; and as foreman responsible for keeping the lumber moving, he rode horse- back up and down the waterway. For six years he was "on the job." day and night when necessary, especially in storms, continuing with the firm until 1886, when he resigned to engage in farming. In that year he bought the twenty acres in the Scandinavian Colony, which he improved, and on which he erected a residence and other buildings ; and afterwards he purchased a tract in the Wolters Colony consisting of forty acres, which he set to vines; but this he gave to one of his sons. Later he purchased another twenty acres in the Wolters Colony, which he set out to grapes, but later sold at a good profit. Lately, he has rented his own vineyard, but has continued an active member and supporter of the California Associated Raisin Company.

William JJame,

Elizabetto James,

1169

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

At Salt Springs, in Fresno County, on December 26, 1886, Mr. Hins- berger was married to Mrs. Sarah (Lynch) Allen, a native of Renfrew, On- tario, and the daughter of James Lynch, who was born in Wales and there married Miss Mary Hill, of Scotch descent. They settled as farmer folk at Renfrew, Ontario, and there the daughter Sarah was educated in the public schools. Attaining to womanhood, she was married in Ontario to William Allen, a native there, and with him, in February, 1876, entered the United States and came West to California. For a while Mr. Allen was a carpenter at Chico, but later he removed to Redding, where he died. Following Mr. Allen's death, his widow was married to Mr. Hinsberger ; and by this second marriage she had two children: Emory Ralph, who is a moulder by trade and was in the government employ at Mare Island Navy Yard during the war, but is now operating the home place; and Chester Rowell, a machinist in Fresno. She had also two children by her first marriage: Arthur W. Allen, a farmer in Wolters Colony; and Herbert W. Allen, a machinist at Sugar Pine Mill, Madera County.

Mr. Hinsberger was made a Mason in Madera Lodge, F. & A. M., but is now a member of Fresno Lodge, No. 247. Public-spirited to a high degree, he has been a school trustee in the Scandinavian district for a couple of terms, and has also served as a member of the grand jury.

WILLIAM T. JAMES .- An enterprising, broad-minded and liberal- hearted old settler is William T. James, the genial nephew of the pioneer, Jeff James, so widely esteemed by all who knew him. He was born near Elk, Lick Springs, Rollo County, Mo., on May 10, 1858, the son of Thompson B. James, a native of that section who was a farmer there. In 1852 he crossed the great plains with his brother, Jeff, traveling by means of ox teams and wagons, and engaged in mining at Virginia City, Nev. The boys were with a cousin, old Joe Douglas, and they struck a lucky vein, and were rewarded for all their trouble. Thompson returned to Missouri at the end of three years with a big "stake," and there bought a farm. He went in for scientific agriculture of the most practical kind, and developed into a champion cradler. Finally. in a contest he was smitten with sunstroke and died, in 1861. Mrs. James had been Puss Crousen, and she was born in Callaway County, Mo., and died there in 1867. There were three children in Mr. and Mrs. Thompson James' family, and our subject-now the only one living-was the second eldest.

William T. was reared in Missouri and was early supposed to be afflicted with consumption ; but by working out-doors on the farm he recovered his health. He was educated in the public schools; and after his mother died, he was reared by his grandfather, John R. James, in Pike County, famous for its pioneer traditions. When seventeen years old he began to work for him- self. He and his sisters owned 960 acres in Rollo County which they inherited from their father, and on his portion of this estate he located and went in for general farming and stock-raising, doing well; but when Cherokee Strip was opened in Cleveland's administration, he lost $7,000 through an unfor- tunate investment in buying and shipping cattle. This ruined him for the time being, at least.

On January 12, 1890, Mr. James arrived in Fresno County ; and leasing land from Jefferson James, he went in for grain-farming and stock-raising. In 1906, however, a flood caused him to lose everything and for a second time he "went broke," but removing to Barstow, he leased 400 acres of alfalfa and in the raising of hay was very successful. At the end of three years, that is, in 1912, he bought his present place of nearly eighty-two acres of raw land in Tranquillity, and having leveled it and checked it for alfalfa, he now has twenty-five acres in that very desirable grass, and the rest in golden grain. He leases additional land for grain-raising, and there raises, besides, hogs and alfalfa.

1170

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

While still in Audrain County, Mo., December 1, 1881, Mr. James was married to Miss Elizabeth Watkins, a native of Rollo County, by whom he has had three children: William D., of Tranquillity ; Roy L., who served in the United States Naval Reserve until his discharge, now living at home; and Jeff G., who is in Los Angeles.

Always ready to support any local movement, regardless of party lines, for the advancement of the community, Mr. James is a Democrat, and as such has done his share toward raising the standard of citizenship. In fra- ternal matters he is an Ancient Odd Fellow, and lends a hand whenever and wherever it is needed for the bettering of social conditions. Any community might regard itself fortunate in having as permanent residents two such public-spirited and sympathetic citizens as Mr. and Mrs. William T. James.

WILLIAM RUTH .- Ireland has furnished the United States with many of its most substantial citizens, and in every state of the Union the natives of the Emerald Isle have become prominently identified with various enter- prises. Thrift, unremitting energy, perseverance in the face of obstacles, and native wit are characteristics of the Irish race. and are an innate posses- sion of the subject of this sketch, William Ruth, who is a native of Queens- town. Ireland, where he was born on September 28, 1840.

When a lad, Mr. Ruth emigrated to the United States, and up to the time of his majority was engaged in various occupations. In 1861, at the opening of the Civil War, he enlisted at New York City in the United States Navy. After faithfully fulfilling the term of his enlistment before the mast, he re- enlisted in the service of the United States ; but this time he joined the army. where he served valiantly until the close of the war. Like many other young men. he felt the call of the great undeveloped West, and desiring to try his fortune in seeking for the precious metal. he migrated to California in 1865. For a while he engaged in mining in California, but later went with others to Arizona, where also they intended to engage in mining. The company being attacked by the Indians, however, they returned to California, and Mr. Ruth then took up quicksilver mining. For a short time he resided at Los Angeles, and afterwards moved to Visalia. Later he settled on Smith Mountain, where he engaged in the stock business on a large scale, raising cattle, horses, mules and smaller stock by the thousand. He continued in this business until 1916. when he sold his entire interest.

William Ruth is a pioneer of Reedley. having been located in the neigh- borhood since its beginning. He is a man of unquestioned uprightness of char- acter, whose word is always as good as his bond.

HERBERT J. CLARK .- A very successful horticulturist and viticultur- ist who has developed for himself a fine estate and is an influential member of the California Peach Growers, Inc., and the California Associated Raisin Company, as well as the Melvin Grape Growers Association in which he is a vice-president and director, is Herbert J. Clark, who came to Fresno in the middle eighties. He was born in London, England. July 17, 1875. the son of Joseph Clark, who was a well-known stationer in the world's metropolis. Joseph Clark had married there Miss Esther Parker, and in 1886 crossed the ocean and the American continent with his wife and eight children. He set- tled in the Central Colony, Fresno County, and laid out a vineyard and or- chard, and there he continued until 1905, since which year he has lived retired, with our subject. Mrs. Clark died in Fresno, and seven children, six girls and a boy, survive her.

The youngest in the family, Herbert J., attended a private school in Lon- don and continued his schooling at the Orange Center School when he came to Fresno County. He grew up to assist his father, and until he was twenty years of age was under his leadership as a viticulturist and horticulturist ; and having mastered these fields of important California husbandry, he leased a vineyard and started in for himself in the raising of grapes and other fruit.

1171

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

In 1899, Mr. Clark located in Jefferson District and bought forty acres of unimproved land. It was mere stubble field when he began to develop a vineyard and orchard, but he set out three acres of peaches and the balance in muscat and malaga vines. As might be expected from persistent labor guided by foresight and experience, the ranch has become one of considerable value and of much interest to the grower following scientific methods.

While at Fresno, Mr. Clark was married to Miss Kathryn Rogers, a na- tive of Iowa. They have three children : Josephine, Vivian, and Marian. The family attends the Episcopal Church. A Republican in national politics, Mr. Clark supports every local movement to better the community. He belongs to Fresno Lodge, No. 439, B. P. O. E., and to the Manzanita Camp of the Woodmen of the World.

HENRY F. BAREFORD .- An expert carpenter favorably known in Fresno, who has also improved a twenty-acre vineyard, is Henry F. Bare- ford, who first came to California in the middle eighties. He was born in Waretown, on Barnegat Bay, near the famous lighthouse, on December 20, 1861, the son of Samuel Bareford, who was born there and was also a car- penter and builder. Grandfather Joseph Bareford was a fine mechanic and was also a good blacksmith. The great-grandfather, who was born in New Jersey, served in the Revolutionary War and was captured by the Hessians, but as he understood and could speak German, and they had no place to keep him where he could not hear what was being said and done, they let him go. Samuel Bareford moved to Mitchell, Ind., and then to New Albany, in Floyd County. He served in the United States Navy during the Civil War. Mrs. Bareford, Sarah Creby before her marriage, was born in the same vicinity, and died in Indiana. Grandfather Creby was a native of Switzerland. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bareford had four children, three of whom grew up, and among these Henry Bareford was the second oldest.

Brought up in New Jersey and Indiana until he was sixteen, Henry Bareford attended the public schools, and in 1879 he came to Mitchell, where he worked on a farm for three years. Then he went to New Albany, Ind., and began to learn the carpenter's trade, and in time was able to superintend the erection of buildings. He continued until 1886, when he came to Cali- fornia. He really started for Hastings, Nebr., in the fall, but found no work, so he returned to Kansas City, and then came to Riverside, where he helped build the first cold storage warehouse there. Thirty days later he went to Los Angeles, and there he saw an exhibit advertising Fresno County, which so interested him that he came here in January of the great boom year, 1887. When he came to Fresno, he helped erect some of the larger buildings here, some of his first work being done on the Hughes Hotel.

In 1891 Mr. Bareford was married near Bowling Green, Mo., to Miss Nannie L. Smith, who was born there, the daughter of Elias Washington and Margaret (Biggs) Smith, both of Missouri. Mrs. Bareford's parents were farmer folk, and were Union patriots in the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Bare- ford have a son, Samuel, a graduate of the high school, who is attending the University of California and has been in training for the United States Army.

On coming to Fresno, Mr. Bareford purchased a residence here. About 1905 he purchased ten acres on Blackstone Avenue, and in 1906 he added to his holding ten acres adjoining. He set out ten acres of malagas, and this tract he sold. He still owns ten acres, which he is setting out to vineyards. Besides grapes, he also grows peaches.

Mr. Bareford belongs to Manzanita Camp, Woodmen of the World, and to Central California Lodge No. 343, I. O. O. F., of Fresno; while Mrs. Bareford belongs to the Neighbors of Woodcraft, Fresno Circle, and is fill- ing the chair of Guardian Neighbor. Formerly she was a member of the Fresno Rebekahs. She is a member of the Christian Science Church, and has been active in Red Cross and war relief work.

1172

HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

JOHN JAY VANDERBURGH .- To the judicious management and business acumen of John Jay Vanderburgh, the efficient editor, publisher and proprietor of the Selma Irrigator, this up-to-date semi-weekly newspaper owes its successful career. Although a resident of California for over forty years, the Hawkeye State claims J. J. Vanderburgh as a native son. He was born on April 13, 1866, in Waterloo, Blackhawk County, Iowa, the son of Isaac K. Vanderburgh, a native of Norwich, Oxford County, Canada.

Isaac K. Vanderburgh was united in marriage with Pluma A. Gaines, who was a native of Barre, Oswego County, N. Y. After their marriage they settled in Iowa. Isaac K. was a member of a party that made the govern- mental survey of Iowa. In 1875 he migrated to California where he settled, for four years, in Fresno County, afterwards locating for two years in Santa Cruz County. In 1881 he returned to Fresno County where he purchased forty acres of land located five miles north of Selma. He passed away in 1890, at the age of seventy-one years.

The mother was a woman of considerable business ability and, after the death of her husband, very successfully managed the home ranch. Her death occurred in 1913, at the age of seventy-nine. She was the mother of six children, three boys and three girls, the subject of this review, John J., being the fifth child and the youngest boy. He spent the first nine years of his life on his father's farm in Iowa, and in 1875 accompanied his parents to California. He attended the high school at Selma, after which he supple- mented his education by a course in the academy at Tulare. Having decided to become a teacher he took the required examinations and received his cer- tificate. In the fall of 1887, he assumed the cares and responsibilities incident to the life of an instructor, following this profession for four years.

In 1891, Mr. Vanderburgh accepted a position with Chappel & Lyon, the publishers of The Irrigator, at Selma, Cal. Possessing a penchant for jour- nalistic work, and catching a vision of the future importance of the publish- ing business, he soon become so deeply interested in his new field of en- deavor that he purchased Mr. Chappel's interest in the paper. in 1892, and from that date until 1897 the business was conducted under the name of Lyon & Vanderburgh. At the latter date, Mr. Vanderburgh purchased the interest held by Mr. Lyon, thus becoming the sole owner of the Irrigator. He is a man of ability and wields a strong influence for good in the promotion of every worthy movement that has as its aim the upbuilding of the educa- tional, commercial and civic interests of Selma.

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 147

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