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 153

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 153

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REV. K. A. HERMAN THIEDE .- In the Rev. K. A. Herman Thiede, pastor of the Immanuel German Lutheran Church at Ventura Aventte and L Streets, Fresno, Cal., we find a man of superior mental ability, broad views and high spiritual attainments. He is a native of Germany, born near Frank- furt on the Oder, February 20, 1879, and came to the United States with his parents when four years of age, settling in Detroit, Mich. He received a liberal education in the public and private schools and later attended Con- cordia College, at Fort Wayne, Ind., for six years, graduating in 1899 from the classical course. The same fall he entered Concordia Seminary, at St. Louis, Mo., graduating from that famous theological institution in June, 1903. On September 6, of the same year, he arrived in San Francisco, and in St. John's Church of that city, on September 13, was ordained to the minis- try. For eight months he was actively engaged in missionary work in that city as the city missionary, and in March, 1904, was called to Santa Rosa to take charge of St. Luke's Lutheran Church at that place. During the eight years that he served this church in the capacity of pastor, he made many and important improvements, increased the membership of the church, brought it out of debt, and built a new building for the young people's meetings and Sunday School. Accepting a call to Fresno, he was installed as pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church on September 8, 1912. Here he has continued his activities, increasing the membership, installing an eleven-hundred-dollar pipe organ, and building a new altar. The church is free from debt. As

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spiritual director, he is intensely interested in and attends the various societies of the church. He is also pastor of the branch congregation at Vinland, where he holds services twice a month.

Reverend Thiede's marriage united his destiny with Ulrike Hansen, also a native of Germany, although her mother, Mrs. Anna (Roerden) Han- sen, was born in Marin County, Cal., and belongs to an old pioneer Califor- nia family, her grandfather, Eschel Roerden, having crossed the ocean seven times. Reverend and Mrs. Thiede have an interesting family of five children : Lillian, Anita, Elfriede, Bertram and Priscilla. Mrs. Thiede is a true help- meet, ably assisting her husband in church work and taking an active part in connection with the Ladies' Aid Society.

The congregation of the German Lutheran Immanuel Church of Fresno was organized March 9, 1890. A few months previous to this time, Rev. J. M. Buehler and Rev. J. H. Theiss, of San Francisco, held services at intervals. The first resident pastor was Rev. H. Meyer, who served one year. Then it was attended by Rev. O. Kitzman, from Tracy, until 1892, when Rev. S. Hoernicke took charge and served until Reverend Thiede was installed, on September 8, 1912. The church has a membership of over 350 souls. Rev- erend Thiede is a member of the California and Nevada District of the Luth- eran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and other states; also of the Northern Con- ference of the California District, of which he has served as secretary for a number of years.

FRANCIS ASBURY WELLS .- A prominent oil-man of Coalinga, F. A. Wells was born in Moulton, Appanoose County, Iowa, on April 3, 1873. His father, John D. Wells, was of English descent, a native of Ohio, but became one of the early settlers of Iowa, where he followed farming. During the war he drove a stage for the government. In 1877 he removed to Havana, Chautauqua County. Kans .. and engaged in raising cattle, and trailed cattle on the old Texas trail. The mother was Sarah (Craig) Wells, of Scotch descent but a native of Iowa, and in that state they were married. She later made her home with her son Francis A., at Bakersfield, and died there. John D. Wells died in Havana. The family consisted of four boys, three of whom grew up, Francis A. being the youngest.

Mr. Wells was eight years old when his father died, and he grew up at Chanute, Kans., on the Indian Territory line, riding the range in the Chero- kee Nation, and becoming expert in roping and branding. The brothers farmed together, and later Francis A. began farming for himself, and sup- ported his mother. When he was seventeen he came to Bakersfield, Cal., and entered the employ of the Kern County Land Company, under Major Rice, on the Stockdale Ranch, and for five years was foreman in the breeding department. In 1898 he enlisted in the Spanish-American War, in Com- pany G, Sixth California Regiment, and served until his regiment was mus- tered out at San Francisco. He returned to the Stockdale Ranch and re- mained with the Kern County Land Company for one year as foreman of their stables at Bakersfield.

As oil had been struck in the Kern River oilfields, Mr. Wells resigned his position with the Land Company and entered the employ of B. F. Brooks as foreman of his teams where he remained until Mr. Brooks sold to the Associated Oil Company. Mr. Wells stayed with the company for five years and worked his way up to superintendent of the lease. resigning to accept a position as production foreman with Chanslor & Canfield, in the Midway field. One year later he went to work for C. A. Canfield at Tehachapi in charge of the Jamison Lime Kiln. After six months he resigned to engage in contracting teaming and haying in the San Joaquin Valley with head- quarters in Bakersfield. He brought hay from Delano to Tehachapi. He con- tinued in this business for one year when he sold to go back into the oil business again. In 1907 Mr. Wells came to Coalinga and was employed by Porter & Scribner of the Inca Oil Company as pumper. One year later he

M. L Dean

Amanda In Dean

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

became production foreman and then, about 1910, superintendent of this company. Since 1907 he has never lost a day's time. When he first became connected with the company, there were five wells on the 160 acres of Sec. 24-20-14, but now there are thirty-seven and thirty-four are producing. These wells have a depth of from 800 to 1,300 feet.

In Bakersfield Mr. Wells married Miss Maude Barling, who was born in Azusa, Cal., and they have three daughters: Kathleen, Nixon, and Lois. Mr. Wells is a Republican in politics. He is a member of Bakersfield Lodge, No. 202, I. O. O. F., and of the Rebekahs and the Woodmen of the World. He took a great interest in the Liberty Loan drives, and was a member of the Coalinga Liberty Loan Committee. As trustee of Claremont district he was active in building the first school building, and he was very prominent and active in the building of New High School building erected in Coalinga at the cost of $100,000. Mr. Wells is also a member of board of trustees of Coalinga Carnegie Library.

MRS. AMANDA M. DEAN .- Among the women who are greatly interested in the development of Fresno County we find Mrs. Amanda M. Dean, of the Sanger district, where she occupies a prominent position among the ranchers and leading business women. A native of Tennessee, she was born in Sumner County in 1871, a daughter of N. T. and Nancy A. (Webster) Price, who were pioneers of Sumner County. As Amanda Price she was given a liberal education in her native state and when she was seventeen. in 1888, she was married to C. H. Edwards, an extensive grain-farmer and stock-raiser in Tennessee. They came to California immediately after their marriage and located in the Sanger district, Fresno County, where Mr. Ed- wards made some wise and fortunate investments in land and sold at a good profit. While he lived in California he became a vineyardist and thus was interested in the raisin industry. At one time he owned 200 acres in this county. After two years here he sold out and returned to his native state and there he died of typhoid pneumonia soon after. His widow settled up her affairs in Tennessee and returned to California and soon afterwards she was united in marriage with Marcus L. Dean, a pioneer of the Sanger dis- trict.

Mr. Dean was born in North Carolina, March 6, 1854, and was reared and educated there. He came to California in 1888, settled in the district now called the Sanger district and entered extensively into grain and stock- raising. He became owner of 400 acres of fine land and was endowed by nature with those qualifications that make for success in business, and through his good education he was equipped to compete with any man in legitimate business. For many years he was a trustee of the Bethel school district, and served for several years as clerk of the board. His passing away in June, 1913, was regarded as a distinct loss to the community whose best interests were always his first consideration. His widow now has 160 acres of the land held by him, upon which she is raising grapes and fruit with remarkable success.

Mrs. Dean is an estimable woman, an entertaining conversationalist, and is admired, also, for her business ability. She is a stockholder in the California Associated Raisin Company and the Peach Growers, Inc., is a Democrat in national politics, belongs to the Women of Woodcraft, and is public-spirited to a high degree and counts her friends by the score.

CHARLES PREUSS .- One of the most worthy deceased pioneers of Highland Colony, Fresno County, a man who was noted for his public spirit and excellent business judgment, was the late Charles Preuss, a native of West Prussia, Germany, where he was born March 10, 1858. After immi- grating to the United States he lived for a while in Texas, before coming to California in 1892, where Mr. Preuss bought twenty acres in section nineteen and about 1905 he bought twenty acres adjoining that was owned by the late

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HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY

Henry Kramer, this forty he afterwards sold to a good advantage. In 1907 he purchased eighty acres from the Siering Company, Inc., which he improved and where he built a fine residence. He was a pioneer of the Highland Colony and was always greatly interested in its development and being a large hearted generous man helped many persons, who are now prosperous vine- yardists, to buy land and get a start and settle in this district, which eventu- ally developed into a very productive raisin and table grape section.

In the year 1903 Mr. Preuss was united in marriage with Katy Marcus a native of Russia, born near Saratov, a daughter of Adam and Katharine (Karle) Marcus, both natives of Russia, of German ancestry. Her father was a well-to-do farmer in the German Russian Colony which originally settled in the valley of the Volga about two hundred years ago. After her father's death, in Russia, her mother with six children, immigrated to the United States and settled in Fresno County. She passed away in 1908, aged sixty years. One sister, Mrs. Lizzie Dahrlinger, and a brother, Henry Mar- cus, reside in Fresno. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Preuss were the parents of six children: Herman, who died at the age of four years; Charles; Adolph ; Emma : Ferdinand; and Olga.

On January 1, 1913, Mr. Preuss passed away at his home ranch on Jen- sen Avenue, nine miles east of Fresno. He was always very popular in his community and by his genial personality gained and held the esteem of his many friends and neighbors. Fraternally he was a member of the Odd Fel- lows and at one time served as trustee of Highland School District. Mr. Preuss was a very progressive business man and helped in the organization of the first raisin association, also the Malaga Packing House, and Sanger Winery. He was greatly interested in every movement that had as its aim the advancement of the best interests of the Highland Colony and Fresno County.

ALLAN McNAB .- Of all the enterprising, solid men of good old eastern stock who came West to throw in their fortune with that of California, it is doubtful if many ever felt and responded to the lure of the golden common- wealth as did Andrew McNab, the father of Allan McNab, the well-posted and successful horticulturist and viticulturist of Fresno County. Andrew was of good old Scotch parentage, although he was born in Manchester, England, and he lived in Glasgow until his seventh year; but being then made an orphan, he came to the United States with an older brother. He thus spent part of his boyhood in New England; and growing up at Fall River Mills, he learned the block printer's trade. In 1849, he started for California, excited by the reports of the discovery of gold; but he got no farther than the Isthmus and, doubtless discouraged by reports, returned to New England, locating in New Hampshire. In Manchester, he started in the grocery business, at which he was always successful.

In 1861, Mr. McNab again started for California by way of Panama, and this time reached San Francisco. He did not remain long in the city, but pushed on to Placer County, where he tried his luck at mining ; but giving that up, he returned to New Hampshire and again opened a grocery store. Catching the California fever again, however, he came West once more in 1871 ; and this time he brought his family. But the next year found him back in New Hampshire.

One would think, perhaps, that by this time Mr. McNab might have settled down, either on the Atlantic or the Pacific; but the year following the Philadelphia Centennial, he still again came out to California, accompan- ied by his family ; and having remained a couple of years, in 1879 he returned to New Hampshire. In 1882 he made his last trip to the Golden State; and here, aged but fifty-six, he died in 1883. During his experiences in California, he was interested in a ranch back of Twin Peaks; and there, in partnership with Orrin and Charles Taber, both early California settlers, he owned the

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Guadalupe Valley dairy. Charles Taber is dead, but Orrin still resides in San Jose.

Mrs. Andrew McNab was Emily P. Taber before her marriage in New Hampshire, and she came of an old New England family. She proved a valuable helpmate, and one willing to share thick and thin with her hus- band. She died in Fresno County in 1914, aged eighty-two years, while living on Allan McNab's ranch. She was the mother of two children-Allan, the subject of our interesting sketch, and Elgin, the well-known viticulturist in the Temperance Colony.

Born in Manchester, N. H., Allan McNab was reared there, meanwhile making several trips to California with his parents. He began his schooling at Manchester, continued it at San Jose, where he attended the University of the Pacific in 1877 and 1878, and in 1878-79 took a course in Heald's Business College. San Francisco, from which he was graduated with honors in June, 1879. Like his father, his experience as a young man was in connection with both eastern and western social and business conditions, and he was thus able to lay a very broad and deep foundation.

Returning to New Hampshire, he assisted his father in the grocery store. and in 1881 the latter turned the business over to him and his brother Elgin. and they conducted it together until 1884, when thev sold out and came to San Francisco. There, at the corner of Valencia and Twenty-third Streets, Allan established a fruit and vegetable business; but selling this in 1887. he bought a Chronicle route in the Mission district. Soon he had charge of other routes : but in 1900 he disposed of the newspaper business and returned to New Hampshire on a two months' vacation, going by way of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and returning to California along the line of the Canadian Pacific. For eleven months he was then proprietor of the White Star Laun- dry at Santa Rosa: but returning to San Francisco. he bought a Bulletin route in the Mission district and managed it from 1901 to 1903.

Selling out. Mr. McNab came to Fresno in July, 1903, and bought his present place of forty acres, in the Eggers Colony. Since then, he has steadily improved it, devoting his attention both to horticulture and to viticulture. until now he has twenty-two acres planted to muscats, six acres to malagas. six acres to figs, and two and a half acres to olives. It is under the Gould ditch, and shipments are made on the Interurban from Las Palmas station. For some years Mr. McNab was secretary of the Farmer's Union, and he is still an active member of the California Associated Raisin Company.

At Manchester. N. H., in 1880. Mr. McNab was married to Miss Ella M. Wilkins, a native of that city: and three children have blessed their union : Hattie Bell. now Mrs. Rushen : George A .; and Gladys M., or Mrs. Passons. all of whom live in this vicinity. A Republican in matters of national political import, but very devoted to the interests of his locality, irrespective of party, Mr. McNab endeavors in every way to advance the standard of living in Central California.

THOMAS BULLIS .- Among the pioneer residents of Sanger and vicin- ity, the prominent vineyardist and retired contractor, Thomas Bullis, is note- worthy for his energy, keen foresight and wisdom, which have resulted in the accumulation of a competency.

A native of Racine, Wis., born September 18, 1852. he was orphaned when but a babe. Thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood at the age of thirteen, he went to Iowa where he worked for his board and small wages. At fifteen he decided to take up the trade of carpentry, and followed this occupation in Cass County, Iowa. When the town of Atlantic, Iowa, was started he was one of the first on the ground. assisting in building up the new town by doing teaming, and later carpenter work. He afterwards went to Dakota, where he homesteaded a piece of land in Brown County, proved up on it and remained there three years. He then went to Abensville, Kans.,

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where he followed the carpenter's trade, and in 1888 came to California, loca- ting in the fall, at Sanger, the business portion of which at that time con- sisted of one store and twelve saloons.

He purchased five acres in Walton Colony, improved it, setting out vines and orchard, and lived on the place twelve years. He then settled in Sanger and followed the occupation of contracting and building. He erected the Winner and the Giles business blocks in Sanger, also a number of fine homes in the town, as well as on various ranches all over the valley. In the mean- time he bought 113 acres on the river bottom, cleared it of brush and later sold it. His present ranch is located two miles west of Sanger. He first purchased forty acres and later added another forty acres to it, planting the property to vines and fruit. He deeded forty acres of the place to his son. The eighty acres, which is finely improved, is planted to peaches, Thomp- son seedless and muscat grape vines and yields on an average two tons of dried fruit to an acre. In 1911 Mr. Bullis retired from the contracting busi- ness and now devotes his entire time to his ranch.

His marriage united him with Martha Saunders, a native of Indiana. The one son born of this union, William E., married Allie Kline, by whom he became the father of one child, a daughter, Verda.

FRED W. HANSEN .- As president of the San Joaquin Valley Milk Pro- ducers' Association and as a native son of California, Fred \V. Hansen is well and favorably known to the people of Fresno County and the San Joaquin Val- ley. He was born July 4, 1876, in the old Hansen homestead on Fig Avenue, in Central Colony, Fresno County. His parents were Jens and Christiana (Fred- ericksen) Hansen, both born, reared and educated in Denmark. They were sweethearts in their native country, and it was but natural that when Mr. Hansen considered coming to America the girl of his choice should make her decision and be a member of the same party to cross the Atlantic in 1873. The elder Hansen was an experienced dairyman in his native country. When he arrived in California in the above-named year he found employment as a laborer in the vicinity of Oakland for about eighteen months, after which he came to Fresno County, driving a horse team, and settled as one of the pio- neers in Central Colony. This was in 1875, and it was in Fresno County that he and the girl of his choice were married that same year. They labored together and enjoyed the esteem of their neighbors and friends, and at last answered the final summons, both passing away in Fresno County.

Fred W. Hansen was educated in the public schools of Fresno County and early showed a disposition to learn the details of planting and caring for vines; he also inherited the dairyman's instinct and a love of stock. As a vineyardist he was said to have the finest raisin vineyard in the county, and as a dairyman he has made a record to be envied. He was the promoter of the Danish Creamery and operated it for two years with marked success; and he also ran a milk wagon in Fresno to supply the people with milk. He is a born organizer and a convincing talker. He believes thoroughly in cen- tralization of the dairy interests of the state and has been an ardent worker in the organizations that have led up to the present San Joaquin Valley Milk Producers' Association. He and his father worked under trying condi- tions in the fruit industry, when with the advent of irrigation the water- table rose and the alkali from the hard-pan beneath killed their trees and vines ; and they met all kinds of competition in dairying. These severe lessons in the hard school of experience only strengthened his claims that co-opera- tion and organization were the only successful means by which to handle local conditions and bring order and prosperity out of chaos and low prices. He made his first venture in the Danish Creamery, which was the first co- operative creamery association to successfully operate in the county. Today (1919) the dairy interests are pretty generally organized throughout the state, as is shown by the existence of dairymen's associations in San Fran- cisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, Sacramento Valley, Northern California and

Fred W. Hansen

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the San Joaquin Valley. Mr. Hansen has been a diligent worker to bring about these organizations by heartily cooperating with all movements to that end.

The San Joaquin Valley Milk Producers' Association is one of nine units in the state at the present time. It was instituted in August, 1917, and is meeting with well-merited success. A corps of solicitors are employed and about forty percent. of the milk producers of the valley have signed up. and its influence is rapidly spreading. This concern takes in every industry in which cows' milk is the basic element. The marketing association for the whole state is known as the Associated Dairymen of California, its directorate being made up of two directors from each unit who meet in San Francisco once a month to exchange ideas and work for the best interests of all. The officers of the local unit are: Fred W. Hansen, president and manager; Al. McNeil, first vice-president; M. H. Tyrrell, second vice-president; B. B. Minor, secretary ; H. E. Vogel, treasurer. The directors of the association are: William Glass, Fred W. Hansen, H. E. Vogel, Al. McNeil, J. A. Coelho, Frank Howell, J. W. Guiberson, M. H. Tyrrell, B. B. Minor. W. F. Wyatt and Ralph Cushman. Offices are maintained in the Cory Building, Fresno, The association plans to erect and equip a general utility plant at Tulare, cost- ing about $150,000, for taking care of dairy by-products in the San Joaquin Valley, which shows the immensity of the dairy interests here.

In 1896 Fred W. Hansen was united in marriage with Dorothea Gortz, who was born in Denmark and came to Fresno County in company with the elder Hansens on their return from a visit to their native land. Of this union eight children have been born: William W., in the United States Navy ; Christian J. J., who served in France in the Engineers' Corps and is now at home; Kirby W., serving in the quartermaster's department of mechanics in France, and one of the young men selected by the government for an edu- cational course in a college in Europe, where he is taking a course in agri- culture ; Mata G., a sophomore in the Fresno High School ; Frederick J., also a student in the Fresno High ; Milton L. and Ernest, in the grammar school; and Arthur Leroy, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Hansen are members of the Elm Avenue Danish Lutheran Church. He is, and has been for several years, a member of the trustees of the Orange Center school district: and is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows and of the Danish Brotherhood. The Hansen home continues, as in the pioneer days, to extend a liberal hospitality to friend or stranger. Mrs. Hansen is a most able helpmate to her husband and they enjoy a wide acquaintanceship in Fresno County, where they are highly esteemed.

C. B. HUDDLESTON .- A pioneer who as a boy and young man had many hardships to overcome, and who so overcame them that he grew up strong of body and mind, self-made and self-reliant, a man of integrity and liberality, is C. B. Huddleston, now the leading man in the raisin and peach section of the Eschol school district. He resides three one-half miles south- west of Kingsburg, and there divides his attention between worthy business operations and works of charity and reform.

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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 153

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