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 96

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 96

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tles, surrendering at Gainsville, Alabama, May 10, 1865, to Gen. R. N. Canby. After his return home he was employed in a store until 1875, then, hearing much about the resources of California and the attendent results for ambitious and energetic young men, he sought his fortune in the Golden State, arriving in Fresno the fall of 1875. From 1875 to 1882 he was en- gaged in the occupation of farming and stock-raising, and from 1882 to 1885 was in a general merchandise store in Fresno. For eight years he served as deputy county assessor for Fresno County, and since 1885 has practiced law in the United States Land Courts, connected with the United States Depart- ment of the Interior. He has been of great assistance to homesteaders locat- ing in the Valley.

December 20, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Susie B. Bell, a native of Tennessee and daughter of Gen. T. H. Bell, the com- mander of Mr. Harrell's old regiment. Their union was blessed by the birth of seven children, four of whom are living: Margaret, the wife of Dr. D. C. Farnham of San Francisco; Maud, the wife of the attorney, D. E. Perkins of Visalia, is the mother of two daughters; Catherine, married Dr. E. M. Doyle of Sacramento ; and Myrtle E., who is at home, is an artist of note, and is now chief deputy county school superintendent.

Mr. and Mrs. Harrell have enjoyed more than fifty years of domestic happiness, and on December 20, 1916, surrounded by their children, friends and neighbors, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mr. Harrell is a notary public and is trustee of the Southern Methodist Church. He is held in high esteem by his fellow citizens.

JABEZ H. La RUE .- The ancestors of the La Rue family, for years prominently engaged in viticulture and agriculture in Fresno County, were from France, where they were Huguenots in religious faith. Three brothers, William, Isaac, and Jacob, came to America at an early date. Jacob La Rue was the progenitor of the family now located in Fresno County. He became an early resident of Kentucky. William H. La Rue, the grandfather of Jabez, is said to have owned a mill where Abraham Lincoln was born.

The father of the subject of this sketch was Jacob H. La Rue, a native of Hodgenville, La Rue County, Ky., where he was born in 1799. He moved his family to Missouri in 1838, settling in Lewis County, where he engaged in farming until 1884, when he migrated to California, where he passed away at Sacramento, having attained the advanced age of eighty-five years. His son, Jabez H. La Rue, was born in Elizabethtown, Ky., on February 16, 1833. He was but a small boy when his father moved to Missouri and it was there under primitive conditions that the young lad received his education. His early life was spent on his father's farm until he reached his majority, when he began farming for himself.

Jabez H. La Rue was united in marriage first with Margaret Haycraft. a native of Kentucky. This union was blessed with three sons and one daughter: Hugh William, whose sketch appears upon another page of this history ; Sarah C., now deceased; Edwin H .; and Samuel Robert, a review of whose career will be found upon another page of this book. The second marriage of Jabez H. La Rue occurred in 1891, when he was united with Helen H. Christie, a native of Winchester, Va., the ceremony being solem- nized in Missouri.

Jabez H. LaRue made his first trip to the Golden State in 1863, when he drove a team of mules across the plains, and after remaining two years in California he returned to his farm in Missouri. In 1886, he made another trip to California, and in the fall of the following year he was bereft of his wife's companionship through her passing to the Great Beyond. Upon his arrival in California, Mr. La Rue settled in the Malaga District, Fresno County, and purchased forty acres which he planted to grapes. As he prospered he added to his original acreage until he possessed 120 acres ; thirty-three acres devoted to grapes and the balance of the land was used for general farming. He passed

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away in September, 1917, at the advanced age of nearly eighty-five years. He was a man of high character and greatly esteemed in his community where he had resided for so many years. Fraternally he was a prominent Mason and was a member of the Baptist Church.

SAMUEL ROBERT La RUE .- The youngest son of Jabez H. La Rue. an honored pioneer of Fresno County, is the subject of this sketch. Samuel Robert La Rue, better known as "Bob." He first saw the light of day in Lewis County, Mo., on July 25, 1857, and his younger days were spent on his father's farm and his education was received in the county schools of his native state. When Bob La Rue had attained his majority he began farming operations for himself and by untiring efforts and good management he achieved success in his undertaking.

On January 5, 1885, he left Missouri for California, and after his arrival in the Golden State he and his brother. H. W. La Rue, purchased a tract of raw land at Malaga, Fresno County, consisting of 160 acres. They set about to improve the ranch and planted a portion to grapes and also raised alfalfa. The brothers being very companionable, conducted their enterprise together and to their praise it can be said that they continued to operate their ranches in the same way until Bob sold out and moved to Fresno. Their farms ad- joined and were located on Central Avenue, in the Malaga District. Bob La Rue has been very successful in the cultivation of raisin grapes and is con- sidered an authority on viticulture. He is a member of the California Asso- ciated Raisin Company of Fresno. He bought forty acres of grain land in the Newhall Tract, on Chestnut Avenue, which he has set to vines.

S. R. La Rue was united in marriage on January 13, 1880, in Lewis County, Mo., with Belle Bradshaw, a native of Missouri, and this union was blessed with four children, two sons and two daughters: Mrs. Thomas M. Sims, who resides in Sanger, and who is the mother of five children; Mrs. Lola Porter, who lives in Oakland, and she is the mother of one child ; Rainey H., engaged in ranching for himself on the Newhall Tract near Fresno, and who is married and has one daughter; and Robert J., living at home. Fra- ternally, S. R. La Rue is a member of the Woodmen of the World.

EDWARD DARNALL EDWARDS .- A fine representative of the old school of lawyers which flourished best when integrity and unimpeachable honor were prime requisites for success, and a member of one of the noted American pioneer families which long figured prominently in the industrial and political affairs of the South, is Edward Darnall Edwards, prominent among the sons contributed by Missouri to the upbuilding of the West. He was born at Liberty, Clay County, Mo., on January 23, 1846, and now enjoys the unique distinction of being the Nestor of the Fresno County bar, with a record for longer continuous service in the practice of law here than that of any other member.

His father and mother were Pressley N. and Naomi D. Edwards, and he was educated in his home town at William Jewell College. In Union City, Tenn., he began to practice law, and as early as the great Centennial Year he came to California. Two years later he came to Fresno, and forming a part- nership with W. H. Creed, he began to take his place among the California jurists.

He was elected to the office of District Attorney of Fresno County, and served from 1882 to 1884; and the Democratic Convention having nominated him for Superior Judge in 1900, he was defeated only by a very close margin.

In 1861 Mr. Edwards entered the Confederate Army and for four years served with distinction as one of Henderson's Scouts, operating under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston.

At Paducah, Ky., he was married to Anna, the daughter of Paulena Finch, by whom he has had three children, Ernest H., Jefferson J., and Clarence W. Edwards.

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He is a stanch Democrat, and has served on the State Central Com- mittee from 1890 to 1894. He has also done good civic duty, and has made his influence felt for good in the community. He is a man of keen intellect, retentive mind and wonderful vigor at the age of seventy-three: and in many ways is a gentleman of fine attainments. He belongs to St. Paul's M. E. Church, and is a member of Fresno Lodge No. 247, F. & A. M., where he held the office of Worshipful Master. Fresno County is indeed to be con- gratulated on the rounded out life of this distinguished citizen, who can look both backwards and forwards in the history of Central California with so much satisfaction and faith, and who may rest assured that the record of his own accomplishments here will not perish.

HANS GRAFF .- A pillar of strength in the highly important grocery trade of Central California, and an inspiring leader in the development of the raisin. fig and creamery interests of this part of the Golden West, was the late Hans Graff, who, at the time of his death, September 24. 1918, was the president and manager of H. Graff & Company, of Fresno. All Fresno joined in sympathy with the mourners at his bier. He died from the effects of an automobile accident which occurred August 29, 1918. Accompanied by his wife and members of his family, Mr. Graff was returning from Los Angeles, when, in the Tehachapi Mountains, the driver attempted to pass a stage ; the embankment gave way and the car rolled down more than three hundred feet, seriously injuring Mr. Graff, who was later taken to the Fairmont Hos- pital, at San Francisco, where, following an operation, he passed away almost a month later.

Hans Graff was born near Kolding, Denmark, May 26, 1863, and came to the United States when he was a young man, locating first at San Francisco. After years of hard work, in which he gained valuable experience, but very little capital, he came to Fresno, this being about thirty-three years ago, where he entered the employ of Louis Einstein & Company, in the grocery depart- ment, remaining with this company about four years, when he established a store at the corner of Inyo and H Streets, having as partners, H. A. Han- sen and Nis Johnson. Fresno was then an unimportant city, but with its re- markable growth came the expansion of the grocery trade, and in course of time the modest business, through the efficient management and business sagacity of Hans Graff, became large and prosperous, under the firm name of H. Graff & Company, and they built the present large concrete store build- ing on the corner of Kern and Van Ness Streets. At an early date Mr. Graff introduced the cooperative feature which has made the management of this firm famous, and whereby opportunity is offered to the hundred clerks or more now employed there to acquire an interest in the company, after stated periods of service; and soon the firm was rated as the largest dealers in gro- ceries in this part of the state, the company maintaining complete hardware and crockery departments also. During his leisure hours, until the new in- terests also became one of his important financial investments, Mr. Graff gave much attention to the raisin and fig industries, becoming at one time the treasurer and was a director of the California Associated Raisin Company. He was the prime mover in the organization of the Danish Creamery Asso- ciation, and served as its secretary, treasurer, and as a director for over twenty years, resigning during the summer of 1918 on account of the pressure of his other affairs. This association had the largest creamery in Fresno County. At the time of his death, Hans Graff was vice-president of the Fresno Building and Loan Association, Trustee of the Fresno State Normal School, Treasurer of the Traffic Association, member of the Chamber of Commerce, Merchants Association. Commercial Club, and affiliated with the Riverside Country Club.

In Fresno, June 29, 1889, Hans Graff was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Petersen, after an engagement of three years. Mrs. Graff was born at Varde, Denmark, and was the daughter of Soren Petersen, an architect and builder of much ability. Mrs. Graff was fortunate in being reared in an en-

AGraff.

Margrethe Graf.

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vironment of culture and refinement. She came to New York City, accom- panying her aunt and uncle who had been home on a visit, and later she con- tinued her journey westward, until she reached Fresno in May, 1885, where she decided to make her home. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Graff proved an unusually happy one, and was blessed with two sons and one daughter: Ar- thur, and Lieut. Chester Graff, both of whom are actively associated with the management of H. Graff & Company; and Agnes, who assists her mother in presiding over the home. The children are kind and affectionate to their mother, and aid her in looking after the large interests left by Mr. Graff, thus shielding her from business care and worry. Mr. Graff gave no small degree of credit for his success to his estimable wife, often saying that her encour- agement and loving care were an inspiration to him.

Fraternally, Mr. Graff was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows and stood high in local Masonic circles. He was a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite Mason, having the honorary degree of K. C. C. H., and was also a Shriner. In his religious life he was a Lutheran, the family being members of the Danish Lutheran Church of Fresno. Mr. Graff made a place for himself in the citizenship of Fresno, such as few men attain. To his business successes were added : public spirit, public service, and leadership. In his passing away, a fine, strong, gentle spirit has departed and a place is vacant, which, in quite the same way, will never be filled.

LEWIS LINCOLN CORY .- A man of literary and scholastic attain- ments, possessing a vigorous mentality and well-trained mind, Lewis Lincoln Cory holds an assured position among the leading attorneys of Fresno. A son of the late Dr. Benjamin Cory, he was born in San Jose, May 4, 1861, and therefore proud of his claim as a native son. Dr. Cory was born and reared in Oxford, Ohio, and with an aptitude for learning he was given the best of educational advantages. After receiving his degree of A.B. at the Miami University he was graduated from the Cincinnati Medical College with the degree of M.D. He became a pioneer of California in 1848, settled in San Jose, then the capital of the state, becoming the first American physi- cian to locate in the Santa Clara Valley. He took a prominent part in local affairs, being active in the capital fight, was influential in advancing the in- dustrial, social and business growth and prosperity of city and county. He was the first person to set out a vineyard for commercial purposes. For a number of years he served as county physician, and until his death, in 1899, at the age of seventy-three years, was the leading physician of Santa Clara County.

Dr. Cory married Sarah Braly, who was born near St. Louis, Mo., a daughter of Rev. John Braly, who brought his family westward to Oregon, being at Whitman Station just prior to the massacre. From there he came on to California, located at Santa Clara, where he improved a farm. He also continued his ministerial labors in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, being the first Presbyterian minister in this part of the state, until his death, at the age of seventy-three years. He married a Miss Hyde, of English de- scent. Of the union of Doctor and Mrs. Cory eight children were born: Lewis L. of this review being the fourth child.

After Lewis L. Cory had completed the studies in the grammar and high schools in San Jose, he entered the University of the Pacific, after which, for two years, he attended Rutgers College at New Brunswick, N. J. In 1879 he entered the junior class of Princeton University from which he was graduated with the degree of A.B. in 1881. He then became a student in the Columbia Law School and two years later was graduated from this famous school with the degree of LL.B. Mr. Cory was admitted to the bar in New York in 1883 and began the practice of his profession and for two years was in the office of Judge William Fullerton. In 1885 he returned to California and for one year practiced in San Jose, after which he came to Fresno and opened an office where he has since carried on a growing

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practice. As a general practitioner he has built up an extensive and lucrative clientage. Mr. Cory has been associated with some very important land cases, was attorney for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, the First National Bank, the Street Railway Company, the Water Company, the Elec- tric Light Company, and other equally important concerns. Mr. Cory in- spires his clients with the greatest confidence in his judgment and upright- ness, is well versed in legal lore, wise and firm in his decisions, and is highly respected by his brother members of the bar, and by all with whom he is brought in contact, either in business or a social way.

Mr. Cory was united in marriage in New York City with Caroline A. Martin, a native of Rahway, N. J., and they are parents of five children : Edith M., a graduate of Stanford University; Catherine J .; Margaret E. ; Martin, and Benjamin. Mr. Cory owns the Cory Building, one of the finest store and office buildings in Fresno and is also the owner of the Hippodrome Theater Building which is located on the same corner, the lot being 150x150 feet, one of the most valuable corners in the city of Fresno. Politically Mr. Cory is a stanch Republican, and socially he belongs to the Delta Upsilon Fraternity of Rutgers College and is a member of the Fresno County Bar Association.

THOMAS J. DUNCAN .- Among the old pioneers of California and of Fresno County, Thomas J. Duncan is a well-known figure. He is a man of sterling worth, with the strength and indomitable spirit of the pioneer. A native of Illinois, he was born near Springfield, Sangamon County, Novem- ber 30, 1835, but when he was six years old his parents moved to Lawrence County, Mo., where the lad received his education. His father and mother, Hiram and Nancy (McKinley) Duncan, were natives of Tennessee and Ken- tucky respectively.

In May, 1853, Thomas J., a sturdy and energetic young man in his eighteenth year, in company with his parents and five brothers, started with eight wagons drawn by oxen, and with 500 head of cattle, to cross the plains for California in quest of the greater possibilities and advantages to be had in that land by the sunset sea than were available in their eastern home. They arrived safely at Stockton, in September, 1853, and settled fifteen miles east from that city near what is now Linden. In this locality the parents lived until their deaths.

Thomas J. Duncan established domestic ties on September 18, 1870, at Stockton, when he married Miss Martha Miller. She was born in Missouri, September 27, 1851, a daughter of James and Rosanna (Gann) Miller, both born in Tennessee. The Miller family crossed the plains in 1860 and located in San Joaquin County on Farmington plains. Later Mr. Miller and his wife removed to Mendocino County and there they both passed away. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Duncan four children were born: Andrew F., of Fresno, who married Lizzie Calhoun, and they have a daughter Dorothy ; Ella May, married J. A. Ward and they reside in this city; Roy E., is mar- ried and is engaged in the music business in Los Angeles- he was in the service of the United States during the war, enlisting in the Submarine Base Band, and was stationed at San Pedro; F. Ray is married and makes his home in Fresno, where he is employed.

In the pioneer days in California the sheep industry was carried on extensively in various sections of the state, and Mr. Duncan was among the successful men who engaged in that industry. At one time he owned a cattle ranch near Lathrop. In 1871 he came to Fresno County. At that time the country was one vast, treeless plain, and about the only living things to be found were jack rabbits and horned toads. There was no hotel in the little town and Mr. and Mrs. Duncan and their little son had to seek such accommodations as the place afforded until they could get out to the ranch he had bought. He had brought a band of sheep to this county and in time his band numbered over 10,000 head and he ranged them on his

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land ten miles southwest from Fresno. In order to better educate his children and to give them the advantages of the Fresno schools, Mr. Duncan sold off his land in the country and bought ten acres of land on what is now Diana Street, paying fifty dollars per acre for it. He put up a house suitable for his needs and in time sold off the tract in lots or larger parcels of prop- erty, and this section now is included in the residential part of the city. At different times he has bought and sold land and has met with considerable success financially, so that in the evening of his days he can enjoy the fruits of his early labors.

Some years ago he retired from active life and now resides at 304 Abby Street. He has been a liberal contributor to church and charitable work, although not a member of any church. He has been a Democrat in his political affiliations, but never an aspirant for office. At one time he was a director and vice-president of the Fresno Loan and Savings Bank, and he helped to organize and became a director of the Fowler Switch Canal Company.

MRS. JOHANNA OSTENDORF .- The oldest settler in the section in which she resides in Fresno County, and a splendid woman highly esteemed for her own sake and as the widow of an industrious and upright citizen active in good works in his time, is Mrs. Johanna Ostendorf, who came to Fresno County in 1883. She was born in Oldenburg, Germany, on Septem- ber 28, 1856, the daughter of John Henry Steenken, a native of that region and who was a farmer there. He had married Margareta Bergman, who had also been born there; and in that locality both died. They had three children, two girls and a boy, all of whom grew up; and our subject is the second eldest of these, and the only one in the United States.

She was brought up on a farm and educated at the public schools until she was fourteen, when she was confirmed in the Lutheran Church and be- gan to take up the more serious problems of life. On April 30, 1880, she was married to B. D. Ostendorf. who was born there on March 16, 1847. He was educated at the public schools, and as a boy also worked on the farm. He continued farming until 1883, when he came to California. He located in Fresno County, and the next year settled on their present place. He bought twenty acres from Mr. Wylie, in whose service he entered, and for whom he became foreman: and he continued with him until 1896, when he left to look after his own ranch. He drove the wagon for the Danish Creamery ; and he died on January 11, 1900, aged fifty-two years.

After Mr. Ostendorf's death, his widow continued to farm. She made improvements, put in alfalfa, and engaged in dairying; and now the sons manage the place. Six children had blessed the union, so that there was assistance enough, and of the best kind: Henry B., who is the right hand of his mother, looks after her interests and makes for them both a host of friends ; Marguerite, who is at Berkeley; Bernhard, who served in the United States Army at Camp Lewis for five months, when he was honorably dis- charged and is now at home ; Marie, who is Mrs. A. P. McLean, of Enterprise Colony, and who has two children, Andrew and Eleanor ; Minnie is at home ; and Gustav, who entered the army October 5, 1918, trained at Camp Lewis, was assigned to Company B, Three Hundred Sixty-fourth Infantry, Ninety- first Division and served with honor in France ; and was discharged in March, 1919, and is now at home. The family attends the Lutheran Church at Fres- no, and Mrs. Ostendorf and children are loyal Republicans in national politi- cal affairs, and generously support any good movement for local advancement.

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LILBOURNE A. WINCHELL .- A prominent Central Californian who, in the opinion of those most competent to judge, is the best-posted man on early days in this locality, is Lilbourne A. Winchell, the secretary of the Fresno County Pioneer Society and vice-president of the Fresno County Historical Society, and a native son always proud of his identification with the great Pacific commonwealth. The Winchell family, which includes such distinguished and even famous members as Alexander and Newton Horace Winchell, brothers and noted geologists, may be traced back to Robert Winchell, who came from England in 1634, and settled in Connecticut; and our interesting subject belongs to the ninth generation bearing that name in America.

L. A. Winchell was born at Sacramento, Cal., October 9, 1855, in a cot- tage built of yellow poplar and white ash lumber, cut in Indiana in 1849, rafted down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers to New Orleans, thence by ship around the Horn to Sacramento, and erected in the spring of 1850, on the west side of M between Seventh and Eighth Streets. His father, the late E. C. Winchell, of whom mention is made on another page of this history, crossed the great plains in 1850; and his mother, in maidenhood Laura C. Alsip, came to California via Nicaragua, in 1852, both settling in Sacramento, where they were married in 1853. The family moved to Fort Miller, Fresno County, in May, 1859, and continued to reside in that locality until 1874, when they moved to Fresno, the newly established county seat.

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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 96

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