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 II, Part 22

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1424

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 II > Part 22

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Five children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Baley: Leona is Mrs. F. C. Simpson of Sanger; William Odom, is serving as a member of the United States Marines at Mare Island, is an expert marksman and is instructor of rifle range; Thomas Marvin, assists his parents on the ranch; and Bessie Belle, graduate of Sanger High, is at home. The memory of one son Elmer H., is affectionately treasured. They are members of the Methodist Church South, at Academy, of which Mr. Baley is a trustee ; and he has also served as a school trustee in that district for years. He is a member of the Wood- men of the World, and in national politics adheres to the principles of the long-established Democratic party.

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NOAH E. JAMES .- The rapid growth of Fresno, city and county, has brought to this section of the state men expert in the different lines of busi- ness involved in the upbuilding of a growing community, and each has done his share toward making it one of the show places of California. None more so than Noah E. James, one of the best known men in the building line in the San Joaquin Valley. Born in Logan County, Ill., November 14, 1870, he is a son of Benjamin F. and Eliza (Bowman) James, the former a native of Iowa and the latter of Illinois. The mother died in the East, and the father, with his three sons, came to California in 1876. A carpenter by trade, he located in the San Joaquin Valley and followed contracting and building all his life. He now resides in Los Angeles and is eightv-four years of age.

Noah E. James, now the only one living of the children, finished his education in the public schools of Oakland, and on its completion, became associated with his father in building contracting, working in Tulare County, at Tulare, Tipton, Exeter, Lindsay and Porterville. They built many flumes in the orange section around Porterville and Exeter.

In 1900 Noah E. James located in Fresno and engaged in contracting and building ; some of his work includes: the Bert Harvey residence ; the Staples home; the M. Cahn residence; the machine shop and annex to the Fresno High School; the Crematory; many cottages and bungalows and, besides his local work, he contracted for building in other parts of the county. He has been foreman of construction for many contractors, among them, E. J. Farr, James Smith, Frank Rehorn, and Emmet Riggins, in fact, there is hardly a building erected in Fresno, in recent years, in which he has not had a hand in the construction.

The marriage of Mr. James united him with Ida Lillian Haney, a native of Macon County, Ill., and eight children have been born to them, all natives of California, as follows: Helen M .; Grace E., wife of Robert York ; Marie ; Lurene; Elmer ; Russell; Mildred; and Frank. Fraternally Mr. James is a member of the Central California Lodge of Odd Fellows, in which order he is a Past Grand, having passed all the chairs; he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and for the past three years served as Chief Forester of the lodge. He is also a member of the Carpenters' Union, No. 701. of Fresno. In April, 1917, Mr. James was appointed by the county board of supervisors superintendent of construction of buildings, for Fresno County. This is one of the most important positions in the county, and he is superin- tending the work in his usual highly satisfactory manner. An expert builder, Mr. James has aided materially in giving Fresno the type of buildings in keeping with the prosperity and progress of the county, and has been an important factor in the life of the community.

WILLIAM C. BERKHOLTZ .- The very efficient chief of the Fresno City Fire Department, William C. Berkholtz, is a native of Illinois. He was born in Chicago, November 15, 1876, and was educated in the public schools of that city until his twentieth year. During his vacations he assisted his father with his business and when his school days were over he became a fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad, running out of Chicago. Later he went to San Marcial, N. M., where he worked in the same capacity on the Santa Fe Railroad. He was promoted to the position of locomotive engineer on the Albuquerque Division of the Coast Lines, running from Albuquerque to Gallup, N. M., continuing until 1907. This year marked his advent in California and Fresno, and for the next twelve months he was in the employ of the Santa Fe and the Southern Pacific Railroads, when he resigned.

On July 1, 1908, Mr. Berkholtz became a member of the Fresno City Fire Department as driver of Engine No. 5. He entered into the duties of his new position with a desire to please those in authority and he soon attracted the attention of his superiors and was appointed lieutenant of Engine No. 1, and afterwards to the position of captain, and still later to outside

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captain. So well did he perform his duties that he was promoted to assistant chief of the department on October 1, 1917. Still greater honors came to him and on November 1, of that year, he was made Chief of the department, which position he now holds. He is ever on the alert for the betterment of the department, both in maintaining the most modern apparatus and in the safety and comfort of the firemen. The department consists of sixty-nine men, including Chief Berkholtz, first assistant chief, J. E. Caldwell, and second assistant chief, William A. Washburn. There are six modern fire- houses, arranged for convenience and comfort of the men, and all the equip- ment is motor driven. This move eliminated thirty-five horses and was made possible by the mayor and council without calling for a special bond issue. Fresno is now placed in the front rank of the cities of the Coast in prepared- ness. The entire change from horse drawn to motor driven apparatus has covered a period of six years.

In the spring of 1918 Chief Berkholtz was sent to San Francisco by the city authorities of Fresno to study conditions of the department of that city and while there he was made a member pro-tem of the department and at- tended several fires besides inspecting the fire houses and equipment whereby he gained valuable information and upon his return to Fresno he began putting into execution the ideas he had evolved from his experience while in San Francisco. While he was in attendance at the Pacific Fire Chiefs Con- vention in Oakland, September, 1918, he learned of the movement that was being put in operation to prevent fires. He made a special study of the matter and upon his return home at once set about to interest the citizens of Fresno in the movement with the result that Jay W. Stevens, formerly Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau of Portland, Ore., and now Chief of the Fire Prevention Bureau of the Pacific, and his assistant, J. H. Schiveley, came to Fresno with reels of pictures and slides showing what constitutes fire hazards and how to safe-guard against danger of fires and to remove fire-breeding hazards, as well as methods of fighting fires. These pictures were shown at all the theaters, various clubs, the State Normal School and in the public schools of the city. Lectures were given with a view of enlisting the citizens, club members and the school children in particular, that they might be more thoughtful in preventing the accumulation of combustible matter and in eradicating to a large degree the danger of fires by a systematic cleaning-up of the entire city. In other words each person was made to understand his or her special duty of "what I can do to prevent fires." The movement gained ground and the clean-up will be vigorously prosecuted by second chief, W. A. Washburn, who will be in complete charge of this department. Every home and business house in Fresno will be carded, the places inspected at regular periods and a complete record kept of conditions as found with the result that the rates of insurance will be lowered and the fire hazard reduced to a mini- mum in Fresno. The showing of these pictures is a strictly western idea and is rapidly spreading to various parts of the United States.

Chief Berkholtz is an indefatigable worker for the building-up of the department and for the welfare of the firemen under his direction. He is not satisfied with anything but the very best in all departments and has reduced the management to a strictly business basis. He has the respect of all the men in the department and is fast winning a name and place for himself in the Fire Chief's Association of the Coast, as well as in his home city.

Chief Berkholtz was united in marriage with Miss Neste Albertson, a native of South Dakota, and this union has been blessed by the birth of two children, Helmer U. B. and Frederick. Chief Berkholtz is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Firemen and of the Loyal Order of Moose. He holds a prominent position among the progressive men of Fresno and is proving himself worthy of the confidence reposed in him by the city authorities and his fellow citizens.

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FRANK L. IRWIN .- Fresno's popular young city trustee, Frank L. Irwin, was born in Springfield, Ill. on November 3, 1876, and is the son of Washington and Maria (Mosely) Irwin. His father's occupation was that of builder and contractor. Both parents are living, and number among their children five boys and three girls.

Frank L. received a good public school education and learned the brick laying trade as a young man, working at that business for some years in Illinois. Afterward, imbued with the thought that there was a larger sphere in the West for an active, energetic young man, he came to Berkeley, remain- ing there for one year and going thence to Fresno, in January, 1907, where he engaged in the contracting and building business. Among other important public buildings erected under his supervision were the Fresno High School, Lincoln annex and the Lowell annex, the Emerson and numerous other build- ings. He had charge of the masonry at the State Normal.

Frank L. Irwin was married in November of 1898 to Miss Ethel C. Crowder. They are the parents of three children, Edna, Lyle and Charles. In the spring of 1913 Mr. Irwin was elected to his present office, city trustee, for a term of four years.

Fraternally he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and W. O. W. In religion he is a member of the First Methodist Church of Fresno, and politically is a Republican. He is active in public work, particularly in the labor move- ment being president of Fresno Labor Council, and Fresno Building Trade Council, and always has the interest of the community at heart. Mr. Irwin has many friends and is highly respected as well as much liked by his fellow citizens. He resides with his family at 403 Fresno Avenue.

JOSEPH WEBSTER POTTER .- Coming from a long line of sturdy pioneers, Joseph Webster Potter, who is now in the prime of life, has taken advantage of the splendid and unusual opportunities afforded him through having been born and reared in the great West. His birthplace was only three-quarters of a mile from his present residence northeast of Clovis, Fresno County, where he was born on December 31, 1876.

His father, John Wesley Potter, was a native of Cooper County, Mo., born near the town of Boonville, January 5, 1837, and coming to California with his parents in 1853, when he was sixteen. They located in San Joaquin County, where his father and brother took up a homestead preemption and engaged in farming and stock-raising. They remained there until 1871, then purchased a herd of sheep, which they drove to Fresno County, locating near Clovis. For nearly twenty years they continued in this industry, until about 1892.

It was here that John Wesley Potter, father of Joseph Webster, even- tually purchased five sections of land, and followed the occupation of farm- ing. In 1891 he set out one of the first vineyards in this section. Later he was one of the first to see the possibilities in growing figs, and devoted twenty acres to this productive fruit, setting them out first in 1906. He was among the successful pioneers of Fresno County, and not only did he dem- onstrate his ability in agriculture, but for two years in the early days he followed mining with no small returns. His wife, Martha Jane Webster, was born in Napa County, Cal., in 1852, she being the daughter of pioneers who crossed the plains that same year and settled in Napa County. She married Mr. Potter in Vacaville, Solano County, and they were the parents of three children: Mrs. Kate Clark of Kingsburg; Joseph Webster Potter, the subject of this sketch; and Mrs. Lizzie Russell, of Clovis.

Joseph W. received his education in the public schools of the Mississippi school district, later attending the Pacific Methodist College of Santa Rosa for four years, from which he was graduated in 1898 with the degree of A. B. Filled with enthusiasm and new ideas, the young man started practi- cal everyday life, well fitted for any position which might open for him, and

Netter Potter.

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he has found many opportunities to put to good use his earlier years of preparation.

He joined his father in working on the home place, making a specialty of raisins, figs and peaches. At the present writing he has under cultivation forty acres of grapes, ten of peaches, thirty acres of figs, and fifteen acres set out to olives, all under both ditch and pumping plant. He became connected with the First National Bank of Clovis, of which his father was a stock- holder and vice-president, and after his father's death on April 15, 1915, he was elected director and president of the bank at the same time. He also took charge of his father's estate.

On January 5, 1903, Miss Bertha Frances Allen became the bride of J. W. Potter, the marriage ceremony being performed near Upper Lake, Lake Countv, Cal. They have four children: Marjorie Dorothy, John Allen, Russell, and Donald. The family are members of Grace Methodist Church of Clovis. Mr Potter is not only active in the church, holding the office of trustee, but he is superintendent of the Sunday-school. He is a member of the board of trustees of Clovis Union High School. His father was not only a pioneer member of this church, but an ardent supporter of all movements for public good. So likewise is the son-a citizen of sterling qualities claim- ing the highest esteem and respect of the community.

JOHN AND ALICE YOUNG .- For the past twelve years this popular couple have been residents of Fresno County where Mr. Young is well and favorably known as the foreman of Thompson Brothers Construction Com- pany who maintain offices at 1514 Fresno Street, Fresno. He was born in Bluffton, Ind., near the Wabash River on November 21, 1872. He received a public school education and fitted himself to be a mechanic and as an engineer he has had charge of steam engines for various companies in the different parts of the country where he has lived. Soon after he was married Mr. Young located at Bay City, Mich., where he was in the employ of a large lumber company, afterwards he held the position of engineer in the Fort Wayne Knitting Mills at Fort Wayne, Ind., and remained there until on account of ill health it was decided that he should come to California for an entire change. This was in 1907, and soon after Mr. Young became engineer for the Fresno By-Products Company for two years. He then was associated with Worswick Paving Company and worked in several of the growing towns in the San Joaquin Valley until he became connected with the present concern and went to live at the O. M. Thompson ranch, located about two and one-half miles southeast from Fresno.

In all his operations since his marriage at Fort Wayne, Ind., Mr. Young has had the hearty cooperation of his wife. She was in maidenhood, Miss Alice E. Richardson, born in Fort Wayne, the daugther of Austin and Ellen (Grayless) Richardson, natives of Southern Indiana. On the maternal side Mrs. Young represents some pioneer stock in California, whither an uncle, Charles Grayless, who was owner of 10,000 acres near where the present city of Fort Wayne stands, and had large bands of horses and cattle there and was rated a very wealthy man for that period, came to the gold fields to increase his fortune and possibly for adventure. He became well-known among the early stockmen and miners, was a highly respected and wealthy man, made his home in Stockton, where his good wife died, and soon afterwards he went back to Indiana where he passed away. The Grayless people were sturdy, vigorous and active people and it was from them that Mrs. Young inherited her physical strength and love for the great out door life and to care for stock. At the ranch over which she has supervision she cares for a dairy herd of over twenty milch cows and a band of nearly seventy-five horses.

It is interesting to note that after the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Young they went to Bay City, Mich., where Mrs. Young took a position as chief cook in a lumber camp and fed more than thirty men for over three years and

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at the same time looked after the comfort of her husband. She has never shirked a duty that would tend to aid her husband and on the ranch she has reared her family of children to lives of usefulness. To this worthy couple seven children have been born, three of whom died in infancy. The four living are Harry R., now at home assisting his mother and trying to regain his health, lost after he had joined the United States Army, in which he became a sergeant. He was strong and robust when he left for camp but by being inoculated by army surgeons he became ill and was discharged from the service; John N., was also in service and received his training at Camp Lewis, Wash., and saw service in the Hawaiian Islands, where he held a responsible position during the great World War; Helen and Rebecca are both at home. Mrs. Young is intensely devoted to her family and her first consideration is how best to help her husband and children. She is generous to a fault and commands the respect and esteem of her community. She is a patriot and is proud of the gallant sons who have served their country in its trying times. She is a woman of good sound business judgment and has been an invaluable assistant to her devoted husband in all his business ventures.

SIDNEY L. PLATT .- Among the substantial and enterprising citizens of Fresno is Sidney L. Platt. secretary and treasurer of Madary's Planing Mill Company of Fresno, occupying quarters at No. 1805 Anna Street. Mr. Platt, who is of English parentage, was born in Africa, May 25, 1864. His father was a missionary, and when Sidney L. was a child three years of age the family removed to Boston, Mass., going thence to Atchison County, Kans., where young Sidney was brought up on a farm. He experienced the usual lot in life that falls to a farmer's son, attended the country schools, and later supplemented his schooling with a business education obtained at Emporia, Kans. He came to Fresno in January, 1888, intending to make a visit of a few weeks, but like many other of California's Eastern visitors, was so fasci- nated with Fresno's wonderful beauty, the salubrity of her climate and the bright prospects of her financial future, that he has been there ever since. He secured employment in the office of the Mechanic's Planing Mill, at the corner of H and Inyo Streets. A year and a half later the mill burned, and Mr. Platt became deputy tax collector for one season under tax collector A. D. Ewing. The company rebuilt the mill one block south of the old location, and Mr. Platt returned to their employ. Some time later he entered the employ of Mr. M. A. Madary in his planing mill, as chief of office, and in 1905, when Madary's Planing Mill was incorporated, became secretary and treasurer of the company, the position he now holds. He is one of the owners of the mill, of which Mr. Madary is president and A. M. Loper vice-president ; and he is also part owner in a valuable fruit ranch owned by the company, consisting of forty acres of orange trees in full bearing, ten acres of two-year-old trees, and thirty acres of peaches in bearing.

Mr. Platt married Miss Irene Thayer, a native of Minnesota. They have two sons. Lawrence T. aged twenty-one, passed through the Fresno public schools and the Military Academy at San Rafael and entered Stanford University. Shortly after the United States entered the World War, he en- listed in the Naval Reserves, and in November, 1917, became attached to the special dispatch boat U. S. S. Broadbill. He saw service in the Pacific and assisted in the capture of the German raider in those waters. He then went to Seattle and became attached to the U. S. S. West Ekonk, and sailed to San Francisco and New York City via the Panama Canal, going thence to Brest, France, in convoy. He returned to New York, and on November 4, 1918, sailed for Genoa, Italy, as captain of the gun crew. He is now on his second trip. The second son, Kenneth Lloyd. aged seventeen, was a student in the Fresno public schools, and is now a student in the Fresno high.

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Mr. Platt has always been much interested in music. He helped to organize the Fresno Male Chorus, and has been an active member and served as vice-chairman for five years, and is now chairman. He has been active in choir work in the First Methodist Church of Fresno, of which he has been a member and in which he has held various offices. At present he is one of the trustees of said church. Mrs. Platt is also very active in church work, and for fifteen years was organist of the church. She is also past presi- dent of the Parlor Lecture Club and is very active in war work, in the inter- est of the Red Cross, Thrift Stamps, etc.

Mr. Platt is a member of Las Palmas Lodge, No. 343, as well as Chapter 69, F. & A. M., and of the Fresno Lodge, No. 186, I. O. O. F. He is also a Past Commander of the Fresno Commandery, and a member of Islam Temple of the Shrine.

JOHN R. MURPHY .- Among the large corps of experienced and able dairymen of California, few men are better known than John R. Murphy, the progressive commissioner, whose father was James Murphy, a native of Ireland and a pioneer dairyman in California, who died on March 21, 1896. His mother, Bridget Murphy, died in 1893. He was educated in the public schools of Novato, Marin County, having been born in Hartford, Conn., on March 21, 1865, and been brought west to the land of greater opportunity. Just when he attained his majority, he lost his father, and there devolved upon him the support of a family of eight, all of whom he reared and edu- cated.

For a while Mr. Murphy was in the dairying business, but in 1893 he sold out his interests and entered the employ of the Western Refrigerating Company, at Petaluma, later making an engagement with the Danish Creamery at Fresno. There his experience, enterprise and fidelity to duty soon made him known much beyond the confines of the county.

At Petaluma, in November, 1896, Mr. Murphy married Mary Early, the daughter of the well-known pioneer, James Early, who crossed the plains with an oxteam in 1852; and as the result of this exceptionally happy mar- riage, one daughter, Mary Alice Murphy, now an attractive girl of twelve years, was born. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy are devoted Catholics, and the family attend that growing church.

A Republican always active in the campaigning of that party, Mr. Murphy was appointed State Dairy Commissioner, on July 1, 1909, by Governor James Norris Gillett, and so well has he handled the trust committed to his care, that he still holds that position. It seems natural that he should be a leader in the Commercial Club.

JAMES MALCOMB CRAWFORD .- One of the leading optometrists in the state, James Malcomb Crawford, has met with wonderful success in the practice of his profession in Fresno. Locating here in 1905, he has since that date been identified with the best interests of the city and county, and has taken an active part in the upbuilding of his profession in California. Born in Bell County, Texas, December 20, 1871, he received his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native state. He took up the study of optom- etry in 1898, attending the South Bend College of Optics. After graduating, he began the practice of his profession in his home town, Temple, Texas, afterwards taking post graduate work at the Chicago Ophthalmic College and Hospital. In 1900, Dr. Crawford removed to Denison, Texas, and practiced there until 1905, when he located in Fresno.

Dr. Crawford is a member of the State Optometry Association, and a charter member of the National Association. In 1911 he was appointed by Governor Johnson a member of the State Board of Optometry, which office he now holds, being secretary of the board. There are only three members on this board, and to be appointed one is an honor and distinction accorded to few in his profession. 72

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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 II, Part 22

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858- Publication date: 1919 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Vandor, Paul E., 1858-
Publication date: 1919
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1424