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 27
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143
1551
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
serve at once that he is a careful, industrious, and frugal man. He has built a handsome bungalow and desirable farm buildings and has equipped himself with whatever he needs. The convenient location of his ranch, at the fork of the road a short distance west of the town, has also assisted him forward. There he and his family enjoy the fruits of an industrious and well-ordered life. There are four children who gather at times around the Northrup fire- side: Audrey May is the wife of Roy Miller, the rancher at Tranquillity, and she is the mother of two children ; Eula Lee, Anna Dean, and Glen Arthur are still under the paternal roof.
Mrs. Northrup was formerly Alma J. Washburn. Her maternal grand- mother was a Hancock,-an own sister to the above mentioned late J. Q. Hancock. Mrs. Northrup's mother advanced him the money with which to come west to California for his health, his life being despaired of. Here he recuperated and became one of the most prosperous as well as most highly respected citizens on the Laguna de Tache. It should be mentioned that Mrs. Northrup is a direct descendant of the immortal John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence.
The name "Cap" was given our subject by his grandfather while he was a likable little tot playing about his grandfather's knees.
FRANK REHORN .- A striking example of the value to himself, his friends and the community in which he lived, of a well-planned and well rounded-out career, is afforded in the life of Frank Rehorn, the widely-known contractor and builder, who closed his eyes to this busy world on August 31, 1916, leaving name, fame and a modest fortune. He was born in New York City on November 18, 1862, the son of H. W. and Margaret (Shields) Rehorn, and moved to Tennessee with the family, when he was fourteen vears old. His school education was obtained, therefore, in New York and Tennessee. On attaining to his nineteenth year, he left home and began to make his way alone. He went to Kansas and then worked at the builders trade. When twenty-five years old he came to California and settled in Fresno. Mr. Rehorn's ability for both initiative and fortunate consummation were soon recognized, and one by one he built the principal houses in the town. These included the Patterson business and office block, and also the Fresno Republican and the Telephone buildings.
On November 24, 1890, Mr. Rehorn married Miss Myrtle Conrad, and in time he built his own beautiful home. A son, Ralph L., is in the Union National Bank, having graduated from the University of California; and there is a daughter, Helen M. Rehorn.
Frank Rehorn was as exemplary as a Republican, working hard for clean politics, as he was a model Christian with Protestant preferences. He loved Masonry and was a good soul with the Shriners, while he also participated cordially in the social life of the Woodmen of the World and the Elks. When he came to lay aside earthly cares and earthly pleasures, he was deeply mourned by all who knew him.
JOHN W. WATKINS .- A recent and valuable addition to the profes- sional circles of Fresno is found in the person whose name heads this review, John W. Watkins, the popular attorney and junior member of the law firm of Burns & Watkins, of Fresno. He is a native of Ralls County, Mo., where he was born on November 8, 1870. His early education was received in the pub- lic schools of his native state, and was supplemented by a course at West- minster College, at Fulton, Mo., which institution he attended for two and one-half years.
Mr. Watkins' father was an attorney, and it is quite natural that we find the son, in his early manhood, in his father's office, studying the inter- esting intricacies of jurisprudence, and by associating with his father absorb- ing many practical lessons from his extensive experience, which no doubt John Watkins, the Fresno attorney, finds invaluable today in the prosecution
1552
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
of his profession. While living in Missouri, Mr. Watkins was quite active in politics.
Like all young and vigorous Americans, John, as a young man, was especially fond of the great American game; so in 1893 we find him as a semi-professional ball player in Fresno County, Cal., where for one year he was a member of the Selma team. He also played ball in the Texas league and at Jefferson City, Mo., as also through the Middle West.
In 1904, he came again to California, where he was engaged for three years as a traveling representative of an insurance company.
Mr. Watkins was admitted to the bar in 1911, and became a partner of his father-in-law, the well-known attorney of Fresno, James A. Burns, whose life is sketched on another page of this history.
On May 21, 1908, John Watkins was united in marriage with Miss Nan Burns. The domestic felicity of Mr. and Mrs. Watkins has been greatly enhanced by the addition to the family of a little daughter, Ann Catherine, now one year of age.
Fraternally, Mr. Watkins is an Odd Fellow, and is a member of Central California Lodge No. 343, of Fresno; he is also past district grand master.
JOHN WESLEY FLY .- A brave old soldier with an enviable war record, and a citizen equally esteemed for his virtues as a man and father, and one who is glad and proud to acknowledge in his devoted wife one of the most loyal and efficient of helpmates, whose influence and foresight have had much to do with his success, while she has contributed to the betterment of the community in which she lives, is John Wesley Fly, who was born near Cassville, Barry County, Mo., in 1844. His grandfather, Jerry Fly, was born in England and settled in Tennessee; from which circumstance it hap- pened that his father, A. P. Fly, was born in Tennessee. The latter married Miss Rillia Cantrell, a native of Tennessee, who came of Irish ancestors, and he then moved to Arkansas and finally to Missouri, where he established himself as a farmer, and in Missouri the good parents died. Fourteen children made up the family, and John W. and A. L. Fly, two of the sons, served in the same regiment during the Civil War.
Brought up on a farm, John Wesley enjoyed but limited educational opportunities at the public school, and on January 3, 1863, demonstrated his patriotism at Fayetteville, Ark., when he volunteered for service in the Union Army, and joined Company H, First Missouri Cavalry. He was in the Battle of Little Rock and also the Battle of Camden, and with his regiment went through many severe engagements as well as minor skirmishes, stick -. ing to the dear old Flag for two years and nine months, or until the close of the war, during which time he never received a scratch. In September, 1865, he had the great satisfaction at St. Louis of being honorably dis- charged from the service.
At the conclusion of the war Mr. Fly came home to the farm, having also previously, in 1864, had the benefit of a furlough; and then began seriously to think of establishing himself in domestic comfort. He had been engaged for some years to a lady whose family were Southerners, and under the circumstances, this might have proved a barrier; but she remained true to him and to the Union, and on June 11, 1864, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Charioty Clark, a native of Arkansas who was brought up in Missouri, and a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Comes) Clark, natives of Tennessee ; she was the eighth child in a family of twelve children, ten of whom are living.
Mr. and Mrs. Fly engaged in farming in Missouri, and bought a ranch in Barry County, which promised all they could desire. In 1883, however, they sold out and moved to Routt County, Colo., where they engaged in the cattle business. They began at the bottom, and studied the industry thoroughly, and in time made his brand, 4/5, a trade-mark of enviable value. They took up land, and for twenty years continued in the cattle business.
mr + mars John si Hely
1555
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
When Mr. Fly had reached his fifty-sixth year he broke down in health and sold his stock, thinking that cessation of labor and responsibility would contribute to his cure; but having been advised by physicians to change to a lower altitude he sold his ranch, and in 1904 came to California. A careful investigation into the merits of the various sections of the Golden State im- pressed him with the advantages offered by Fresno County, and here he bought the place, three-quarters of a mile from Clovis, now widely known as the result of his management. Originally it contained about fifteen acres set to peaches; but he found that this involved too much care and so he sold ten acres and retained five for himself. He also found the land unfavorable for peaches, and cutting down the peach trees he planted the acreage to sultana grapevines.
Five children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fly : Fountain E. is a rancher at Gridley, Cal .; Miranda has become Mrs. Voice, of Clovis; Gertrude, her sister, better known as Mrs. Sellers, lives near by in the same town; Ellen is Mrs. Ducy, of the Barstow Colony, in Fresno County ; and Allie is Mrs. Jones, and lives at International in the same county. The estimable couple have twenty-two grandchildren and fourteen great-grand- children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church in Clovis, where Mr. Fly has been for years a member of the official board; and Mr. Fly is a mem- ber of Atlanta Post No. 92, G. A. R., at Fresno.
FREDERICK BADER .- An enterprising business man of many-sided experience, who has contributed valuably to the solution of good-roads prob- lems, is Frederick Bader, the president and manager of the Warswick Street Paving Company. As a youth he pursued the usual elementary courses, and studied mechanical engineering. He followed his profession in St. Louis, Mo., and afterwards in Philadelphia until he engaged with the Bradford Oil Company and went abroad to do engineering for them while they were ex- ploring their lands in Galicia.
On his return to the United States, Mr. Bader came to Butte County, Cal., in 1885, where he purchased land, and while improving it was in the employ of the South Feather River Mining Company in the colonization of their lands. Selling out in 1889, he located in Fresno County and purchased forty acres near Fowler, which he improved to vineyard. Selling this in 1893, he engaged in merchantile business in Hanford for a time. He then became interested in the oil business both as a developer of oil and as a contractor for oil wells, operating in Coalinga and the Kern River field. About the same time he started contracting for street paving and incor- porated the Warswick Street Paving Company, with headquarters in Fresno, of which he has been president and manager for the last fifteen years. The company has constructed sixty miles of the State Highway, and has built eighty miles of paved streets, as well as erected many bridges. This financial and industrial leadership has made Mr. Bader an influential member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Merchants' Association.
Mr. Bader was married, in 1909, to Miss Marie Markfelt; and with his wife he enjoys the social life of the Elks.
ROBERT SCOTT .- Preeminent among the cornerstones of commerce in Selma is the Walter Scott Company, dealers in groceries and hardware, whose store is at 2014-16 Second Street, under the direction of Robert Scott, the company's president and manager. His father, the late Walter Scott, was the founder of the firm and was rated as one of Selma's most important busi- ness men. A Canadian by birth, he was born at Paris, that country, on January 24, 1835, and when a young man came to Michigan to work in the lumber camps. There he married Miss Martha Scott, who, though of the same name was of no kinship with him, and in 1869, with their first child, Mary (now the wife of G. W. Woods of Selma), they moved to Lancaster County, Nebr., where he took up a homestead of 160 acres. He also there
1556
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
availed himself of his preemption and timber-claim rights, and proved up 480 acres in three different tracts near Bennett. He eventually became the owner of much Nebraska land and engaged extensively in the stock business.
In 1873, the elder Scott diversified his work by engaging in the general merchandise business at Bennett, Nebr., and soon built up a good trade, but for three or four years in succession the grasshoppers destroyed crop after crop and that whole section of the country was devastated, so much so that even the Indians hurried away to keep from starving. Under the fearful stress of these awful conditions, Mr. Scott's business was utterly ruined, and the holder of a mortgage took his homestead, upon which, at great labor and expense he had put out an extensive apple orchard. one of the first in Lancas- ter County. This apple orchard contained some very choice fruit trees, which were sheltered and protected by three rows of cottonwoods, and this Mr. Scott had to sell in order to save himself. The very next year was an excel- lent one for apples, and such a bumper crop did the buyer of the homestead harvest that when he had boxed the apples and shipped them to Lincoln he was able, from the proceeds, to pay for the entire 160 acres. Mr. Scott had been a teamster and freighter when he first came to Nebraska, and he hauled from Nebraska City to the new settlement in Lancaster County before Lin- coln was founded, and before the Union Railway was in full operation. After the grasshopper scourge he reengaged in the stock business, and owing to the plentifulness of free ranges, he prospered; he bought heavily of rail- road, school and other lands and was soon on the road to prosperity again. His next move was to Stromberg, Nebr., where he and his son-in-law, G. W. Woods, engaged in the general merchandise business for about twelve years. Eventually they sold out and bade goodby to scenes with which they had been so closely identified, and came to the Pacific Coast.
Here they settled in the Lewis River Valley, in Washington, and again engaged in the general merchandise business, at Woodland. Realizing. how- ever, that that place was too small for him, Mr. Scott made a trip to Central California, visiting the vicinity of Selma, and he was so well pleased with all that he saw, and what his prophetic vision enabled him to forecast, that he bought land for himself and his son-in-law. three miles north of town. Then, having decided to come to Selma for the purpose of improving his purchase, he brought from Washington his entire family, and the party arrived on November 1, 1891. He at once started to improve his ranch, and a few months later, in March, 1892, started in business as well, buying out J. F. Hall, of the firm of Ross & Hall, dealers in general merchandise, the firm becoming Ross & Scott. In 1895, Mr. Ross also sold out to Walter Scott, and the firm name was changed to Walter Scott & Co. The firm continued to prosper and business increased so rapidly, that in 1901 the com- pany was duly incorporated under the name of the Walter Scott Company, with the following officers: Walter Scott, president; Hattie M. Gill, vice- president ; Charles Schweandt, secretary; and Walter G. Scott, treasurer and manager.
In a side-hill dugout on the homestead near Bennett, Nebr., Walter G. Scott was born, October 8. 1870, as was also his second sister, Hattie M., now the wife of S. H. Gill. Their mother died in Nebraska, and was buried near Palmyra in that state. The father later married again, taking for his second wife Mrs. M. J. Mitchell, a widow, her maiden name being Martha J. Thomas, and by his second wife Mr. Scott had one son. Robert. Mrs. Scott was the widow of M. J. Mitchell of Nebraska, and she had two sons and one daughter by her first husband: Mrs. A. E. Williams, of Los Angeles; H. M. Mitchell, machinist of Hanford; and Ernest, who died when twenty-one years of age. On the death of Mr. Scott, in 1909, Mrs. Scott moved to Los Angeles, and has since made her home there.
Walter G. Scott continued to manage the business until 1906, when he sold out his interest. Robert Scott and Mrs. Gill continued to conduct the
1557
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
store under the name of Walter Scott Company until 1914, when they divided the establishment, Mrs. Gill taking the dry goods and organizing the firm of S. H. Gill Company (Inc.), and Robert Scott taking the grocery and hard- ware departments and retaining the firm name of Walter Scott Company. The present officers of the incorporated company are: President and mana- ger, Robert Scott; vice-president, Mrs. M. J. Scott, the mother of Robert Scott ; second vice-president, Mrs. Adah Scott, wife of Robert; secretary and treasurer, Alice S. Bemusdaffer; director, L. L. Cory of Fresno. The firm occupies a large double store and a large warehouse at the rear, also owning and operating still another large warehouse.
Robert Scott was born in Selma, February 2, 1893, and attended the public and high school of his native town, later taking a course at Heald's Business College at Los Angeles, graduating from that institution in 1910. He early began to work in his father's store, first as messenger and delivery boy, then clerk, and finally rising to the position of president and manager of the establishment, and now devotes his time to the business his father founded. Fraternally he is a member of the Native Sons, and past president of the Selma Parlor. He is an active member of the California Raisin Grow- ers Association and also of the California Peach Growers, Inc.
The marriage of Robert Scott, which occurred in Los Angeles, in 1911, united him with Miss Adah C. Conklin, of that city, and one child has been born to them, Norman Hugh. On September 4, 1917, Robert Scott volun- teered in the United States Navy for service during the World War; he trained for two months at Goat Island, then was ordered to Norfolk, Va., where he studied and trained as chief gunner in the Ordnance Department for three months, graduated, and was appointed instructor of recruits, which position he held four months, then was transferred to Washington, D. C., remained there until December, 1918, when he was sent back to Goat Island, and received his honorable discharge on December 24, 1918, and arrived home on Christmas eve.
WILLIAM C. FREELAND .- The cashier of the allied banks, the First National Bank and the Selma Savings Bank, of Selma, William C. Freeland, is known among his associates as a financier of ability and a man of unimpeachable integrity, possessed of force of character and good executive ability. Self-made, he has worked his way up from a clerkship to the highest place in the active operation of Selma's foremost financial institution. While Selma claims him as one of her boys, he was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, March 28, 1877, and came to America with his parents, James and Mary A. (Cunningham) Freeland, when he was a lad ten years of age. His father, a blacksmith by trade, lived in Soquel, Santa Cruz County, from 1887 to 1890, and in the latter year came to Selma, where he died, in 1895. His mother is living in Selma, and became the wife of the late John G. S. Arrants, of Selma.
William C. Freeland received his primary education in the schools of Scotland, completing it in the public schools of Santa Cruz County and Selma, graduating from the Selma high school with the class of 1895. He acquired bookkeeping in the high school and was afterwards with the Selma branch of the Kutner-Goldstein Company in the capacity of bookkeeper for a year and a half. A vacancy occurring in the clerkship of the First National Bank in 1897, he took the position and gradually worked himself up until in 1905 he became cashier. Of excellent judgment, and unusually swift and accurate as a cashier, he has held the position up to the present time with credit to himself and the bank.
In 1902, Mr. Freeland was united in marriage with Miss Joanna Heaton, daughter of Joseph and Margaret A. Heaton of Selma. He is the owner of one hundred acres two miles east of Selma which is planted to peaches, apri- cots, and Muscat and Thompson seedless grapes. A Presbyterian in his reli- gious convictions, he is a member and chairman of the board of trustees of
1558
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
the church of that denomination at Selma. Fraternally he is prominent in Masonic circles. He is a member of the Blue Lodge Chapter in Selma and of the Commandery at Fresno. He is a Scottish Rite and Thirty-second De- gree Mason, and a member of Islam Temple at San Francisco. He is also a member of the Selma Lodge of W. O. W., the largest lodge in Selma.
For eight years Mr. Freeland was a member of the Board of Trustees of the City of Selma and for four years of that time was chairman of the board. For the past five years he has been City Treasurer. He and his good wife are highly respected in business, social and church circles in Selma.
SELMA NATIONAL BANK AND FARMERS SAVINGS BANK OF SELMA .- Among the banking institutions of Selma which have given the city an impetus and placed business on a solid foundation, are the two allied banks, the Selma National Bank and the Farmers' Savings Bank of Selma. The younger of the two institutions, the Selma National Bank, was estab- lished January 2, 1913. These banks have the same officers and directors and do business in the same building and office.
Centrally located, with roomy space, beautiful furniture and bank fix- tures, ample vaults and perfect appointments, together with the gentlemanly attention their patrons receive, these banks are rapidly forging to the front. Their aim, to render their patrons every service and accommodation consist- ent with sound finance, has won the confidence of the entire community, among whom their officials are known to be the most substantial and suc- cessful men of Selma, whose personal integrity and business ability are beyond question. Under the efficient management of their officers-\V. T. Forkner, president; Edward Poulson, vice-president; C. W. Christensen, cashier ; Milton Allison, assistant cashier; and Directors W. T. Forkner, Edward Poulson, Scott Manlove, E. S. Hobler, H. S. Hulbert, Dr. F. H. Williams and C. W. Christensen-the banks are rapidly gaining in deposits and volume of business, and are of great assistance in the transaction of the heavy business of the celebrated fruit section of Selma.
They have a combined working capital of $100,000, combined deposits of $600,000, and combined resources of $750,000.
E. MELVIN JOHNSTON, D.D.S .- In professional life as well as in other lines of business Fresno is well represented by native sons. E. Melvin Johnston is one of these. Born in Fresno, October 22, 1887, he attended the grammar and high schools of his native city, graduating from the Fresno High in 1907. He had set his mind on a course in college and in order to secure funds to do so he went into the oil fields in Kern County to earn the necessary money. In the fall of that year he entered Vanderbilt University at Nashville, Tenn., where he remained for a year studying dentistry. He then returned to Fresno and became an assistant in the office of B. B. Cory and remained two years, when he returned to his Alma Mater for another year of study. Young Johnston was energetic and industrious and anxious to complete his course and in consequence he once more came back home and found employment with the San Joaquin & Eastern Railroad Company at construction work for six months. With his earnings he then entered the College of Physicians & Surgeons in San Francisco and was graduated from the dental department in 1912 with the degree of D.D.S. His first location was in San Luis Obispo where he was an assistant in the office of Dr. O. M. Polin for eighteen months. With his several years of practical experience, Dr. Johnston felt able to launch out for himself and in January, 1914, he re- turned to Fresno and opened an office and began to build up an independent practice and to reap the returns he knew awaited him.
The war in Europe made a change in the plans of this rising dentist and on January 10, 1918, Dr. Johnston was commissioned First Lieutenant in the Dental Reserve Corps of the United States Army. On June 6 of that year he was called into active service and ordered to report at the dental officers training camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. After two months' training
ENowing Liveton
1561
HISTORY OF FRESNO COUNTY
he was assigned to Camp Grant, Ill., where he had charge of the dental work of the Eight Hundred Twelfth Infantry. From there he received over- seas orders as Dental Surgeon of Base Hospital No. 75. He arrived at Hoboken on November 11, the day the armistice was signed and remained in that city five and one-half weeks before he received his honorable dis- charge. Dr. Johnston returned to Fresno and on December 25, 1918, opened new offices in the Forsyth Building and resumed his practice. He was the only dentist from Fresno who saw more than four months' active service in the army.
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.